Polk County
Voices
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • February 11, 2015 4A
EDITORIALS
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Graduation rates do
raise local concerns
When it comes to high school graduation rates, doing
better than the state average is not necessarily good, espe-
cially when the state as a whole was second to last in the
nation among states that reported data in 2013.
Statewide, students graduating from high school in four
years was up to 72 percent — and 76 percent completed a
diploma in five years — higher than last year’s 68.7 percent,
but still a solid C-minus in the old way of grading things.
That means 28 percent of Oregon’s teenagers are not
completing their high school diploma in four years.
The results are discouraging, particularly in light of Ore-
gon’s 40-40-20 Goal, which aims to have 100 percent of
Oregon’s citizens have at least a high school diploma or
equivalent by 2025.
The goal states that 40 percent of Oregonians will hold
bachelor’s degrees or higher; 40 percent will hold associate
degrees or two-year certifications, and the remaining 20
percent will have a high school diploma or equivalent.
It’s perhaps more disheartening to see our schools battle
the constant flux in requirements for graduation, particu-
larly with new testing methods, new standards and new
grading methods.
We’re talking Smarter Balanced Assessments, Common
Core State Standards and proficiency grading.
Not to say these new methods aren’t to the overall long-
term benefit of students, teachers and parents, but we are
not optimistic that they will last.
It seems there is always a new and improved method of
testing, teaching or grading to guarantee “no one is left be-
hind” in his or her education. These new methods often
result in more money being spent at the district level for
“approved curriculum” or “improved testing centers.”
And it’s not just in schools. Students have more ac-
countability than they’re given credit for when it comes to
their studies. If parents and students themselves do not
place a high importance on a diploma, it will be difficult to
make meaningful progress toward graduation rates.
PUBLIC AGENDA
Public Agenda is a listing of upcoming meetings for gov-
ernmental and nongovernmental agencies in Polk County.
To submit a meeting, send it at least two weeks before the
actual meeting date to the Itemizer-Observer via fax (503-
623-2395) or email (kholland@polkio.com).
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WEDNESDAY, FEB. 11
• Monmouth Library Advisory Board — 7 a.m., Monmouth
Public Library meeting room, 168 S. Ecols St., Monmouth. 503-
838-0722.
• Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk
County Courthouse, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-623-8173.
• Polk Soil and Water Conservation District Board — 6 p.m.,
USDA Service Center, 580 Main St., Suite A, Dallas. 503-623-9680.
• Monmouth Park and Recreation Board — 7 p.m., Volun-
teer Hall, 144 S. Warren St., Monmouth. 503-838-0722.
THURSDAY, FEB. 12
• Polk County Fire District No. 1 Board — 6 p.m., Central
Station 90, 1800 Monmouth St., Independence. 503-838-1510.
• Luckiamute Watershed Council — 7 p.m., Volunteer Hall,
144 S. Warren St., Monmouth. 503-837-0237.
• Falls City City Council — 7:30 p.m., Falls City Community
Center, 320 N. Main St., Falls City. 503-787-3631.
TUESDAY, FEB. 17
• Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk
County Courthouse, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-623-8173.
• Independence Historic Preservation Commission — 4
p.m., Independence Civic Center, 555 S. Main St., Independence.
503-838-1212.
• Dallas Park Advisory Board — 5:30 p.m., City Hall, 187 SE
Court St., Dallas. 503-831-3502.
• Falls City School Board — 5:30 p.m., Falls City High School
resource room, 111 N. Main St., Falls City. 503-787-3521.
• Polk County Hearings Officer — 6 p.m., Polk County Court-
house, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-623-9237.
• Dallas City Council — 7 p.m., City Hall, 187 SE Court St., Dal-
las. 503-831-3502.
• Monmouth City Council — 7 p.m., Volunteer Hall, 144 S.
Warren St., Monmouth. 503-838-0722.
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 18
• Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk
County Courthouse, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-623-8173.
• Monmouth Planning Commission — 7 p.m., Volunteer
Hall, 144 S. Warren St., Monmouth. 503-838-0722.
GOVERNOR
Gov. John Kitzhaber (Dem.)
