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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (March 4, 2015)
Polk County Voices Polk County Itemizer-Observer • March 4, 2015 4A EDITORIALS How to Contact Officials To the candidates for DSD superintendent The Dallas School District is hosting three candidates for superintendent Thursday and Friday. The public will have a chance to visit with them for an hour and a half on both days. Take the time to drop in to the Dallas High library and say “hello.” Find out what the potential leader of Dallas schools thinks about education, Common Core State Stan- dards, Smarter Balanced assessments and school lunches. The superintendent is an important job in the commu- nity and can help shape the future of education. We hope the district’s new boss will be supportive of the great efforts of Dallas principals and teachers when it comes to engaging students in educational activities. We enjoy the transparency of the district, and the super- intendent sets the tone for releasing information to the public. We hope the new leader will continue that tradi- tion. Communication goes beyond press releases. Dallas school’s new leader will hopefully listen to the public and get to know the community. All three candidates are from outside of the Willamette Valley, so it may take some time to discover what it is that concerns Dallas residents. Know that we are passionate about our schools. We love our Dragons, and we want you to love them, too. The Dallas School District feels like a well-oiled ma- chine, so whoever is chosen can take a little time to settle in and get to know us. The business of education is an ever-changing profes- sion, a world where assessments and scores and curricu- lum and standards change regularly. We want a captain at the helm who understands that and helps the community understand it. We hope the new leader will continue delegating in ways that makes sense and be a good, positive face for the district. A tip from the newsroom: Sometimes provisions are needed for school board meetings. 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). — WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4 • Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk County Courthouse, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-623-8173. • Monmouth Historic Commission — 6 p.m., Volunteer Hall, 144 S. Warren St., Monmouth. 503-838-0722. • Monmouth Planning Commission — 7 p.m., Volunteer Hall, 144 S. Warren St., Monmouth. 503-838-0722. THURSDAY, MARCH 5 • Dallas Park Advisory Board — 5:30 p.m., City Hall, 187 SE Court St., Dallas. 503-831-3502. MONDAY, MARCH 9 • Dallas School Board — 3 p.m., Morrison Campus Alterna- tive School, 1251 Main St., Dallas. 503-623-9664, ext. 2334. TUESDAY, MARCH 10 • Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk County Courthouse, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-623-8173. • Falls City School Board — 5:30 p.m., Falls City High School resource room, 111 N. Main St., Falls City. 503-787-3521. • Dallas Planning Commission — 7 p.m., City Hall, 187 SE Court St., Dallas. 503-831-3502. • Kings Valley Charter School Board — 7 p.m., Kings Valley Charter School, 38840 Kings Valley Highway, Kings Valley. 541- 929-2134. • Independence City Council — 7:30 p.m., Independence Civic Center, 555 S. Main St., Independence. 503-838-1212. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 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. GOVERNOR Gov. Kate Brown (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 Officials listen up: Stop raising taxes Stop it. Stop raising our taxes. Listen government offi- cials: We the people, whom you serve, not us serve you, are tired of being told to open our wallets when you will not tighten yours. Don’t let the government and wealthy elit- ists do it over and over again. Simple answer: lower taxes and in the relatively peaceful and pristine envi- ronment of Polk County businesses will flock in, and there will be bounty for all who care to work for it. Rose Bajorins Falls City Without legitimate ideas, levy needed There is a lot of emotion surrounding the Polk Coun- ty public safety levy. I don’t like paying taxes, but I see the value in educa- tion, roads and public safety. Those who have ideas on how to address our current funding issues need to face one reality: Does your idea violate laws that the agen- cies we are funding are re- sponsible for upholding — federal, state and labor laws, as well as contracts? Most ideas don’t seem to be able to pass this simple test. What we are left with is unacceptable. I don’t think anyone would disagree with that. We need the levy. Noreen Holsapple Dallas BOC resolution ignored key point In the Feb. 18 Itemizer-Ob- server article “Gun rights reso- lution receives BOC support,” the I-O reported that the Polk County Board of Commis- sioners, at the behest of Amer- ican Outdoors owner Micky Garus, had passed “a resolu- tion supporting the Second Amendment and opposing re- strictions on gun rights.” The BOC in passing the resolution by, as