Polk County
Voices
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • September 2, 2015 4A
EDITORIALS
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It’s time to teach
bullying a lesson
The air has gotten cooler — not much cooler, but cooler
all the same — and kids are preparing to go back to school.
In Falls City, students have already had two days back. Dal-
las, Perrydale and Central school districts begin Tuesday.
As you help your child pick out what to wear on his or
her first day back, take a moment to talk about behavior.
Remind them that words can cut deep, and they can stick
around, especially when they are texted or put online for
the world to see.
According the a health wellness survey conducted in
Polk County schools last spring, 71 percent of high school
juniors heard another student spread mean rumors or
leave other students out of activities at school or on the
bus. In sixth grade, just 57 percent of students reported
hearing such things.
Bullying is not just kids being kids. It goes beyond that to
repeated, mean-spirited behavior, and it breeds bullying
children, teenagers and adults.
This is not a behavior that is unique to K-12, but spreads
to all levels of society. People bully each other in the work
place. Spouses or significant others may bully each other
— leading to domestic violence. Senior citizens are bullied
and taken advantage of.
If we teach our children to talk about it, how to solve
problems at the root, just maybe we can cause a chain re-
action. To teach, we must, ourselves, learn to talk about it.
Maybe if kids stop bullying and learn to be kinder,
maybe we’ll have less violence and nastiness in the world.
That sounds pretty idealistic, but at its simplest form, it
sounds pretty easy, really.
That’s not to say that even the most well-behaved, well-
reared and taught child won’t ever bully. We’ve all said
things and done things that we didn’t realize were hurtful.
It was all in good fun when we dumped our friend in the
corn field for the night. But our friend may not have
thought it was funny at all.
What we need to do is recognize when we’ve done
something hurtful. Instead of saying, “get over it,” or “it
was just a joke,” own up to our words and actions and
apologize. Let’s just put a stop to it.
Teachers, administrators and county health profession-
als are doing all they can to put a halt to bullying in our
schools, but children will look up to their parents and
other trusted adults for an example. Be that example.
Follow new Monmouth Elementary School Principal
Kim Seidel’s advice when it comes to dealing with a
bully — or when it comes to posting something on social
media that turn you into a bully — stop. Walk away. Talk to
a trusted friend or adult.
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, SEPT. 2
• Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk Coun-
ty 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.
• Park Soil and Water Conservation District — 6 p.m., USDA
Service Center, 580 Main St., Suite A, Dallas. 503-623-9680, ext. 5.
THURSDAY, SEPT. 3
• Mid-Valley Behavioral Care Network executive committee
— 3 p.m., 2965 Ryan Dr. SE, Suite 150, Salem. 503-588-5833.
TUESDAY, SEPT. 8
• Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk Coun-
ty Courthouse, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-623-8173.
• Dallas City Council — 7 p.m., City Hall, 187 SE Court St., Dal-
las. 503-831-3502.
• Independence City Council — 7:30 p.m., Independence
Civic Center, 555 S. Main St., Independence. 503-838-1212.
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 9
• 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 Coun-
ty Courthouse, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-623-8173.
• Monmouth Park and Recreation Board — 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
Thanks for balanced
disaster coverage
I am glad that the Itemizer
is printing articles about
preparing for earthquakes. I
experienced the 9.2 Alaska
earthquake in 1964, and I see
some things that most peo-
ple don’t think of in prepar-
ing for emergencies. Fami-
lies’ preparations for an
earthquake can go a long
way toward being prepared
for other emergencies — an
ice storm, a wind storm that
takes out power and blocks
roads, etc. Panic is not nec-
essary, by any means — and
some other publications
have been producing that ef-
fect in readers. Not “all” re-
frigerators will “walk,” not
“all” hillsides will slide, not
“all” west of I-5 will be
“toast.” I like seeing more
balanced reporting, along
with practical ways people
can be less dependent on
services that may be in short
supply. My advice is to do
what you can to prepare to
live on the basics, and re-
member that bridges and
communications are often
not dependable after an
earthquake.
