Polk County News
2A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • January 13, 2016
Dallas fire gets ‘extra hand’
Monmouth debates
extending water line
Grant pays for machines to aid in lifesaving CPR compressions
By Emily Mentzer
By Jolene Guzman
The Itemizer-Observer
The Itemizer-Observer
MONMOUTH — The
residents of 10050 Hoffman
Road have requested a
hookup to Monmouth city
water service because their
well failed.
The Monmouth City
Council discussed the topic
at a November work session
and again on Dec. 5.
“It’s a pretty tough policy
issue,” City Manager Scott
McClure said. “The options
are, do a one-time connec-
tion for the person request-
ing it, maxing out the exist-
ing waterline. If the next
person comes in, we have to
say no, we can’t do that be-
cause the line’s maxed out.
“How do you tell one
person we can do that and
the next person, we can’t?”
The other option is to
c o n t i n u e Mo n m o u t h’s
longstanding policy of not
providing water and sewer
services to properties out-
side of city limits, McClure
said.
“One argument (the
council had) was we
shouldn’t do this onesie-
twosie stuff,” he said. “In-
stall a waterline, run it
down Hoffman.”
However, who would pay
the estimated $227,000 to
make that happen?
“The city could say, ‘we’ll
do it,’” McClure said.
Government
“That’s challenging because
now you’re spending water
ratepayer money to service
outside city limits.”
Another option could be
a local improvement dis-
trict, where the residents of
Hoffman Road who need
city services could pay for
the waterline to be installed
and hooked up, McClure
said.
“You’re the one getting
the benefits; you have to
pay for it,” he said.
Other options includes
making provisions for fu-
ture annexation, McClure
said.
“When we come up there
and say we’re going to
annex you, it’s an automat-
ic yes,” he said. “A property
owner would have to weigh
that one. We’re going to do
some research to see if
there even is a mechanism
to do that.”
Overall, McClure said the
issue is a challenging one,
with many options and ar-
guments for and against
each.
DALLAS — Dallas Emer-
gency Medical Service (EMS)
responded to 3,278 calls for
service in 2015, with just two
ambulances working full-
time.
Of those, 2,453 required tak-
ing a patient to the hospital.
Those numbers are up
from the year before, 13.7
percent and 16.6 percent, re-
spectively.
In the last eight years,
only in 2010 did total calls
drop, and just slightly, in an
overall pattern of an increas-
ing need for service in the
Dallas area.
Dallas Fire & EMS spokes-
woman April Welsh said the
trend is an outgrowth of the
city’s demographics, which
are skewing older.
“We are a bedroom com-
munity and a lot of people
come here to retire,” Welsh
said.
While Dallas doesn’t have
the resources to staff anoth-
er full-time ambulance to
handle the growing number
of calls, a $171,402 grant en-
abled the department to
purchase some mechanical
help.
An Assistance to Firefight-
ers grant paid for three Au-
toPulse units, which per-
form chest compressions on
patients, and four cardiac
monitors that can double as
defibrillators.
“They do perfect chest
compressions,” Welsh said
of AutoPulse machines.
She noted that they won’t
replace what emergency
personnel can do, but with a
small crew, they can free up
a pair of hands, so to speak,
to perform other duties.
“We need all the help we
can get,” she said.
EMS paramedic Frank
Ehrmantraut said, unlike
humans, the machines don’t
JOLENE GUZMAN/Itemizer-Observer
Frank Ehrmantraut demonstrates how the Dallas Fire Department’s AutoPulse units
work. With grant funding, the department also purchased four cardiac monitors.
get tired, so chest compres-
sions are more consistent.
He said chest compressions
and defibrillation are the
two proven methods of in-
creasing a person’s chance of
surviving a heart attack.
The heart monitors re-
place unwieldy and aging
machines that were starting
to have maintenance issues.
Ehrmantraut said the new
ones are more accurate and
can send information about
a patient’s condition to the
hospital before the ambu-
lance arrives.
