Polk County
Voices
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • November 11, 2015 4A
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EDITORIALS
Veterans need
more services
Happy Veteran’s Day to all those who served and are still
serving. This day, and for the whole year, consider thank-
ing veterans with more than just a handshake.
There are a few ways you can do more to help veterans.
The first is with your vote.
Our vets face challenges as they struggle with the vortex
that is life after the military.
Many struggle to get the medical and mental health care
they need because they are stuck going
through the Veterans Affairs system.
The Oregon Department of Veterans
Affairs is not very helpful. Representa-
tives say all they can do is help file paper-
work. They say it is the U.S. VA — a feder-
al program — that is ultimately responsible for getting
things taken care of, yet when it comes to appointments
with caring doctors, it is the ODVA that continually lets vet-
erans down.
Federal Congressmen say they are helping by providing
options for local care, called the Choice program, but
ODVA representatives, including the people who are sup-
posed to be veterans advocates, get around this system by
refusing to set appointments for veterans.
If an appointment is not available quickly, veterans are
not called back at all, not put on a waiting list. This makes
the VA look better, as if no one is waiting. In reality, veter-
ans wait in a black hole for vital appointments and help
getting medical and mental health care. Disabled veterans
wait to be classified as such, not compensated properly
and trying to survive on meager incomes.
Consider voting for people who have a real plan for
changing the VA system, who will stand up and hold VA of-
ficials accountable for veterans who are dying for lack of
services.
Secondly, help veterans get their schooling by writing a
note to your university board of education. Universities,
including Western Oregon University, try to be veteran
friendly by offering veteran support groups. However, one
way they could truly be veteran friendly is by acknowledg-
ing the vet’s years of service as education. A retired veteran
with 20 years under his or her belt has learned more col-
lege credit than a couple of physical education credits, yet
many university registrars will not accept military tran-
scripts.
It’s lovely to see such an outreach from the community,
offering free breakfasts, dinners, coffees and milkshakes to
veterans on Veteran’s Day, but much more needs to be
done before our servicemen and women are really taken
care of.
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).
—
THURSDAY, NOV. 12
• Polk County Fire District No. 1 Board — 6 p.m., Central
Station 90, 1800 Monmouth St., Independence. 503-838-1510.
• Falls City City Council — 7:30 p.m., Falls City Community
Center, 320 N. Main St., Falls City. 503-787-3631.
• Luckiamute Watershed Council — 7 p.m., Luckiamute
State Natural Area, 8997 Buena Vista Road, Albany. www.luckia-
muteLWC.org.
MONDAY, NOV. 16
• Dallas City Council — 7 p.m., City Hall, 187 SE Court St., Dal-
las. 503-831-3502.
TUESDAY, NOV. 17
• Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk
County Courthouse, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-623-8173.
• Independence Historic Preservation Commission — 4
p.m., Independence Civic Center, 555 S. Main St., Independence.
503-838-1212.
• Monmouth City Council — 7 p.m., Volunteer Hall, 144 S.
Warren St., Monmouth. 503-838-0722.
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 18
• Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk
County Courthouse, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-623-8173.
• Monmouth Planning Commission — 7 p.m., Volunteer
Hall, 144 S. Warren St., Monmouth. 503-838-0722.
• Polk Soil and Water Conservation Board Meeting — 6
p.m., USDA Service Center, 580 Main. St. Suite A, Dallas. 503-623-
9680 Ext. 5.
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
Present-day politics
is grim picture
“Amid the snarling, the
gears of government at all
levels continue grinding
away with inexorable per-
sistence. Our functionaries
keep beavering away at
their appointed tasks.”
Anti-government senti-
ment in America is fierce.
Yet despite this insurgent
clamor, it seems that the
proportion of our GNP de-
voted to federal, state and
local expenditures has al-
tered little over the past few
decades. Everyone hankers
after the grail of reduced
government spending and a
smaller public sector. That
is, until our hypothetical cit-
izen who falls under the
“everyone” designation
views the possibility of his
or her interests being
threatened by budgetary
cuts. No surprise is at work
in this inconsistency. Hu-
mankind revels in self-cen-
teredness.
Elite American service-
men were able to rescue 70
Kurdish hostages held by
ISIS, but at the price of one
of their own number being
slain. “Freedom,” as they
say, “isn’t free.” Despite the
incredible heroism by our
service personnel, we know
that there are members of
Congress from all along the
political spectrum who prat-
tle about “debt ceilings” and
“threatened government
shutdowns” if the two-part
duopoly that shapes our
destinies cannot agree.
