Polk County News
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • December 16, 2015 5A
South to attend pretrial conference Thursday
By Jolene Guzman
The Itemizer-Observer
DALLAS — Axel South,
the man accused of sexually
abusing a student attending
Kings Valley Charter School,
is scheduled for a pretrial
conference on Thursday in
Polk County Circuit Court.
Kellie Ziola, South’s moth-
er, said Monday her hope is
prosecutors will offer to ne-
gotiate a plea agreement
during that conference.
South, 19, was indicted in
July on charges of second-
degree encouraging child
sexual abuse and three
counts of first-degree sex
abuse. After his arrest, which
followed interviews with
Dallas police officers, the
Polk County District Attor-
ney’s Office charged him
with seven counts, but three
were dropped after the
grand jury heard evidence in
the case.
According to a probable
cause statement filed with
Polk County Circuit Court,
the abuse occurred while
the suspect and alleged vic-
tim — a teenaged girl —
were riding on the bus be-
tween Dallas and the charter
school last spring. Both
South and the victim live in
Dallas.
At the time, South had
been a volunteer and em-
ployee at the school. Also, he
was participating in a pro-
gram to finish credits to earn
his high school diploma,
Ziola said.
If convicted on the first-
degree sex abuse charges,
Measure 11 offenses, South
could serve 75 months on
each charge. With no previ-
ous convictions, he would
serve probation on the en-
couraging child sex abuse
charge.
Ziola said she hopes
South’s clean record and
willingness to take responsi-
bility for his actions will be
taken into account by the
court.
“He voluntarily went and
talked to them and was
honest and took responsi-
bility for his actions,” Ziola
said. “My son is not a pred-
ator.”
The family of the victim
served the Philomath School
District and the school with
a tort claim notice in Sep-
tember, seeking at least
$500,000. The notice said
that amount would com-
pensate for current and fu-
ture treatment and emo-
tional distress.
“It is unclear at this time
how many incidents of sexu-
al abuse actually took
place,” the notice read.
“However, we know this
abuse occurred while (the
victim) was within the care
and custody of the school as
she was being transported in
a school bus operated by the
district and Kings Valley
Charter School.”
Townsend: Filling others’ needs ‘just what she does’
Continued from 1A
Townsend’s pay-it-for-
ward campaign is just a
small glimpse at the bigger
picture of all the she does for
Monmouth, Independence
and all of Polk County.
The Polk County CERT
coordinator works to get
everyone in the community
ready for an emergency,
both at home and at large.
“She knows what’s going
on and stays involved,” said
Rick Igou, retired Independ-
ence Police lieutenant and
CERT supervisor. “She’s
pretty knowledgeable in
self-preservation and knows
they have to take care of
themselves first, and then
they can take care of their
neighbors.”
Townsend posts frequent
updates on the Polk County
CERT ’s Facebook page,
alerting followers to a new
and improved, simple way
to get prepared, or when the
next CERT classes are, or,
more recently, keeping an
accurate and up-to-date
diary of road closures in last
week’s storm.
“Even her suggestion,
pack a chainsaw,” Igou said.
“She just gave a few little
ideas, ‘warm up your chain-
saw; make sure it’s ready.’
That’s forward-thinking.
She’s always been that way.”
Townsend said it’s her ex-
perience that people want to
help, but often don’t know
how to start.
When she posts some-
thing on Facebook rallying
the troops, she is always sur-
prised by the overwhelming
support.
“People want to know
how to help,” she said. “So
maybe we have an odd thing
here at play, where they’re
afraid to go ask someone,
‘do you need help?’ We don’t
want to embarrass them; we
don’t want to humiliate
them. But if someone tells
me, ‘It’s OK to help this way,’
I’m excited. I’m going to
share with all my friends.”
Pulling people together to
help with things from spruc-
ing up a senior citizen’s run-
down property to providing
Christmas trees to those
who need one, from volun-
teering in a disaster to dou-
bling the ranks of the sup-
port team at Polk County
Fire District No. 1, Townsend
is a magnet for doing good.
Independence Police Chief
Bob Mason has known
Townsend since they attend-
ed Western Oregon University
together. He said she has al-
ways been a driver for good.
“She says, ‘Hey, this is
what we’re going to do,’ and
everyone seems to follow
suit,” he said.
She grew up in a teepee
“hippy” community in the
mountains, Townsend said,
where the kids ran in packs
and the adults were in
charge.
“The whole society takes
care of everyone,” she said.
