Polk County
Voices
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • January 13, 2016 4A
EDITORIALS
Communities should
come together
After an Independence man lost his life in a tragic car-
bicycle crash on Hoffman Road on Dec. 30, it has the town
of Monmouth asking: What could be done to prevent such
tragedy from repeating itself?
The first thought is to building a bike lane and sidewalks
on this narrow stretch of road between 16th Street and
Highway 99W.
Cries from City Councilor Marshall Guthrie and from
residents and business owners came last week to invest in
this strip of road and make it safe for bicycles and pedestri-
ans.
The road is in Polk County, outside of Monmouth city
limits. If there was a point where the county and cities of
Monmouth and Independence all collide, in fact, it would
be in this area. That is one reason why police officers from
both Monmouth and Independence responded with Polk
County deputies to the fatal accident.
While we know the project would be costly — estimates
by Polk County public works director Todd Whitaker are $2
million to $3 million — we can’t help but share a vision
brought to life in both communities, a vision of more trails,
more access via bicycle and on foot for the people who call
Monmouth and Independence home.
We have a recent example of city-county road coopera-
tion on Talmadge Road in Monmouth, where the city
worked with the county, sharing costs, to add a sidewalk
and bike lane on a one-block stretch where people were
concerned about children walking to school.
That project wasn’t inspired by a fatal accident. In fact,
no accidents could be found in police reports for five years.
Hoffman Road accident statistics also are minimal, but
even one life lost is tragic.
In fact, if that roughly 1-mile stretch of road was bike-
ped safe, it would make an amazing loop around and be-
tween the two cities. We could host a 10-kilometer race
during the Fourth of July weekend, starting on Main Street
and Highway 99W, down Highway 51 through downtown
Independence, up to Polk Street which turns into Hoffman
Road, back to Highway 99W and swing around to the inter-
section with Main again.
Imagine the possibilities for fitness and health. Imagine
the ease of travel next time we have a large bicycling event
in Monmouth and Independence, at least on that stretch
of county road.
We know it won’t be easy. We know it will be expensive.
But we are confident it would be worth it.
Perhaps if the cities, already strapped for cash as new
expectations for public employees retirement system fig-
ures come in, maybe the communities of Independence
and Monmouth can join forces and raise money to make
this happen.
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, JAN. 13
• Polk Soil and Water Conservation District Board — 6
p.m., USDA Service Center, 580 Main St., Suite A, Dallas. 503-623-
9680, ext. 5.
• Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk
County Courthouse, irst loor conference room, 850 Main St.,
Dallas. 503-623-8173.
• Monmouth Parks and Recreation Board — 7 p.m., Volun-
teer Hall, 144 S. Warren St., Monmouth. 503-838-0725.
• Monmouth Library Advisory Board — 7 a.m., Monmouth
Public Library, 168 Ecols St. S., Monmouth. 503-838-0725.
• Independence Heritage Museum Commission — 4 p.m.,
Independence Heritage Museum, 112 S. Third St., Independ-
ence. 503-838-1212.
• Dallas Residential Street Task Force — 4 p.m., Dallas City
Hall, 187 SE Court Street, Dallas. 503-831-3502.
THURSDAY, JAN. 14
• Western Days Commission — 7 p.m., Independence Civic
Center, 555 S. Main St., Independence. 503-838-1212.
• Polk County Fire District No. 1 Board — 6 p.m., Central
Station 90, 1800 Monmouth St., Independence. 503-838-1510.
• Falls City City Council — 7 p.m., Falls City Community Cen-
ter, 320 N. Main St., Falls City. 503-787- 3631.
TUESDAY, JAN. 19
• Dallas City Council — 7 p.m., Dallas City Hall, 187 SE Court
St., Dallas. 503-831-3502.
• Polk County Board of Commission work session — 9 a.m.,
Polk County Courthouse, BOC oice, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-
623-8173.
• Monmouth City Council — 7 p.m., Volunteer Hall, 144 S.
