Polk County
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Polk County Itemizer-Observer • May 13, 2015 4A
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Main Street on its much de-
served road to a comeback.
No vote on levy is
for accountability
Eloise Van Tassel
Sebastopol, Calif.
(Measure) 27-117 is about
responsibility. Timber dol-
lars did not disappear
overnight. Everyone paying
attention knew this was
coming. A handful of state
representatives have been
warning of a funding crisis
coming to timber counties
for nearly 10 years.
This problem is not new;
it began in the days of the
spotted owl and is now
being talked about as some-
thing that just happened.
We have to ask ourselves
why our elected official
waited until now to begin to
fix the problem. This is an
opportunity to demand ac-
countability and vote no on
27-117.
Levy is small price
to pay for safety
We deserve 24-hour sher-
iff’s patrols in Polk County
and a District Attorney’s of-
fice with resources to prose-
cute every criminal, not just
the worst. Each of us paying
a little more so all our resi-
dents can be safe is a small
price to pay.
Let’s be responsible citi-
zens and pay for essential
public services instead of
hoping the feds will do it for
us. Vote “yes” on Measure
27-117.
Wanda Davis
Dallas
Bob Miller
Dallas
Yes vote to bring
justice for victims
The county is seeking the
public’s help to add neces-
sary and vital criminal jus-
tice services. This levy is a
necessity for our county. We
immediately lack the ability
for the DA’s office to prose-
cute offenders.
The DA’s office is running
on fumes trying to get cases
indicted for victims in our
county.
Without adequate sup-
port and funding, there is
potential for these offenders
to fall through the cracks yet
again. We simply do not
have the staff to run an ef-
fective justice system in
Polk County. This is a dis-
service to all crime victims!
Please vote “yes” for pub-
lic safety.
Kelli Carpenter
Monmouth Police Officer
Association
Monmouth
Sheriff should
re-prioritize needs
“The Polk County Sher-
iff’s Office is limited to 10
hours of patrol per day and
has forced the District Attor-
ney’s Office to prioritize
cases,” a quote from the ar-
ticle in the April 29 edition
of the I-O.
I was ready to give a yes
vote until the other day
when I saw the Sheriff's Pa-
trol on the river in their
boat checking ID’s and
boater registration and etc.
The Sheriff’s Department
has let me down on what
they call priority. I really feel
that time on the water
should be spent right now
in other duties of the sher-
iff’s office.
Glen Harmison
Dallas
Editor’s note: The Sheriff’s
Marine Patrol is funded
through a grant by the Ore-
No guarantee how
money will be spent
WANT TO WRITE A LETTER?
Letters to the editor are lim-
ited to 300 words. Longer let-
ters 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.
Letters that are libelous, ob-
scene or in bad taste will not
be printed.
Attacks by name on busi-
nesses or individuals will not
gon Marine Board.
Raises, timber
money means no
Polk County will be faced
with a controversial tax
measure — safety levy. Iron-
ically, at one time, I was in
favor of this measure — to
adequately fund the Polk
County Sheriff’s Depart-
ment.
However, two months
ago, Congress approved the
funding of O&CR (Oregon &
California Railroad Timber
money.) Also it was disturb-
ing to learn “Polk” was
added to the levy; 2 percent
raise to county employees.
This has turned into a
mindless tax measure;
therefore, I’m urging voters
to reject this levy.
James Allgood
Independence
County’s levy
record is good
In 15 years working with
all departments in Polk
County, I found talented
and dedicated employees
doing their job with fewer
people and less money.
I challenge Mannenbach’s
statement that “he is leery
be printed.
Letters, like all editorial ma-
terial submitted to the news-
paper, are edited for length,
grammar and content.
Letters must include the au-
thor’s name, address and tele-
phone number.
This includes letters sub-
mitted via the I-O’s website.
Names and cities of residence
are published; street ad-
dresses and telephone num-
bers are used for verification
purposes only.
Letters must be submitted
from individuals, not organiza-
of the commissioners’ ver-
bal promise.”
There have been three
successful ballot measures
for Polk County (two road
bonds and jail bond). In all
cases, the county did more
than they promised.
One last observation, I
personally worked with
Sheriff Wolfe throughout my
career, and you will never
find a nicer, more honest
and loyal public employee. I
support this levy and ask
you to support the same.
John Graham
Dallas
‘Rainbow girl’ glad
Garden to be fixed
I read with interest about
Mr. Bob Collin’s purchase of
the Blue Garden building
and his intent to “bring it
back to what it was.” (April
1) I spent my first 18 years
growing up in Dallas (1941-
1959), and graduated from
Dallas High School. So, this
qualifies me to send my
“Blue Garden” story.
