Polk County Itemizer-Observer • August 26, 2015 13A
Polk County News
Falls City, county hope to get
money to repair bridges, roads
By Jolene Guzman
The Itemizer-Observer
LUKAS EGGEN/ Itemizer-Observer
Camps are set up outside the Nesmith Readiness Center in Dallas to fight the fire at
Willamina Creek Fire. As of Monday evening the fire was 75 percent contained.
Armory serves as base
FALLS CITY — The city of
Falls City has applied for
two grants to complete
more than $3.5 million in
road and bridge repairs.
If things go as planned,
the city
may be
able to do
it without
spending
a dime.
To pull
off that
m a g i c
Ungricht
trick, the
city has applied for a grant
from the Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) to help
pay for much needed re-
pairs to Dutch Creek Cross-
ing.
“It’s in bad shape,” Falls
City Mayor Terry Ungricht
said. “I don’t want to have
Government
to put a weight restriction
on Dutch Creek.”
The hope is, if the
$95,000 grant is awarded,
it can be used as the city’s
“matching funds” — the
amount of money required
for the city to receive a
grant — for another grant
for more road projects
through the Federal Land
Access Program.
Polk County and Falls
City applied for the ap-
proximately $3.5 million
grant jointly.
With the additional fund-
ing, the city and county
could overlay North Main
and Bridge streets; pave
Mitchell Street, Black Rock
Road to the Berry Creek
turnoff, and Valsetz Road to
the city limits; replace cul-
verts on Dutch Creek, and
replace a bridge on Black
Rock Road.
Ungricht said the city will
be notified in October if it is
successful on the larger
grant.
“It would be great,” he
said. “I’m not holding my
breath, but it would be
great.”
If the city and county are
unsuccessful, Ungricht
said the city would cooper-
ate with local timber com-
panies that use Dutch
Creek Crossing to com-
plete the necessary repairs
to keep the bridge in work-
ing order.
Readiness Center sets up camp for firefighters
By Lukas Eggen
The Itemizer-Observer
DALLAS — The Col. James
Nesmith Readiness Center
played host to some new
guests over the weekend —
fire suppression crews.
Inmate crews from three
different correctional insti-
tutions set up camp at the
National Guard building, al-
lowing quicker access to the
Willamina Creek Fire, which
began on Aug. 19.
“Take South Fork for ex-
ample, even though this is a
local fire to them, you lose a
lot of time in travel,” South
Fork Forest Group Assistant
Camp Manager Justin Dillon
said. “This was an opportu-
nity to get the crews local
and have more time on the
fire instead of travel.”
The building also allowed
those in charge of the fire
crews an easy place to
house, and watch over, the
crews.
“Given the nature of the
facility, it allows security staff
to have more control of the
environment and what the
inmates have access too,”
Dillon said. “Logistically, the
facility has many of the basic
needs to support 100 in-
mates already available.”
The fire hand crews sta-
tioned at the building assist-
ed with fire suppression by
construction hot line, as-
sembling hose lays and back
burning.
Fire crews had the 230-
acre fire 75 percent con-
tained as of Monday
evening.
The fire started about
nine miles north of Willami-
na in Yamhill County on
Aug. 19 at about 5 p.m. The
cause is under investigation,
but it is suspected to be
human caused, perhaps
from recreational activity,
according to a press release
from the Oregon Depart-
ment of Forestry.
Crews are engaged in
mop-up activities, which is
arduous work during which
firefighters locate and fully
extinguish every hot spot.
The process requires digging
out roots and stumps or
breaking apart piles of
burned fuel which still has
smoldering material deep in-
side.
The wild land resources
assigned to the fire in-
clude — both day and night
shifts — 13 hand crews, six
engines, one dozer, six water
tenders and overhead per-
sonnel. Total personnel as-
signed to the fire is 197 as of
Monday night.
The estimated damage as
of Monday was $1.086 mil-
lion.
Four cabins along East
Creek Road were under a
level one evacuation order
Monday night. Willamina
Creek Road and East Creek
Road were closed north of
Coast Creek Road.
The fire contributed to the
smoke that blanketed Polk
County over the weekend.
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September
2015
Monmouth Area Community
Events Calendar
Sept 6
Polk County Flea Market. 9 am to 3 pm. Polk County Fairgrounds,
520 S Pacific Hwy W. Rickreall. Polk County's oldest and largest market
with 183 tables selling antiques, collectibles, tools, etc...Admission $1.
For more info contact Deb Thomas 503-428-8224.
Sept 8
BACK TO SCHOOL!
Sept 17 Free Seminar: ISIS and the Caliphate. 7 to 9 pm. Faith Lutheran Church,
(on the S curves), 200 Monmouth-Independence Hwy, Monmouth.
Wondering about ISIS and its role in the Middle East? Join us for a free,
insightful lecture on the history and future of the Islamic State. Presented
by Dr. Scott Yakimow, Associate Professor of Theology, Concordia
University. Light refreshments provided. Call for more information
(503) 838-3459
Sept 18 & 19 Hop & Heritage in Downtown Independence.
