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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (May 27, 2015)
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • May 27, 2015 15A Polk County News/Education Relayers share passion to ‘boot cancer’ By Jolene Guzman The Itemizer-Observer DALLAS — Relay for Life Polk County 2015 is going back to basics to “Give Can- cer the Boot” this weekend. With a new event leader and a new location, the Polk County’s 15th annual Ameri- can Cancer Society fundrais- ing event is focusing on raising awareness and including any who want to be involved — all while having a blast. “Once you get in, you get hooked,” said Polk’s Relay for Life event leader Tami Bookey-Kuhlmann. “We have quite a few new teams this year, and they are all gung-ho and excited about it. … I look forward to being at the event and watching all that happens and everybody having a good time.” Bookey-Kuhlmann can re l a t e t o t h e “g e t t i n g hooked” part of relay. Her involvement began by hap- penstance eight years ago. Give Cancer the Boot What: ACS Relay for Life Polk County 2015. Where: LaCreole Middle School, 701 SE LaCreole Drive, Dallas. When: Opening Saturday at 10 a.m. until 10 a.m. Sunday. For more information: Tami Bookey-Kuhlmann 2015re- layforlifepc@gmail.com or look for Relay for Life Polk County on Facebook. Bookey-Kuhlmann said she saw a relay event taking place and asked what was going on. She’s decided to join and has since became a team captain, then joined the organizing committee, and this year became event leader. “I’m really passionate about it,” Bookey-Kuhlmann said. “It rings true to my heart. I just want to make a difference.” Since joining eight years ago, she has lost loved ones to cancer, so the fight has become even closer to her heart. “I do have a more person- al passion,” she said. That passion has led her to want to include as many people as possible in this weekend’s relay. It looks as t h o u g h t h e e ve n t w i l l meet — or come ver y close — to its goal of having 500 registered participants in the 24-hour event span- ning Saturday and Sunday. But Bookey-Kuhlmann said you don’t have to be regis- tered to be a part of Relay for Life. “This is a community event,” she said. “We want everybody there who has the EMILY MENTZER/Itemizer-Observer file Luminarias light the way throughout the night. time and willingness to come check us out.” The biggest change to Relay 2015 is that it is being held at LaCreole Middle School instead of at the Dal- las High School football field. The reason behind the change is the Dallas School District is reserving its pre- mier field for sporting events. The long-time event sponsor offered LaCreole’s field instead. Because of the switch, Bookey-Kuhlmann said or- ganizers decided to keep the format simple. This year, the theme is “Give Cancer the Boot,” and several activities have been built around it, including western-themed laps and Saturday night line dancing. Bookey-Kuhlmann said there are two events she wants all people, registered or not, to feel welcome to at- tend: the survivor lap at 10:20 a.m. Saturday and the Luminaria Ceremony at 10 p.m. Saturday. At the Luminaria Ceremo- ny, bags with lit candles are placed around the track, all representing someone fight- ing cancer or who has died from it. Bookey-Kuhlmann said it’s a moving and pow- erful sight. The survivor lap is re- served for those who have survived or are fighting can- cer and their caregivers. “We want to invite all sur- vivors and caregivers,” Bookey-Kuhlmann said, noting former caregivers are welcome as well. “It’s still a place they can come and have that community that has been through what they have been through.” SCHOOL NOTES FEMA MV Christian accepting students names Stutzman to council MONMOUTH — Mid-Valley Christian Academy in Mon- mouth is accepting new students, pre-K through grade 12, for the 2015-2016 school year. The school is a private, Christian school and nationally ac- credited by the Northwest Accreditation Commission and AdvancEd. Call the school office for tuition information or to sched- ule a visit at 503-838-2818. The school is located at 1483 16th St. N., Monmouth, OR 97361. LaCreole School to host preview DALLAS — All LaCreole Middle School incoming sixth- graders and their parents are invited to the school’s sixth- grade preview night Thursday from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The gathering will begin in the gym for a 10-minute intro- duction, and then students and parents can take the rest of the evening to visit classrooms and meet teachers. Refresh- ments will be available. For more information: 503-623-6662. Perrydale to perform classic play JOLENE GUZMAN/ Itemizer-Observer Sgt. Bradley Holbrook carries son Sawyer, 3, while older son Landon, 6, walks with him during a homecoming parade down Main Street in Dallas on Friday. Home: Boy so happy to see dad, sheds crocodile tears Continued from 1A Bradley was deployed in mid-June 2014 and spent most of his time stationed in Kabul, Afghanistan. “It’s definitely been a long time for them,” Jessica said of her sons. She said before Thursday, she asked Landon what he thought he would do when he saw his dad again. “He said, ‘I’m just going to hug him and I think I’m going to cry,’” Jessica said. Landon kept his word, rushing to hug his dad. “He had crocodile tears he was so happy,” Jessica said. The family continued its happy homecoming Sunday, leaving for a trip to Disney- land. Hofferber said school staff had to participate in a little trickery to keep Landon PERRYDALE — Perrydale School will be staging the classic “The Sound of Music” on Thursday and Friday at 7 p.m. Friday’s show comes with limited reserve seating at $20. Ticketholders will be served pie and beverages during the show. Proceeds from reserve seating will help cover the cost of costumes, set and props. Non-reserved tickets are free. Tickets are available at the school’s office, 7445 Perrydale Road, Amity. For more information: 503-623-2040. ACADEMIC HONORS Local students earn honors NEWBERG — Polk County students were named on the dean’s list at George Fox University for spring term. More than 800 students earned a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher to earn dean’s list honors. Among those earning the recognition were the following local students: Courtney DuMond of Dallas, a junior majoring in biology, Julie Hedrick of Independence, a senior majoring in elementary education, Colton Magill of Monmouth, a sophomore majoring in economics and finance, Anna Spence of Dallas, a senior majoring in nursing, and Victoria Wilson of Dallas, a senior majoring in management. Itemizer-Observer staff report MONMOUTH — Megan Stutzman of Monmouth was named to the 2015-16 Na- tional Youth Preparedness Council. The council brings together youth leaders from across the country who are interested in advocating on behalf of pre- paredness and making a dif- ference in their communities. It supports the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s commitment to in- volving youth in prepared- ness-related activities and provides an avenue to en- gage youth by taking into ac- count their perspectives, feedback and opinions. As a member of the coun- cil, Stutzman will be able to share her ideas, opinions and questions about youth disas- ter preparedness; determine legacy projects; and meet FEMA community prepared- ness staff. For more information: www.ready.gov. Visit our website: www.polkio.com JOLENE GUZMAN/Itemizer-Observer Oregon Army National Guard Sgt. Bradley Holbrook talks with Landon after surprising him at Lyle on Thursday. from suspecting something. But in the end, the emo- tional surprise was worth it. “It was really neat to be a HURRY! THESE SAVINGS ARE ALMOST OVER! part of that,” Hofferber said. “He came in right at the right time. 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