160 State Capitol
900 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-378-4582
Email: via website,
http://governor.oregon.gov/
—
STATE LEGISLATORS
Sen. Arnie Roblan
(District 5, Democrat)
S-417 State Capitol
900 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1705
sen.arnieroblan@state.or.us
www.oregonlegislature.gov/roblan
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Levy is worthy, but
eye consolidation
I support the Polk County
public safety levy.
We need to restore our
sheriff and jail to expected
levels. That said, I also want
our government organiza-
tions from city through fed-
eral to join the 21st century
and redo the tax structure so
it is consistent and fair.
They also need to con-
stantly prove efficiency in
spending, e.g. how much
would we save by having the
city police departments
merge with the sheriff’s de-
partment?
Jim O’Brien
Dallas
Do patrols impact
insurance rates?
I am curious if our insur-
ance rates in Polk County are
higher because we don’t
have deputies on patrol
24/7? What is the ratio of de-
creased insurance rates to
increased deputies, or is
there one? Are home, fire
and burglary rates tied to in-
surance rates linked to state,
county and city protection
services? Can our insurance
rates be reduced if our serv-
ices are increased and which
is the most cost effective/risk
assessment ratio differential?
I am interested in the
commissioners’ take on this
issue as it affects every resi-
dents’ bottom line.
Steve Dunn
Independence
Keep marijuana
out of city of Dallas
I have been a resident
here for over 70 years. Gen-
erally, I prefer to be a part of
the silent majority. But the
recent newspaper articles on
changing city ordinances to
allow a medical marijuana
business and possible dis-
pensary to operate in Dallas
has prompted me to write
this letter.
Please, city of Dallas lead-
ers, do not allow this type of
business to operate in Dal-
las. Also, consider what has
happened to the tax base in
other localities that have al-
lowed this to come into their
areas.
Of course, I know that
marijuana is going to be
legal in the state of Oregon.
Please don’t kid yourself; the
ramifications of a business
such as this in our commu-
nity will create a much
heavier burden on our al-
ready hard-working police
department.
In the recent election
cycle that approved the use
of pot in Oregon, Polk Coun-
ty voted against it and Dallas
votes were even more
strongly opposed to legaliza-
tion.
What can possibly be
worth the risk to those
among us who are vulnera-
ble to abusing drugs and the
harm to families it will
cause? Out of respect for
families already being chal-
lenged, do everything you
can to limit access to drugs
in manufacturing facilities
or dispensaries in our city.
Robert Thiessen
Dallas
Can’t afford to pay
more taxes locally
Living in Dallas for
decades and being retired, it’s
almost impossible to make
ends meet with all the fees
and taxes that this city and
Polk County are getting. And
now they want more money.
The burden to me is great.
Taxes keep going up faster
than my Social Security.
Food, medicine or taxes —
which one is more impor-
tant to you?
Stop taking what little the
fixed income population
has and let us live without
fear of losing what little we
have.
Live within your budget.
I’ve got to. Vote “no” on the
law enforcement levy.
Arthur Leppin Jr.
Dallas
Senator’s bill is
simply appalling
I know that there is al-
ways a lot of useless stuff
that happens at the begin-
ning of the legislative ses-
sion, but I was appalled by
the proposal by Sen. Brian
Boquist to prohibit Oregon
courts from applying Shari-
ah law, the religious law of
Islam.
This seems like classic
fear mongering and proba-
bly racism, as well. Or
maybe it’s just ignorance.
I am sure it is high on the
list of needs for our state
and his constituents. I am
embarrassed that he sup-
posedly represents me in the
senate. Not in my name.
Dale Derouin
Dallas
Marijuana won’t
be good for Dallas
If a Dallas City Councilor
thinks there is money to be
made off the taxation of
marijuana, they need to
hear from you before they
cast their vote.
As a prior resident of
Josephine County and a re-
cently retired law enforce-
ment officer with 30 years
experience, I watched the
face of Josephine County
change drastically.
Josephine County has the
largest per capita of medici-
nal marijuana growers in
the state. During the mari-
juana harvest, hundreds of
laborers move into the com-
munity to harvest the crop.
Most of these laborers all
have Oregon Trail Cards at
the expense of the Oregon
taxpayer.
The tax base in Josephine
County has eroded to the
point that there are only two
deputies for the entire coun-
ty. Even their public library
is closed. No one wants to
pay taxes, including for law
enforcement. They just want
to profit from growing mari-
juana.
