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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 14, 2015)
ON THE FIELD OF PLAY DALLAS’ SHOCKING YOUTH SPORTS Page 7A Volume 140, Issue 41 SENIORS Page 10A www.Polkio.com October 14, 2015 75¢ IN YOUR TOWN DALLAS NEWS Veterans helping veterans. That’s what the organizers of the new Polk County Battle Buddies veterans’ support group hope will hap- pen after it begins meeting this month. Battle Buddies will hold its irst monthly gather- ing Monday starting at 6 p.m. at West Valley Hospi- tal, 525 SE Washington St., Dallas. A partnership between the local chapters of Vet- erans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion, the group will be modeled after one of the same name in Salem. »Page 15A FALLS CITY NEWS JOLENE GUZMAN/ Itemizer-Observer From left, Dean Burwash, Rebecca O’Dell, and Haddie Rogers take a break to play with Phoebe, the “school dog” at Dallas Community School on Thursday. The new charter school opened in Dallas with 125 students in September. A new look at home-school Dallas Community School, a charter school, offers families unique option By Jolene Guzman The Itemizer-Observer DALLAS — As the stu- dents at Thursday’s morning session as Dallas Communi- ty School (DCS) returned from recess, “educational guide” Cheri Reinky pointed out something amiss. “Did you guys forget somebody today?” Reinky asked the students. That somebody immedi- ately picked up her stuffed soccer ball and brought it over to the first students pouring through the door. Phoebe, the Australian labradoodle and DCS “school dog,” gave puppy eyes to the children. “Sorry Phoebe,” a number of students said in unison. A l l w a s f o r g i v e n by Phoebe, who has her Canine Good Citizen certification, as she found a number of playmates to toss her soccer ball and pat her on the head. Having a school dog is just the first difference you will find at DCS, which opened to students in Sep- tember. JOLENE GUZMAN/ Itemizer-Observer Julie Rain assists students working on projects Thursday. While a public charter school, DCS caters to home- school families and there- fore the program isn’t set up like a traditional school at all. It has been described as “home schooling for busy working parents,” by Wendy Sparks, a board member and parent of students “attend- ing” the school. At Dallas Community School there are no full days in a classroom, and no teacher fully responsible for instruction. Instead, stu- dents attend “class” mostly at home under the supervi- sion of their “educational coach” — typically a family member — and “education- al guide,” a licensed teacher assigned to oversee progress on individual learning plans. Parents have the option of sending their child to multi- grade level morning class sessions where, under the supervision of teachers, they work on individual school assignments, as well as group study. Also, in the af- ternoons students can par- ticipate in enrichments, elective-like classes ranging from art and music to ad- vanced writing to French. “It’s a ver y different model,” said Dennis Schultz, the school’s director. “There are three schools like it in the state, so we have been able to talk to them and to learn some things that they’ve learned in the four to six years they have been in existence.” Schultz, who is the former superintendent-principal of Eddyville Charter School, and his staff — four educa- tional guides and an admin- istrative analyst — took the board’s concept and made it reality this summer. DCS se- cured a site at 788 SW Birch St. in Dallas and began scheduling class sessions, enrichments and several field trips for the year. Most classes and enrichments take place at the school’s site, which with easily mov- able desks, overstuffed chairs and couches, looks nothing other schools. See SCHOOL, page 14A Officers, citizen honored for bravery Foursome pulled injured Polk County deputy from burning patrol car in July By Jolene Guzman The Itemizer-Observer DALLAS — The four men who saved the life of Polk County Sheriff ’s deputy Shon Latty after his patrol car crashed and burst into flames in July were honored for their heroism Oct. 7. Polk County Sheriff Bob Wolfe presented Polk deputy Casey