When she found herself a
sophomore at Central High
School, Townsend told her-
self she would never move
again, and threw herself into
getting involved.
“This is Kimber,” said
Tino Banuelos, sergeant on
the Independence Police
Department and Townsend’s
brother-in-law. “As long as
I’ve known her, which has
been at least the last 20
years, she always needs to
be involved. It’s a draw for
her to be involved. She has
an energy that I don’t know
how to describe.”
During that time, she has
created quite the network,
earning her the nickname of
a “hub person,” that one
person who, if she doesn’t
know what to do or where to
go, she knows someone who
will.
Now she is working to-
ward a community where
“paying it forward” is sec-
ond-nature — as instinctual
as buckling up.
“It’s not that big of a deal,”
she said. “It’s what I do. If
there’s a hole, you fill it.
That’s how it should work.”
P OLK C OUNTY W ORSHIP D IRECTORY
DALLAS
Calvary Chapel Dallas Currently meeting for
worship and verse by verse Bible teaching at
628 SE Jefferson St. www.calvarydallasor.com
Worship service begins at 10 a.m. on Sunday.
Sunday school is available from youth ministry
and below to nursery. Wednesday evening cafe-
style Old Testament study starting at 6:30 pm.
Come join us for a relaxed study around a cup
of coffee or drink. Mens prayer is Saturday at
7:30 a.m. Womens Bible studies are scheduled
also, call for times. Last Sunday of the month
Jubilee Service, old time hymns and bluegrass
music, 6:30 pm -7:30 pm. Community invited.
The Pastor/Teacher is Larry King. Come join us
and be a part of God's family here in Dallas. For
more information call 503-831-1074.
Church of God of Prophecy New Beginnings
- 575 SW Ash St., (corner of Ash & Stump St.)
Pastor Travis Clemons, 541-671-0375. Bible
Study School 10:00 a.m. Morning Worship
11:00 a.m. We welcome all to come and get ac-
quainted with our Pastor and his wife Christina.
Home Bible Study 6:00 p.m. Sunday. Associate
Pastor Jim Dickason 503-302-9816.
Church of Christ - 691 N.E. Kings Valley Hwy.
Sunday Class 9:30 A.M. Worship Service 10:30
A.M. Sunday Afternoon Service 2:00 P.M.
Thursday evening Bible Study 7:00 P.M. We fol-
low the New Testament Plan of Salvation in be-
coming a Christian and the Pattern of the N. T.
Church. We would be glad to study the Bible
with you and answer any of your questions. We
would like to present a very helpful one hour
overview of the Bible. Call 503-831-4886.
Dallas Alliance Church - 775 E. Ellendale, Dal-
las, 503-623-2265, Email office@dallasal-
liance.org, Lead Pastor Jim Jamieson; and
Youth/Children’s Pastor Lance Baker; Every
Sunday: classes for all ages at 9:15 a.m., Morn-
ing Worship at 10:30 a.m., (Nursery provided for
a.m. services); Tuesdays: Youth Night 7:00 p.m.
in Ediger Hall; Wednesdays: Adult Prayer Meet-
ing 1:00 p.m., Choir practice 6:45 p.m. Call for
info on current Bible Studies. Web: dallasal-
liance.org.
Dallas Church - PO Box 462, Dallas, OR
97338, 503-623-2711. Worship Gatherings:
Sundays 10am. Meeting at 450 SE Washington
St., Dallas OR 97338. Atmosphere is relaxed,
families & children welcome, come as you are,
current music & relevant teaching about Jesus.
Pastor: Ben Bauman. www.dallaschurch.org
Dallas Foursquare Church—Located at 976
SW Hayter St. on the corner of Washington and
Hayter. Worship Service: Sundays at 10am.
Youth Group: Sundays 6pm to 8pm. Pastor:
Darrin Hausler. We are a multi-generational
church with a heart for our community. Our mis-
sion is to Love God and Love People to Extend
His Kingdom. For more info call us at 503-623-
8277 or visit us online at dallasfour.com.
Dallas Presbyterian Church invites you:
Warm, spirit-filled fellowship with traditional
Sunday worship 10:30 am, engaging discus-
sion study groups, prayer "chain" and a loving
spirit.—Adult Sunday School 9 am, men's
breakfasts Tuesdays at 7 am, women's
groups, needle crafts group and Indoor Play
Park (for children with accompanying parent).
Sensitivity to older adult accessibility and
needs. 789 SW Levens, Dallas. 623-3397
dalpreschurch@gmail.com.