In other fire department
business, Ehrmantraut, who
is in charge of the depart-
ment’s “public access to
AEDs” program, was a key
piece in a partnership to
provide Kids Inc. with three
AEDs.
With tournaments that
can attract thousands of
players and spectators over
a weekend, Kids Inc. con-
tacted the fire department in
hopes of receiving AEDs to
keep at its fields in case an
emergency arose.
Ehrmantraut wasn’t able
to find a small grant for that,
but approached West Valley
Hospital with the request.
Pam Cortez, WVH’s direc-
tor of clinical operations,
said the hospital was more
than willing to provide the
$4,000 necessary to pay for
the machines.
She said part of the mis-
sion of the hospital is not
only to help its patients, but
to improve the health of the
community as a whole. Pro-
viding AEDs to Kids Inc.
matched well with that ob-
jective.
Kids Inc. President Walt
Markee said the organization
is grateful for the donation.
“It’s a perfect example of a
partnership and how they
work,” Markee said.
HEALTH DIRECTORY
AUDIOLOGY
Trust your hearing to those that specialize in hearing
and hearing related disorders. Evan L. Evans, Ph. D,
and Julie B. Evans, AuD are both doctoral level Audi-
ologists who have the knowledge, experience and
compassion to provide you with the best care for your
hearing health. We offer free hearing screenings; by
our hearing aid specialist. We offer full & complete di-
agnostic evaluations, counseling and recommenda-
tions by our clinical Audiologists. Other Audiological
services include testing, management and treatment
options for Tinnitus. We have the knowledge and ex-
perience to assist your physician with the diagnosis of
diseases and disorders pertaining to hearing and the
hearing mechanism. We offer wax removal or cerumen
management, Tinnitus testing and Tinnitus manage-
ment techniques. An Audiologist, having the Audiol-
ogy credentials of the American Academy of Audiology
(F-AAA) and the The American Speech Hearing and
Language Association’s Certificate of Clinical Compe-
tency (CCC-A) is the professional of choice for any-
thing related to hearing and or hearing related issues.
Serving our hearing impaired since 1980, with two lo-
cations to serve you.
Audiology Associates
1343-A Monmouth St., Independence
503-838-3001
2296 NW Kings Blvd, Corvallis • 541-757-2500
CHIROPRACTIC
• JOYNT FAMILY CHIROPRACTIC - Dr. Brian Joynt,
DC - 629 Clay Street East, Monmouth, OR 97361
Family-oriented chiropractic clinic, dedicated to cre-
ating an unparalleled experience of service, quality
and care by teaching the true principles of chiroprac-
tic. We look forward to empowering each of you to
help your family participate more fully in life. New pa-
tients welcome. Accept most insurance. Auto/per-
sonal injury and work comp. Massage therapist on
site. Complimentary consultations. Call us today to
make your appointment (503) 837-0550.
• THORNTON CHIROPRACTIC - Drs. Sharon and
Marty Thornton - Palmer Graduates - We care, God
cures. 1650 Monmouth St., Independence, OR 97351
• 503-838-3346. Office hours: Mon-Fri 8-noon & 2-6
pm. Thurs 2-6pm. Proudly serving Polk County for
over 17 years. Offering Thompson Drop and other
hands-on techniques, as well as Advanced Activator
Methods and Functional Neurology. We provide gentle
and effective full-spine and extremity adjusting for all
ages in a loving and caring environment. We are ac-
cepting new patients for Family Wellness Care,
Medicare, Auto or personal injury & Workers Comp. Li-
censed Massage Therapy available on site.