Warren St., Monmouth. 503-838-0725.
• Independence Historic Preservation Commission — 4
p.m., Independence Civic Center, 555 S. Main St. 503-838-1212.
• Falls City School Board — 6:30 p.m., Falls City High School,
111 N. Main St., Falls City. 503-787-3521.
• Dallas Parks Advisory Board — 5:30 p.m., Dallas City Hall,
187 SE Court St., Dallas. 503-831-3502.
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 20
• Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk
County Courthouse, irst loor conference room, 850 Main St.,
Dallas. 503-623-8173.
• Monmouth Planning Commission — 7 p.m., Volunteer
Hall, 144 S. Warren St., Monmouth. 503-838-0725.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
U.S. becoming
dictatorship?
The United States of
America stops being a
democracy when the inhab-
itant of the White House
starts making laws by issu-
ing executive orders in di-
rect contradiction to deci-
sions made by the members
of Congress. When these ex-
ecutive orders are in viola-
tion of our Constitution, our
Republic then becomes a
dictatorship.
And the group in charge
becomes exactly the same
as the ruling groups in all
previous dictatorships
throughout all history. And
we are watching these
events happen on a daily
basis.
We, the people, elected
individuals to represent us
within the government that
we created for this country.
When these individuals
were elected to their Con-
gressional office, they swore
an oath whereby they prom-
ised to abide by our Consti-
tution and defend it from all
enemies, both from outside
and from within.
Apparently, some of these
elected members of Con-
gress have forgotten their
oath of office and have cho-
sen to be totally loyal to
their political party’s poli-
cies rather than to our Con-
stitution, and have allowed
this individual to repeatedly
subjugate their lawmaking
function.
Members of Congress
have the power and the
right to remove this dictator
from office, but have stead-
fastly refused to do so.
They have allowed this
individual to repeatedly lie
to us, rationalized his activi-
ties, and totally disregarded
our laws with impunity.
This period of time will
be recorded as the time of
insanity. When the world’s
greatest democracy was
transformed into a dictator-
ship by the refusal of elect-
ed officials to perform their
duties.
Richard C. Evans
Monmouth
Monmouth
workers shine
We want to say thank you
to the city workers of Mon-
mouth. Once again out
town looked very festive
with the Christmas decora-
tions along Main Street and
throughout the town. Year-
round, they work diligently,
without applause, and we
wanted to relay our appreci-
ation to them.
Larry and Karen Gratreak
Monmouth
Woman shows
kindness at store
This a great story of how
nice people in Oregon are.
Yesterday I was in the
store buying my monthly
groceries and I couldn’t find
my debit card, as this store
does not take credit cards. I
was stuck to digging into
my wallet.
The bill was $119 and I
only had $84 in my wallet. I
was about to put some
things back when this very
nice young lady said, “I will
pay the difference for you.”
That was about $40, and I
wanted to pay her back but
she said no. I wonder if she
would have said no if she
loaded my groceries into a
$28,000 sports car.
Anyway I really appreci-
ate the helping hand but
feel bad about not being
able to pay her back as I’m
not a poor man even if I
dress like one.
Walt Davies
Monmouth
Coach grateful for
wrestling
volunteers
Thank you once again to
Alice Bibler, the wrestling
parents, alumni, the boost-
ers, administrators, the Ore-
gon Army National Guard,
and community at large for
the exceptional support you
give the Dragon Wrestling
Team every year at the
Brunner Invitational. Sever-
al of the top 5A, 4A, 3A
wrestling schools in Oregon
were treated to a Saturday
of top-of-the-line high
school wrestling.
Without your help, it
would have been “Just a
typical wrestling tourney,”
and we've never settled for
that.
On behalf of our wrestlers,
thank you so much.
Coach Tony Olliff
Dallas
Bruner Invite
smashing success
The fourth annual Brun-
ner Invitational, named
after Janet Brunner (who
ran the tournament for 20
years), was an exciting event
once again. This year, there
was a total of nine teams
competing on five mats in
two gyms at Dallas High
School. The tournament
consisted of 382 matches
with 176 student athletes
participating.
