Polk County
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Polk County Itemizer-Observer • March 25, 2015 4A
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
ernment, and we need to fix
our tax system, but denying
there is an immediate prob-
lem with lack of sheriff
deputies is not it.
City’s e-ticket plan
violates your rights
Regarding the mayor of
Monmouth’s “Community
Notes” included with my re-
cent utilities bill where the
adoption of an e-ticket by
the local police department
is rationalized by the saving
of precious police depart-
ment staff time.
If the only thing that a
police officer needs is infor-
mation from a driver’s li-
cense to enable the auto-
mated search of state data
bases to fill out a ticket, the
person being charged with a
law violation may have ab-
solutely no knowledge of
what they are being charged
with.
The information will then
be transferred directly to the
municipal court software
and this will force the ap-
pearance of the owner of
the driver’s license to find
out just what they have
been charged with and pay
the related penalties.
Somewhere along the line
of rationalization regarding
the efficiency of the process,
the right of the citizen to
confront his accuser has dis-
appeared. And since the in-
tent is simply to reduce the
precious municipal employ-
ee workload while increas-
ing revenue flow from traffic
violations, abuses to the
public relative to the traffic
law violations would appear
to be apparent.
The right of a citizen to
confront their accuser when
being charged with a viola-
tion of law is one of our
basic rights and should not
be compromised for the
sake of municipal employee
efficiency.
Richard C. Evans
Monmouth
Let’s keep church
and state separate
We often hear that our
country was founded on
Christian principals. In fact,
a study of history reveals
this to be untrue, as the fol-
lowing short list of quota-
tions from founding fathers
clearly illustrate:
“The way to see by faith is
to shut the eye of reason.”
— Benjamin Franklin (1758)
“Christian establishments
tend to great ignorance and
corruption, all of which fa-
cilitate the execution of mis-
chievous projects.” — James
Madison (1774)
“During almost 15 cen-
turies has the legal estab-
lishment of Christianity
been on trial. What has been
its fruits? More or less, in all
places, pride and indolence
in the clergy; ignorance and
servility in the laity; in both,
superstition, bigotry and
Jim O’Brien
Dallas
Crosswalk would
improve safety
persecution.” — James
Madison (1785)
“Question with boldness
even the existence of a God;
because, if there be one, he
must more approve of the
homage of reason, then that
of blindfolded fear.” —
Thomas Jefferson (1787)
“Congress has no power
to make any religious estab-
lishments.” — Roger Sher-
man (1789)
“Persecution is not an
original feature in any reli-
gion; but it is always the
strongly marked feature of
all religions established by
law.” — Thomas Paine
(1791)
“I contemplate with sov-
ereign reverence that act of
the whole American people
build a wall of separation
between Church & State.” —
Thomas Jefferson (1802)
Every single U.S. Presi-
dent until George H.W.
Bush publicly stated his
commitment to the ab-
solute separation of church
and state. We should all well
understand that American
principle.
Michael Cairns
Independence
Vote ‘yes’ to help
keep county safe
There are only two
deputy sheriff’s available to
patrol the entirety of Polk
County. This area is 744
square miles with 79,000
people living in mostly rural
areas who can only rely on
these two deputies.
There is a proposed Polk
County safety levy that
would provide the funds to
increase the number of
deputies. It is my profes-
sional experience, as a re-
tired deputy sheriff, that
leads me to support this
levy without reservation.
Join with me to keep our
community safe and secure
and vote “yes” on the Polk
County safety levy, Measure
27-117.
Jesse Lanou
Monmouth
Foundation steps
up to help locals
On March 12, as the exec-
utive director of Community
Mediation Services for Polk
County (formerly known as
VORP), I had the privilege of
receiving a $1,500 grant
from the Dallas Community
Foundation.
The grant will assist CMS
in keeping our phone serv-
ice active so that Dallas resi-
dents can access help in
conflicted situations.
