Polk County
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Polk County Itemizer-Observer • July 29, 2015 4A
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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.
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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