I was a Rainbow girl, fol-
lowing a strong family tradi-
tion of “lodge” affiliation.
Eventually I “went through
the chairs” and served as
Worthy Advisor in 1959. We
tions, and must be original
submissions to the I-O, not
copies of letters sent to other
media.
The deadline for letters to
the editor is 10 a.m. Monday.
Letters submitted may not be
retractable after this deadline.
—
Reach us at:
Mail: Editor, Polk County
Itemizer-Observer, P.O. Box
108, Dallas, OR 97338.
Fax: 503-623-2395.
Email:
ionews@polkio.com.
Office: 147 SE Court St., Dallas.
held our meetings in the
Masonic Hall above the
Blue Garden on Monday
nights. Many of the Rain-
bow functions specified for-
mal dress. It was a grand
opportunity for a young girl
to go to one of the Salem
department stores to be
outfitted in a confection of
pastel satin and tulle, as dic-
tated by late ’50’s fashion.
It was de rigueur for me
and my Rainbow friends —
Judie, Page, Nancy, Kelley,
Carol Woods, and Karen
Casey among them — to
stop in at the Blue Garden
after we descended the
stairs from our Rainbow
function and sip a Coke. We
slid ourselves, clad in our
bouffant formal gowns, into
one of the Naugahyde
booths, where we must
have provoked an indulgent
smile from the regular
denizens of the Blue Gar-
den’s adult nightlife.
Visiting Dallas in later
years, seeing the decline of
Main Street and the adja-
cent downtown has sad-
dened me. Bravo to Mr.
Collins for launching the
“old girl” on her way back to
her former glory, art deco
sign, glass brick and all. One
hopes that she’ll prove a
leader for the venerable
County punishing voters
into submission.
There were many ways
the county could have re-
solved its budget without
reducing the number of
sheriff’s deputies. They
chose to reduce the most
obvious and most needed
group of employees purely
to coerce voters into voting
more money for them to
spend.
Nothing in this measure
actually commits to more
deputies on the road. This
measure leaves open the
possibility of spending for
anything they want. They
could have found other
areas to cut last time, and
there is no guarantee they
won’t use the same tactic
next time they want more
money.
Daniel Betts
Dallas
Levy benefits all in
safer communities
The public safety system
is an “umbrella” that en-
compasses patrol, prosecu-
tion, jail, community cor-
rections and juvenile, but
this system is nearing col-
lapse without additional
support. This levy will cost
45 cents per $1,000 of as-
sessed value. But in return,
residents will receive re-
stored 24-hours patrols, ad-
equately staffed jail, protec-
tion for emergency medical
responders, backup for mu-
nicipal agencies, prosecu-
tion of felony and misde-
meanor crimes, preventa-
tive drug enforcement, and
countless other benefits
from living in a safer com-
munity. I urge a yes vote on
Ballot Measure 27-117; its
passage will support all
parts of the Polk County
public safety system.
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
Mike Ainsworth
Monmouth
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 (ionews@polkio.com).
—
WEDNESDAY, MAY 13
• Polk Soil and Water Conservation District — 6
p.m., USDA Service Center, 580 Main St., Suite A, Dal-
las. 503-623-9680, ext. 5.
THURSDAY, MAY 14
• Polk County Fire District No. 1 Board — 6 p.m.,
Central Station 90, 1800 Monmouth St., Independ-
ence. 503-838-1510.
• Luckiamute Watershed Council — 7 p.m., Volun-
teer Hall, 144 S. Warren St., Monmouth. 503-837-0237.
• Falls City City Council — 7:30 p.m., Falls City
Community Center, 320 N. Main St., Falls City. 503-787-
3631.
MONDAY, MAY 18
• Dallas City Council — 7 p.m., City Hall, 187 SE
Court St., Dallas. 503-831-3502.
• Perrydale School Board — 7 p.m., Perrydale
School, 7445 Perrydale Road, Amity. 503-623-2040.
TUESDAY, MAY 19
• Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m.,
Polk County Courthouse, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-623-
8173.
• Independence Historic Preservation Commis-
sion — 4 p.m., Independence Civic Center, 555 S. Main
St., Independence. 503-838-1212.
• Falls City School Board — 5:30 p.m., Falls City
High School resource room, 111 N. Main St., Falls City.
503-787-3521.
• Monmouth City Council — 7 p.m., Volunteer Hall,
144 S. Warren St., Monmouth. 503-838-0722.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 20
• Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m.,
Polk County Courthouse, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-623-
8173.
• Monmouth Planning Commission — 7 p.m., Vol-
unteer Hall, 144 S. Warren St., Monmouth. 503-838-0722
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. 19
(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
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Polk County — One Year $27
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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/Editor .............................................................nadams@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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