Evangelical Bible Church - 1175 S.E. Howe,
Dallas 503-623-2331. Senior Pastor Jerry
Franz, Visitation Pastor Allan Wiebe, Youth Pas-
tor Nathan Ensz. Sunday: Worship *8:00 a.m.;
*10:45 a.m.; *6:00 p.m.; Sunday School 9:30
a.m.; High School Youth Group 7:00 p.m.;
Thursday: Jr. High Youth Group - 7:00 p.m.; 2nd
& 4th Tuesday: MOPS *9:00 a.m.; Wednesday:
AWANA - 6:30 p.m.; Prayer Meeting & Bible
Study 7:00 p.m.; Thursday: Bible Studies *9:00
a.m. & *7:00 p.m. (women); Thursday Group
Bible Study 2:00 p.m. *Nursery care provided.
Faith Evangelical Free Church - 2290 E. El-
lendale Ave., Dallas, 503-623-8034; Senior
Pastor Al Perkins, Associate Pastor Ed Sutter,
Worship Pastor Ted Kitzmiller, Youth Pastor
Aaron Swank, Ministry of Children & Family
Debbie Davies. Sunday School 9:00 a.m.; Sun-
day Worship 10:30 a.m., Sunday High School
Youth Group 6:30 p.m.; Wednesday Jr. High
Youth Group 7:00 p.m. Please call or visit our
website for information about other meetings.
www.faithfreechurch.org
First Baptist Church - 245 S.W. Church St.,
Dallas, 503-623-5189; www.gofbc.org; Church
Office Hours: Mon - Fri. 10 am - 2:30 pm; Pastor
Rick Bratton 503-551-9561; Sunday School
9:30 a.m., Worship 10:45 a.m., Wednesday
Bible Study 6-7 p.m; Everyone Welcome!
First Christian Church - Joyfully Worshipping &
Serving 1079 S.E. Jefferson Street, Dallas, 503-
623-2569. Pastor Darren Anderson. “Live Wire
Worship” with Praise Team - 8:30 a.m., Adult,
Youth & Children Sunday School - 9:30 a.m.,
Morning Worship - 10:30 a.m. (Nursery pro-
vided), Men’s Bible Study - Thursday, 8:30 a.m.
Christian Women’s Fellowship - 2nd Tuesday,
1:00 pm (Sept through June). Please call church
office for information about other meetings.
Grace Community Church - 598 E. Ellendale
Ave. PO Box 69, Dallas, 503-623-4961. Senior
Pastor-Dave Bertolini, Pastor of Worship & Dis-
cipleship-Ryan Bucher, Pastor of Student Min-
istries-Ben Potloff. Sunday Worship: 1st
Service-9:00 a.m. with Kids, Youth, & Adult Sun-
day School running concurrently. 2nd Worship
Service-10:45 a.m. with Kids Worship running
concurrently. Nursery provided for 0 - 2 year
olds during both services. Office open Tuesday-
Friday for office hours visit our website at
www.graceindallas.org. All are welcome!
Living Hope City Church - 186 SE Mill St.,
Dallas. Family Worship 10:30 am. www.living-
hopecitychurch.org Equipping Center & Offices
186 SE Mill St., Dallas. For more information
call 503-623-6890.
Living Word Faith Fellowship - 830 SE Shel-
ton Street, Dallas, 503-623-9062. Pastor Joan
Siewert. Sunday Worship 10:00 a.m. Wednes-
day Worship 7:00 p.m. Children's Sunday serv-
ice 10:00 a.m., nursery provided. Men’s
fellowship second Saturday of month breakfast
at 8:00 a.m. at Murphy’s Restaurant, Dallas.
Pastor Michael Van Dyke in charge of men's fel-
lowship. Call for additional information. Website:
www.proclaimhim.org
Salt Creek Baptist Church - 15075 Salt Creek
Road, Dallas, 503-623-2976. Senior pastor
David Curtis. Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Sunday
morning Worship 10:50 a.m. Nursery provided
for worship services. Classes for all ages.
Wednesday Senior High and Middle School
Youth at 6:30 p.m. Please call for information
about other meetings or visit our website at
www.saltcreekchurch.org.
Seventh-Day Adventist Church - 589 SW
Birch, P.O. Box 450, Dallas 97338-0450. 503-
623-5872. Services on Saturday: 9:30 A.M.
Sabbath School Bible Study for all age groups.
