Polk County
Voices
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • April 1, 2015 4A
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Family appreciates
use of school gym
I-O letter offered
chance to reflect
On behalf of the Hofen-
bredl Family, thank you very
much to Dallas High School
for the use of the gym and
the setup for the services
that were held March 7 for
Larry Hofenbredl, “Grandpa
Hof.”
We appreciate all the love
and support very much, and
it will always be remem-
bered.
Public safety in Polk
County is more than fund-
ing the sheriff’s depart-
ment.
We all, city or rural, have
an equal interest in the
county jail, parole and pro-
bation officers, the prosecu-
tion of crimes by the district
attorney’s office and the
county circuit court.
We all, whether rural or
city residences, rely upon
the county for juvenile crim-
inal supervision and civil
and criminal warrant or
court order processing.
Supporting the county
public safety levy ensures vi-
ability of all of these services
for every resident of Polk
County.
I enjoyed reading
Michael Cairn’s letter advo-
cating the keeping of
church and state separate
(“Let’s keep church and
state separate,” March 25
Itemizer-Observer). Our
Constitution’s First Amend-
ment certainly does exclude
the federal government
from establishing a national
religion. It also guarantees
the “free exercise” of reli-
gion in this great country.
Religions, along with irre-
ligious philosophies, are
worldviews. Each of us has a
worldview that is our indi-
vidual concept of what
comprises reality. Ideally, as
each of us works out our
worldview, we should be
seeking truth over false-
hood. As Michael’s quote of
Benjamin Franklin declares,
reason should trump blind
faith in this endeavor.
My own search for truth
began early on with the dis-
covery of a simple defini-
tion. That is, that truth is an
accurate understanding of
reality. As a pragmatic busi-
ness person, this simple and
practical definition has been
a helpful first step in what
has been my own worldview
journey.
As a truth seeker, I’ve es-
tablished several personal
benchmarks that have guid-
ed me in life. My founda-
tional benchmark is that
there is a great evidence for
design in our universe. Our
universe had a beginning.
For me, the finely tuned
constants in nature includ-
ing gravitational constants,
the strong and weak nuclear
forces and the precise na-
ture of electromagnetism
and many more extremely
precise constants give me
great confidence in a de-
signed universe than in the
purely naturalistic alterna-
tives.
Without proof, but with
lots of personal inquiry, I
have acquired confidence in
a universal first cause that is
a pre-existing intelligent de-
signer. Therefore, my foun-
dational worldview position
is that I am a rational theist.
Religious and non-reli-
gious people should bring
their truth-claims to the
marketplace of ideas. Those
worldviews should be freely
presented and challenged
with an improving compre-
hension of truth as our goal.
The heavy hand of govern-
ment should not define or
limit that debate.
Jayne Weis
Dallas
Monte Wiens
Monmouth
Marta Hofenbredl
Willamina
Levy language is
missing key point
When the Polk County
commissioners approved
the public safety tax levy for
a vote, the county adminis-
trator stated that if federal O
& C funds became available
during the five-year tax as-
sessment period, the county
would use those funds to
“offset the levy amount.”
However, the levy lan-
guage filed with the Polk
County clerk contains no
language about such an off-
set. There is therefore no
legal obligation to reduce the
levy tax increase if unexpect-
ed federal funds come in.
Polk County voters should
vote “no.”
Steve Mannenbach
Dallas
Safety levy would
benefit all in county
Polk County voters living
in cities may ask, “Why
should I care about putting
deputies on patrol 24/7?”
Assisting city residents is
a big part of the levy. It does
that by:
• Adding staff to the dis-
trict attorney’s office. When
a city police arrest is made,
the person arrested is more
likely to be prosecuted —
even fined or jailed.
• Adding to the reduced
jail staff. Enabling cities and
the county to incarcerate
those who are arrested and
possibly sentenced.
• Providing adequate cor-
rections staff. Overseeing
hundreds on parole or pro-
bation in Polk County.
The public safety levy
works for everyone.
Dave Weston
Dallas
Cuts are affecting
safety of county
Presently, due to budget
constraints, the sheriff’s of-
fice is only able to provide
Want to Write?
Letters to the editor are
limited to 300 words.