It is very common to see
citizens walking around car-
rying firearms because it is
the only protection they
have. The crime rate rises so
drastically during the har-
vest season, the Oregon
State Police saturates the
area with troopers from out
of the area.
I’ve watched Oregon’s
medical marijuana growers
use Oregon’s marijuana laws
to grow marijuana only to
profit for themselves. Why
will Measure 91 be any dif-
ferent? A pound of marijua-
na currently sells in Oregon
for $1,500 to $2,500. A
pound of marijuana sells in
a state such as Utah that
does not allow the growing
of medicinal marijuana for
$5,000. How much marijua-
na will these growers under
Measure 91 turn in to be
taxed and how much will go
out the backdoor?
Please educate our Dallas
City Councilors by contact-
ing the Ron Foggin, city
manager, at 503-831-3502 or
at rwfoggin@dallasor.gov.
Sen. Jackie Winters
(District 10, Republican)
S-301 State Capitol
900 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1710
sen.jackiewinters@state.or.us
www.oregonlegislature.gov/winters
Sen. Brian Boquist
(District 12, Republican)
S-305 State Capitol
900 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1712
sen.brianboquist@state.or.us
www.oregonlegislature.gov/boquist
Rep. David Gomberg
(District 10, Democrat)
H-471 State Capitol
900 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1410
rep.davidgomberg@state.or.us
www.oregonlegislature.gov/gomberg
Rep. Paul Evans
(District 20, Democrat)
H-281 State Capitol
900 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1420
rep.paulevans@state.or.us
www.oregonlegislature.gov/evans
Rep. Mike Nearman
(District 23, Republican)
H-378 State Capitol
900 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1423
rep.mikenearman@state.or.us
www.oregonlegislature.gov/nearman
—
U.S. CONGRESS
Sen. Ron Wyden (Dem.)
221 Dirksen SOB
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: 202-224-5244
Fax: 202-228-2717
Salem office: 707 13th St. SE,
Suite 285, Salem, OR 97301
Phone: 503-589-4555
Email: via website,
www.wyden.senate.gov
Walt Markee
Dallas
More
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR,
Page 5A
Sen. Jeff Merkley (Dem.)
313 Hart SOB
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: 202-224-3753
Fax: 202-228-3997
Salem office: 495 State St. SE,
Suite 330, Salem, OR 97301
Phone: 503-362-8102
Email: via website,
www.merkley.senate.gov
Rep. Kurt Schrader (Dem.)
108 Cannon HOB
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: 202-225-5711
Fax: 202-225-5699
Salem office: 544 Ferry St. SE,
Suite 2, Salem, OR 97301
Phone: 503-588-9100
Fax: 503-588-5517
Email: via website,
www.schrader.house.gov
—
POLK COUNTY
Board of Commissioners
850 Main St.
Dallas, OR 97338
Phone: 503-623-8173
www.co.polk.or.us
—
CITIES
Dallas
187 SE Court St.
Dallas, OR 97338
503-623-2338
www.ci.dallas.or.us
Falls City
299 Mill St.
Falls City, OR 97344
503-787-3631
www.fallscityoregon.gov
Independence
555 S. Main St.
Independence, OR 97351
503-838-1212
www.ci.independence.or.us
Monmouth
151 W. Main St.
Monmouth, OR 97361
503-838-0722
www.ci.monmouth.or.us
HOW TO REACH US
Vol. 140, No. 6
(USPS) - 437-380)
The official newspaper of Polk County • Serving Polk County families since 1875
Winner of 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2014 General Excellence Awards
from the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association
Periodicals postage paid at
Dallas, OR, Independence, OR and Monmouth, OR.
Published weekly at 147 SE Court Street
Dallas, Oregon 97338
Phone: 503-623-2373 Fax: 503-623-2395
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Polk County — One Year $27
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POSTMASTER:
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which is in error if the Itemizer-Observer is at fault.
NEWSROOM
Nancy Adams ...............Publisher ...........................................................................nadams@polkio.com
Kurt Holland..................Managing Editor...........................................................kholland@polkio.com
Lukas Eggen..................Sports Editor......................................................................leggen@polkio.com
Jolene Guzman............Dallas/Falls City/Polk County Reporter ................jguzman@polkio.com
Emily Mentzer ..............Monmouth/Independence Reporter ..................ementzer@polkio.com
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