Polk County
Voices
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • December 2, 2015 4A
Johnstone wants
to hear from you
As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, let’s start with
what we have to celebrate. First, we are very excited that
Trenda Locke, PE Teacher at Lyle Elementary, was selected
Distinguished Educator for October. Trenda is passionate
about kids.
From a student’s point of view, “she is our good luck
teacher.” Thank you, Trenda, for all of your hard work!
Secondly, hopefully you were able to attend the recent
high school play, “Oliver!”
The performance combined students from LaCreole
Middle School and Dallas High School. It was impressive.
Thank you students and staff for all of your hard work.
Thirdly, Dallas Education Foundation just awarded 21
grants totaling $6,350, with $2,500 coming from Dallas
Community Foundation.
Thank you to these organizations for their generous
support.
Once again, each of these celebrations involves our staff,
community, and parents, and I am grateful to you for your
support of our programs, in ultimate support of our stu-
dents.
In my last note about the district, I mentioned our “cof-
fee conversations,” and I have to say these talks have been
a high point for me.
The common theme throughout our discussions has
been a focus on career and technical education (CTE), as
well as science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM)
programming, and specifically the need to increase learn-
ing opportunities in these areas for our students. In fact,
one of the bond projects will be remodeling the shop at
Dallas High School.
In the coming days we will look to gather additional
thoughts from our students, families, and communities.
Thanksgiving is one of my favorite times of year.
I am very thankful for the opportunity to live in and
serve the Dallas community, and I want to be sure to con-
nect with all parties in a meaningful way.
In hearing requests for evening opportunities to meet
with parents who are unavailable during the day, I will be
attending both the Lyle and Oakdale PTC meetings at
these schools.
The Lyle meeting is Dec. 8 beginning at 6:30 p.m., and
the Oakdale meeting is Dec. 10 beginning at 6:30 p.m. I
look forward to the opportunity to hear your thoughts.
Sincerely,
Michelle Johnstone
Dallas School District Superintendent
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, DEC. 2
• 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, DEC. 3
• Mid-Valley Behavioral Care Network executive commit-
tee — 3 p.m., MVBCN oice, 2965 Ryan Drive SE, Salem. 503-
585-4935.
MONDAY, DEC. 7
• Central School District Board of Directors — 6:30 p.m.,
Henry Hill Education Support Center, 750 S. Fifth St., Independ-
ence. 503-838-0030.
• Dallas City Council — 7 p.m., City Hall, 187 SE Court St., Dal-
las. 503-831-3502.
• Independence Planning Commission — 7 p.m., Independ-
ence Civic Center, 555 S. Main St., Independence. 503-838-1212.
TUESDAY, DEC. 8
• 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.
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 9
• Monmouth Library Advisory Board — 7 a.m., Monmouth
Public Library meeting room, 168 S. Ecols St., Monmouth. 503-
838-0722.
• Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk
County Courthouse, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-623-8173.
• Monmouth Park and Recreation Board — 7 p.m., Volun-
teer Hall, 144 S. Warren St., Monmouth. 503-838-0722.
How to
Contact
Officials
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
Garden a success,
thanks to support
I would like to take the
time and thank everyone
that has taken their time to
help and support the Dallas
Youth Garden. It has been a
great pleasure to work at the
garden and know the pro-
duce goes to families in
need in Dallas. It is a great
way to learn new skills and
work with other Dallas High
School students.
We have finished our
summer season and we had
a lot of help. The Master
Gardeners helped us greatly
giving us starts to plant.
Some of the Master Garden-
ers and other supervisors
have put in a good amount
of time to help each intern
successfully grow their gar-
dens.
This year the Dallas Youth
Garden has grown over
4,700 pounds of produce.
It has been a struggle for
all of the interns to success-
fully do so caused by the
summer’s high tempera-
tures. Rationed watering
only three days a week
sometimes made it difficult
to give the plants the water
they need. Through the hard
work, we managed to work
against the weeds as well as
the bugs.
It is great to know that we
have supporters including
Polk County 4H Extension,
Dallas Community Founda-
tion, Trinity Lutheran
Church, Polk Co. Family and
Community Outreach, Dal-
las Rotary Club, the city of
Dallas, Dallas Lions Club,
Dallas Service Integration,
Dallas High School and
many local business and in-
dividuals.
We not only learned skills
for ourselves but helped
many families that are in
need and live in the Dallas
area. So thank you to an
amount that cannot be
measured, for all of the sup-
port and donations made
toward the Dallas Youth
Garden.
Stephanie Cutler and
Dean Anderson
Dallas
Garus thinking of
children’s privacy
Mr. Garus’ comments are
spot on. All individuals need
to step back and think
about what he has stated,
then it will make sense.
If I was the parent of
young girl in public school, I
would be upset with her
being exposed to the sight
of a naked male who identi-
fied as being transgendered
being allowed to use the
restroom/shower facilities
in school. I don’t care how
politically correct it is to
allow our transgender youth
to use the facilities they
identify with, but there
comes a point that we don’t
want to expose our youth to
the naked attributes of the
opposite sex; regardless how
they identify, they are still
the sex they are born with.
Question: How do you
make sure that some horny
young male or female who
is curious as to what the op-
posite sex looks like naked,
states that they are trans-
gendered just to use those
facilities of the sex they
identify with?
Before you say this will
never happen, you need to
stop and realize this will
happen because by law you
can’t question their orienta-
tion, right?
Before we decide that a
council member is a bigot
and holds an unpopular be-
lief, just stop and see how
you would feel if you’re
placed into that situation as
an adult trying to protect
your children.
Jimmy Christensen
Independence
Thankful for CHS
Thanksgiving
Senior citizens who at-
tended the Central High
School Thanksgiving lunch
on (Nov. 25) have another
reason to be thankful. The
students and staff graciously
cooked, served and enter-
tained us, including prize
drawings! It’s always a pleas-
ure to see and hear Jeff Witt
with the Main Street singers.
Thanks to all who hosted
this event.
Carol Busby
Monmouth
Warm welcome at
CHS for holiday
On the day before
Thanksgiving, my wife,
Sherry and I, along with a
lot of senior citizens, had a
marvelous dinner at Central
High School. We also had
the pleasure of hearing a
fantastic music program
presented by the Central
High Main Street Singers.
Now I am in my 80s and I
know a lot of words, but all
of these words cannot ex-
press my delight of what
was presented to “oldies but
goodies” on that day.
What a pleasure and god-
send it is to have the back-
ing and love expressed by all
of those that participated in
this endeavor.
May I, and I speak for all
those that attended, express
my thanks to the students
and faculty of Central High
School for what you provide
to our senior community.
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
Jack M. Hinkle
Monmouth
WANT TO WRITE A LETTER?
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Letters of thanks to busi-
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The deadline for letters to the
editor is 10 a.m. Monday.
—
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. 48
(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
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Outside of Oregon — One Year $38
POSTMASTER:
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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
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