Huge kudos to the many
volunteers that assisted —
the tournament would not
be possible without you.
Special thanks to Liz Duna-
gan in her final year run-
ning an amazing conces-
sions and Betty Jordan who
headed up the hospitality
room.
The DHS Athletic Direc-
tor Tim Larson was there
countless hours helping
out — his dedication is un-
matched across the state.
We are fortunate to live in
a generous community such
as Dallas.
DHS Wrestling very much
appreciates our many spon-
sors: Oregon National
Guard, Thrifty Market, Lime
Berry, Mira Mar, Columbia
Distributing, Franz, and
Costco. The number of fans
this year was much higher
than prior years. All admis-
sions and concessions re-
ceipts will help fund the
wrestling program. Thank
you for your continued sup-
port and we hope to see you
next year.
Alice Bibler,
Tournament Director
Dallas
Lines helped make
parks beautiful
Our beautiful Dallas City
Parks have never looked
better.
The Rickreall Creek Trail
system continues to grow
and give a whole different
view of Dallas to those who
travel it.
The person largely re-
sponsible for making the
parks and trails such won-
derful showplaces for our
community in recent years
has been Ron Lines.
The legacy he has left
those who succeed him isn’t
to exceed his standards but
to maintain them.
That, in itself, will be a
big challenge.
Thank you, Ron. Your
work is appreciated. You will
be missed.
Dave Weston
Dallas
Nutria live trap
program available
Thank you for the story
on nutria in Independence.
Nutria are active not only in
Independence, but also in
residential areas in Mon-
mouth and elsewhere along
Ash Creek.
Nutria are more than a
nuisance. When they bur-
row into streambanks to
make their dens, the weak-
ened banks can erode or
collapse.
To reduce nutria impact,
the Ash Creek Water Control
District operates a free live-
trap lending program.
Those living near Inde-
pendence can borrow up to
five traps for a month at a
time. Residents of Polk
County can borrow up to
two traps.
Please contact Ed Matteo
at the Independence Nurs-
ery on Monmouth Street in
Independence (by Les
Schwab) for detailed infor-
mation.
Dan Farnworth
Ash Creek Water Control
District
Monmouth
Thank you from
Dallas Cheer
Our goal every year is to
help families in need in our
area to have a Merry Christ-
mas by providing them food
and if possible some gifts.
We had good indicators that
the number of applicants
would be similar to the 325
families we provided for in
2014 and it was. For 2015 we
had 320 families and senior
citizens apply for help and
we can say with pure joy
that all were provided for
very generously.
Our goal was met be-
cause of your commitment
to make this “your priority”
for the Christmas season.
Local Businesses, Civic
Groups, Churches, Govern-
ment agencies and Individ-
uals young to old stepped
up and came together not
just on Christmas Eve
morning but months prior
to the event.
On Christmas Eve morn-
ing with out prompting over
500 volunteers arrived at La
Creole middle school to
sort, shop, pack and deliver
the holiday food boxes that
fill receiving families refrig-
erators and cupboards. It
was a morning full of fun
and excitement to see the
hands and feet of our com-
munity come together to
provide to those in need.
The Dallas Christmas
Cheer Board of Directors,
Grant and Judy Boustead,
Debbie Davies, Mary Wein-
bender, Brooke Masingale,
Warren and Sue Lamb,
know that without you tak-
ing ownership for this pro-
gram nothing gets accom-
plished. Our hope is that
you understand how grate-
ful we are of you hard work
and support. Your act of
kindness will be remem-
bered throughout the New
Year.
To all the donors and vol-
unteers, again we say Thank
You and look forward to
seeing you next year.
Warren and Sue Lamb and
Dallas Christmas Cheer
Board Directors
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the editor policy on
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HOW TO REACH US
Vol. 140, No. 2
(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
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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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