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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (July 8, 2015)
Polk County Voices Polk County Itemizer-Observer • July 8, 2015 4A EDITORIALS How to Contact Officials Another great show for the Fourth of July Even the threat of historically high temperatures didn’t keep the spectators or participants away from the Fourth of July festivities last weekend. Thousands of people took to the streets throughout the county to enjoy parades, carnivals, festivals, barbecues — and of course, fireworks. It takes a lot of people to make this event happen, from the volunteers who plan all year to the members of the Monmouth Independence Rotary Club — sponsors each year of the grand parade. It’s surprising the more you pause and look around. You see the nearly 100 Polk County Emergency Response Team volunteers on corners directing spectators and managing crowds. So many people worked all day in the heat of the week- end so that others could celebrate. First responders were out in force, with many faces from Dallas, Monmouth and Independence police departments as well as from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office all around Monmouth and Independence — where the population at least doubles during the Fourth of July weekend. It was great to see deputies and Dallas officers helping out their neighbors with patrols, setting up or directing traffic — whatever was needed to keep the public safe and secure while having a good time. We know many first re- sponders would rather have a holiday with their families, and appreciate the sacrifice they and their families make. We think some who work in our local government of- fices could take some notes from how well our law en- forcement and first responder agencies work together. As the dust settles on the Fourth of July weekend festivi- ties, the momentum is really picking up for Dallas’ Sum- merfest. In between that, Cycle Oregon will be visiting the Monmouth-Independence area. Summer in Polk County is definitely at full throttle. As you plan your vacations and events, remember the volunteers that make it happen. Say thank you and be re- spectful. Better yet, ask them how you can help. Getting involved in organizing or executing these events is a great way to not only help your community, but seeing the satisfaction of everyone enjoying your hard work is priceless. There is always need of volunteers for these events — and year-round. The best part is: more hands make for light work. To find ideas of where to volunteer, check our website and search volunteer listings at www.polkio.com, or the websites for the cities of Dallas, Independence or Mon- mouth. 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, JULY 8 • Monmouth Library Advisory Board — 7 a.m., Monmouth Public Library meeting room, 168 S. Ecols St., Monmouth. 503- 838-0722. • Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk County Courthouse, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-623-8173. • Monmouth Park and Recreation Board — 7 p.m., Volun- teer Hall, 144 S. Warren St., Monmouth. 503-838-0722. • Polk Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Direc- tors — 6 p.m., USDA Service Center, 580 Main St., Suite A, Dallas. 503-623-9680, ext. 5. THURSDAY, JULY 9 • Polk County Fire District No. 1 Board — 6 p.m., Central Station 90, 1800 Monmouth St., Independence. 503-838-1510. • Luckiamute Watershed Council — 7 p.m., Volunteer Hall, 144 S. Warren St., Monmouth. 503-837-0237. • Falls City City Council — 7:30 p.m., Falls City Community Center, 320 N. Main St., Falls City. 503-787-3631. TUESDAY, JULY 14 • Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk County Courthouse, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-623-8173. • Independence City Council — 7:30 p.m., Independence Civic Center, 555 S. Main St., Independence. 503-838-1212. WEDNESDAY, JULY 15 • 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. 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 Efforts to maintain Ballston noticed I wish to thank “Polk County Parks” for the good care they take of the Ball- ston Park. I grew up in Ball- ston and every year, there is a “Back to Ballston Picnic” on the last Sunday in June. The little church looks so small now. That’s where we went to Sunday school. I don’t remember when they moved it to the park. At one time it was a school. Alice Down Dallas Dallas High not named after KKK Last week’s letter to the editor, “Dallas High should change mascot,” by James Allgood, brought up the “urban legend” that Dallas high’s mascot, the Dragon, was named after the KKK’s Grand Dragon. During the 1930s, schools were choos- ing mascots for their schools. Dallas High teams were first called the Orange- men because of their school colors, orange and black. Opposing teams called them the Prunepickers be- cause of the many prune or- chards around Dallas. The school wanted to shed the name, and it should start with a “D.” Dolphins was briefly considered, but this name was not tough enough. The school became the Dallas Dragons in 1938. The myth is that Dallas is, or was, a command center for the Ku Klux Klan. The KKK was active and visible in Polk County, and there was a chapter (Klavern) for a brief time in the 1920s in Dallas. It did nothing but hold a few rallies and a pa- rade down Main Street in 1923 or 1924. The Klavern died out in 1922 or 1923 in Dallas and never returned. The Klan peaked in 1922 