Bizarre indeed is this juxta-
position of fiscal meta-
physics and political fend-
ing in Congress, on the one
hand, with the incredible
bravery of our soldiers on
the other.
Rome possessed very
brave and skillful soldiers as
well, and rather after the
manner of contemporary
America, they managed to
blight their defensive efforts
by tolerating a governmen-
tal structure whose frustrat-
ing inertia was all but guar-
anteed to destroy what was
left of civilization.
A very discouraging pic-
ture it is.
Frank W. Goheen
Camas, Wash.
Veterans breakfast
slated for Saturday
It’s that time of year again.
The leaves are falling; the
weather is turning cold; and
the American Legion Post 20
and American Legion Auxil-
iary Unit 20 are gearing up
for our annual events.
Every year, the American
Legion Post 20, assisted by
the American Legion Auxil-
iary Unit 20, in Dallas hosts
our annual Veteran’s Day
breakfast for all the veterans
and their families in the
community. The breakfast is
free to veterans, but dona-
tions are accepted from
everyone. This year our
breakfast will be Saturday
from 8 to 11 a.m. at the Dal-
las United Methodist
Church, 565 SE LaCreole
Drive.
We will be serving eggs,
pancakes, sausage, coffee,
and orange juice.
For more information,
you can contact Beth Lillib-
ridge at 503-480-6254.
We look forward to seeing
you there.
Joe Lillibridge
Dallas
LaCreole students
help at arboretum
On Oct. 13 and 20, 23 stu-
dents from Michelle
Schilling’s leadership class
at La Creole Middle School
volunteered to help out at
the Delbert Hunter Arbore-
tum. They raked leaves,
cleaned benches, planted
shrubs, and spread wood-
chips around various plants.
These young people did
an outstanding job in all re-
spects. The arboretum vol-
unteers who supervised the
students were unanimous in
praising the work-ethic and
positive attitude shown by
everyone involved. Ms.
Schilling did a great job of
preparing her charges to
come to the arboretum
ready to work.
We often hear about what
our schools are doing
wrong. The work of the
LCMS leadership class is a
great example of something
that is being done right in
the Dallas public schools.
Paul Mannen
Dallas
Vet’s celebration
at MVCA a success
Mid-Valley Christian
Academy would like to
thank the Monmouth Dairy
Queen for generously part-
nering with us for a
fundraiser which was a fan-
tastic success. Thanks to
everyone who came and
supported us.
We would also like to
thank Sandy Larson, from
the First Presbyterian
Church of Dallas, who came
and captured the hearts of
our students with a crayon
trick, followed by an inform-
ative lecture/speech/talk on
how prayer works during
one of our weekly chapel
service.
Veteran’s Day is a time to
honor the heroes that sacri-
ficed for our freedom. MVCA
had the honor of hosting a
special chapel followed by a
complimentary pancake
breakfast for veterans in the
Polk County community.
Many came and shared their
story of military duty and to
receive the gratitude from
our students for what they
have because of these brave
souls. Thank you, service
men and women, for the
sacrifices you have made for
our freedom.
For more information
about school events or class
schedules, call 503-838-2818.
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
Miranda Long
MVCA administrator
Monmouth
WANT TO WRITE A LETTER?
Letters to the editor are lim-
ited to 300 words. Longer letters
will be edited.
Each writer is restricted to
one letter per 30-day period.
Letters that are libelous, ob-
scene or in bad taste will not be
printed. Attacks by name on
businesses or individuals will
not be printed.
The Itemizer-Observer does not
guarantee the accuracy of facts
presented by letter writers; dis-
senters are welcome to respond.
Letters must include the author’s
name, address and telephone
number, even when submitted
online. Letters must be submit-
ted from individuals, not organi-
zations, and must be original
submissions to the I-O, not copies
of letters sent to other media.
Letters of thanks to busi-
nesses, individuals and organi-
zations are limited to 10 names.
The deadline for letters to the
editor is 10 a.m. Monday. Let-
ters submitted may not be re-
tractable after this deadline.
For the complete letter to the
editor policy: www.polkio.com.
—
Reach us at:
Mail: Editor, Polk County
Itemizer-Observer, P.O. Box 108,
Dallas, OR 97338.
Fax: 503-623-2395.
Email: ionews@polkio.com.
Oice: 147 SE Court St., Dallas.
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. 45
(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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The Polk County Itemizer-Observer assumes no inancial responsibility for errors in adver-
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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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