355 N Pacific Ave.,
Ste A
Monmouth
503-838-4268
Serving Polk Co. Since 1875
503-623-2373
503-838-3467
www.windermere.com
297½ N. Pacific Hwy
Carpet Hero
Sept 19 MICC Hoppin’ Bingo! 1 pm to 4 pm Riverview Park. FUN for the entire
family! PRIZES GALORE! $1 per game or $10 for 12 games. Riverview
Park, Downtown Independence.
Sept 19 Doll Show. Polk County Fairgrounds & Event Center 520 S Pacific Hwy W
Rickreall. Pre-Sale 9 am to 10 am. Sale Hours 10 am to 4 pm. Adults $4.00
Kids 10yrs and youngerr free. Dolls ♦ Bears ♦ Books ♦ Toys
♦ Doll Stringing ♦ Miniatures & Related Items. No Appraisals.
Food available on site.
Sept 23 WOU New Student Feed. Main St. Park, Monmouth (more info to come in
the coming weeks)
503-838-2951
165 E. Main St.
Monmouth
503-838-1773
410 E. Main St.
Monmouth
503-838-1141
297 N Pacific
Monmouth
Every Tuesday May - October Polk County Bounty Market 10 AM - 3 PM Main St. Park
Every Tuesday 10:15 AM, Toddler Story Time for ages 18 mos. to 3 yrs. Monmouth Public Li-
brary, 168 S. Ecols St.
Every Tuesday 7:30 PM - Al-Anon Family Groups, which includes Alateen for younger mem-
bers, meets at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, in Dallas. Al-Anon is an established community re-
source for people affected by another's use of alcohol. The resource can aid the recovery process
for the entire family through hope, comfort and loving interchange among members having a
common problem. For more information call 503-370-7363, leave a message - you will be con-
tacted.
Second and Fourth Tuesdays - 9:15 to 11 a.m. Mothers of Preschoolers (MoPS) meets at Mon-
mouth Christian Church, 959 W. Church St., Monmouth.
Every Wednesday 10:15 AM, Preschool Story Time for ages 3-6 years. Monmouth Library,
168 S. Ecols St.
Every Wednesday Helping Hands Emergency Food Bank, 10am to noon, Monmouth Christian
Church, 959 Church St. W., Monmouth. For eligible community members; available every
Wednesday. 541-404-6517.
Every Wednesday 6:30 PM - Al-Anon Family Groups, which includes Alateen for younger
members, meets at Trinity Lutheran Church at 320 Fir Villa Rd. in Dallas. Al-Anon is an established
community resource for people affected by another's use of alcohol. The resource can aid the
recovery process for the entire family through hope, comfort and loving interchange among mem-
bers having a common problem. For more information call 503-370-7363, leave a message - you
will be contacted.
Every 2nd Wednesday Monmouth-Independence Chamber lunch forum. 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
Location changes. Please call Jean Love or visit our Calendar of Events at micc-or.org for more
information. 503-838-4268
Every 3rd Wednesday each month. BINGO at the Farm, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM. Come play BINGO
in the Chatoe out at Rogue Farms. Join us every third Wednesday of the month through 2014!
So bring your family and friends and get ready to win! Boards, daubers, and prizes provided!
Rogue Farms Chatoe Tasting Room, 3590 Wigrich Road Independence, OR
Every Thursday 7 p.m. 314 Cottonwood Way, Monmouth. Polk and Marion County Women
meet to discuss and research alternative/safer approaches to conventional treatments of hor-
monal imbalance.
Every 2nd Thursday 7:00 PM Luckiamute Watershed Council (LWC) open meeting. Mon-
mouth Volunteer Hall. Info: 503-838-8804
Every 3rd Thursday After Hour Mixers with Monmouth-Independence Chamber of Commerce.
Chamber members and friends are invited to join us for our FREE monthly after-hours mixers.
Mixers are held the third Thursday of each month from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM at member locations.
Registration is requested to help the host site properly prepare. Attendees are encouraged to
bring a small giveaway (less than $10) to promote your business or organization. For location
and or more information, contact Jean Love 503-838-4268 or visit our Calendar of Events at
micc-or.org for more information.
Every Friday TOPS-Weight Loss Group meets at the Monmouth Church of Christ, 127 Heffley
St. N., Monmouth. 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. For more information please feel free to contact Marilyn at
503-930-7936.
Every Saturday Riverview Market Now through October 9 AM - 2 Pm Riverview Park 50 C.
St., Independence
Every Saturday The Original Independence Farmers Market 9 am to 2 pm Umpqua Bank
parking lot in historic downtown Independence.
Every 1st Saturday 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM Monmouth Senior Center host breakfast. All you
can eat, Adults $6 Donation, Children 12 & under $3 Donation. For more info: 503 838-5678
First Saturday 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM Mon-Fri 10:00 a.m.-3 p.m.-Crafter’s Cottage at the Mon-
mouth Senior Center, 180 S. Warren St. Handmade items, watercolors, needlepoint, towels,
bead jewelry, dolls, blankets, sweaters, jellies, etc....New items always arriving!