Polk County
Voices
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • June 17, 2015 4A
EDITORIALS
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Focus should
be on students
The state legislators are again attacking the future of ed-
ucation, attempting to put a stop to fifth-year programs
such as Dallas High School’s Extended Campus.
The program gives high school students the chance to
earn a certificate, transfer or associate degree through an
agreement with Chemeketa Community College — while
staying enrolled in high school. Dallas High foots the bill
for tuition fees, books and transportation, as well as pro-
vides counselors for kids transitioning into the college sys-
tem.
Legislators and the Oregon School Boards Association
are against programs like this — which also are found in
Central and Falls City school districts — because “it’s not
fair to larger school districts.”
The idea is if Portland and Eugene school districts began
offering the program, it would use too much money from
the K-12 state education fund.
Efforts to end the program without discussing alterna-
tive ways to pay for it are shortsighted.
If successful, it will begin chipping away at local control,
for starters. This program is an agreement between local
school boards and local community colleges. One reason it
works is because local school boards can set graduation re-
quirements higher than the state mandates.
It would work against the state goal of 40-40-20. This
ambitious goal aims to have 40 percent of Oregonians with
a bachelor’s degree or higher; 40 percent with an associate
or two-year degree; and 20 percent with a high school
diploma — in the next 10 years.
Fifth- and sixth-year programs send students off into the
world already meeting one of those 40 percent goals: with
a high school diploma and a two-year degree or certificate.
The program has many other strengths and benefits, in-
cluding the nearly 80 percent retention rate for college
freshmen in the program and the boon to first-generation
students — the very students who may make or break the
40-40-20 goal.
What the legislature and OSBA seem to be forgetting is a
more educated populace is more likely to make more
money, thereby boosting the very economy that keeps the
K-12 education — and all other — state funding up.
They are shooting themselves in the foot by trying to
end the program out of jealousy or spite, disguised as con-
cern for education funding, rather than finding a way to
pay for a program that works.
PUBLIC AGENDA
Public Agenda is a listing of upcoming meetings for gov-
ernmental 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, JUNE 17
• Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk
County Courthouse, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-623-8173.
• Monmouth Planning Commission — 7 p.m., Volunteer
Hall, 144 S. Warren St., Monmouth. 503-838-0722.
THURSDAY, JUNE 18
• Polk County Fair Board — 8 a.m., Polk County Fairgrounds
and Event Center, Main Building, Meeting Room No. 2, 520 S. Pa-
cific Highway (99W), Rickreall. 503-623-3048.
• Dallas Economic Development Committee — Noon, City
Hall, 187 SE Court St., Dallas. 503-831-3502.
• Independence Parks and Recreation Board — 6 p.m., In-
dependence Civic Center, 555 S. Main St., Independence. 503-
838-1212.
• Monmouth Arts and Culture Commission — 7 p.m., Vol-
unteer Hall, 144 S. Warren St., Monmouth. 503-838-0722.
• Rickreall Watershed Council — 2 p.m., Delbert Hunter Ar-
boretum House, Dallas City Park.
MONDAY, JUNE 22
• Independence Library Board — 4 p.m., Independence
Public Library, 175 Monmouth St., Independence. 503-838-1811.
• Dallas School Board — 6:30 p.m., Dallas School District of-
fice board room, 111 SW Ash St., Dallas. 503-623-9664, ext. 2334.
TUESDAY, JUNE 23
• Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk
County Courthouse, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-623-8173.
• Independence City Council — 7:30 a.m., Independence
Civic Center, 555 S. Main St., Independence. 503-838-1212.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24
• Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk
County Courthouse, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-623-8173.
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
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Some advice for
drivers and ODOT
Dear Oregon Department
of Transportation:
• We need signal lights
where traveled (high usage)
roads intersect with high-
ways, e.g. Highway 22; espe-
cially where left-hand turns
are made.
• Pedestrian crossings
near schools — we need
flashing yellow light sig-
nals — push button. Top 10
Accidents — ODOT places
signs along the highways
and interstates. Perhaps
drivers may glance at the
signs and heed their warn-
ings, where drivers/passen-
gers died. Include first
name, month/year and type
of accident at that location.
