Polk County
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Polk County Itemizer-Observer • January 27, 2016 4A
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EDITORIALS
New resource center
to open near CHS
It took a lot of cooperation between local, county and
state governmental agencies and organizations, but the
Central Community Resource Center will finally open its
doors Thursday.
The center has been in the works since the Central
Health and Wellness Center opened in June 2015, but has
taken longer than thought to get going.
Based in the former Central School District office build-
ings across the street from the high school, it gives resi-
dents of Monmouth and Independence centralized access
to social services. With 32.8 percent of Independence’s
population below poverty level — and 28.3 percent in
Monmouth — according to the United States Census Bu-
reau, help with rent, utilities, child care and food supple-
ments are definitely needed.
The Polk County Family and Community Outreach and
public health have already had success in its model at the
Academy Building with the service integration model.
Having so many organizations and agencies in one
place makes it easier for those who need help to only ask
once rather than fill out forms for multiple agencies and
get the runaround while they get referred to this or that.
Extending that model to a location in Independence
opens up access to more people in Polk County.
So often, families that struggle financially only have one
car — at least one car that is reliable.
And, as County Commissioner Mike Ainsworth noted,
the question comes down to, “do we eat supper and feed
the family, or put gas in the car to drive to Dallas and ask
for help?”
Now, those in need could walk or ride a bike easily to the
center and get the help they need.
The Central resource center is a great investment in the
county and in the Independence and Monmouth commu-
nities.
While the center will be open just one day a week at first,
hours will expand as the need does.
Coleen Bradford, Department of Human Services self-
sufficiency manager, said DHS used to have offices in In-
dependence, where the health center is now located, but
had to consolidate when the budget got tight.
“I know the need is here,” she said.
We think she is right.
GOVERNOR
Gov. Kate Brown (Dem.)
160 State Capitol
900 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-378-4582
Email: via website,
http://governor.oregon.gov/
—
STATE LEGISLATORS
Sen. Arnie Roblan
(District 5, Democrat)
S-417 State Capitol
900 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1705
sen.arnieroblan@state.or.us
www.oregonlegislature.gov/roblan
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Thanks for Adopt-
a-Family success
Dallas Adopt a Family, a
long-standing program, pro-
vides families with gifts and
food through gracious com-
munity donors who “adopt”
families for Christmas.
This previous year, we are
happy to announce that 189
families applied, and all
were adopted. This achieve-
ment would not have been
possible without the help of
an entire community who
came together and rose to
the occasion once again.
Our churches, local busi-
nesses, schools, civic
groups, and volunteers
opened their hearts by do-
nating financial resources
and giving their time.
On Dec. 14-15, families
arrived to the Evangelical
Bible Church to pick up
their gifts and food. Their
smiles, gratitude, and in
some cases tears, reminded
us all that the long days of
planning and preparation
paid off, but most impor-
tantly it reminded us all that
we are all connected.
We hope that everybody
involved knows how much
we thank their continued
hard work and kindness
over the years. Our hope is
that together we continue to
serve our community for
many years to come. We
sincerely thank you, and
look forward to 2016.
Jim and Candace Fowler
Dallas Adopt a Family
Committee
Sen. Brian Boquist
(District 12, Republican)
S-305 State Capitol
900 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1712
sen.brianboquist@state.or.us
www.oregonlegislature.gov/boquist
Rep. David Gomberg
(District 10, Democrat)
H-471 State Capitol
900 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1410
rep.davidgomberg@state.or.us
www.oregonlegislature.gov/gomberg
Rep. Paul Evans
(District 20, Democrat)
H-281 State Capitol
900 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1420
rep.paulevans@state.or.us
www.oregonlegislature.gov/evans
Rep. Mike Nearman
(District 23, Republican)
H-378 State Capitol
900 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1423
rep.mikenearman@state.or.us
www.oregonlegislature.gov/nearman
—
U.S. CONGRESS
Sen. Ron Wyden (Dem.)
221 Dirksen SOB
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: 202-224-5244
Fax: 202-228-2717
Salem oice: 707 13th St. SE,
Suite 285, Salem, OR 97301
Phone: 503-589-4555
Email: via website,
www.wyden.senate.gov
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. 27
• Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk
County Courthouse, irst loor conference room, 850 Main St.,
Dallas. 503-623-8173.
Thursday, Jan. 28
• Monmouth Independence Networks (Minet) Board of Di-
rectors — 7:30 a.m., Henry Hill Education Support Center, 750 S.
Fifth St., Independence. 503-580-8525.
MONDAY, FEB. 1
• Central School District Board of Directors — 6:30 p.m.,
Henry Hill Education Support Center, 750 S. Fifth St., Independ-
ence.
• Independence Planning Commission — 7 p.m., Independ-
ence Civic Center, 555 S. Main St., Independence. 503-838-1212.
• Dallas City Council work session — 5:30 p.m., Dallas City
Hall, 187 SE Court St., Dallas. 503-831-3502.
• Dallas City Council — 7 p.m., Dallas City Hall, 187 SE Court
St., Dallas. 503-831-3502.
TUESDAY, FEB. 2
• Monmouth City Council — 7 p.m., Volunteer Hall, 144 S.
Warren St., Monmouth. 503-838-0725.