COUNSELING
• CROSS AND CROWN COUNSELING ~ KATE KOENS,
NCCA Licensed Clinical Christian Counselor and Cer-
tified Temperament Therapist is accepting new clients
at her Dallas and Falls City offices. She works with in-
dividuals in a safe environment to help individuals
find healing and fulfillment by teaching good commu-
nication skills, appreciation for self and others, appro-
priate responses to individual and family needs, how
to build relationships of trust, appropriate crisis re-
sponses, and how to obtain overall family wellness
emotionally, mentally and spiritually. Some specific
areas of counsel offered are marriage and family, ado-
lescent issues, depression, past and present trauma,
grief, identity crisis, divorce, childhood losses, and
feelings of hopelessness. Our goal is to help individu-
als realize their full potential and to live decisively with
truth, relevance, perspective and purpose. For more
information or to schedule an appointment please call
503-917-1625 or visit our website: www.crossand-
crowncounseling.com
GENERAL DENTISTRY
• RANDALL C. JONES, DMD - 1004 Monmouth St., In-
dependence, OR 503-838-0434. Offering a broad
range of dental services in a relaxed and comfortable
atmosphere. New patients and emergencies welcome.
• WESTON K. MORRILL, DMD - 289 E. Ellendale Suite
#201, Dallas. 503-623-6616. Family, preventive, and
cosmetic dentistry. Complete dentistry for the entire
family. Se habla español.
• DR. MICHELLE HASBROOK, DMD - 120 N. Atwater,
Monmouth, OR 503-838-2998. Providing all phases of
dental care for children and adults. We welcome new
patients!
• KENNETH WINOKUR, DMD - 329 South Main Street
Independence, OR 97351. 503-838-1633. High quality
service with your comfort in mind. Nitrous oxide gas
sedation available. www.independencedental.org
at West Valley Hospital's spacious, state-of-the art new
surgical suite. West Valley Surgical Specialty Clinic is
located at 591 SE Clay St., Dallas. Call 503-831-0784 or
fax 503-623-2612. Visit salemhealth.org/specialty.
GYNECOLOGY SERVICES
Gynecological care is available in Dallas at the West
Valley Surgical Specialty Clinic. Gynecologist Keita
Sakon, MD, specializes in gynecology exams and pro-
cedures, including hysteroscopy and laparoscopy, as
well as family planning, abnormal Pap evaluation,
treatment of pelvic pain, symptom control for
menopause and abnormal periods. Dr. Sakon works in
Dallas on Friday afternoons from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m.
seeing patients at the clinic and performing gynecol-
ogical procedures in the West Valley Hospital surgical
suites. New patients are welcome! West Valley Surgical
Specialty Clinic is located at 591 SE Clay St., Dallas.
Call 503-831-0784 for an appointment. Visit westval-
leyhospital.org/specialtyclinic.
HEARING HEALTH
• JOYFUL SOUND HEARING SERVICES, INC. Mark
Sturtevant, 312 Main Street, Dallas OR, 503-623-0290.
Providing Polk County with hearing solutions for 30
years. Services include: Hearing evaluations, Diagnos-
ing hearing loss; Impedance; Fitting all types of hear-
ing devices, Servicing all makes and models of hearing
aids; Ear inspections; Wax removal; Hearing protec-
tion. Hours: Monday - Thursday 9-4pm. (Fridays by
appointment only)
HEART SERVICES
• WEST VALLEY HOSPITAL provides heart diagnostic
services including electrocardiograms (EKG), pul-
monary function tests, cardiac stress tests and
echocardiograms with a physician referral. Cardiolo-
gists Dr. Raghu Kamineni, Dr. William Stiles and Dr.
Kevin Thompson see patients for office visits at West
Valley Hospital at 525 SE Washington St., Dallas. For
more heart health information, call 503-623-7304.
GENERAL SURGERY SERVICES
• WEST VALLEY SURGICAL SPECIALTY CLINIC sur-
geon, Dr. Alison Smith, provides general surgery serv-
ices for a wide range of needs including breast cancer,
gallbladder, biopsies, abdominal surgery, hernia re-
pair, appendectomy, as well as colonoscopy. General
surgery appointments are scheduled at the clinic on
Mondays and Thursdays. Dr. Smith does her surgeries
Call the Itemizer-Observer at
503-623-2373 for more
information or to have your
business listed in this directory.