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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (July 29, 2015)
Polk County Voices Polk County Itemizer-Observer • July 29, 2015 4A EDITORIALS How to Contact Officials Community shines through rainy weather Often it is when things go exactly opposite as planned that true character is revealed. Summerfest Krazy Dayz certainly lived up to its theme, throwing curve balls every which way, from a 250-plus acre fire on Friday to rain on the parade. Did Dallas complain? Heck no. Dallas danced. Friday’s fire was handled quickly, with poise and profes- sionalism. Roughly 70 percent of those fighting the fire were volunteer firefighters from more than 15 different agencies, as far away as Lincoln and Linn counties. Wayne and Steve Roberts from McMinnville battled the blaze from above in a helicopter. As the chopper refueled at Western Oregon University’s football field, the American Red Cross set up shelters at Central High School. Those shelters weren’t needed after all — thank goodness — but being prepared is always bet- ter than reacting to a potentially bad situation. While firefighters from Dallas, Southwest Polk and Polk Fire District No. 1 were occupied, volunteers in Dallas kept Summerfest running smoothly. Reluctantly, Friday evening activities organized by Dal- las Fire were canceled. April Welsh, who coordinated the firefighting efforts as well as juggling media inquiries from at least four agencies, waited until after 5 p.m. before final- ly conceding that the highly anticipated return of hydro- carts would not go on as planned. Saturday, the fire department was ready to go with exca- vation contests and leading the parade — in a pouring rainstorm, the first considerable rain the Willamette Valley has seen in weeks, if not months. It takes everyone to have a party — volunteers, first re- sponders and, perhaps most important, participants and spectators. What had been set out to shade people from sunshine doubled up as protection from the rain. This is Oregon, after all. If we canceled events because of the rain, we’d never have any events. Parade goers and participants danced together in the downpour, welcoming the wetter, cooler weather. Ready or not, volunteers stood their posts to help keep things moving smoothly. Dallas’ mid-summer party continued without a hitch. Because when it rains, it pours. Except in Dallas, where when it rains, we shine. 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 29 • Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk County Courthouse, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-623-8173. THURSDAY, JULY 30 • Mid-Valley Behavioral Care Network Executive Commit- tee —10:30 a.m., MVBCN office, 2965 Ryan Drive SE, in Salem. 503-585-4935. MONDAY, AUG. 3 • Central School District Board of Directors — 6:30 p.m., Henry Hill Education Support Center, 750 S. Fifth St., Independ- ence. 503-838-0030. • Dallas City Council — 7 p.m., City Hall, 187 SE Court St., Dal- las. 503-831-3502. • Independence Planning Commission — 7 p.m., Independ- ence Civic Center, 555 S. Main St., Independence. 503-838-1212. TUESDAY, AUG. 4 • Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk County Courthouse, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-623-8173. • Dallas Urban Renewal District Advisory Committee — 5:30 p.m., City Hall, 187 SE Court St., Dallas. 503-831-3502. • Monmouth City Council — 7 p.m., Volunteer Hall, 144 S. Warren St., Monmouth. 503-838-0722. WEDNESDAY, AUG. 5 • Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk County Courthouse, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-623-8173. • Monmouth Historic Commission — 6 p.m., Volunteer Hall, 144 S. Warren St., Monmouth. 503-838-0722. • Monmouth Planning Commission — 7 p.m., Volunteer Hall, 144 S. Warren St., Monmouth. 503-838-0722. Filler please! 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 Consider paying for half to pave Thanks from Dallas Fire & EMS Regarding the complaint concerning Highland Road (July 17), we live on the south side of Parker Road, first place east off (Highway) 99. We went to John Graham, the former public works di- rector, to inquire about paving, as opposed to dust abatement. He went to the commissioners, who adjust- ed the budget to allow our quarter mile frontage to be paved. We paid half. Together with Linden Lane and Fruit Farm Road, there are enough residents involved to cover the dis- tance, it would appear. If Mr. Henich would pave a stretch, others might do likewise. The price of oil is low right now. The O&C trees, which once upon a time paid for paving and schools, are now waiting to rot and burn. The large log mill that could saw them has been torn down. Many of you who had hoped to see Summerfest Hydrocart races at the Dal- las Fire Station on Friday night were disappointed when you arrived only to find out the event was can- celed. A major wildfire south of town required our full attention. The fire, fu- eled by dry weather and steady winds, would grow to cover more than 250 acres before it was brought under control. Thankfully no structures were lost and no one was injured. For almost 10 hours, crews from Dallas, Falls City, Southwest Polk, Oregon Department of Forestry, and more than 15 other fire agencies from Benton, Marion, Yamhill, and Lincoln counties assist- ed Polk County Fire District No. 1 in fire suppression ef- forts. The Polk County Sher- iff’s Office, Polk County Public Works, and Willamette Valley 911 also played major roles during this emergency. Mark Vimont Independence Events such as this show the value of each family having an emergency plan so that everyone in your home knows what to do should something happen. Equally important for those who live in rural areas, the importance of having defensible space around your residence that creates a buffer that is es- sential to improve your home’s chance of surviving a wildfire. We appreciate the sup- port we received from the community during this event. A special thanks to Dallas Safeway and Ugo’s Pizza who helped prepare meals on short notice to feed more than 250 emer- gency services personnel who were engaged in fire- fighting efforts. We also ex- tend our thanks to the fami- lies of Dallas Fire and EMS members who helped sup- port emergency efforts throughout the afternoon and evening. Eriks Gabliks, Deputy Chief Dallas Fire & EMS - Summerfest Chairman 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 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 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. 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. 30 (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. 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