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.