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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (April 15, 2015)
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • April 15, 2015 15A Polk County News Student brings gun to Dallas High Utility fee option Quick response from police, DHS admin diffuses situation By Jolene Guzman The Itemizer-Observer DALLAS — Police say the student who brought a gun to Dallas High School on April 7 had no intention of using it to commit mass vi- olence. “There were some other motives that are still under investigation,” said Dallas police Lt. Jerry Mott. “We believe we have ruled out any intent to do a ‘school shooting’ though.” Police responded April 7 after a parent called the Dal- las School District with con- cerns over a rumor that a stu- dent had a gun at the school. Police and school staff quickly detained involved students and officers were quickly able to locate the weapon in a field near the school. Mott said because the involved students and firearm were found early — with the cooperation of the suspect — there was no need to call for a lockdown of the school. “All of the involved youths were also under im- mediate control and sur- veillance of police or school staff away from the other students,” Mott said, adding every Dallas officer on duty was called to the scene to ensure the safety of stu- dents. The pistol was an antique .44 Magnum revolver that the suspect had taken from a family member without permission. Thus far in the investiga- tion, one juvenile has been referred on charges of un- lawful possession of a firearm, tampering with physical evidence, and un- lawful possession of a firearm in a public building. Involvement of other juve- niles remains under investi- gation. “We are very thankful for the bravery of the student who told their parent, and the parent who called the school,” Mott said. “These actions, along with the dili- gent efforts of school staff, made the youth of our com- munity safer.” Interim Superintendent Dennis Engle said district officials are not aware of any specific threats or the reason the student brought the pistol to school. “(April 7) we faced a po- tentially dangerous situa- tion at the high school that was quickly defused be- cause of cooperation among and quick responses Council looks at fee to pay for street, stormwater improvements By Emily Mentzer The Itemizer-Observer PROVIDED BY DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT Dallas Police found an antique .44 Magnum revolver at Dallas High on Tuesday after a tip from a student. by our student body, par- ents, staff and law enforce- ment,” Engle said. “We re- main very grateful for the quick thinking and actions taken today by students, parents, police officers and staff.” Salem man arrested on alleged burglary spree Itemizer-Observer staff report DALLAS — Dallas police arrested a Salem man in connection with several business burglaries in Dallas in recent weeks. After releasing a photo of the suspect taken off of a security camera, Dallas for street upkeep officers received a number of tips from the public identifying the man as Adam Harper, 27. Officers arrested Harper on April 2 on charges of: first-degree theft, two counts of second-degree theft, three counts of second-degree burglary, five counts of second-degree attempted burglary, first- degree criminal mischief and six counts of second-degree criminal mischief. Harper was taken to Polk County Jail where he is being held on $137,500 bail. Police continue to investigate the case and anticipate more arrests. MONMOUTH — Resi- dents of Monmouth may see a new charge on utility bills if the council proceeds with a transportation utility fee. The fee, which a consult- ant will put together at vari- ous rates, would pay for stormwater systems and streets, City Manager Scott McClure said at the April 7 council work session. “We’ve been drawing down the street fund,” he said. “We’ve lost money. We can’t touch any kind of seri- ous improvements needed.” A street funding task force a s s e m b l e d i n Ja n u a r y brought back suggestions for the Monmouth City Council to consider, all pointing to a new transportation utility, but at four different service levels, or rates — dirt, sand, gravel and asphalt levels. Dirt would be the lowest and least expensive level of serv- ice, whereas asphalt would be the highest. McClure said at the dirt level, street and stormwater funds would struggle to con- tinue the same service resi- dents currently get. “It would not provide ade- quate funds to perform nec- essary preventative meas- ures,” he said. The sand level would defi- nitely suffice to hold services where they are today, while gravel and asphalt would work to improve streets and stormwater systems. Councilor Marshall Guthrie asked to see real numbers for the asphalt level of service. “We should do it in a way that sets our city up to look and feel like a really nice community,” he said, noting the difference of how the newly renovated stretch of Talmadge Road feels to bicy- clers as compared to Clay Street. McClure said the asphalt level does set the city up to be proactive in caring for streets and stormwater sys- tems. Councilor Royal Johnson said the asphalt level would be too high — hypothetically priced at $12.25 a month to residential customers. None of the costs are cer- tain at this point, McClure said. The task force just took some