Linda Medsker
Dallas
Neighbor’s weeds
pose fire risk
I can sympathize with
folks concerned about fire
danger. My neighbor has
over 2-foot weeds and grass
on three sides of his building.
But my neighbor is Polk
County Fire District No. 1 Sta-
tion 40. Guess it’s a case of,
do as we say, not as we do.
Glad the rain is coming.
Pamela Venegas
Independence
Editor’s note: Deputy Chief
Neal Olson said the weeds
would be mowed this week.
Dallas firefighters
put out park blaze
Thank you to our won-
derful Dallas volunteer fire-
fighters who extinguished a
small grass and shrub fire in
Hunter Arboretum on Aug.
24. Without their timely re-
sponse, the fire could have
spread along the creek, into
the trees and then who
knows. The fire serves as a
reminder to us all that, in
spite of the recent rain,
everything is very dry and
waiting for a spark to begin
burning. This fire was un-
doubtedly started by some-
one who carelessly disposed
of a cigarette, as we have
seen on a smaller scale in
prior years. This is only one
of the reasons that smoking
is not allowed in Dallas
parks. Thanks for your help
in reducing the risk of fire in
our parks by not smoking
and asking those you see
who are to stop.
Dale Derouin
Friends of the Delbert Hunter
Arboretum
Dallas
Hermelinda’s salon
closed its doors
Hermelinda’s Beauty
Salon, which first opened in
Independence in August
1973, has closed its doors
Aug. 24.
Hermelinda had cus-
tomers who go back to
when she first opened in
1973. The children and
grandchildren of those first
customers later became
Hermelinda’s customers.
I would like to thank all
those customers I had dur-
ing the 42 years as a hair-
stylist in Independence. I
will miss you all greatly. I
would also like to thank my
business neighbors for al-
ways being there for me,
Tom Pfaff, Sandy’s Jewelry,
Dr. Turgeson and his staff.
I would also like to thank
Central Plaza owners for
their outstanding support.
In particular, C Cable Realty,
you were not just great
landlords but great friends. I
wish I could have thanked
you all in person, but due to
medical issues that was not
possible.
Hermelinda Garcia
Independence
Elected leaders
shouldn’t be paid
There are 36 elected local
governing bodies in Polk
County that assess property
taxes. Each organization is
governed by elected mem-
bers. Only Polk County
commissioners get compen-
sation.
Other elected governing
bodies members are volun-
teers. So why do Polk Coun-
ty commissioners get
salaries?
County commissioners
pay themselves because of
tradition. In the past, coun-
ty commissioners provided
judicial services and admin-
istered state and county
government services.
In Polk County that is not
the case.
The true administration and
management of most Polk
County services rests in the
hands of the county adminis-
trator and department heads.
The duties of Polk County
commissioners are primari-
ly legislative.
ORS 203.035 declares “the
governing body or the elec-
tors of a county may by or-
dinance exercise authority
within the county over mat-
ters of county concern. …”
Details include setting an-
nual budgets, authorizing
compensation for county
employees, entering into
contracts, approving county
ordinances, setting fees for
services, and providing
quasi-judicial review of land
use decisions.
These duties mirror those
performed by unpaid city
councils, which are also
“local public bodies.”
Polk County commission-
ers, like city councils, hire a
professional administrator
to run the operations of the
county, leaving for them-
selves only ordinance and
policy decisions.
How do taxpayers benefit
from the more than $70,000
paid to each commissioner
to perform the same duties
that volunteer mayors and
city councils provide for
Polk County city residents?
Why should Polk County
residents continue to com-
pensate county commis-
sioners?
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
E.M. Easterly
West Salem
WANT TO WRITE A LETTER?
Letters to the editor are lim-
ited to 300 words.
Letters that are libelous, ob-
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printed.
Letters must include the au-
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phone number. Names and
cities of residence are published;
street addresses and telephone
numbers are used for verifica-
tion purposes only.
Letters must be original sub-
missions to the I-O.
The deadline for letters to the
editor is 10 a.m. Monday.
—
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. 35
(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
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Polk County — One Year $27
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Outside of Oregon — One Year $38
POSTMASTER:
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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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