Polk County Itemizer-Observer • June 17, 2015 3A
Polk County News
A smokin’ hit: Black Rock BBQ
By Jolene Guzman
The Itemizer-Observer
DALLAS — Lucky Hal-
com and Robert Coe were
going nonstop on a recent
Thursday afternoon.
As soon as one order was
filled at the increasingly
popular Black Rock BBQ
truck, another person was
in line trying to decide be-
tween a pulled pork and
brisket sandwich.
“It’s been busy ever since
we pulled in here today,”
Coe said as he manned the
stove in the truck.
Every Thursday for the
last five weeks, Halcom has
set up his truck — along
with his impressive wood-
fired smoker — at the Pill
Box parking lot at 625 SE
Miller Ave.
Halcom travels the coun-
ty in his bright blue truck,
making stops at Mon-
mouth’s Polk County Boun-
ty Market on Tuesdays and
the Siletz Trucking parking
lot in Independence on Fri-
days.
Dallas has been the
fastest growing of the three
locations, and that was evi-
dent on June 4.
“By the time we opened
up today it’s been nonstop,”
JOLENE GUZMAN/ Itemizer-Observer
Lucky Halcom (left) and Robert Coe of Black Rock BBQ
prepare to fill lunch orders on a recent Thursday in Dallas.
Halcom said. “We actually
had to shut down because
we were out of cut meat.
We’ve never had to do that
before.”
Black Rock’s pulled pork
and brisket are slow cooked
over 13 to 14 hours to pre-
pare for the lunch rush,
which begins about 11:30
a.m. in each location. Once
they arrive, Halcom puts
ribs in the smoker to have
them ready for dinner.
“We go until we run out
of meat. It’s not going to be
long today,” Halcom said.
“We’ll be here waiting on
our ribs to cook.”
His ribs are just as popu-
lar as the sandwiches, so
much so that to guarantee
an order, you have to re-
serve it ahead of time.
Once a hobby — Halcom
and Coe are former log-
gers — Halcom would like
to see his barbecue truck
and catering business take
off.
He’s certainly equipped
to take on the challenge.
“(When) I started out, I
built a small little smoker
pit. Then I built another
bigger one. Then I built a
bigger one. Then I built
that,” he said pointing out
the truck window.
This latest in his line of
smokers has its own trailer.
Halcom’s recipes are a
hit, too. He and his wife,
Carmen, created the rubs
and sauces and even the
sides — cole slaw, macaroni
salad, potato salad, and
baked beans — are home-
made.
“Everything is made from
scratch,” Halcom said.
“Nothing is store-bought.
All the sides, beans, any-
thing we do is made from
scratch.”
For Black Rock’s schedule
and menu for the day, go to:
www.facebook.com/black-
rockbbq.
Ducks receive nod from Monmouth council
By Emily Mentzer
The Itemizer-Observer
MONMOUTH — Monmouth City
Council approved expanding the city’s
chicken ordinance to include ducks.
Under the new rule, which will go
into effect sometime this summer, the
ordinance, which allows five hens per
residence, will be altered to allow
ducks as well. The number of total
poultry will remain five, but property
owners may choose to have a mix of
fowl.
Marianne Novotny of Monmouth
testified at the council’s June 2 work
session that she hadn’t come across
any issues with poultry, including
ducks, in her research of city codes
that allow the birds.
“If there was a noise problem, they
(other cities) handle it just like a bark-
ing dog,” she said.
Novotny had approached the coun-
cil with the idea of allowing ducks in
2014, when the council was deciding
whether or not to make the temporary
chicken ordinance permanent.
She explained that she has an aller-
gy to chicken eggs, but may eat duck
eggs, which are very costly.
Having her own flock would let her
enjoy baked goods and other egg-con-
taining things more economically.
Councilors had a few concerns
about expanding the ordinance.
“I was opposed to expanding at that
time (2014) because this was new terri-
tory. We hadn’t gone down the poultry
path, as it were, but if we can write it in
such a way that it is only ducks and not
geese — geese are a different deal — I
would guess that there’s not going to
be a huge stampede to the duck shop,”
Councilor Jon Carey said.
Councilor Steve Milligan asked if al-
lowing ducks was opening the door to
“menageries.”
“I know some people who have
chickens, who also have a couple of
dogs,” he said.
Milligan continued by noting that a
homeowner could have five fowl, four
dogs and an unlimited number of cats.
“Are we going to get to the point
where we have to set boundaries
where people have to set a limit on do-
mesticated animals?” he asked.
When Monmouth enacted its first
chicken ordinance, it was on a trial
basis. Some councilors suggested a
trial basis with ducks, also.
Councilor Marshall Guthrie made
the motion to make the modification
to allow ducks without a trial period.
The motion passed.
Another animal brought to the
council on June 2 was backyard goats.
A citizen requested that the city allow
pigmy goats within city limits.
The council decided not to discuss
it.
NEWS IN BRIEF
Museum to host authors of books
RICKREALL — The Polk County Museum is hosting the au-
thors of “Oregon’s Main Street U.S. Highway 99: The Stories” and
“Oregon’s Main Street U.S. Highway 99: The Folk History” on Sat-
urday at 1:30 p.m.
Jo-Brew and Pat Edward’s books cover the entire length of
the highway through Oregon, with information on communi-
ties and residents that can be found along the highway.
The event is free and light refreshments will be available. The
Polk County Museum is located at 560 S. Pacific Highway (99W),
Rickreall.
For more information, call 503-623-6251 or go to http://polk-
countyhistoricalsociety.org/.
Merkley to hold town hall Saturday
GRAND RONDE — Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley will hold a town
hall meeting in Grand Ronde on Saturday at 5 p.m.
