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