Polk County News Polk County Itemizer-Observer • December 2, 2015 5A Diversity: Cities battle reputations Continued from Page 1A “To be honest, (it’s not re- ally diverse) at all,” Tanner Earhart said. “I’d say 90 per- cent of our school is white. We have a very small popu- lation of minorities.” Earhart, an Asian-Ameri- can, is a junior at Dallas High School, but the lack of diversity hasn’t led to a neg- ative experience. “I never had any issues being left out or anything like that,” Earhart said. “From my case and my brother’s ( Treve) case, everyone has been welcom- ing to us.” Harkey Bal, a senior at Central High School, had a different experience grow- ing up. “I think (racism) still goes on,” Bal said. “It never really ends. Some people think of you negatively. They don’t like you or put you down in some way. In my past, that happened many times.” Bal is a Sikhi, an Indian religion that originated in the 15th century. Prior to high school, Bal experi- enced racism from some of his peers and from those older than him — especially during his middle school years. “(Some examples were) how some people misun- derstood me as an ‘Arabian’ and didn’t like my skin color or the thing I wore,” Bal said. “Also how I was such a bad person and (they) didn’t like me because of my cul- ture and just misjudged me as a person.” Things improved signifi- cantly when he entered high school — so much so that after Bal attended West Salem High School for a year as a junior, he chose to return to Central for his senior year. “I believe (high school) is a more mature environ- ment where people have some sense of respect,” Bal said. Earhart agrees. “I don’t think race mat- ters as much with (our gen- eration),” Earhart said. As Bal’s peers became more understanding and accepting, it’s his hope that younger generations con- tinue to promote a feeling of openness and welcome to all — a goal he’s much more hopeful is realistic than ever before. “I think with every gener- ation where people are un- derstanding that everyone is the same and equal, they become parents and teach their kids that everyone is the same,” Bal said. “They’ll see everyone is a human and has a brain and a heart. No one is different except for their skin.” Dallas residents KellyAnn and Anthony Garthe, an in- terracial couple — Anthony is black and KellyAnn is white — with four children who moved to town four years ago have experienced what can happen when people notice a difference in skin color. Anthony Garthe said while shopping at a local store, a female employee asked all male employees working to watch his move- ments and referred to him as a “dark-skinned person.” When confronted about the misunderstanding, they said the woman continued to be rude and didn’t apolo- gize. “Once you’ve blurted out ignorance, it’s hard to suck it back up,” Anthony said. In an even more egre- gious example of racism, the couple said someone scrawled the N-word on their car. Anthony and KellyAnn describe those incidents as “isolated” and consider Dal- las their home. “In general, I think Dallas is great,” KellyAnn said, adding there’s hope for an even better future. “It’s a changing society. Our kids approach that dif- ferently. Our kids are way more OK with diversity,” she said. Seeking acceptance Like Dallas, Falls City suf- fers from a reputation of being narrow-minded. Lori Sickles and Laura Britton, the owners of The Boondocks in Falls City and a lesbian couple who have been together for 15 years and married since 2004, said that perception is un- founded in their experience. “I’ve been ‘out’ most of my life and I’ve never had any, any, kind of repercus- sions,” Sickles said. “No one has tried to make me feel uncomfortable. Nobody had felt uncomfortable around me, I don’t think.” “It’s probably there and they just don’t say any- thing,” Britton added. “But you know what, we don’t re- ally see it.” There have been a couple of instances in which peo- ple have been made com- ments, such as someone re- ferring to The Boondocks as “The Boondykes.” Britton responded she thought the comment was funny and wanted to put it on a T-shirt. Britton and Sickles use a live-and-let-live philosophy in their life, which they be- lieve has helped people see them not as a gay couple, but one no different than any other. “I never try to hide my re- lationship, ever,” Britton said. “Because I know that ignorance is all around us and the more that we just be ourselves, the more that people say, ‘hey, they are normal just like I am. They have kids. They have pets. They own a business. They work their tails off. They are just like us.’” Continued from Page 1A Showell was among the delegation from Independ- ence who traveled to Denver to present why the town is an All America City. “You could see in the judges’ eyes, she made a difference,” said David Clyne, Independ- ence city manager. “There was- n’t a dry eye in the crowd.” At the 2014 National Civic League All America City con- vention in Denver, Showell shared how volunteering changed her life. “When you give of your- self to enrich the lives of others, it isn’t just for oth- ers, it’s for yourself, too,” she said. “It felt so good, I couldn’t let it go.” Showell continues to be an inspiration to others through her volunteerism and cheerful countenance. “I don’t know that I’ve known a more giving person, a more selfless person,” Clyne said. “She’s fun, always cheery, in spite of how she’s feeling.” The Festival Carolers Concert Sunday, Dec. 6th • 6:30 - 7:30 pm SUNDAY, DEC. 6 TH BOARD MEETING HOURS: 9-3 503-838-2075 Directed by Solveig Holmquist Free will offering ~ Cookie reception follows. Location: Business Office 8585 Suver Rd. • Monmouth 320 SE Fir Villa Rd, Dallas EARLY ADMISSION SUNDAY 6AM-9AM $5 REGULAR ADMISSION $1 ★ FREE PARKING ESPRESSO BAR PROVIDED BY dallastlc.org ~ 503-623-2233 Furniture Upholstery JOIN US AT THE POLK COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS. All types: for homes, offices, equip- ment. Also, repairs, RV cushions, slipcovers, High Quality since 1966 Stephen Heart: Showell is an inspiration Trinity Lutheran Church presents LUCKIAMUTE DOMESTIC WATER COOPERATIVE Monday 7:00 p.m. December 14th EMILY MENTZER/Itemizer-Observer Dori Showell is happy to volunteer to help . WWW.POLKFLEAMARKET.COM POLKPRODUCTION@MINETFIBER.COM Winters Sewing 503-838-4999 or 503-375-9266 Emmy Joseph 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. 440 E. St • Independence, OR 97351 www.winterssewing.com Serving Polk County 16yrs C OME ENJOY SOME EXCITING BASKETBALL W ESTERN O REGON WOMEN ’ S TEAMS . THIS SEASON WITH YOUR MEN ’ S AND Annual Christmas Bazaar Sat. Dec. 5th - 9 am to 2 pm • Holiday Greens: Wreaths, Swags, Centerpieces • Lush Poinsettias • Handmade Crafted Gifts • Homemade Bakery items: holiday cookies, breads & candy • Silent Auction • Soup and Pie Luncheon served all day Raffle Prizes: Trip to the Coast for two, $300 Gift Card, Six more cash prizes T HE MEN ’ S TEAM IS RANKED IN THE NCAA D IVISION II TOP 25! S EASON TICKET PRICE PER TEAM : S EASON $100 MORE INFORMATION CONTACT : 503-838-8917 For more information contact: Pat McConnell 503-787-1713 St. Philip Catholic Church 825 SW Mill St., Dallas COMBO PRICE FOR BOTH TEAMS : F OR $60 OR VISIT WOUWOLVES . COM / WOUTICKETS “Wheelchair Accessible” GO WOLVES! 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