Gibson, Dallas Police officers Colby Hamilton and Jim Rodriquez, and private citizen Jeremiah Halleman awards and letters of com- mendation during the Polk County Board of Commis- sioners. Latty, who attended the THE NEXT 7 DAYS PLANNING FOR YOUR WEEK meeting Wednesday, said seeing the foursome recog- nized for their actions was “awesome.” “They deserve it,” he said. “Words don’t explain it. I love these guys.” The four men scrambled to remove Latty from his burning police car following a crash, which happened on July 8. Latty had been respond- ing as backup on a domestic violence incident in Marion County after the Marion County Sheriff ’s Office deputy and Independence police officer on scene called for assistance. Latty, followed by Gibson, was wed Want to talk science and religion? “Brew and BS” at St. Thomas Episcopal in Dallas its the bill, but it’s BYOB. 7 p.m. Free. Mostly sunny Hi: 74 Lo: 49 »Page 2A INDEPENDENCE NEWS A Central High student will be referred on a charge of disorderly conduct after making a threat of violence at the school. Central School District oicials and Independ- ence police learned of the threat on the evening Oct. 6 and sent a message to parents that night in- forming them of the threat. The threat, posted to Facebook and Twitter by someone other than the suspect, went viral on Oct. 6. Several calls were made to police and to district oicials, spurring an immediate investigation. »Page 15A MONMOUTH NEWS Taylor McClure carefully guides the teal T-shirt and wooden block under the massive roller on a press at Western Oregon University. The roller has to be completely level or the print won’t turn out right. He pauses, picking up a mas- sive wrench fabricated especially for this home- made press, adjusting the roller before turning the giant crank to complete the process. On the other side, McClure carefully lifts the wooden block to re- veal an embossed black print of a lizard. “It’s pretty cool,” said Megan Leach, third-year student at WOU. »Page 16A POLK COUNTY NEWS POLK COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE / for Itemizer-Observer Shon Latty’s patrol car was badly damaged in the crash. driving down Monmouth Cutoff Road in Dallas pass- ing cars when his vehicle thu Soup and pie is on sale for a good cause at the Mon- mouth Senior Cen- ter. Clam chowder or chicken noodle? 11 a.m. Free. Sunny Hi: 77 Lo: 50 The city of Falls City will consider changing its code to allow marijuana dispensaries to open, but there’s a catch. If the Falls City City Council approves restrictions it appears to support, there would be no place for one to open. The city code requires business to comply with fed- eral law, which does not recognize marijuana as legal. Mayor Terry Ungricht suggested changing the code to technically allow a dispensary to open in the city, but using its discretion to restrict locations to make it near- ly impossible to ind a place to operate one. Two candidates are seeking appointment as in- terim Polk County sherif and interviewed for the job Tuesday. Polk Detective Sgt. Mark Garton, of Dallas, and Yamhill County Patrol Sgt. Todd Whitlow, of Sheri- dan, both applied for the temporary post and went through interviews with the Polk County commis- sioners Tuesday. Both have iled to be elected sherif in the May 2016 primary, as well. The candidate the board picks will take over the job on Dec. 1. and a truck turning onto Godsey Road collided. See AWARD, page 14A »Page 15A fri sat sun mon tue Guthrie Park’s Acoustic Music Jam should ill a fall Fri- day night with tunes the whole family will enjoy. 7 p.m. Free. If you have shop- ping on your to-do list stop by Inde- pendence for the Riverview and Origi- nal farmer’s markets. 9 a.m. Free. Dallas Wingdingers Remote Control Fly- ing Club is hosting a demonstration at Whitworth Elemen- tary School in Dallas. 1-3 p.m. Free. The American Red Cross is always in need of blood dona- tions. You can help at First Presbyterian Church in Dallas. 12:30 p.m. Free James2 Community Kitchen ofers a free meal to all who are hungry at St. Philip Catholic Church in Dallas. 4:30-6 p.m. Free. Mostly sunny Hi: 76 Lo: 52 Showers Hi: 65 Lo: 49 Showers Hi: 67 Lo: 49 Showers Hi: 67 Lo: 48 Partly cloudy Hi: 68 Lo: 49