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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (April 22, 2015)
6A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • April 22, 2015 Polk County News LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Continued from Page 4A County admin should live in means Well, isn’t that sweet! Polk County Administrator wants to give his people a pay raise in May, when the citizens and voters of the county go to polls to vote yes or no on a Sheriff's Pub- lic Safety Tax. This we don’t need, tax- payers to pay for salary in- creases on top of the public safety levy. It is time to wake up, get real and vote for people that will govern for the people and live within the same means that Polk County res- idents who are unemployed, under-employed or retired must live. Nelda Carroll-Allegar Dallas Money could be used elsewhere Why do we need a $1.22 million amphitheater? Upon reading about the project in the I-O, I ask my- self, what’s really the point? Let’s face it, the community often seems to pick up un- foreseen costs with projects like this. Does anyone else remem- ber the issues with funding the police station? Are there not other funding issues currently happening? Does it make sense that we should spend over a mil- lion dollars on a project that will see minimal use? We should look to Inde- pendence for example, not just try to keep up with them. They have a much better amphitheater than the one proposed, and it goes large- ly unused. What will Mon- mouth do differently? Our sister city has shown that there’s little to no chance of seeing a return on this investment, so why are we doing it? Why not use the funds we have to finish projects that are not moving forward? This amphitheater seems like a “keeping up with the Joneses” idea that hasn’t ac- tually been thought thr- ough. We shouldn’t allow for pet projects to be blown out of proportion on such a scale. It’s not responsible plan- ning, nor is the community asking for such a project. We can simply travel a few blocks down the street and make use of the much nicer amphitheater that al- ready exists. Let’s come up with a bet- ter idea for the space we have available, rather than simply copying an idea that’s proven not very good in the first place. An arboretum or public garden, for example, are better (and more beautiful) ideas. What’s wrong with the current method of setting up a temporary stage for music events? The answer to this ques- tion should be very good, if we’re to invest $1.22 million. There are better uses for this space. Robert Strutz Monmouth County pay raises not necessary Does anyone else see a problem with the Polk County Administrator say- ing that there is money for pay increases for the county officials, and yet there is no money to support the Sher- iff’s department? Rather than tax the peo- ple, maybe the answer is that we need a new county administrator. Ron James Dallas Citizens cannot afford more taxes Here we go again, and again, and again. The Polk County Com- missioners are again asking for property owners to open their checkbooks and give more money. In many instances, it is money citizens on a fixed income cannot afford. The public safety tax levy has been defeated once be- fore. To send a strong mes- sage to our county commis- sioner’s that we are sick and tired of more tax increases, please vote no. Raymond Godfrey Independence Want to write a letter to the editor? Letters to the editor are lim- ited to 300 words. Longer letters will be edited. Election-related letters of all types are limited to 100 words. Writers are limited to one elec- tion-related letter per election season. Election 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 10 a.m. Monday. Letters submitted may not be retractable after this deadline. CSD budget outlook positive Itemizer-Observer staff report INDEPENDENCE — Central School District’s budget out- look is better than it has been, even with a modest state economic forecast. Thanks to careful and fru- gal planning in years past, the district will move forward with enough money to sus- tain programs and hire addi- tional teachers for imple- menting things including full- day kindergarten, said Super- intendent Buzz Brazeau at Monday’s budget committee meeting. However, the state’s May economic forecast could still mean some uncertainty for the district’s financial status, Brazeau noted. The budget message and introduction were made at Monday’s meeting. Budget committee mem- bers will have until May 18 at 6 p.m. to review the numbers and be ready to ask questions and approve the budget. The school board will be able to adopt the final budg- et at its June 1 meeting. For more information: www.central.k12.or.us. OBITUARIES Edith Louise Brixius Oct. 17, 1953 – April 15, 2015 Edith Louise Brixius, 61, of Dallas died April 15. Celebration of life gathering was Sunday at The Club House of Meadow Creek Village Mo- bile Park in Dallas. Dallas Mortuary Tribute Center handled arrange- ments. To send an online condolence: www.dallastrib- ute.com. Clarence ‘Ronald’ Wilson Dec. 17, 1938 – March 12, 2015 Celebration of life for Clarence “Ronald” Wilson, 76, of Independence is Thursday at 2 p.m. at the Salem Eagles, 2771 Pence Loop SE, in Salem. Farnstrom Mortuary in Independence handled arrangements. To send an online condolence: www.FarnstromMortuary. Crown Memorial Service handled arrangements. Earl John ‘Sonny’ Dickman May 24, 1925 – March 13, 2015 July 6, 1942 – April 7, 2015 Earl John “Sonny” Dick- man, 72, of Dallas died April 7 from cancer. He was born to Carl and Loraine Dickman in Yamhill County. He was married to Donna Hamilton and they had lived in Valsetz. They later moved to Dallas where they lived and raised their four daugh- ters. Sonny had worked in the mill and cannery. He was preceded in death by his wife, Donna in 2007. Survivors include his daughters, Michelle Jose, Linda Roberts, Lesa Bel- wood and Jennifer Dobbins; siblings, Lori, Sharon, Cathy, Elmer, Jimmy and Dee; and 10 grandchildren. Salem 412 Lancaster Drive NE Salem, OR 97301 (503) 581-6265 Low Cost Cremation & Burial Funerals & Memorials Simple Direct Cremation $495 Simple Direct Burial $550 Traditional Funeral $1,975 Discount priced Caskets, Urns and other Memorial items. Privately owned cremation facility. Locally owned and operated by Oregon families. www.ANewTradition.com Introducing BrainHearing ™ technology. Give your brain exactly what it needs to hear. Call now for your Free Trial. Joyful Sound Hearing 312 Main Street 503-623-0290 I N D A L L A S Fred Carlton Griffith Fred Carlton Griffith, 89, of Dallas died March 13 in Dallas. He was born to Carl Grif- fith Sr. and Abby Hawkins Griffith in Lufkin, Texas. Carl was a plumber and pipe fitter and active in his union for more than 60 years. At various times in his life, he was a real e s t a t e agent, a restaurant c h a i n manager, a weekend commer- cial fisher- man, and dealt in electronic sales of books and collectibles. He hunted deer, moose, elk, pheasant, and turkey for the table from the time he was a young man through- out his life. He read widely and subscribed to several science magazines. Carl loved meeting peo- ple, sharing stories, and helping others. He was known by friends and family as a kind and in- teresting man. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Gene and Donald. Survivors include his sib- lings, Richard, Charles, Larry, and Cheryl Mickelson; daughters, Jill Griffith, Lau- rie Anderson and Joyce Grif- fith; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and extended family. Memorial gathering will be Aug. 16 at noon at Oak Grove Grange. Charles Edward Taylor April 17, 2015 Charles Edward Taylor, Sr., 82, of Dallas died Friday in Salem. He had worked for the state hospital for 31 years and retired in 1988. He and his wife, Loma moved to Dallas in 1995. Survivors include his wife, Loma of Dallas; son, Charles Jr. of Dallas; and sister, Dorothy Fishel. Private burial was in the Willamette National Ceme- tery in Portland. Dallas Mortuary Tribute Center handled arrange- ments. To send an online condolence: www.dallastrib- ute.com. Celia Jennie Putman Phillips May 6, 1931 – April 15, 2015 Celia Jennie Putman Phillips, 83, of Monmouth died April 15. She was born to Lucy and Byron Putman. Her mother Lucy died while Celia was very young. Her father then remarried Alberta, her step- mother. Celia grew up on a dairy farm in upstate New York in the family home which housed three generations. She attended a business school in Massachusetts and l a t e r worked in an insur- ance com- pany and for General Electric. C e l i a met Buell at a friend’s wedding and they married a year later on March 8. Celia and Buell moved to California in 1958 and set- tled in Monmouth in 1965. Celia’s talents included painting, sewing, cooking and preserving foods, fish- ing, skiing, archery and ca- noeing. She retired after 26 years of service at Central High School. In retirement, Celia and Buell enjoyed wintering in Arizona and traveling throughout the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii. She lived a full and rich life. She was preceded in death by her brother, Alvin. Survivors include her hus- band, Buell; son, Russell (Shannon); daughter, Cheryl (Dieter); two grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter. Service was Sunday at Farnstrom Mortuary in In- dependence. To send an online condo- lence: www.FarnstromMor- tuary.com. Santos Ledezma April 20, 1962 – April 16, 2015 Santos Ledezma, 52, of In- dependence died Thursday. Services are pending with Farnstrom Mortuary in In- dependence. For information and to send a condolence: www.Farn- stromMortuary.com. Georgetta Johnson July 16, 1942 – April 17, 2015 Georgetta Johnson, 72, of Dallas died Friday in Salem. She was born in Coquille to George and Loretta Wod- kins. Georgetta graduated from Coquille High School. She married Doug Johnson on Oct. 8, 1960, in Monmouth. They settled in Dallas in 1966. Georgetta started working for Salem Title Co. in Dallas in 1962. She continued to work for the title company and retired as an escrow of- ficer in 1999 from Ticor Title in Dallas. Georgetta was an active member of Beta Sigma Phi and enjoyed spending time with her sorority sisters. She also was a member St. Philip Catholic Church. She espe- cially loved her grandchil- dren and enjoyed spending time with them and her family dogs. Survived by her husband, Doug of Dallas; children, Tami Johnson (Russell Wyatt) of Santa Rosa, Calif., Kelli (Kenny) Moffett of Pacific City, and Larry (Stacey) Johnson of Phoenix, Ariz.; sister, Darlene Belden of Redmond; and six grandchil- dren. Funeral Mass is Saturday at 11 a.m. at St. Philip Catholic Church in Dallas. Visitation is Friday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. at Dallas Mortuary Tribute Center. Private interment will be at Dallas Cemetery. Contributions are sug- gested to Willamette Hu- mane Society or De La Salle School Blackfeet in care of Dallas Mortuary Tribute Center, which handled arrangements. To send an online condo- lence: www.dallastribute. com. S.C. ‘Jack’ Crocker Jan. 4, 1924 – April 19, 2015 S.C. “Jack” Crocker, 91, of Dallas died Sunday in Salem. He was born in Van Buren, Ark., to Smither and Mattie Morrell Crocker. Jack grew up and lived in Van Buren until joining the Navy during World War II. He was stationed on the USS Cleveland until the end of the war. In 1948, he met his wife M a r i e Weaver at a dance hall i n Te x a s , she had made the comment that she had seen the man she was going to marry, and she did. In 1949, they moved their family from Texas to Sweet Home where Jack worked for Willamette Industries as a production manager. He worked there until 1985 when he retired and began traveling with Marie. They traveled the United States and played golf wherever they could. He con- tinued to play golf until Janu- ary of this year. He was preceded in death by his wife, Marie. Survivors include his sis- ter, Norma Milton of Austin, Texas, and his son, Terry Crocker (Rebecca) of Neskowin. G ra v e s i d e s e r v i c e i s Thursday at 11 a.m. at Dal- las Cemetery. Dallas Mortuary Tribute Center handled arrange- ments. To send an online condolence: www.dallastrib- ute.com.