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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 5, 2015)
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • August 5, 2015 3A Polk County News DEADLINES NEWS DEADLINES For inclusion in the Wednesday edition of the Itemizer-Observer: Social news (weddings, engagements, anniver- saries, births, milestones) — 5 p.m. on Thursday. Community events — Noon on Friday for both the Community Notebook and Community Calendar. Letters to the editor — 10 a.m. on Monday. Obituaries — 4 p.m. on Monday. ADVERTISING DEADLINES Retail display ads — 3 p.m. Friday. Classified display ads — 11 a.m. on Monday. Classified line ads — Noon on Monday. Classified ads are updated daily on www.polkio.com. Public notices — Noon on Friday. CORRECTIONS The Polk County Itemizer- Observer is committed to publishing accurate news, feature and sports reports. If you see anything that re- quires a correction or clarifi- cation, call the newsroom at 503-623-2373 or send an e- mail to nadams@polkio.com. WEATHER HIGH LOW By Emily Mentzer The Itemizer-Observer POLK COUNTY — So many exhibits will be on dis- play at the Polk County Fair, from fabric arts to home- grown veggies, crafts to food. Oh the food. It seems almost cruel to have such a bounty of award-winning delights be- hind a glass, unable to sneak a taste of the best cookies, cakes, candies, breads and pies in Polk County. Who is lucky enough to get to take a slice out of that blue-ribbon blueberry pie? “The judges,” said Evelyn Hubbard, superintendent of food at this year’s fair. “We just had one of our judges retire, so we have a new lady.” Not just anyone can judge the taste, consistency, and doneness of canned and RAIN 54 61 61 62 60 63 63 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 www.polkio.com Rainfall during July — 0.01 in. Rain through Aug. 3 — 15.28 in. EMILY MENTZER/Itemizer-Observer file Canned cherries have already been judged by the time doors open on the fair. baked goods, Hubbard said. Judges must go to a special class and get certified. “It’s kind of fun to be their clerk,” she noted, “because if they find something good, they usually share it.” As superintendent of Kester spent life giving back The Itemizer-Observer The Polk County Itemizer- Observer website, www.polkio.com, is updat- ed each week by Wednes- day afternoon. There, you will find nearly every story that appears in the print version of the newspaper, as well as some items, in- cluding additional photos, that do not appear in print due to space limitations. The Itemizer-Observer is also on Facebook and Twit- ter. Watch for breaking news, links to stories, sports scores updates and more. July 28............... 88 July 29............... 99 July 30............. 105 July 31............. 103 Aug. 1 ............. 100 Aug. 2................ 82 Aug. 3................ 84 Exhibits in open class are judged and given prizes before fair opens Thursday By Jolene Guzman WEBSITE RECORDED Who will be Queen of the Kitchen? DALLAS — Wayne Kester had a mission in life: to give back. In 2009, he received a gift and a new chance at life, the beneficiary of a kidney transplant. He wasted no time returning the favor. He volunteered for James2 Community Kitchen in Dal- las and Falls City as a cook and later as a board mem- ber. He also coached youth sports in Dallas. Friends say he exempli- fied the objective of James2, a Dallas-based nonprofit providing free meals to those in need in Dallas and Falls City. “Wayne was a man with a mission, whether he stated it or not,” said Kim Conolly, a friend and colleague with James2. “He served everyone lovingly, equally and faith- fully. Wayne was the head, heart, and soul of James2.” On July 28, Kester died after suffering a heart attack, leaving a void in the organi- zation and the community he served. But Conolly said his mis- sion will continue. “I believe Wayne would challenge us to keep creat- Pencil us in! www.polkio.com Solution on Page 8A ing and working towards the beauty of no hunger in our community,” she said. “Wayne's vision for James2 must live on through us, as we love and serve one an- other.” Gary Medsker, a volunteer and treasurer for Dallas Food Bank, shared Kester’s passion for feeding the h u n g r y. The food bank and James2 worked to- gether on occasion to fulfill their Kester missions, trading food items that might better fit the other or- ganization’s needs. “We were both working to help others in the communi- ty,” Medsker said. In Kester, Medsker saw true devotion to that cause. “He did a lot of good for the community,” Medsker said. “I think that was proba- bly his mission. He was just dedicated to being useful to others.” His work didn’t stop at helping prepare nourishing meals. He also took the role of serving at James2’s board president. Ben Meyer, AAMS ® Bob Timmerman Financial Advisor Financial Advisor 503-606-3048 503-623-5584 193 E. Main Street Mon- mouth, OR 97361 159 SW Court Street Dallas, OR 97338 Kelly K. Denney Financial Advisor 503-623-2146 244 E. Ellendale, Suite 2 Dallas, OR 97338 “That was something that wasn’t easy and took a lot of time,” Medsker said. “I be- lieve he did it willingly.” Medsker said that willing- ness to serve will be missed. Conolly said Kester also will be remembered for what he didn’t do. He didn’t let dif- ferences of any type stand in the way of helping others, she said. “He didn’t put up with man-made divisions within the community, or the barri- ers we put up to each other, whether economic, spiritual, physical, or emotional,” she said. “He wanted everyone to work together and work it out.” Conolly said a woman re- cently told her when she thinks of Kester now, she pictures him cooking with Jesus — and making sure he knows how. “This image makes me smile,” Conolly said. “Jesus and Wayne: they’re a team.” See obituary on page 10A. foods, it is Hubbard’s re- sponsibility to oversee the judging all day on Wednes- day before the fair, then repackage it all to put on display for opening day on Thursday. Entering food at the fair runs in her family. Hubbard is one of four generations that has won Queen of the Kitchen. Her mother took the title four times; she, her- self, took it four times; her daughter won once; and two grandchildren each won once. “We are a family of home canning and cooking and stuff,” Hubbard said. Her fa- vorites? “I like doing the quick breads,” Hubbard said. “I love to do carrot cake and peanut butter fudge. They all take blues (ribbons), usually.” It is too late to enter any delicacies for this year’s fair, as the entry day was Tues- day. But don’t forget to take a walk through the exhibits and admire all the hard work of neighbors and friends.