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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (June 17, 2015)
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • June 17, 2015 13A Polk County News Annual Falls City July 3 events could be canceled By Jolene Guzman The Itemizer-Observer FALLS CITY — The July 3 celebrations in Falls City ap- pear to be in jeopardy due to concerns over insurance. The Falls City Booster Club had taken over coordi- nating the event for the first time this year and had planned to make it a fundraising event by charg- ing for parking or admission for those not parking. However, those plans were nixed at Thursday’s Falls City City Council meet- ing when the city’s insur- ance company and city at- torney said charging for the event would increase the city’s liability too much. Mayor Terry Ungricht said the issue is that charging for the event — covered for in- surance purposes by the city — would eliminate what is called “recreational immu- nity.” Ungricht explained that a state law protects public entities from lawsuits as long as the event is free. “It’s (recreational immu- nity) a state of Oregon law saying if you don’t charge, you can’t be sued,” Ungricht said. Jenn Drill, a member of the booster club, said via email Monday night the or- ganization received confir- mation Friday that it couldn’t charge and decided to step down from hosting the event. Drill said the booster club does have insurance, but the city’s recommenda- tion stayed the same. Plans had been for vendor booths downtown opening in the morning and the pa- rade — a long-standing tra- dition — at 4 p.m. The annu- al fireworks display would have still taken place in the city’s Upper Park. Now, even that tradition is in question, though the city has already purchased in- surance to cover the display. Ungricht said he is trying to gather as many city coun- cilors to go to Wednesday’s (today) park and recreation committee meeting to sort out what, if any, of the planned events will go on. Ungricht said at this point, reorganizing the event would be difficult, as the city would need to find people to assist with parking and safety. In years past Polk County’s CERT team helped with that, but was not asked to attend this year and may already be committed else- where at this point. Ungricht said he will know more after Wednes- day’s meeting. “I’m trying to get everyone there so they can tell me what they are willing to do, and I can tell them what I am willing to do,” Ungricht said. More on this story will be in the June 24 edition of the I-O. Summer sturgeon seasons on tap in Bonneville pool CLACKAMAS, Ore. — Looking for a unique way to spend Father’s Day? Think about a day of fishing for North America’s largest freshwater fish species — white sturgeon — on the Columbia River. The first of three scheduled summer sturgeon seasons kicks off just in time for Father’s Day. Retention sturgeon fishing will take place June 19-21 on the Columbia River between Bonneville and The Dalles dams. Additional three-day fishing periods are scheduled for June 26-28 and July 3-5, although man- agers may adjust those dates to remain within the 1,100 fish annual harvest guideline. Fishery managers adopted the three-day summer sea- sons above Bonneville last year based on feedback from anglers, who in a series of public meetings expressed strong support for summer sturgeon fisheries. Retention sturgeon fishing is also open from McNary Dam to the Oregon/Washington border through July. The rest of the Columbia is limit- ed to catch-and-release sturgeon fishing. Sturgeon must be between 38 inches and 54 inches fork length to be retained in Bonneville Pool and between 43 and 54 inches fork length upstream of McNary Dam. The bag limit is one fish per day and two for the year. Fishing is re- stricted to the use of a single, barbless hook. Anglers are reminded that sturgeon fishing, including catch-and-release, is not permitted in the sturgeon sanctuary from The Dalles Dam downstream 1.8 miles to the boat ramp at the Port of The Dalles. For more information visit ODFW’s website. Anglers reel in a white sturgeon during a day of fishing in the Portland area. Sturgeon season reopens the first of three summer sturgeon fishing periods on June 19 in the Columbia River above Bonneville Dam. (Photo by Rick Swart/ODFW) Try outdoor skills while “Running Wild” at ODFW 5K near Corvallis Controlled hunt draw results SALEM, Ore. — Bring the whole family to this 5K walk/run with a wild twist on Saturday, June 20 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area near Corvallis. At ODFW’s second annual “Running Wild” event, participants can try four different outdoor skills at stations along the trail: 1) trap shooting with a shotgun, 2) archery at the E.E. Wilson Archery Range, 3) spin casting at a target and 4) identifying wildlife tracks (where you can also create a plaster cast of different animal prints to take home). All ac- tivities are supervised by ODFW staff or certified hunter and angler education volunteers, who are trained to coach newcomers in outdoor skills and put safety first. Finally, see birds-of-prey up close at the finish line! Molal- la’s Close En- counters (affili- ated with the American Wildlife Foun- dation) will host a raptor demonstration. Music and a wildlife information booth are also SALEM, Ore. — Hunters can now check to see if they drew a big game tag for the fall by visiting the My Hunter Information website or calling 1-866-947-6339. Hunters will need to provide their Hunter/Angler ID#, which is printed on all ODFW license documents and stays the same from year to year. They can call ODFW’s licensing division at 503-947-6101 if they are unable to locate their ID#. A total of 137,015 fall big game hunt tags were avail- able in the draw this year. ODFW received 407,402 fall controlled hunt applications, up from 389,172 last year. As results are available both online and by phone, ODFW no longer mails postcards notifying applicants of controlled hunt draw results. ODFW limits the number of tags for some hunts to control hunting pressure and fairly distribute tags for popular hunts. All eastern Oregon rifle deer hunting, pronghorn, bighorn sheep and Rocky Mountain goat hunts are limited entry, along with most eastern rifle elk hunts. Hunters who apply for a tag and don’t draw it re- ceive a preference point for that hunt series, which in- creases their chances of drawing the following year. Hunters who drew a tag are reminded to purchase it no later than the day before the hunt begins. at the finish line. The 5K trail will be marked and participants can visit the four outdoor skills stations in any order they choose. All outdoor skills events are optional so do one or do them all. Runners and walkers may also choose not to do the outdoor events and partici- pate in the 5K event only. The event is sponsored by ODFW and Pheasants Forever and benefits the 2015 Governor’s Holiday Toy Drive, which provides toys for children in need. For safety reasons, no dogs are allowed at the Running Wild event. Cost (does not include $2.50 registration fee per entry): • $25.00 for adults • $20.00 for youth age 13-17 • Free for youth 12 and under • Groups of four or more: $15.00 per individual • T-shirts available for $10.00 To register or purchase a t-shirt, visit the Run- ning Wild website http://teamrunningwild.com/ For event logo and photos from last year, visit http://www.dfw.state.or.us/news/2015/june/060315c.asp NOW ! OPEN 503 623-7056 Tues - Fri 9 am - 6 pm Saturday 9 am - 4 pm 468 NE Bovard, Dallas (Big red building behind Wal-Mart) Monday to Friday N E W L O C A T I O N ! 488 E Ellendale, Suite #2 Dallas • 503-751-1700 Concealed Carry Classes Utah $65 Oregon included with Utah Oregon only $40