• Dallas Urban Renewal Advisory Committee — 5:30 p.m.,
Dallas City Hall, 187 SE Court St., Dallas. 503-831-3565.
• Polk County Board of Commission work session — 9
a.m., Polk County Courthouse, BOC oice, 850 Main St., Dallas.
503-623-8173.
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 3
• Monmouth Historic Commission — 6 p.m., Volunteer Hall,
144 S. Warren St., Monmouth. 503-838-0725.
• Monmouth Planning Commission — 7 p.m., Volunteer
Hall, 144 S. Warren St., Monmouth. 503-838-0725.
• Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk
County Courthouse, irst loor conference room, 850 Main St.,
Dallas. 503-623-8173.
Sen. Jackie Winters
(District 10, Republican)
S-301 State Capitol
900 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1710
sen.jackiewinters@state.or.us
www.oregonlegislature.gov/winters
Happy National Chocolate Cake Day
Do we need a birthday,
wedding or anniversary to
have chocolate cake? Not
today (Jan. 27), because it’s
National Chocolate Cake Day.
In America, chocolate was
consumed primarily as a
beverage until the 1830s or
’40s. Chocolate cakes, as we
think of them today, mostly
did not exist then. According
to the Dover Post, chocolate
cake was born in 1765, when
a doctor and a chocolate
maker teamed up in an old
mill. They ground up cocoa
beans between huge mill-
stones to make thick syrup.
The liquid was poured into
molds shaped like cakes,
which were meant to be
transformed into a beverage.
A popular Philadelphia
cookbook author, Eliza
Leslie, published the earliest
chocolate cake recipe in 1847
in The Lady’s Receipt Book.
Unlike chocolate cakes we
know today, this recipe used
chopped chocolate. Other
cooks of the time made con-
tributions to the develop-
ment of the chocolate cake.
The first boxed cake mix
was created by a company
called O. Duff and Sons in
the late 1920s. Betty Crocker
released their first dry cake
mixes in 1947.
WANT TO WRITE A LETTER?
Letters to the editor are lim-
ited to 300 words. Longer letters
will be edited.
Election-related letters of all
types are limited to 100 words.
Writers are limited to one elec-
tion-related letter per election
season. Election letters from
writers outside of Polk County
are not accepted.
Each writer is restricted to
one letter per 30-day period.
Letters that are libelous, ob-
scene or in bad taste will not be
printed. Attacks by name on
businesses or individuals will
not be printed.
Letters to the editor that are
obvious promotions for a busi-
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The Itemizer-Observer does
not guarantee the accuracy of
facts presented by letter writers;
dissenters are welcome to re-
spond. Letter writers who dis-
agree with other published
letter writers should maintain a
civil discourse and address the
subject, not the author.
Letters, like all editorial mate-
rial submitted to the newspa-
per, are edited for length,
grammar and content.
Letters must include the au-
thor’s name, address and tele-
phone number. This includes
letters submitted via the I-O’s
website. Names and cities of res-
idence are published; street ad-
dresses and telephone numbers
are used for veriication pur-
poses only.
Letters must be submitted
from individuals, not organiza-
tions, and must be original sub-
missions to the I-O, not copies of
letters sent to other media.
Letters of thanks to busi-
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zations are limited to 10 names.
The deadline for letters to the
editor is 10 a.m. Monday. Let-
ters submitted may not be re-
tractable after this deadline.
—
Reach us at:
Mail: Editor, Polk County
Itemizer-Observer, P.O. Box 108,
Dallas, OR 97338.
Fax: 503-623-2395.
Email: ionews@polkio.com.
Oice: 147 SE Court St., Dallas.
Sen. Jef Merkley (Dem.)
313 Hart SOB
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: 202-224-3753
Fax: 202-228-3997
Salem oice: 495 State St. SE,
Suite 330, Salem, OR 97301
Phone: 503-362-8102
Email: via website,
www.merkley.senate.gov
Rep. Kurt Schrader (Dem.)
108 Cannon HOB
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: 202-225-5711
Fax: 202-225-5699
Salem oice: 544 Ferry St. SE,
Suite 2, Salem, OR 97301
Phone: 503-588-9100
Fax: 503-588-5517
Email: via website,
www.schrader.house.gov
—
POLK COUNTY
Board of Commissioners
850 Main St.
Dallas, OR 97338
Phone: 503-623-8173
www.co.polk.or.us
—
CITIES
Dallas
187 SE Court St.
Dallas, OR 97338
503-623-2338
www.ci.dallas.or.us
Falls City
299 Mill St.
Falls City, OR 97344
503-787-3631
www.fallscityoregon.gov
Independence
555 S. Main St.
Independence, OR 97351
503-838-1212
www.ci.independence.or.us
Monmouth
151 W. Main St.
Monmouth, OR 97361
503-838-0722
www.ci.monmouth.or.us
HOW TO REACH US
Vol. 141, No. 4
(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
SUBSCRIPTION RATES:
Polk County — One Year $27
Other Oregon Counties — One Year $33
Outside of Oregon — One Year $38
POSTMASTER:
Send address changes to: Polk County Itemizer-Observer, P.O. Box 108, Dallas, Oregon 97338
The Polk County Itemizer-Observer assumes no inancial responsibility for errors in adver-
tisements. It will, however, reprint without charge for the portion of an advertisement
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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