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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 7, 2015)
Polk County Voices Polk County Itemizer-Observer • October 7, 2015 4A How to Contact Officials LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Property tax increases unfair As inhabitants of Meadow Creek Village, a 55-plus sen- ior citizen community in Dallas, we have just re- ceived a letter from the Polk County Tax Assessors Office stating a 56 percent tax in- crease for personal proper- ty. Is it legal for the tax as- sessor to arbitrarily raise the personal property taxes by 56 percent in one 55-plus manufactured home com- munity? Manufactured homes lose value over the years, they do not increase in value. I did not realize that the value of a home would increase just because in this inflated so- ciety, people sell at higher prices and sometimes get what they ask. We bought our home a year ago in July, a 20-year- old home. We paid $46,500 for it, and a year later, the Polk County Tax Assessor decides our home is worth $56,000. This is ridiculous. We certainly couldn’t sell it for that much, even the ap- pliances are 20 years old. Ten percent would be bad enough, but 56 percent is ridiculous, and I understand some will have to pay even higher than 56 percent. My wife has ALS (Amy- otrophic Lateral Sclerosis) and many of the other sen- iors in this community have serious health issues. Surely the tax assessor should take this into consideration. A nearly double tax bill will hit us and many others very hard. We are a community of senior citizens, living on fixed incomes. We were told retired people were appreci- ated in this area; I think not. A nearly double tax bill will hit us and many others very hard. We feel this is dis- crimination against us as a community and as senior citizens. Someone needs to look into this discrimination. David and Katherine Hall Dallas Carelessness caused fire In the early evening of Aug. 24, a fire broke out at the Delbert Hunter Arbore- tum. Over 2,500 square feet of creek-bank space was devastated by the blaze. Firstly, a huge thank you me through the years. They have helped me and walked beside me while I have faced many challenges academical- ly and personally. Again I urge you to honor their request for a new contract. Alexis Buckholz Monmouth How do we stop the presumptions? and well done is due the Dallas Volunteer Fire De- partment for its very quick response. Its timely and ex- pert reaction prevented more extensive damage. Our across-the-creek neigh- bors who called to report the fire also deserve thanks and a pat on the back. Several trees and shrubs were damaged, as well as grasses. The grass is already coming back in a display of nature’s resilience. The area will be left as it is as: an ex- ample of what can happen as a result of human care- lessness and as a showcase of how nature deals with setbacks. The entire arboretum is designated as a “no-smok- ing” area. We hope to have signs to emphasize that fact in the very near future. We encourage interested parties to visit the arbore- tum to see the burned area, as well as the rest of our dis- play of plants native to Ore- gon. Visitors with mobility problems can arrange a golf-cart tour by calling Paul Mannen at 503-623-4845. Paul Mannen Dallas Mental health needs boost The recent tragedy at Umpqua Community Col- lege reveals that the perpe- trator did not have a history of crime. He did not have a documented history of mental illness. His guns and ammo were all bought legally. What law could we possibly pass to stop future massacres? The gun debate has again risen to a national priority. We point fingers at the NRA, the hunters, the collectors, and the manufacturers. It takes the willingness of a human operator to make a gun deadly. They do not work independently of one another. Chicago, Illinois and Washington, D.C., have the strictest gun laws in the country and the highest in- cident of gun violence. Criminals target gun-free zones such as schools and theaters. They provide an unarmed prey base for vio- lent criminals. Addressing mental health in this country is certainly one of the main concerns. We have lived without avail- ability for 30 years now. People cannot afford $100 to $200 an hour for a psy- chiatrist. Mental health needs to be available and affordable. But it’s not. Who is talking about it? Who do you know right now that has a creepy kid living in their basement that has a fascination with vio- lence? Parents beware and be aware. Violent entertainment has become a mainstay, from movies to video games. Are we allowing our youth to become desensi- tized to violence? Some would say, “Absolutely.” We don’t want to get in- volved. We turn a blind eye. Parents no longer want to parent. Chris Mercer, James Holmes both kept journals with clear evidence of their 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, OCT. 7 • Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk County 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. THURSDAY, OCT. 8 • Polk County Fire District No. 1 Board — 6 p.m., Central Station 90, 1800 Monmouth St., Independence. 503-838-1510. • Luckiamute Watershed Council — 7 p.m., Volunteer Hall, 144 S. Warren St., Monmouth. 503-837-0237. • Falls City City Council — 7:30 p.m., Falls City Community Center, 320 N. Main St., Falls City. 503-787-3631. MONDAY, OCT. 12 • Southwest Polk Fire – 7 p.m., Rickreall Fire Station, TUESDAY, OCT. 13 • Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk County Courthouse, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-623-8173. • Independence City Council — 7:30 p.m., Independence Civic Center, 555 S. Main St., Independence. 