10:50 A.M. Worship Service. Office Hours: Mon-
day, Wednesday, Friday, 9 to Noon. Pastor:
Lary Brown
St. Thomas Episcopal Church – 1486 SW
Levens St., Dallas (at the corner of Levens &
Cherry) 503-623-8522. Email: stthomasdalla-
sor@gmail.com www.stthomasdallasor.org
10 AM worship with Holy Eucharist. Father
Stephen Whitney-Wise Interim Vicar. Sunday
School and Nursery Care available during
worship. The church has formally adopted a
policy of welcoming and fully affirming individ-
uals who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans-
gender (LGBT). The new policy formalizes
and expands on the church’s longstanding
tradition of radical hospitality towards all peo-
ple regardless of race or ethnicity, marital sta-
tus, disability or socio-economic status. St.
Thomas Welcomes you—please join us.
Trinity Lutheran Church - 320 SE Fir Villa Rd,
Dallas, 503-623-2233. Pastor - David Pederson.
Adult Sunday School 9:00 a.m. Worship Service
10:00 a.m.; Kids Church during 10:00 a.m. Wor-
ship. Youth Group HS/MS 11:30 a.m. Sundays.
Free Medical Clinic 1st & 4th Saturday of each
month. www.dallastlc.org. Catch us on Facebook.
United Methodist Church – A church with
Open Hearts, Open Minds & Open Doors. 565
SE LaCreole Drive, Dallas, 503-623-2481. Rev.
J. Quinton Kimbrow, Minister. Worship Service
11 a.m. Sunday School for Adults & Youth, 9:30
a.m. Sunday School for Children during worship
service. Child-care available. Handicap access.
All are welcome! Email: dallasumc@qwestof-
fice.net Website: www.sites.umcdallas.com
Valley Life Center (Assemblies of God) -
1795 S.E. Miller Ave., Dallas, 503-623-4116.
Lead Pastor: Chris Barker; Associate Pastor:
Ted Gibson; Children’s Director: Crystal Barker;
Youth Director: Kirk Bathke. Sunday Morning
Service 10:30 a.m., Wednesday Family Night
6:30 p.m. Please call for more information or
visit our website at www.valleylifecenter.com
FALLS CITY
Falls City Christian Church 233 S. Main
Street, Falls City, Oregon 97344, 503-787-3104
Sunday Service: 10 am; www.fallscitycc.com
Falls City United Methodist Church - 242 N.
Main Street, Falls City, 503-851-3213. Pastor
Rebecca Strader. Morning worship Sunday 9:20
am. All denominations are welcome. www.fallsc-
ityumc.org
Mountain Gospel Fellowship - 303 N. Main,
Falls City, 503-787-8037. Sunday School 10:00
a.m., Worship Service 11:00 a.m., Wed. Dinner
6:15 p.m. Everyone welcome just as you are.
Join Us!
Seventh-Day Adventist Church - 205 N. Main,
Falls City 97344, 503-787-3907. Pastor Lary
Brown. Sabbath School Sat. 9:30 am-10:40 am;
Worship Service 11 am. Community Service
Center (Food Bank) third Wed. of each month,
noon-3pm.
INDEPENDENCE
Buena Vista Community Church - 11355
Church St., Buena Vista. Independence. Pastor
Larry Lyon. Morning Worship 11 a.m.
Cornerstone Church of God - 4395 Independ-
ence Hwy, Independence, 503-838-5119. Sun-
day Service 10:30 a.m., Wednesdays 6:30 p.m.
Nursery available.
First Baptist Church - A warm, friendly church
that cares about you! Located at 1505 Mon-
mouth St., Independence (across from Central
High School); 503-838-1001. Senior Pastor
Michael Parks. Sundays: Worship Service 11
am Wednesdays: AWANA 7 pm (during the
school year). Thursdays: Youth Group 6:15pm.
Join us for small groups and life groups through-
out the week. First Baptist Church has min-
istries for children, youth, adults, families and
seniors, throughout the week. Check us out at
www.independencefirstbaptist.com
Life Center Foursquare Church - 437 D
Street, Independence, OR Phone: 503-838-
6507. Pastor Larry Gratreak. Worship Service
and Sunday School starts at 10:30 a.m. Various
Studies, Prayer Groups and Home Fellowships
available throughout the week. Call for more in-
formation. You are welcome! Find us on Face-
book.
St. Patrick Parish, Catholic - 1275 E St., Inde-
pendence. 503-838-5801. Father Henry Guillen
Vega Masses Sat., vigil 5 p.m.; Sunday 9:30
a.m. (English), 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. (Spanish);
Weekdays Mon, Tues, Wed, & Thurs. 9am, Sat-
urday 7 p.m. (Spanish). Evergreen Nursing
Home; Holy Days 9 a.m. (Eng) & 7 p.m.
