Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (June 24, 2015)
UNWIND, BREATHE MOCKERY AND MAYHEM FERN HILL LODGE PRO WRESTLING Page 7A Volume 140, Issue 25 Page 10A www.Polkio.com June 24, 2015 75¢ Picnic tables get facelift IN YOUR TOWN Dallas teenager fixes up 50 aged tables at city park DALLAS NEWS By Jolene Guzman The Dallas School Board adopted its 2015-16 budget with the addition of more staff, thanks to a better-than-expected May state revenue forecast. The Oregon Legislature promised to dedicate a percentage of unexpected revenue in the forecast to schools when it approved the 2015-17 K-12 budget, which it split 50-50 over the two years. In the past, funding was split 49-51 to account for cost increases. Dallas set aside $565,000 to compensate for the even split. The Itemizer-Observer DALLAS — If you are sit- ting at a new-looking picnic table at Summerfest’s Break- fast in the Park this July, thank 2015 Dallas High resi- dent Matthew Dindinger. Dindinger recently com- pleted his Eagle Scout proj- ect, refurbishing 50 picnic tables in Dallas City Park. He raised money, bought mate- rials, and with the help of volunteers, replaced the wood on the picnic tables — over the course of about two weeks. “I wanted to do something to help out the community,” Dindinger explained of his extensive project. He said it started smaller. He just wanted to build a few tables for Kingsborough Park and contacted the city to see if that was possible. That’s where the idea came up of refurbishing tables in the much bigger Dallas City Park. Dindinger agreed and the project grew from there. “It went from six to 50 ta- bles, which is a big differ- ence,” he said. »Page 15A FALLS CITY NEWS JOLENE GUZMAN/ Itemizer-Observer Matthew Dindinger leads a group of volunteers on his Eagle Scout project to replace 50 of the aging picnic tables in Dallas City Park. He also raised money to buy materials. Indeed. Dallas Parks Su- pervisor Ron Lines said he’s more than impressed with Dindinger and the amount of time and professionalism JOLENE GUZMAN/Itemizer-Observer Maryanne Shinkle, left, and Logan Breece attach table frames to new tabletops and benches during a work party. he brought to the project. “It was an undertaking,” Lines said. “He actually did very well.” Eagle Scout projects are a test of leadership, and in Lines’ opinion, Dindinger scored high. Dindinger had to col- lect donations — The Dallas Ro- tary Club, host of Breakfast in the Park, con- tributed about 75 percent of the cost — to purchase materials from local re- tailers and organize a work crew. Then he had to learn to take apart and put back together the tables, and apply a weather sealant. “He was like a project manager,” Lines said. “He had to see the project through from beginning to end. He was very professional when he left the park. He did- n’t leave a mess. There was nothing to do when he left.” Lines said Dindinger was able to negotiate deals on materials that reduced the cost of repairing the tables to $35 per table, lower than the $40 to $45 he estimates if the city tried to do the same thing. And the city would have had to soon. The wooden tabletops and benches on some of the tables were well overdue for replacement. Lines said the city was try- ing to figure out a way to re- pair them when Dindinger approached staff with his idea. At the end of the proj- ect, he repaired about half of the tables in need of TLC. See EAGLE, Page 5A Public to take a peek at clinic Central Health Center readies to welcome public on tours By Emily Mentzer The Itemizer-Observer INDEPENDENCE — It’s been more than a year since students in Falls City have had access to medical care in their own city. Since the nurse practitioner’s office there closed in May last year, there has been no health care available in town, said Jack Thompson, Falls City School District superintendent. “It’s been difficult,” he said. “The last couple of years, we’ve had the dental van come help the kids out, but we have not had any health care available to the kids. There’s a lot of people in our community who don’t have access to cars to get their kids to the doctor.” With the opening of the Central Health and Wellness Center, all that will change. The school-based health center, which will host an open house for the public from 4 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, will provide health and wellness servic- THE NEXT 7 DAYS PLANNING FOR YOUR WEEK The show must go on — and it will on July 3 in Falls City. Last-minute changes threatened Falls City’s Fourth of July celebration, but several organ- izations have stepped up to take over pieces of the event so it can go forward as planned. Planning to use the event as a fundraiser, the Falls City Boosters opted not to proceed with or- ganizing the annual tradition earlier this month after learning it could not charge admission to the event without incurring more liability. Falls City city leaders were able to pull together to keep July 3 on track. »Page 2A INDEPENDENCE NEWS Work began on June 15 to ready the old Valley Concrete site to market to developers. Independence City Manager David Clyne said at the June 9 city council meeting that the city will do some basic cleanup of the riverfront property, in- cluding grading the site, and has hired consultants to help recruit the right developer. Chris Zahas of Leland Consulting Group said he is interested and intrigued to help the city find a buyer of the 20-acre parcel of land, which cost the city $800,000. Zahas added that the economy is getting better, making it easier to attract developers. »Page 3A MONMOUTH NEWS Customers of Monmouth Power and Light will see a decrease in their bills effective July 1. A 3 per- cent decrease in rates was approved at the June 16 council meeting. “We’re a public entity,” said City Manager Scott McClure at the meeting. “We don’t need to make a profit. We’re generating enough cash on an annual basis.” The power and light fund will still maintain a 36 percent contingency to use in case of emergencies, McClure said, meaning the fund will still be in good shape with the decrease in rates. »Page 3A POLK COUNTY NEWS EMILY MENTZER/ Itemizer-Observer Buzz Brazeau and Brent DeMoe tour the infant-toddler center on Thursday. es — including dental and mental health — to students in Polk County, as well as the community in Monmouth and Independence. “It will make a big difference,” Thompson said. Plans are underway wed thu Grab your yoga mat and get ready to find balance at Rogue Farms during Yoga in the Hopy- ard. 6 p.m. Free. Get your bicycle checked for free by Veal’s Bikes Plus at Bounty Market at the Academy Build- ing lawn. Sunny Hi: 85 Lo: 54 Sunny Hi: 86 Lo: 57 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. between Central and Falls City to pro- vide school buses to get Falls City stu- dents to the health center on a regular basis, where they can get immuniza- tions, or check on a sore throat. See CENTER, Page 5A fri Arc of Polk County hosts a dance and karaoke night for folks with intellec- tual and develop- mental disabilities. 6:30 p.m. $3. Sunny Hi: 95 Lo: 57 The Polk County Board of Commissioners was scheduled to adopt the county’s 2015-16 budget at 9 a.m. today with minor changes to what was ap- proved by the budget committee in May. The biggest changes will be in the general, pub- lic works and behavioral health funds. Each will re- ceive minor increases. In the general fund, County Administrator Greg Hansen estimated the amount the county will re- ceive in the second installment of the two-year ex- tension of timber payments approved by Congress earlier this year. »Page 14A sat sun mon tue Head down to Inde- pendence to cheer on the folks compet- ing in the Independ- ence Sprint Triathlon. 9 a.m. It’s going to be a hot one! Head to the Dallas Aquatic Cen- ter or Independence Community Pool; stay hydrated and cool today. Celebrate National Camera Day by breaking out for a hike and snapping some pictures along Rickreall Creek Trail in Dallas. James2 Community Kitchen offers free meals and company at St. Philip Catholic Church to all who are hungry. 4:30-6 p.m. Free. Sunny Hi: 98 Lo: 60 Sunny Hi: 88 Lo: 65 Sunny Hi: 92 Lo: 61 Sunny Hi: 93 Lo: 60