Polk County Itemizer-Observer • March 25, 2015 5A
Polk County News
Admission prices going up at fair
By Jolene Guzman
The Itemizer-Observer
RICKREALL — You can
start planning now for the
2015 Polk County Fair and its
costume and decoration-
friendly theme — “Blue
Jeans and Country Dreams.”
The theme will come with
something else new — the
latest change for the annual
fair — an increase in ticket
prices.
Adult single-day tickets
will be $8, up from $7. Adult
season passes will now be
$20, up from $15. Youth
(ages 11-15) and senior (62
and older) single-day tickets
are now $5, up from $3. Sea-
son passes for youth and
seniors are unchanged at $8.
Children 10 and younger still
get in free. Camping rates
will remain the same as well.
Polk County Fair Board
Chairwoman Anna Scharf
said the increases were well
overdue, with some ticket
prices dating back to 1994.
“We aren’t keeping up
with inflation, we aren’t
keeping up with the cost of
doing business,” Scharf said.
She did acknowledge the
adult season pass increase is
happening the same year
the board shortened the
Falls City likely will reduce hours
for administrator due to budget
By Jolene Guzman
The Itemizer-Observer
JOLENE GUZMAN/ Itemizer-Observer file
Carnival rides will be a big part of the 2015 Polk County Fair, which has the theme “Blue
Jeans and Country Dreams.” The fair is scheduled for three days, Aug. 6-8, instead of four.
event by one day, from four
days to three, but said the
fair board is seeking to bal-
ance the raise by bringing in
higher-quality entertain-
ment.
Scharf said the 2015
theme fits with the improve-
ments the board is trying to
make with the annual event.
The theme creator, Evelyn
Hubbard of Independence,
was the winner of the con-
test the board sponsored to
come up with the 2015 slo-
gan. The contest was suc-
cessful, drawing several sub-
missions for the board to se-
lect from. Scharf said “Blue
Jeans and Country Dreams”
lends itself well to decorat-
ing, including in the live-
stock barns, where 4-H and
FFA members incorporate
the theme into their stall
décor.
“It speaks to the progress
we are trying to make,”
Scharf said. “We are dream-
ing about what the fair can
be.”
The 2015 Polk County Fair
is scheduled Aug. 6-8.
WIMPEG board agrees to upgrades
By Emily Mentzer
The Itemizer-Observer
MONMOUTH — Instead
of purchasing a new high-
definition server, the WIM-
PEG board of directors de-
cided to invest the bulk of
$50,000 in infrastructure and
equipment upgrades.
WIMPEG, Western Oregon
University, Independence
and Monmouth’s public-ed-
ucation-government access
television, has had problems
with its server since Decem-
ber, when it gave out and the
channels went dark.
Since then, broadcasting
has been limited because the
old server has not been fixed.
Part of the problem is that
WIMPEG does not have a
service contract on the old
server, said Deborah Rezell,
board member, at the WIM-
PEG board’s Thursday meet-
ing.
Board member Marshall
March 28
10am - 4pm
Guthrie said it didn’t make
sense now to invest $50,000
in a new HD server on a five-
year contract when he didn’t
think WIMPEG had five years
of viewers.
Because the way people
watch television is changing
so rapidly, Guthrie said more
and more people are “cutting
the cord” and streaming
video rather than subscrib-
ing to traditional cable,
which is where WIMPEG
channels are found.
“I would rather spend this
money to increase infra-
structure and equipment,”
Guthrie said, noting that
many people watch the pub-
lic access channel on
YouTube rather than on
cable TV.
Rod Killen, a newly elect-
ed board member, said the
HD server would allow cities
to announce events and re-
cruit volunteers on their re-
spective channels.
“It only works if somebody
sees it,” Guthrie said.
Rezell, who works as
WOU’s digital media produc-
er, said something needs to
change with WIMPEG’s serv-
er because filming things in
standard definition — espe-
cially broadcasting live
events such as sporting
events and commencement
— has become a hindrance.
But with technology —
and how people use that
technology — changing so
rapidly, the board agreed to
find another way to solve the
problem besides spending
$50,000 on a new HD server
for WIMPEG.
For now, the old server will
be repaired for about $1,000.
Meanwhile, other options,
including less expensive HD
server options, will be con-
sidered by the board at fu-
ture meetings.
In other business, board
chairwoman Marilyn Mor-
ton stepped down and Pat
Henderson was elected in-
terim board chairman.
FALLS CITY — The city of
Falls City will soon begin
searching for a permanent
city manager, but that person
may be working part time.
Falls City Interim City
Manager Jon Hanken was
asked Thursday to prepare a
request for proposals (RFP)
on the job that would con-
sist of a 20- to 24-hour work
week and pay an estimated
$25,000 to $30,000 annually.