I express my gratitude to
Dallas Community Founda-
tion for its generosity, not
only to my program but also
to the many other nonprof-
its that received grant funds
to serve the citizens of Dal-
las. It was inspiring to see
how the Dallas Community
Foundation funds impacted
so many people in Dallas
and the surrounding area.
Thank you Dallas Com-
munity Foundation for the
good work you assist.
Ken Braun
Dallas
Ongoing tax hikes
need to stop now
Polk County Sheriff Wolfe
told the Statesman Journal
that he wanted to return to
funding levels and staffing
for 2008, when there were
timber funds of $2.4 million.
What was not mentioned
was that staffing from 2004
to 2008 almost doubled
even though Polk County’s
population only grew a little.
The underlying assump-
tion is that the bloated
staffing levels and expendi-
tures in 2008 need to be re-
established on the backs of
property owners by increas-
ing their taxes. At some
point the ongoing tax in-
creases need to stop. This
levy election is that point.
Voters need again say “no.”
John Frei
Dallas
More deputies are
needed in county
I am tired of the aggres-
sive, speeding, law-breaking
drivers on Highway 22.
We need more patrols
and unfortunately the levy is
our best option.
I hate taxes and big gov-
WANT TO WRITE A LETTER?
Letters to the editor are lim-
ited to 300 words. Longer let-
ters will be edited.
Election-related letters of
all types are limited to 100
words. Writers are limited to
one election-related letter per
election season.
Each writer is restricted to
one letter per 30-day period.
The deadline for letters to
the editor is Monday at 10 a.m.
—
Reach us at:
Mail: P.O. Box 108, Dallas,
OR 97338.
Fax: 503-623-2395.
Email: ionews@polkio.com.
I recently went past the
state capitol and noticed
they installed flashing lights
for the crosswalks ... push
the button and be noticed.
Since I’ve had a few close
calls and seen a kid on a
bike get hit, wouldn’t one be
nice for the crosswalk in
front of Walmart. It is such a
busy area ... too many dis-
tractions.
Hey, Walmart, most of
these people are your cus-
tomers. Your driveway en-
trance is so close ... makes
getting in and out even
more dangerous. It would
be nice if you and the city of
Dallas got together and fig-
ured this out before some-
thing happens.
Dennis Bouchard
Dallas
Corrections needs
additional funding
There are 499 individuals
on parole in the cities of
Polk County. The county
corrections department,
part of the county public
safety team, keeps watch on
them — not the city police.
With the continued cuts
in the public safety team, I
do not feel safe. I worry
about who is around our
schools, in our parks and
what they are doing there.
Let’s keep our community
safe by giving the correc-
tions department the re-
sources they need and we
deserve. Vote “yes” for the
county public safety levy.
Cheryl Williams
Dallas
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
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
Many can’t afford
increase in taxes
What is it about “no” that
you don’t understand?
A second attempt to pass
the county public safety levy
is a tax that we can’t afford.
We are senior citizens and
my husband is a disabled
veteran. Our income is fixed
and COLAs amount to 1.7
percent this year. We have to
live within our means and
that means doing without
frivolous items.
The county should be
held accountable for how it
spends taxpayer money.
Vote “no” on the proposed
public safety levy.
Nelda Carroll-Allegar
Dallas
PUBLIC AGENDA
Public Agenda is a listing of upcoming meet-
ings for governmental 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 25
• Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9
a.m., Polk County Courthouse, 850 Main St., Dal-
las. 503-623-8173.
MONDAY, MARCH 30
• Polk County Budget Committee — 1 p.m.,
Polk County Courthouse, 850 Main St., Dallas.
503-623-8173.
TUESDAY, MARCH 31
• Polk County Budget Committee — 8:15
a.m., Polk County Courthouse, 850 Main St., Dal-
las. 503-623-8173.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1
• Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9
a.m., Polk County Courthouse, 850 Main St., Dal-
las. 503-623-8173.
• Polk County Budget Committee — 10 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., Mon-
mouth. 503-838-0722.
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. 12
(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.
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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