Polk County News
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • January 20, 2016 7A
She knows her dairy
Amity woman vies for state Oregon Dairy Princess-Ambassador
By Jolene Guzman
The Itemizer-Observer
AMITY — As Polk Coun-
ty’s Dairy Princess, Gina
Atsma has had the arduous
task of being a cheesecake
judge at the Clackamas
County Fair.
She also had the responsi-
bility of representing Oregon
Dairy Women on a local TV
station during the fair’s run,
announced and handed out
awards for dairy showman-
ship, and served ice cream
while lending a hand to
Clackamas Dairy Women.
Now the 2015 West Salem
High School graduate wants
to take her service to the
state’s dairy industry to the
next level as one of six final-
ists competing to be named
the 2016 Oregon Dairy
Princess-Ambassador.
Atsma, 19, already has got-
ten a taste of what an Oregon
Dairy Princess will do, with
appearances at fairs, tours of
creameries, and two elemen-
tary school presentations.
“I think that being a
princess is a good way to
connect with the kids and
teach them the importance
of dairy in their diet and ed-
ucate people about where
their milk comes from,”
Atsma said.
And to be peppered with
questions from the young-
sters such as: “Do you live
in a castle?” and “Is there a
OREGON DAIRY WOMAN /for Itemizer-Observer
Gina Atsma wants to be Oregon’s Dairy Princess.
dairy prince?”
Atsma said she’s been
waiting for her chance at
earning the state crown.
To qualify to be a county
princess, contestants must
have to grow up on a dairy
farm. After that, they have
to be at least 17 years old
and a senior in high school.
Atsma lives and works on
her family’s farm, Atsma
Dairy in Amity, so the
biggest requirement was no
problem.
“My older cousins did it
and I thought it was awe-
some,” she said of participat-
ing in the program. “I want-
ed to do it for a long time.”
This weekend, Atsma and
her five sister dairy
princesses will gather at the
Salem Convention in down-
town Salem. They will give
speeches before judges and
film commercials Friday
and await Saturday’s coro-
nation of the 2016 Oregon
Dairy Princess.
Atsma’s speech is entitled
“Cows come first in our
family,” and it’s about her
experience growing up on
her family’s farm.
“I think it’s a good way to
learn life skills. I definitely
had a different childhood
than most kids,” Atsma said
of her childhood. “I got to be
around a bunch of animals
all the time, climbing hay
bales. But also had to work a
lot. It’s 24-hour, seven-days-
a-week job. It never ends.
Even on holidays, you have
to figure out a way to take
care of your animals.”
If she wins the crown,
Atsma’s schedule will fill up
fast with travel all over Ore-
gon, especially counties
without a dairy princess
and attending corporate
events representing Ore-
gon’s dairy industry.
That’s just fine with
Atsma, who in addition to
working at the farm, spent a
year as a cadet with the
Marion County Sheriff’s Of-
fice and learned American
Sign Language just to do
something new.
“I’m a very busy person,”
she said.
Repairs required
at FC sewer plant
By Jolene Guzman
The Itemizer-Observer
FALLS CITY — Falls City
approved a $3 increase to
the monthly fee it charges
residents for its utility re-
serve fund on Thursday.
Perhaps not a minute too
soon. Recent rains revealed
Falls City’s aging wastewater
plant wasn’t up to handling
the extra stress.
“Especially in this rain
event, we’ve had some prob-
lems and identified some
problems within our waste
water system,” said Mayor
Terry Ungricht at Thursday’s
city council meeting. “We’re
just putting council on no-
tice that within the budget
this year we are going to be
spending some of that utility
reserve to update our sewer.”
Ungricht said the electri-
cal panel that powers the
plan is sorely outdated, in-
stalled in the 1980s. A mal-
function in the panel is the
suspected cause of one of
the pumps in the plants re-
circulation tank going out.
“We believe the pump is
good, we hope, because that
is $10,000,” Ungricht said.
To prevent further prob-
lems, the city’s electrician
recommended the electrical
relays controlling the pumps
be moved out of the tank.
That would require drilling
holes in the tank to remove
them, an expensive venture.
Lastly, plumbing within
the recirculation tank is leak-
ing and will require draining
and cleaning the tank before
a welder can make the re-
pairs, which will be neces-
sary even with a planned
sewer expansion.
“It’s very costly, but it’s
something we’ve got to do,”
Ungricht said. “Even if we
developed the facilities plan,
this is still an integral part of
that, so it’s not throwing
money away.”
Ungricht negotiated a
trade to have the drilling and
resealing done to remove the
electrical relays. Resident
Cliff Lauder has the expert-
ise to complete the job in ex-
change for wood from trees
that will be logged on city
property.
“I have offered, on your
guys’ approval, that he can
have the wood out of that if
he can drill the three holes
and reseal the vault that we
have that is leaking,” Un-
gricht said to the council.
“We are going to save $400
and get wood cleaned up at
the same time.”
The council agreed to the
trade. Ungricht said the
sewer plant work will cost
about $20,000.
In other business, the
council:
• Approved the utility re-
serve fee increase on a 5-to-1
vote, with Councilor Jenn
Drill voting “no.”
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
Fred Heard. Sunday School and Nursery
Care available during worship. The church
has formally adopted a policy of welcoming
and fully affirming individuals who are les-
bian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT).
The new policy formalizes and expands on
the church’s longstanding tradition of radical
hospitality towards all people regardless of
race or ethnicity, marital status, disability or
socio-economic status. St. Thomas Wel-
comes 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-
Independence Hwy., Monmouth (the church
with the lighted cross on the “S” curve). Pastor
Dallas C. R. Dubke; 503-838-3459. School
Year Schedule: Sunday School & Adult Bible
Study 9:00 am; Divine Service of Holy
Communion 10:30 am. Everyone is welcome!
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 this directory.