During the event, Merkley will update constituents on his
work in Washington, D.C., answer questions and take sugges-
tions about how to tackle the challenges facing Oregon and
America.
The town hall meeting will be at the Confederated Tribes of
Grand Ronde Community Center, 9615 Grand Ronde Road,
Grand Ronde.
Man charged with illegal hunting
DALLAS — Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife troopers
have cited a Dallas man on game violations.
On May 24, OSP trooper Heather VanMeter located an active
bear bait site near Logsden, in Lincoln County, according to
OSP. Two days later, troopers found John Hamblin, 50, at the
bait site. He was in possession of a rifle, compound bow, and a
gallon bag of grain and tallow. Hamblin had a Southwest Ore-
gon spring bear tag. He was cooperative with troopers and
cited for unlawful hunting bear with the aid of bait, and spring
bear hunting outside unit boundary.
Using bait to attract black bears is illegal in Oregon, as is the
use of dogs to locate and chase black bears into trees. The pub-
lic is asked to notify OSP if locating a bear baiting site, or any
other gaming violation, at 800-452-7888.
No suspect in purse snatching
DALLAS — Officers are still searching for the man who stole
a woman’s purse at the Dallas Rite-Aid on May 28. Police are
also still on the lookout for the purse, which contained a gun.
On May 28, Dallas Police responded to a report of a theft of a
purse from Rite-Aid in Dallas. The victim reported a man
grabbed her purse from next to her while she was in the garden
center and ran in the direction of the field west of the store.
During in the investigation, police learned the purse was de-
signed to carry a concealed pistol and did have a firearm inside
of it. Police ask that anyone finding a discarded purse to use
caution. It is very common for thieves to do a quick search of
purses for money and other valuables then discard it.
In this case, it is possible the thief may have disposed of the
purse without knowing it contained a gun. Anyone with infor-
mation about this case or who has found a purse should call
Dallas Police at 503-831-3539.
Broken power pole causes outage
DALLAS — Saturday morning at 11:47, 4,539 Pacific Power
customers in Dallas went without power after a farmer in Perry-
dale caught a phone cable on his tractor, which broke the
power pole and sparked a small fire on the lines, according to a
spokesman from Pacific Power.
By 12:30 p.m., 667 customers remained without power.
Power was restored to the majority of customers by re-routing
power around the damaged lines.
Power wasn’t completely restored until 8:30 p.m. on Satur-
day.
Polk County Association of Realtors
SATURDAY
JUNE 27
Open House
Saturday, June 20, 2015 from 1 to 4
6:30 OPEN • 7:00 SHOW
$15.00
Group of 5 at door $10.00 Each
Forest River Employees $10.00
ADULT* PRO WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT
*Not recommended & HEAVY, THRASH METAL MUSIC
for under age 13.
1823 Blackwood Drive, Monmouth
3 bd. 2.5 ba, 2,453 SF
$309,900 MLS# 687052
Sandra Paoli 503-580-0160
436 NW Reed Lane, Dallas
3 bd 2.5 bath, 1,700 SF
$259,900 MLS#
Yolanda Zuger 503-580-7031
541 10th St, Independence
4 bd, 2.5 ba, 2,172 SF
$210,500 MLS# 686671
Jake Dalton 503-420-2386
194 NW Hillcrest Dr, Dallas
3 bd, 2 ba, 2,408 SF
$224,900 MLS# 688842
Jill Wyatt 503-910-1679
1169 Gwinn St, Monmouth
3 bd, 2.5 ba, 3,378 SF
$399,900 MLS# 687789
Lisa Sheirman 503-949-2411
431 Fairhaven, Dallas
3 bd, 2 ba. 1,790 SF
$259,500 MLS# 690226
Cheri Jacobsen 503-551-5807
POLK CO. FAIRGROUNDS BLDG C
520 SOUTH PACIFIC HWY W., RICKREALL, OREGON
FACEBOOK: Dan Closser/Revolution Pro • TWITTER: @RevProWrestling
All are
welcome!
Open Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
FATHER’S DAY BUFFET
275 Douglas, Dallas
3 bd, 1.5 ba, 1,144 SF
$189,000 MLS# 689979
Jana Fogg 503-930-1047
386 Stadium Dr, Monmouth
3 bd, 2.5 ba, 2,548 SF
$299,900 MLS# 691099
Larry Dalton 503-580-3460
Sunday, June 21 • 3-8 PM
• Country Style Pork Ribs
• Prime Rib
• Beef Brisket
• Eight Flat Screen TVs
• 13 Brews on Tap
• Pool Tables • Video Poker
• Oregon Lottery
Scalloped Potatoes,
Baked Beans,
Asst. Salads
170 E. Ellendale Ave., Dallas • 503-623-4494
405 SW Crider, Dallas
3 bd, 2 ba, 1,675 SF
$238,500 MLS# 691535
Chet Grahm 503-932-4051
2133 SE Magnolia Ave, Dallas
3 bd, 3 ba, 1,625 SF
$325,990 MLS# 690779
Chad Woods 503-910-7124
Tim Davis 503-559-6439
534 Edwards Road S, Monmouth
3 bed, 2 ba, 1,714 SF
$294,000 MLS# 687322
Chandra Reynolds 503-428-4491
1902 Bentley St E, Monmouth
3 bed, 2.5 bath, 1,816 SF
$245,000 MLS# 687946
Chandra Reynolds 503-428-4491
9755 Church Street, Rickreall
3 bed, 3.5 bath, 1,847 SF
$260,000 MLS# 687274
Chet Grahm 503-932-4051
1486 SE Barberry Ave, Dallas
3 bd, 3 bath, 2,521 SF
$355,990 MLS# 685567
Nancie Rogers 503-930-7655