Longer letters will be ed-
ited. Election-related let-
ters of all types are limited
to 100 words.
Writers are limited to
one election-related letter
per election season. Elec-
tion letters from writers
outside of Polk County are
not accepted.
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: Editor, Polk
County Itemizer-Observer,
P.O. Box 108, Dallas, OR
97338.
patrol for 10 hours a day.
In addition, as was point-
ed out in a recent article in
the I-O, Polk County pays
the bill for the services of
the jail, district attorney’s of-
fice and community correc-
tions office for the cities in
Polk County.
It has been suggested that
in lean times, that the coun-
ty “tighten its belt.” Well, the
belt is as tight as it can get
and the safety of our citi-
zens is being effected.
Please vote “yes” on the
public safety levy measure.
Brian McGlynn
Independence
Chamber supports
public safety levy
The Dallas Area Chamber
of Commerce endorses the
Polk County public safety
levy.
The area’s economic
growth and vitality is based
upon a safe and secure
community. Measure 27-117
will improve sheriff patrols,
the district attorney’s office
ability to prosecute crimes
and reinstitute the county-
wide drug enforcement
team.
The chamber strongly
urges Polk County citizens
to support this critical
measure to improve under-
funded public safety servic-
es in Polk County. Vote “yes”
on Measure 27-117.
Bob Brannigan, president
Dallas Area
Chamber of Commerce
Public safety funds
are now insufficient
Funding for Polk County
government comes from
several sources:
federal/state designated
funds that the county ad-
ministers, property taxes,
grants, bonds, etc.
The piece of this funding
stream that supports public
safety, our permanent prop-
erty tax rate, is now insuffi-
cient to fund county public
safety departments.
Please join me in sup-
porting the upcoming pub-
lic safety operating levy to
restore needed personnel to
the district attorney, jail,
probation and deputy patrol
staffs. Our community
needs 24/7 emergency re-
sponse times, prosecution
of all levels of crimes, timely
trial dates, adequate proba-
tion and juvenile staff, plus
support and backup for our
city police departments.
Jean Sherbeck
Dallas
Peace of mind will
come by OKing levy
In the past year 1,600
callers to 9-1-1 were told,
“We are sorry, there is no
one available to help you
now.”
The calls about suspi-
cious activities, trespassers,
peeping toms, help for do-
mestic violence victims,
vandalism and other issues
did get responded to — the
next day or after.
Public safety means
peace of mind that we are
safe in our homes, commu-
nity and property without
taking actions for which we
are not trained. Let’s help
each other by supporting
the public safety levy.
Marianne Novotny
Monmouth
Levy is about more
than sheriff patrols
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
PUBLIC AGENDA
Public Agenda is a listing of upcoming meetings
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, APRIL 1
• Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m.,
Polk County Courthouse, 850 Main St., Dallas. 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., Vol-
unteer Hall, 144 S. Warren St., Monmouth. 503-838-
0722.
• Monmouth Planning Commission — 7 p.m., Vol-
unteer Hall, 144 S. Warren St., Monmouth. 503-838-0722.
THURSDAY, APRIL 2
• Polk County Budget Committee — 10 a.m., Polk
County Courthouse, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-623-
8173.
mittee — 5:30 p.m., City Hall, 187 SE Court St., Dallas.
503-831-3502.
• Monmouth City Council — 7 p.m., Volunteer Hall,
144 S. Warren St., Monmouth. 503-838-0722.
MONDAY, APRIL 6
• Central School District Board of Directors —
6:30 p.m., Henry Hill Education Support Center, 750 S.
Fifth St., Independence. 503-838-0030.
• Dallas City Council — 7 p.m., City Hall, 187 SE
Court St., Dallas. 503-831-3502.
• Independence Planning Commission — 7 p.m.,
Independence Civic Center, 555 S. Main St., Independ-
ence. 503-838-1212.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8
• 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. Regular monthly meeting of board.
503-623-9680.
• Monmouth Park and Recreation Board — 7
p.m., Volunteer Hall, 144 S. Warren St., Monmouth.
503-838-0722.
TUESDAY, APRIL 7
• Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m.,
Polk County Courthouse, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-
623-8173.
• Dallas Urban Renewal District Advisory Com-
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. 13
(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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