503-838-1212. intentions to do harm. Who’s to blame? We are. Take a look around. Get in- volved. Risk not being pop- ular to your kid. Tell some- one. Read his journal. Read her diary. It’s our responsi- bility to know what is going on in their lives. Cindy Birko Dallas Teachers deserve fair contract I am currently a senior at Central High School. I have been a student in the Cen- tral School District since Kindergarten. My teachers have always been extremely dedicated, caring, and com- mitted to their profession. I am aware how hard teach- ers work and the many hours they put in beyond their paid eight hours a day. My knowledge comes not only from personal observa- tions, but also because I am from a family of teachers and educators. In addition, my aunt was the assistant superintendent for this dis- trict. I am pleading with you to put our teachers first. They have been without a con- tract for quite a while. They deserve much more then we possibly could pay than. I have observed my teachers coming to work early and leaving late consistently. We must remember these teachers correct papers and do lesson plans late into the evening after they have put their own families to bed. I wouldn’t be the student and person I am without the teachers who have influenced Recently, I had the sad honor to visit the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. It is an exceptional telling of one of the greatest crimes in world history. Having read a lot of 20th century history, not much of the tale is new to me, but the presentation was stun- ning. It is impossible to come out of the exhibit not wondering how a culture could do such a thing. But, in listening to trans- lations of speeches by Hitler, etc., I felt I had heard this tenor of language before. I made the connection later in the day when I bought a Washington Post newspaper and found a reminder that Donald Trump says all Lati- no immigrants are drug run- ners, murderers or thieves. Later, I was reminded of the comment by Gov. Chris Christi that the head of the National Education Associa- tion should be, “Smashed in the mouth.” His comment is soon followed by Dr. Ben Carson saying that a Muslim cannot be President of the United States. And so it goes. The GOP has no valid positions on the issues that challenge America so their campaign strategy is, “Be afraid; be very afraid; those others are coming to get us. We must stop them.” Republicans hate govern- ment, but they want it to have extraordinary powers to control certain peoples and tell them what to do and how to live. This strate- gy applies to non-whites, immigrants, gay people, Muslims and other reli- gions, women and so forth. People ask, “How can the mass shootings keep hap- pening in America?” Perhaps we should start by taking a hard look at the discourse of some of our so- called political leaders for the answer. 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 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 oice: 707 13th St. SE, Suite 285, Salem, OR 97301 Phone: 503-589-4555 Email: via website, www.wyden.senate.gov Fred Brown Dallas EDITORIALS We are encouraged to see local agencies and school districts preparing for an ac- tive shooter event like the one that so tragically took the lives of nine people at Umpqua Community Col- lege on Thursday. Getting ready for an emer- gency like that, if you can ever truly be ready, takes partnerships in the commu- nity. As your local newspaper, we would like to be one of those partners. We hope to never have to report on an event similar to what Roseburg is recovering from now, but if we must, we want to help. Your local reporters would be able to do that better if you included us in your planning for such emergen- cies. We can put out informa- tion the community needs to know that you may not have the time to — and with the care you would expect from people who live in the communities affected. We know it takes time to confirm facts, especially in a situation like this, where lives are at stake. But the confusion about the age and identity of the shooter and the number of people killed and injured in Roseburg is a prime example of what we can help prevent as the local news source. In today’s world of the 24- hour news cycle and social media, rumors and outright falsehoods will emerge al- most immediately when people want information. Like what was witnessed in Roseburg last week, local, national and international media organizations will de- scend on our community. All with a job to do informing readers and viewers about what has happened in their world and lives. It is our responsibility as writers of the first draft of history to name the suspect, without glorifying his ac- tions. It’s our responsibility to try to reveal his motives and answer the all impor- tant question of why some- thing like this could happen. Instead of treating us like a nuisance or necessary evil, why not use our skills and time for the better? Sen. Jef Merkley (Dem.) 313 Hart SOB Washington, D.C. 20510 Phone: 202-224-3753 Fax: 202-228-3997 Salem oice: 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 oice: 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. 40 (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 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Polk County — One Year $27 Other Oregon Counties — One Year $33 Outside of Oregon — One Year $38 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Polk County Itemizer-Observer, P.O. Box 108, Dallas, Oregon 97338 The Polk County Itemizer-Observer assumes no inancial 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 DISPLAY ADVERTISING Heidi Leppin .................Display Advertising Manager ....................................hleppin@polkio.com Rachel Best ....................Display Advertising.............................................................rbest@polkio.com Karen Sanks...................Client Services ...................................................................ksanks@polkio.com CLASSIFIED LINE ADVERTISING Dawn Ohren .....................................................................................................................ioads@polkio.com PRODUCTION Kathy Huggins ..............................................................................................................iosales@polkio.com Karyn Pressel .................................................................................................................iosales@polkio.com BOOKKEEPING Pat Letsch ......................................................................................................................pletsch@polkio.com Web: www.polkio.com Phone: 503-623-2373 Fax: 503-623-2395