• New law — no left turns
except at directional light or
onto one-way street. Install
round-abouts so cars can
change direction and make
right-hand turns.
• For drivers:
• As soon as we pass the
ODL tests we forget the
laws. Our self-discipline is
lacking. Most drivers are
blind to speed limits, like
west of West Salem — 50
mph. Add cautionary state-
ments — example: “cau-
tion — children and cross
traffic.” We have reasons for
lower speed limits.
• Blind spots — consider
adding 1½-inch mirror at-
tached to the drivers/pas-
senger mirrors. Be aware if a
vehicle is in your blind spot.
• Before turning into lane,
turn head in direction of
turn. This is critical.
• Car length gap — if a
car shoots in front of your
car, be prepared to slow
down.
• Be alert to cars changing
lanes at fast speeds. Know
where vehicles are in all di-
rections from your car.
• Most dangerous turn is
a left-hand turn — broad-
side of car is in opposing
lane. Some drivers make
left-hand turns with a few
seconds clearance.
Let’s focus on more signal
lights at busy intersections,
pedestrian flashing signal
lights near schools, and cau-
tionary statements below
speed limit signs.
Kenneth Johnson
Dallas
Graveside plants
hold memories
My letter is addressed to
whomever took the plants
from my husband’s grave
between June 3 and June 5. I
water his plants every two
days, as I want his resting
place to be pretty.
I watered June 3 and went
on June 6 to get his cross
and plants, as I knew all
flowers and plants would be
removed on June 8, only to
discover all four plants were
gone. The caretaker assured
me they do not remove
plants until the deadline
posted.
I know plants have been
taken before as my grand-
son’s plants have been
taken, along with many
other people’s plants.
Last year an elderly lady
was crying because some-
one had taken her hus-
band’s plants. I always ig-
nored the plants being gone
as I thought it was young
people taking them.
This year, however, I don’t
believe it was it was young
people taking the plants as
they carefully unwound the
vines of the clematis and
gardenia from the cross.
They left the night lights
skewers I used to keep the
plants in place to make it
appear they were removed
on the deadline.
The reason I purchased
the gardenia for his grave
was it was his favorite flower
and he would surprise me
with different kinds of gar-
denia gifts.
I had the perfect place to
plant the gardenia so I
could open the window,
enjoy the fragrance and re-
call special memories of our
time together.
You may not think it’s im-
portant it’s just plants, but I
wanted whoever is taking
the plants to know the hurt
you create.
You are not only taking
other people’s property
(plants) you are taking other
people’s memories.
Elsie M. Ford
Dallas
Dr. Willey’s care
will be missed
I bid adieu to Robert Wil-
ley, M.D. He is closing his
Dallas area practice on June
30. I understand from his
staff that his last day will be
set aside for informal good-
byes at his office from 10
a.m. to 3 p.m.
I wish him the very best
in life beyond his practice,
and I am saddened by the
loss of his practical ap-
proach to my care over
many years.
I can’t speak for others,
but I will miss his availabili-
ty, directness, diagnostic
skills, conversation without
the obstruction of a com-
puter screen, and his gen-
uine care for my well-being.
He’s a fine doctor. He re-
flects a standard against
which I will measure the ef-
ficacy of care under a new
primary care physician,
which may be a challenge
since the expanding bureau-
cracy in medicine seems to
drive patient care as much
as, or more than a physi-
cian’s judgment.
Dr. Willey, enjoy post-
practice life, continue to do
some good somewhere
somehow, and know that for
this former patient you are
much appreciated — and
will be missed. Thank you.
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
Roger Fletcher
Dallas
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The deadline for letters to the
editor is 10 a.m. Monday.
—
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.
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. 24
(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
SUBSCRIPTION RATES:
Polk County — One Year $27
Other Oregon Counties — One Year $33
Outside of Oregon — One Year $38
POSTMASTER:
Send address changes to: Polk County Itemizer-Observer, P.O. Box 108, Dallas, Oregon 97338
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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