estimates for examples on how the utility might work, but actual numbers will vary once the consultant is on board. For more information or to review the proposal: www.ci.monmouth.or.us/do cview.aspx?doctype=agen- da&docid=5671. In other business: The city finance depart- ment has switched to a new billing system for its water utility and has been having some issues, which are being worked out. In the mean- time, Monmouth residents may want to pay close atten- tion to their bills for April. OHA TIP fund pays $3,850 to witnesses who helped bag poachers The Oregon Hunters Association's Turn In Poachers (TIP) Reward Fund paid $3,850 in re- wards to witnesses of wildlife violations in the first quarter of 2015 in 10 cases that came from Oregon State Police offices in Jackson, Clatsop, Wasco, Douglas, Tillamook, Morrow, Linn/Ben- ton, Umatilla, Josephine, and Deschutes coun- ties. Charges included criminal trespass with a firearm, aiding in a wildlife offense/game viola- tion, waste of wildlife and big game, hunting on enclosed lands of another, and unlawful take/possession of cow elk, mule deer doe, spike ODFW family fishing event at Hebo Lake April 18 TILLAMOOK, Ore. — The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife invites anglers to get out and enjoy a day of spring trout fishing when it hosts a family fishing event Saturday, April 18 at Hebo Lake from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. ODFW will provide equipment including rods, reels, tackle and bait for use during the event while supplies last. Anglers are also welcome to bring their own gear. Angling education instruc- tors and volunteers will be present to provide as- sistance and demonstrate good fishing techniques. To ensure that everybody has a good chance of catching fish, ODFW will stock the lake with 3,000 trout just prior to the event. “This is an excellent opportunity for anyone to discover fishing, or get reacquainted if they have been away from the sport for a while,” said Ron Rehn, STEP biologist for ODFW’s North Coast Watershed. The event is open to the public, and no pre-reg- istration is required. Anglers 13 years old and younger do not need a fishing license while those 14-17 years of age will need a juvenile fishing li- cense. Everybody else must have an adult fishing license. Licenses will not be sold at the event so individuals planning to participate should obtain them ahead of time from an ODFW license agent, ODFW field office or on-line at www.odfw.com. Hebo Lake is a 2-acre lake located 3 ½ miles east of the Hebo Ranger Station on the Hebo Mountain Road. From Hebo, take Hwy. 22 ¼ mile east, then turn left onto Forest Road 14. The U.S. Forest Service, which manages the lake and campground, will waive the $5 day use fee during this event. Overnight camping fees will continue to apply. buck, buck deer, and wild coho salmon. "This was an above-average quarter for TIP rewards," said OHA State Co- ordinator Duane Dungannon, whose office administers the reward checks. "OHA's TIP fund typically pays about $13,000 in rewards to witnesses of wildlife violations in a year, so this was a busy three months." Rewards are paid for information leading to an arrest/conviction for the illegal possession, killing, taking, and/or waste of deer, elk, antelope, bear, cougar, bighorn sheep, moun- tain goat, moose, and/or game birds. A large reward is offered in the recent case of two bull elk poached and In addition, a reward may be issued wasted near Newport. The Oregon Hunters Association paid $3,850 in for information that results in an ar- rewards in the first quarter of 2015. (State Police photo) rest/conviction of a person who has To report a wildlife and/or habitat law violation illegally obtained Oregon hunting or angling li- or suspicious activity, contact Oregon State Police censes or tags. Increasing damage to wildlife habitat by vehi- via the 24-hour TIP Hotline: 1-800-452-7888 or by cles prompted OHA in 2009 to create the Natural email: TIP@state.or.us (monitored M-F 8 a.m. - 5 Resources Reward Program that offers a $200 re- p.m.). Please use the TIP Hotline for weekend and ward for information leading to the arrest of any- evening reporting. Witnesses can download and complete the vi- one causing natural resources damage by the olation/suspicious activity report form and pro- illegal use of motorized vehicles and is similar to vide the information to us in person or via phone, its highly successful TIP program. The TIP reward scale is as follows: $100 game e-mail, fax, or mail. When reporting a violation, fish; $100 game birds; $200 habitat damage; $250 advise the trooper of your interest in requesting deer, bear, antelope, and cougar; $500 elk, the reward. TIPs can also remain anonymous. OHA is the state’s largest Oregon-based pro- bighorn sheep, moose, and mountain goat. Re- wards can be higher in special circumstances, hunting organization, with 10,000 members and particularly when local OHA chapters add to the 26 chapters statewide. Its mission is “to provide abundant huntable wildlife resources in Oregon reward offers. The TIP fund is largely self-sustaining as the for present and future generations, enhancement result of court-ordered restitution that convicted of wildlife habitat and protection of hunters rights.” violators are required to pay to the fund. 503 623-7056 Tues-Fri 9-6 • Sat 9-4 468 NE Bovard, Dallas (Big red building behind Wal-Mart)
