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Polk County Itemizer-Observer • May 13, 2015 3A Polk County News Show ‘unearths’ beauty of Falls City Call before you dig this spring By Jolene Guzman POLK COUNTY — Pacific Power reminds people to call 811 two days before doing any digging on their property. Installing a mailbox, post for a deck or planting a tree are ac- tivities that should trigger a call to 811, Gene Morris, Pacific Power’s director of health, safety and equipment, said in a press release. The number is the nationwide toll-free Call Before you Dig number. It is a Federal Communications Commission-designat- ed number that connects people to a local call center. People at the local call center can alert underground facility owners of possible digging so any lines may be marked with paint or flags. For more information: www.call811.com. The Itemizer-Observer FALLS CITY — For just a brief moment, Lori Jean Sickles, the owner of The Boondocks in Falls City, was on television. “I missed it!” Sickles said of her short “cameo” on Dis- cover y Channel’s “Un- earthed,” which was filmed in and around Falls City. Friday night, the bar was showing the second episode of the reality show about competitive professional truffle hunters who live in the area. Spending much of the evening in the kitchen, Sick- les walked up front just sec- onds after her “scene” in the episode. That segment of the episode followed “Un- earthed” hunter Richie Max- field into The Boondocks to conduct a transaction. Friday’s showing drew a few people to The Boon- docks to watch the second installment of the five-part series. The more dramatic parts, complete with intense music, produced some skeptical reactions from viewers, but for the most part people were happy to see Falls City get the atten- tion. “It doesn’t seem like it’s all that realistic, but it’s pretty cool,” said The Boondocks bartender Gil Markel. Markel said he knows Ty Hale, Levy Schwartzendru- ber and Maxfield, three of the truffle hunters featured on the show, and said they are pretty serious about their trade, as the show por- trays. “They do it all the time,” NEWS IN BRIEF Statewide traffic ‘blitz’ coming JOLENE GUZMAN/ Itemizer-Observer MONMOUTH — The Monmouth Police Department will con- duct specialized traffic safety enforcement operations from May 18-31. Along with law enforcement agencies throughout the state, Oregon State Police, sheriffs and local police will work to in- crease proper safety belt and child car seat use during a statewide traffic enforcement “blitz.” Officers will also be check- ing for persons riding illegally in the open bed of pickup trucks. This enhanced “Click It or Ticket” enforcement is paid for by dedicated funding from the National Highway Traffic Safety Ad- ministration and will focus on increasing awareness of laws re- garding safety restraint use, speed and impaired drivers. About a dozen Falls City residents gather at The Boondocks to watch Discovery’s “Un- earthed” Friday night. The show follows Falls City black truffle hunters. Court St. sidewalk repair underway he said. He added even after just one episode, people are ask- ing questions about black truffle hunting “(People are) asking if you really can find them out here,” he said. Sickles said it appears Discovery may have “en- hanced” some of the per- sonalities of the six men the show follows, but not too much. “I know most of the guys, and that’s basically how they are,” she said. Sickles said she’s excited about the show and has been telling as many people as possible about it. “I think it will be great for the city,” she said. “Even if it makes us look goofy, people will still want to come out Truffle hunting stories What: Discovery Channel’s “Unearthed.” When: Fridays at 10 p.m. Of note: The Boondocks in Falls City, 318 N. Main St., will be showing “Unearthed” each Friday night at 9 p.m. here. I’m thrilled about it.” Falls City resident Amy Houghtaling — who was try- ing her best to ignore the episode so she could watch it with her family later — said the film crew was the talk of the town last fall when the majority of the show was filmed. Discovery and producer Zodiak NYC kept a pretty tight lid on details, however, until recently. “It was a ‘top secret show,’” she said. Houghtaling said she agrees with Sickles about what the show will do for the community. “I think any exposure for Falls City is good,” she said. DALLAS — Work has begun to replace the sidewalks on the south side of Southeast Court Street in Dallas. The project, paid for with Dallas Urban Renewal Agency funding, will replace 160 feet of sidewalk and remove and re- place street trees. Businesses in the area will be open during construction. However, the sidewalk and parking area on the south side of the 100 block of Southeast Court Street will be closed most of this week (May 11-16, weather permitting). “This continues the urban renewal district’s vital investment in the downtown,” said Dallas Community Development Direc- tor Jason Locke. For more information, contact the Community Development Department at 503-831-3571. The Itemizer-Observer Your community news source JOIN US TO... GIVE CANCER THE BOOT Together We Can End Cancer Relay For Life Of Polk County May 30-31 • 10a.m. to 10a.m. at LaCreole Middle School Track • Dallas Participate as a: day volunteer • form a team to walk through the night • light a luminaria bag in remembrance of a loved one • just stop by and experience the relay If you or someone you know is interested in participating, being a sponsor or making a contribution, contact Tami Bookey-Kuhlmann, online: 2015relayforlifepc@gmail.com 100 Years Ago the American Cancer Society started the fight of a lifetime. Together We Can Finish The Fight! RECYCLE A little effort. A big difference.