Chairman Ainsworth said, supporting the Second Amendment, leaves out an important part of the Second Amendment, the beginning passage that states that arms ownership is there to secure a “well- regulated militia.” The whole issue of the “right to bear arms” has be- come a non-issue as a result of recent Supreme Court de- cisions and no public offi- cial — up to and including President Obama — is chal- lenging that right. So the questions that each political entity in the U.S. needs to answer are about an appro- priate level of regulation — about the size of gun (hand gun, rifle, semi-automatic, automatic, bazooka, cannon, atom bomb, etc.); the quanti- ty of magazine; concealed or not; and location (home, car, on the person at all times, government offices, schools, churches, etc.). The Supreme Court has also affirmed the right to regulation. By always shifting the de- bate to “the right to bear arms,” supporters of unregu- lated and, apparently, unlim- ited arms are able to prevent a meaningful discussion on well-regulated weaponry. By allowing Mr. Garus to essen- tially write its resolution for it, the BOC abdicates its respon- sibility to the public to create a level of regulation that best serves and safeguards the people of Polk County. John Krenkel Dallas County, not cities, pay for services I wish to point out a very important fact concerning the need for the Polk County pub- lic safety levy: Cities in Polk County do not reimburse the county for costs of persons ar- rested by city police and sent to the only county jail. All jail costs, plus sheriff patrol deputies, district attor- ney’s office, juvenile court, parole and probation, serv- ing civil papers, and search and rescue, are paid out of the county general fund. The current fund tax rate of $1.71 per $1,000 assessment could soon allow lawbreakers to go free without prosecution. Please vote “yes” for this small insurance policy. Wayne Simmons West Salem Issue is more than just ‘gun rights’ I live on a farm and own a couple of rifles, a shot gun and pistols. I’ve been sitting patiently waiting for some government official to come around and confiscate them. No one has and I wonder what the Polk County Com- missioners know that I don’t that makes them think that firearm confiscations are just around the corner and that a county resolution supporting the right to possess firearms is needed (“Gun rights reso- lution receives BOC support,” Feb. 18 Itemizer-Observer). Maybe it’s a Second Amendment issue. As we all know, the Second Amend- ment begins by stating “A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State ….” The text of the Amendment clearly and liter- ally focuses on the connection between our armed forces and firearms. So if the com- missioners want to focus on Second Amendment issues, they should pass a resolution encouraging supporters of the Second Amendment to enlist in the National Guard or regu- lar armed forces and bear those arms, while in the mili- tary, to support our country. A number of folks that I know who seem to be inter- ested in gun rights haven’t taken that opportunity. Maybe encouragement from our commissioners would point them in the right direction. Dan Van Otten Amity (Perrydale) GOP is unfairly attacking unions So Scott Walker, the current Republican presidential fron- trunner, says that since my fellow union members and I regularly exercise our Consti- tutional right to free speech and assembly, we are no dif- ferent than the ISIS terrorists. Really? There is a reason why the Republican Party is constantly attacking the largest cohesive group of politically active citizens who are standing together to preserve the rights of work- ing Americans. This appears to be the only way these politicians can hope to win — turn Americans against Americans, get them fighting, and hope they pay no attention to the little man behind the curtain. What’s next? Requiring union members to wear gold stars so you can identi- fy us, round us up into cattle cars and take us to the gas chambers and ovens? You may be surprised to learn that union members are proud America-loving, gun-toting folks who believe that democracy is not a spectator sport, and that the “tree of freedom” doesn’t grow without occasional nourishment. When you come for our union cards, you better hope we actually live by the First Commandment. 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 Greg Creal Dallas 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. 9 (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 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Polk County — One Year $27 Other Oregon Counties — One Year $33 Outside of Oregon — One Year $38 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Polk County Itemizer-Observer, P.O. Box 108, Dallas, Oregon 97338 The Polk County Itemizer-Observer assumes no financial responsibility for errors in adver- tisements. It will, however, reprint without charge for the portion of an advertisement which is in error if the Itemizer-Observer is at fault. 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