Polk County
Voices
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • September 23, 2015 4A
EDITORIALS
How to
Contact
Officials
Are you ready
for disaster?
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
It’s not too late, but don’t delay
The time to get ready is now.
We may not know when the Cascadia subduction zone
off the Pacific Northwest Coast will go, but we know when
it does, it won’t be pretty.
Federal, state and local officials are taking the threat se-
riously and playing catch up to prepare for it. Residents liv-
ing in the areas that will be most affected by earthquake,
including the Willamette Valley, should do the same. If you
need extra motivation to prepare for a threat that doesn’t
have a specific due date, consider this: in 10,000 years of
history, the “really big one” has occurred on average every
243 years.
The last quake of that magnitude was in 1700 — 315
years ago. In a sense, we are existing on borrowed time as
the fault line has remained calm. This isn’t to frighten you,
but inspire you to think about your family, your home and
to make a plan.
What should be a terrifying thought is realizing you
don’t know where your loved ones are after the quake, if
they are OK and how you can get to them. Add to that the
fact that if you are able to find your family, you only have
what is on hand at your home to sustain you through what
could be an extended crisis. Help will not be on the way for
most people. Without supplies, the reality is you will prob-
ably be evacuated to an unknown location, possibly out of
state. Remember Katrina?
Local officials and those who have already begun
preparing urge you not to think of it as gathering every-
thing you need at once, but thoughtfully planning for what
would work best for your family.
There are plenty of resources available to help you pre-
pare. The American Red Cross and www.ready.gov are
good places to start.
But it really begins with a conversation. Talk your family,
make planning a priority. When and if the time comes, you
will be glad you did.
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. 23
• Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk
County Courthouse, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-623-8173.
MONDAY, SEPT. 28
• Independence Library Board — 4 p.m., Independence
Public Library, 175 Monmouth St., Independence. 503-838-1811.
TUESDAY, SEPT. 29
• Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk
County Courthouse, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-623-8173.
• Monmouth and Independence joint city council meet-
ing — 7 p.m., Polk County Fire District No. 1 Station 90, 1800
Monmouth St., Independence, on the border of the two cities.
503-838-1212 or 503-838-0722.
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 30
• Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk
County Courthouse, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-623-8173.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Sanders shows he
is progressive
We believe President
Barack Obama has been a
very good president, consid-
ering the catastrophic mess
he inherited from the Ch-
eney-Bush administration.
Among many problems,
Harvard University’s
Kennedy School has esti-
mated that the Iraq and
Afghanistan wars will ulti-
mately cost we taxpayers $4
trillion to $6 trillion. Regret-
tably, the “Tea Publicon”
Party shows no inclination
to pay this debt. It is true
that Obama Care is not
good enough. It should be
single-payer (Medicare E for
everyone who is a legal U.S.
citizen). Taking the profits
out of health care would
create many economic ben-
efits. Employers would not
have to pay for expensive
health insurance.
Of course, there is no
“free lunch.” All participants
would be required to make
some payments, like we cur-
rently on Medicare do now.
Bernie Sanders is one of our
current progressive leaders
who believes in this system.
Walden and Betty Joura
Dallas
Commissioners out
of touch with public
As a tenured public ser-
vant to those with disabili-
ties in Polk County, a home
owner/taxpayer, and moth-
er of three, it’s my intent to
raise concerns regarding is-
sues created as a result of an
out of touch county com-
mission. I hope that more
civic engagement and sup-
port for public service work-
ers will result due to my
outreach.
My concerns, which mir-
ror the concerns of the ma-
jority of my coworkers, are
as follows:
Recent changes created
by the Affordable Care Act
have adversely impacted
Polk County public service
workers. Under the condi-
tions required by Obama
Care, which increased peo-
ple who qualify for Medi-
caid by one-third of its pre-
vious level, county workers
have greater obligations to
see more clients and in-
creased workload associated
with each client.
These workload increases
have come with additions to
county funding from the
state. The county’s budget
increased by almost 19 per-
cent this year — the mental
health budget alone of $10.9
million last year changed to
a little over $14 million dur-
ing this fiscal year.
While finances and work-
load have increased, Polk
County commissioners run
operations with little
input/concern for the inter-
est of the public.
In previous years, these
caseworkers took cuts to
staffing and minimal wage
adjustments; far lower than
many county law enforce-
ment employees, with the
intent of saving jobs and en-
suring enough social servic-
es were available to those in
need.
Currently, commissioners
plan to deal with the addi-
tion in work requirements
and caseload by providing
inexperienced temporary
workers and increased man-
agement. Their plan also in-
cludes providing the highest
percentage raises to levy-
funded law enforcement
positions. The county’s lead-
ership is prepared to force
requirements on its social
service providers over ob-
jections, which include sig-
nificantly increased work-
load requirements and
lower wages.
Join me in a civic awak-
ening to deal with our coun-
ty’s mismanagement of its
resources.
Prairie Oak
Dallas
Thanks to all who
got in spirit of walk
Last Friday night in Inde-
pendence there was a Ghost
Walk.
The very best part of the
Ghost Walk is the people.
Friends and neighbors lead
groups, tell stories, and
open their buildings. Every-
one gets into, if you will, the
“spirit” of the evening.
The walkers come from
near and far for a little shiv-
er and a lot of fun.
You all give substance to
the evening with your will-
ingness to entertain anec-
dotal history and suspend
belief (or not!) to talk about
the more spectral side of In-
dependence.
I learn right away when
something spooky happens.
Friday night in front of the
Pink House Café, a photo
was taken showing a large
person-sized orb standing
next to a walker. Maybe
spirits like the stories, too?
I am in awe of the people
who help with this event
every year, continue to
enjoy their roles or open
their businesses. It takes
over 50 volunteers to put on
a good Ghost Walk for our
hundreds of guests.
Thank you to everyone
who participated.
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
Marilyn Morton
Independence
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—
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. 38
(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
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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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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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