in Oregon. It had enough fol- lowers to pressure Congress to pass the Compulsory Edu- cation Bill of 1922. This bill required all Oregon children to attend public schools, and while it made all private schools illegal for children to attend, it was aimed mostly at Catholic schools. The major objective of the Klan in Oregon was “Down with the Pope and the Catholic Church! Clean the state of the Baptists!” Yet the KKK myth came about 50 years after the Klav- ern died out. The reason is unknown. The KKK is a ter- rorist group and the lack of activity should be proof the Klan has not existed in Dal- las after it died out in 1920s. Sue Rohde Dallas Thank you for cleaning up grass A big shout out thank you to whoever it was that cut the grass/weeds on the downhill side of Oakdale on the S-curve this past week- end in the hot weather. It makes it so much easier to come out of our driveways and to be able to see down- hill is wonderful. Thank you. Sally Broadwater Dallas BOLI commish blocking speech Brad Avakian, elected Commissioner of Bureau of Labor and Industries of the State of Oregon, blocked free speech guaranteed by the First Amendment. In a recent ruling, Avakian placed a gag order on the Kleins, ordering them to “cease and desist” from speaking publicly about not wanting to bake cakes for same-sex weddings based on their Christian beliefs. This state bureaucrat oversteps his powers by blocking a citizen’s right to free speech. The First Amendment states no offi- cial may abridge freedom of speech. Mr. Avakian should be recalled for abusing the power of his office. His ac- tions effectively strip resi- dents of Oregon of the free- dom of religion and speech. George Irving Dallas Pay attention to road while driving Thursday, I went for a jog from Main Street in Mon- mouth across the highway (99W) and all the way down to Main Street in Independ- ence. Along the way, I was shocked at how many dis- tracted motorists I saw. Most of them were texting and driving, a few were talking on their cellphones, and one woman was actually writing on a pad she had propped up on her steering wheel as she traveled down the road. I realize the speed limits along this route are relative- ly slow, but come on people. What the heck are you thinking? I cannot imagine what you felt was so impor- tant that you had to risk your safety and that of oth- ers by paying less than your full attention to that several ton vehicle you were operat- ing. Please put those things away and pay attention to what you are doing. We are better than this. And it is against the law. 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 Robert McKee Monmouth WANT TO WRITE A LETTER? Letters to the editor are lim- ited to 300 words. Longer letters will be edited. Election-related letters of all types are limited to 100 words. Writers are limited to one elec- tion-related letter per election season. Election letters from writers outside of Polk County are not accepted. Each writer is restricted to one letter per 30-day period. Letters that are libelous, ob- scene or in bad taste will not be printed. Attacks by name on businesses or individuals will not be printed. Letters to the editor that are obvious promotions for a busi- ness, products or services will not be printed. The Itemizer-Observer does not guarantee the accuracy of facts presented by letter writers; dissenters are welcome to re- spond. Letter writers who dis- agree with other published letter writers should maintain a civil discourse and address the subject, not the author. Letters, like all editorial mate- rial submitted to the newspaper, are edited for length, grammar and content. Letters must include the au- thor’s name, address and tele- phone number. This includes letters submitted via the I-O’s website. Names and cities of res- idence are published; street ad- dresses and telephone numbers are used for verification pur- poses only. Letters must be submitted from individuals, not organiza- tions, and must be original sub- missions to the I-O, not copies of letters sent to other media. Letters of thanks to busi- nesses, individuals and organi- zations are limited to 10 names. The deadline for letters to the editor is 10 a.m. Monday. Let- ters submitted may not be re- tractable after this deadline. — 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. 27 (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 DISPLAY ADVERTISING Heidi Leppin .................Display Advertising Manager ....................................hleppin@polkio.com Rachel Best ....................Display Advertising.............................................................rbest@polkio.com Karen Sanks...................Client Services ...................................................................ksanks@polkio.com CLASSIFIED LINE ADVERTISING Dawn Ohren .....................................................................................................................ioads@polkio.com PRODUCTION Kathy Huggins ..............................................................................................................iosales@polkio.com Karyn Pressel .................................................................................................................iosales@polkio.com BOOKKEEPING Pat Letsch ......................................................................................................................pletsch@polkio.com Web: www.polkio.com Phone: 503-623-2373 Fax: 503-623-2395