The Falls City City Coun-
cil will approve a final RFP
at a future meeting.
“To me this seems the
only way we can go,” said
Councilor Tony Meier. “We
can’t afford a full-time ad-
ministrator.”
Hanken stressed that
whoever fills the position
likely will have to work
more than the listed hours
to get the job done.
“I have no doubt that this
person will work more,”
Hanken said. “This com-
munity has so many things
going on.”
Another concern is cov-
ering city hall hours with
someone just working 20 to
24 hours, especially when
people are sick or on vaca-
tion, Hanken said.
Given the part-time
hours — and pay — a few
councilors were concerned
about how many qualified
candidates would apply for
the post.
“We are really, really low-
balling things. That’s the
truth of the matter,” Coun-
cilor Dennis Sickles said.
“We are asking somebody
to come in here and work
for what is below what the
CITY COUNCIL
industry standard is.”
Hanken said the city can
reassess its job description
and re-advertise the posi-
tion if it doesn’t attract qual-
ified applicants.
“You are looking for
somebody who is going to
work for you and with you,”
Hanken said. “If you don’t
find that the first time, go
out again.”
That has been done be-
fore, with the city’s code en-
forcement officer post, and
so far the city has had no
success finding someone to
fill the job.
Mayor Terry Ungricht
suggested the city take a
different approach: have
councilors fill the role.
He said the Oregon Code
Enforcement Association
provides training classes
that would enable coun-
cilors to work in pairs to
write citations and help
present cases in court.
The other option is to
share a code enforcement
officer with another city.
Ungricht said he would ex-
plore that possibility and
bring a proposal to the
council.
“I think it’s worth giving it
a shot,” Councilor Lori Jean
Sickles said of the coun-
cilors filling the role. “We
have to have some kind of
code enforcement.”
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Admission: Adults $4
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2015 Relay for Life
of Polk County
Food Available Polk County Fairgrounds
on site
520 Pacific Hwy W, Rickreall
Dolls, Bears, Books, Toys, Miniatures
& Related Items, Doll Stringing
Relay Sponsors Come In All Sizes
Arleta Day 503-581-1206
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• Furnaces
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• Air Purifiers
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*Special financing available.
City manager job
may be part time
See dealer for details.
* Some restrictions apply.
Ben & Joe Flande
Proud Owners & Local Citizens
Recently, a sole individual made the decision to
sponsor Relay For Life of Polk County in memory of someone
very dear to their family who lost his fight with cancer. Most
of us may think of an event’s sponsor as a big corporation who
donates for the tax write-off or to draw attention to their com-
pany. This one individual has chosen to sponsor Relay, however, for a
totally different reason ~ find a cure and finish the fight!
Whether they’re a company with many employees or a small family, all of
our Relay sponsors know how important it is to fund cancer research so the
survivor rate can continue to rise and more Polk County families can celebrate
birthdays of those dear to them. Our sponsors come in all sizes but come to-
gether with one purpose ~ find a cure and finish the fight!
Please join us in thanking our five most recent *sponsors, along with the
following 28 businesses, organizations, and health care professionals for their
commitment to Relay For Life and its mission to win the fight against cancer:
• Bollman Funeral Home
• Bookey Strong
• Rotary Club of Dallas
• White’s Collision Service
• NW Natural
• Partnerships In Community Living, Inc.
• West Valley Hospital
• West Valley Physicians & Surgeons Clinic/Dr. John Hadley
• West Valley Surgical Specialty Clinic/Dr. Alison Smith
• Monmouth Medical Center/Dr. Charles Essex
• First Community Credit Union
• OREPAC Building Products
• James W. Fowler Co.
• Mitch Ratzlaff State Farm
• Polk County Association of Realtors
• Washington Street Steakhouse & Pub
• Limeberry
• Polk County Fairgrounds & Event Center
• Elkay Manufacturing
The deadline for
• Van Well Building Supply
submitting a sponsor-
• Michelle Hasbrook, DDS
ship is April 15.
• Dallas Aquatic Center
Make this the year
• Monmouth-Independence Rotary
your company or or-
• The Majestic
ganization signs on to
• Republic Services
finish the fight!
• Les Schwab Tire Centers of Dallas,
If you or someone you
West Salem, & Independence
know is interested in
• Central Lions Club
sponsorship, contact
• Royal Flush
Lyla Bruce at
503-508-9277 or visit
• Dallas School District
our website at
• Hancock Forest Management
www.relayforlife.org/
• Eola Hills Wine Cellars
polkcountyor
• Polk County Itemizer-Observer
Relay For Life 2015 will take place
May 30-31, at LaCreole Middle School in Dallas