Polk County Itemizer-Observer • September 30, 2015 3A Polk County News BUSINESS BRIEF DEADLINES Rec. marijuana sales begin Thursday 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. WEBSITE 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. WEATHER RECORDED HIGH LOW Sept. 22............ 71 Sept. 23............ 75 Sept. 24............ 80 Sept. 25............ 68 Sept. 26............ 70 Sept. 27............ 72 Sept. 28............ 80 RAIN 46 42 49 54 50 40 40 .00 .00 .00 .13 .01 .00 .00 INDEPENDENCE — Two medical marijuana dispensaries, both in Independence, will begin selling marijuana flower to the public on Thursday. Healing Green Dispensary, 769 N. Main St., suite C, and Blackbird Indica, 319 S. 10th St., will expand their clientele from medical marijuana patients to the general public. The legalization of recreational marijuana was passed by Oregon voters in the November 2014 general election. A 10 percent sales tax from the city of Independence will be charged at the register beginning Thursday. A statewide sales tax will be charged beginning in January 2016. For more information on recreational marijuana: whatslega- loregon.com. PUBLIC NOTICE Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities to conduct comprehensive evaluation of OHSU Nov. 2-4, 2015 EMILY MENTZER/ Itemizer-Observer file Starting Thursday, anyone older than 21 will be able to legally purchase marijuana flower. Pot makes its way to Polk Commission to look at land-use laws to allow drug By Jolene Guzman The Itemizer-Observer POLK COUNTY — The Polk County Board of Com- missioners voted Sept. 16 to extend a moratorium on marijuana production and sales within unincorporated areas of the county for six months. The moratorium will allow the Polk County Com- munity Development De- partment to craft an amend- ment to the county’s land use code creating regula- tions — mostly regarding lo- cation — for marijuana pro- duction, processing, whole- saling, retail sales and med- ical marijuana dispensaries. That amendment would go before the Polk County planning commission and board of commissioners for approval. The board held a public hearing Sept. 16 on extend- ing the moratorium, after which it voted to approve it. The move signals that the board is working toward al- lowing marijuana business- es in the county, something Commissioner Mike Ainsworth, who provided the lone vote against the plan, isn’t pleased with. “I think we are on a slip- pery slope in regards to mar- ijuana,” he said, adding even though the law restricts the drug to those 21 and older, younger people will have more access, in his opinion. The state has allowed counties that had a vote tally of 55 percent or more against Measure 91, the ini- tiative that legalized recre- ational marijuana posses- sion and use, to ban manu- facture and sales of the drug. At 52.5 percent voting “no” on the measure, Polk County fell just short of that thresh- old. Ainsworth said his oppo- sition is representing those voters. “On this one, I’m going to stand my ground,” said Ainsworth, who also is in- volved with Polk County’s Drug Court program. “I’m not in favor of it.” Austin McGuigan, the county community develop- ment director, said with the moratorium in place, the planning commission will begin creating a legislative amendment to recommend to the board. He said that work should be completed by early next year. McGuigan said the objec- tive with the delay is provid- ing plenty of opportunity to Polk County citizens to weigh in on the regulations. He said it’s possible the new regulations could be com- pleted before the six-month moratorium ends. “The board wanted to h o l d m o r e h e a r i n g s ,” McGuigan said. “That gives ample time for board to hold its own public hearings.” What’s YOUR neighbor up to? Find out in the Itemizer Observer. You may find your neighbor, your boss, your friend or yourself in the pages of the Itemizer Observer. Local stories on local people—that’s our specialty. Henry Hill Community Center 750 S 5th St., Independence • Define your ideal customer • Understand how to sell more without selling • Learn the importance of following up & following through David Harrison joined the family business of in- surance sales at a young age before moving to Salem where he was hired as a Sales Manager with Advanced Selling Techniques. With additional training and a better understanding of the four simple steps in the sales process, he transitioned to the mortgage industry, including helping home- owners save their homes during the recession. Now a full time business coach, David specializes in effective sales training, coaching, and mentoring. PARAMEDIC AMBULANCE MEMBERSHIP www.polkio.com For more information, visit the NWCCU website: www.nwccu.org Tuesday, Oct. 6 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm DALLAS FIREMED Cost per workshop: $10 for MI Chamber members $15 for non-members. Fee includes light refreshments. Register by noon Oct. 5, 2015. For more information and to register, contact the Monmouth-Independence Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center: www.micc-or.org or 503-838-4268 Support Your Local Ambulance A Pleasant Place to Buy or Sell Your RV CALL TODAY FOR A NO-CHARGE EVALUATION. Open Enrollment September - October 31st $65 per household within city limits $75 per household www.polkio.com NWCCU 8060 165th Avenue N.E. Suite 100 Redmond, WA 98052 How to Increase Your Business Faster & Easier Rainfall during Sept. — 1.13 in. Rain through Sept. 28 — 17.12 in. Pencil us in! As part of the regular accreditation cycle, Oregon Health & Science University will undergo a site visit by the North- west Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) Nov. 2-4, 2015. The visit is part of OHSU’s Year Seven Evaluation, a comprehensive review of the university’s compliance with accreditation standards. The NWCCU last reaffirmed OHSU’s accreditation in 2012. OHSU received its initial regional accreditation in 1980. During its visit, the team will tour the OHSU campus, review documents and interview students, alumni, faculty, staff, leadership and members of the Board of Directors. The public is invited to submit written comments regarding OHSU’s qualifications for accreditation. Comments must be in writing, signed and received by Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2015 at the address below. outside city limits 24 hours a day, year-around Emergency Medical Service Membership DIAL For enrollment assistance call: 9 1 1 CITY OF DALLAS 503-831-3508 FOR MEDICAL EMERGENCIES Offered to the communities of Dallas, Falls City, Rickreall, and surrounding areas OPEN K! S A WEE 9-5 Y A D 7 • Sat Mon-Fri 9-6 -4 Sun 10 Rick 503-437-5398 Ruben 503-915-2080 4075 NE Three Mile Lane, McMinnville, OR www.macrvsales.com Next to the Spruce Goose Aviation Museum macrvsales@gmail.com Enroll and pay online www.ci.dallas.or.us Solution on Page 11A What? 8th Annual Silent Auction $20 ticket includes authentic Asian dinner and non-alcoholic beverages. No host wine/beer available. When? Saturday, Oct. 10th at 6:00 pm Where? Eola Hills Wine Cellars 501 S Pacific Highway 99W, Rickreall, Oregon Why? Join us for an evening of fun and fellowship in support of the Bambinos ministry! For additional information: Beth 503•508•6043