(Eng/Span). Sacrament of Reconciliation: Sat
3:30-4:30 p.m. or by appointment. Religious Ed-
ucation: RCIA Mon 7:00-8:30 p.m.; Mid-High &
High School Grades Mon 7:00-8:30p.m.;
Grades 1-4 Tues. 7:00-8:30 p.m. WOU Campus
Ministry: Mass Sun. 5:00 p.m. at 315 N. Knox
St., Monmouth followed by a social hour.
MONMOUTH
Christ The King Christian Church - Meets at
959 Church St. W., Monmouth 7:00 pm Satur-
day Night. Christ The King Christian Church is
a conservative, contemporary, charismatic Bib-
lical Church. At Christ the King we learn: the
truths of the Bible, how to live Biblical truths,
how to please God, and how to be a blessing to
all people. Come and join us as we learn and
grow together. Everyone is welcome. Wally
Wildman, senior pastor. For more information
call 503-623-2262. www.ctkmonmouth.com
Christ’s Church Methodist & Presbyterian
United - Come care and share with us. 412
Clay Street West, Monmouth, 503-838-1724.
Pastor Rebecca Strader. Worship Service 11
a.m. Call for information on small groups.
Church of Christ - 127 N. Heffley St., Mon-
mouth, 503-838-2360. Minister - Dan Brewer,
Youth Minister - Jon Siegrist. Sunday School
9:45 a.m., Worship Service 10:45 a.m., Sunday
Evening Service 6 p.m., Wednesday Service 6
p.m.
Faith Lutheran Church - 200 Monmouth-In-
dependence Hwy., Monmouth (the church
with the lighted cross on the “S” curve). 503-
838-3459. Pastor Dallas C.R. Dubke. Sunday
School & Adult Bible Class 9:00 am; Divine
Service of Holy Communion 10:30 am.
Wednesday Advent Soup Suppers 6:00 pm
followed by Advent Worship at 7:00 pm. De-
cember 2, 9, 16. Everyone is welcomed!
www.FaithLutheranMonmouth.org;
Monmouth Christian Church - 959 Church
Street W, Monmouth, OR 97361; Office: (503)
838-1145; Fax: (503) 838-1162; Email:
mcc@mymcc.cc; Website: mymcc.cc; Lead
Pastor: Sean Bitzer; Pastors: Ulysses Vela, Mary
Weinbender, & Seth Halligan; Sunday Worship
Service: 10 am, English & Spanish; children’s
programming for birth to 6th grades also avail-
able. Momentum (7th & 8th Grades) meet Tues-
days 6:30-8:00 pm MCC; Join us this Sunday in
person or live online at www.mymcc.tv.
New LIFE Ministries – we’re growing in Polk
County! CHILDREN'S CHURCH NOW AVAIL-
ABLE! We are a God-loving, Bible-believing,
non-denominational church body. This church
is a little different, in that it’s not just a church
service, but is all about being a “service church”.
We strive to seek out and serve the needs of
the community. It is our hope that God will use
us to make a difference. Come join us! We
meet at Henry Hill School 750 S. 5th St. in In-
dependence every Sunday morning at 10:00-
11:00 am. Our minister is Marion Seick. Feel
free to call us at (503) 871-5207. Please come
visit and worship with us this Sunday!"
Praise Assembly 189 Monmouth Ave S., Mon-
mouth (locations in McMinnville and Willamina
as well). Our English worship gathering is 11 am
on Sundays, followed by a Spanish service at 2
pm. Kid’s church available for 12 and under.
Youth group meets at 9:30 Sunday morning.
Other ministries include: Celebrate Recovery
(Tues, 7 pm), College Bible study (Wed, 7 pm),
and Spanish Bible study (Thurs, 7 pm). Please
check our website for the most up-to-date infor-
mation, www.praiseonline.net, or call us at 503-
837-0300.
St. Hilda's Episcopal Church 245 Main St. W.,
Monmouth, 503-838-6087, sthildas church.org
Sunday Eucharist - 10:00 am followed by Fel-
lowship. Children's Sunday School & Adult Bible
Study 9:00 am. Wednesday Worship at 8:00 am
and 7:00 pm. Nursery care provided. Call for pe-
riodic small groups and celebrations. All are wel-
come!
Call 503-623-2373 to be added to directory.
See something interesting happening in Polk County? Call us at 503-623-2373.
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