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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 25, 2015)
Polk County Living Polk County Itemizer-Observer • November 25, 2015 7A A DREAM COME TRUE EMILY MENTZER/Itemizer-Observer Jim Smith, 94, took a ride of a lifetime in a new Kenworth log truck. He went with Gary Bullock on Thursday up forest roads to pick up a load of logs and bring them back down. Smith checks off his bucket list with ride-along in truck By Emily Mentzer The Itemizer-Observer WILLAMINA — The first step into Siletz Trucking’s log truck was about 3-feet off the ground, nearly to Jim Smith’s waist, but he was determined and eager to take a ride in the beast. The 94-year-old put his cane on the floor of the cab — nearly at shoulder- height — got his foot on that step and hoisted him- self up as best he could. Siletz Trucking Assistant Truck Boss Gary Bullock helped support Smith and get him into the passenger seat safely. “That was a big step,” Smith said. “We’d have gotten you up there, even if we had to use a lift,” Bullock said, smiling. Thursday morning was the day Smith got to check off the final item on his bucket list. The former log truck driver got a ride-along with Bullock in a brand new log truck. “The last time I drove a log truck was August 1941,” Smith said. “Of course I was pretty young back then. I didn’t want to drive any- thing else. I just wanted to drive a log truck.” Smith, who lived in Mon- mouth for 60 years before moving to an assisted living home in Forest Grove, start- ed driving a truck when he was just 8, taking hay and wood from the fields in an old 1918 International. When he was 14, he took a job for his dad, who owned a small sawmill near Tiller. “The truck I drove was a Chevrolet 1939, under-pow- ered as you would suspect,” Smith said. “They didn’t haul such big loads.” Back then, Smith had to bundle up a coat behind him on the seat just to reach the pedals. “What was interesting was the trucks did not have any power brakes or power steering,” Smith said. “You had to brace yourself to steer sometimes.” The new Kenworth Bul- lock took him in had all the bells and whistles, including cruise control. “It was the best thing that ever happened to me in my old age,” Smith said after- ward. “It was so good. The big difference comes in the heavy-duty equipment, 750 horsepower, power steering, power brakes, 23 forward speeds, and you sit up way up high in those cabs.” All that horsepower made it feel like the truck wasn’t carrying anything, in spite of the 96,000-pound load, New Booksto re in Dallas ! EMILY MENTZER/Itemizer-Observer Jim Smith, 94, listens with amazement as Gary Bullock de- scribes the capabilities of the rig they are about to ride in. Smith noted. “The truck just handles like it isn’t there,” he said. “It does such a good job. It was so much safer. The old rigs that we drove … were just an accident waiting to happen.” The ride was made possi- ble by Siletz Trucking, Han- cock Forest Management and Gahlsdorf Logging. Leon Fischer, president of Siletz, said he was happy to help make Smith’s dream a reality. “It’s not something we do every day, but this is kind of a special thing, the guy being 94,” he said. Greg Ellis arranged the ride for Smith. They met years ago in the Mon- mouth-Independence Ro- tary Club. “Jim’s been in the com- munity for years,” Ellis said. When he said he wanted to ride in a new log truck, Ellis knew he could help make it happen. “I knew he was in his 90s and thought, if we’re going to do this, we better get it done,” he said. Smith said the ride was the cherry on top of a “great, long life.” “That was it,” he said. “That was the one thing I hadn’t accomplished yet.” EMILY MENTZER/Itemizer-Observer Gary Bullock helps Jim Smith get up the tall steps to the cab of Siletz Trucking’s Kenworth semi. Smith later said it was harder to climb in than he expected. Music from the Redgate Winery & Fieldhouse Thanksgiving Weekend Friday, Saturday & Sunday Nov. 27, 28 & 29 Open 12-5 Music 1-4 FRIDAY, Nov. 27 • 9am-5pm SATURDAY, Nov. 28 • 9am-5pm featuring local guitar icon “Claybone” King 147 SW Court St., Dallas Must be 21 or older Hours: 10am - 5pm ~ Closed Sundays 8175 Buena Vista Road Independence • 503-428-7115 • www.redgatevineyard.com Look for us on Simple Marketing Strategies to Grow Your Business or Organization Tuesday, Dec. 1 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm • Understand marketing for today • Know how to set marketing goals • Learn campaigns that drive action Henry Hill Community Center • Determine how to get started 750 S 5th St., Independence with marketing Carol Infranca is an award-winning print and broadcast journalist and business communicator. A previous newspaper reporter in California and TV reporter in Nevada, she used her talents to pro- mote tourism for northern Nevada at the Conven- tion & Visitors Authority. Starting her own boutique marketing and public relations firm in 2000. Carol is now a fulltime Oregonian and an Authorized Local Expert for Constant Contact since 2013. Cost per workshop: $10 for MI Chamber members $15 for non-members. Fee includes light refreshments. Register by noon Nov. 30, 2015. For more information and to register, contact the Monmouth-Independence Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center: www.micc-or.org or 503-838-4268 $10 gets you wine tasting, appetizers and music! December 1st 4-8 pm Catered by Wildtree Door Prizes Demonstration & Tasting by Time and Oak Whiskey Elements Wine Tasting by Namasté Vineyards 410 E Main St. Monmouth 503-838-1773 www.polkio.com Wednesday Nov 25 through Thursday Dec 3 Matinees are all shows before 6pm. New pricing for matinees are: Adult $7.25 Children $6.75 Senior $7.00 Pricing does not reflect 3D showings. THE NIGHT BEFORE(Digital) (R) (12:15 2:40 5:05) VIKTOR FRANKENSTEIN (Digital) (PG13) (11:40 2:15 4:50) THE GOOD DINOSAUR (NEC DOLBY 3D) (PG) (11:30 4:15) THE GOOD DINOSAUR (Digital 2D) (PG) (1:50) CREED (Digital) (PG13) (12:30 3:30) THE GOOD DINOSAUR (Digital 2D) (PG) (12:00 2:20 4:45) THE GOOD DINOSAUR (NEC DOLBY 3D) (PG) THE HUNGER GAMES MOCKINGJAY PART 2 (PG13) (Digital) (1:00 4:00) SPECTRE (Digital) (PG13) (12:20 3:35) SECRET IN THEIR EYES (Digital) (PG13) (11:45 2:15 4:45) THE HUNGER GAMES MOCKINGJAY PART 2 (PG13) (Digital) LOVE THE COOPERS (Digital) (PG13) 7:30 9:55 7:20 9:50 7:05 10:05 7:10 9:30 7:00 9:55 6:50 10:00 7:15 9:40 6:30 9:25