Polk County News
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • January 27, 2016 5A
Squatters: Falls
City seeks answers
EMILY MENTZER/Itemizer-Observer
Kevin McMillan plans to get this 1975 Pontiac Astra in racing shape to raise awareness for multiple sclerosis.
RACE FOR MS
Monmouth man hopes to raise money and awareness for MS through races
By Emily Mentzer
How you can help
The Itemizer-Observer
MONMOUTH — Kevin
McMillan, 44, was diag-
nosed with multiple sclero-
sis in 2012, but suspects he
has had the disease since
high school.
“It took a couple years to
get diagnosed,” he said.
“Looking back, it looks like I
had my first episode or exac-
erbation in high school. My
freshman year when I was
14, the whole left side of my
body went numb.”
Multiple sclerosis is a dis-
ease that affects the central
nervous system, disrupting
the smooth flow of nerve
impulses, causing the symp-
toms of MS, according to the
Multiple Sclerosis Associa-
tion of America’s website.
Common symptoms in-
clude fatigue, numbness, vi-
sual disturbances, bladder
problems, mobility issues
and more.
In the last three years,
McMillan has tried three dif-
ferent medications to help
with MS, all without success.
“What I want to do is raise
awareness and, hopefully,
money for MS,” he said. “So
I’m going to put together
this drag car and race it at
the Woodburn drag strip and
other drag strips in the Pa-
cific Northwest.”
What: “Race for Multiple Sclerosis” gofundme page.
Where: https://www.gofundme.com/n4ef7mr8.
Of note: Kevin McMillan has a car donated, but it lacks
an engine and other parts to be ready to drag race. McMil-
lan hopes to put decals on the car and set up booths at
races to promote education and awareness of MS, as well
as raise money to help those with MS and for research.
McMillan has started a
gofundme page, “Race for
Multiple Sclerosis,” in efforts
to raise money or parts to
build the racer. So far, he has
had a car donated for his ef-
forts and raised $625.
“We’re trying to round up
information to hand out and
get donations,” he said. “We
want to have a booth and
table with pamphlets and
everything.”
McMillan and his family
have long been into racing.
He and his twin brother got
started on the drag circuit
while going to Central High
School.
“The whole family has
been into cars,” he said. “My
dad kind of got us into it. We
raced in the high school
drags a little bit. Actually, the
first time I ever raced in the
high school drags, I took sec-
ond place. I was pumped.”
Although MS has affected
McMillan’s vision, he can
still see well enough to
drive — and he prefers to
drive fast.
He loves the competition
and adrenalin rush of racing,
he said.
“I think it’s something
you’re born with,” McMillan
said. “You either enjoy it, or
you could care less.”
MS affects one’s ability to
regulate temperature,
McMillan said, so cooling
vests are useful, particularly
in summertime. Cooling
vests and other medical sup-
plies, such as canes and
walkers, can be obtained
from MS organizations, such
as the MS Association of
America. But they are back-
ordered and it could take
weeks to get a patient need-
ed equipment.
McMillan said one of the
things he will donate the
money to is helping organi-
zations provide needed
medical tools to those who
suffer from MS.
“It’s pretty basic,” he said.
“But most people who have
MS are in debt up to their
eyeballs.”
Adam Garcia, owner of
Precision Spa Services in In-
dependence, donated a 1975
Pontiac Astra to the cause.
“Both of those McMillan
brothers have a long history
of being passionate about
what they do when it comes
to their cars and their hobby
with racing cars,” he said.
“I’ve been watching them
through the years, grow and
develop and do really well.”
When he heard they were
in trouble and needed help,
he said he had no problems
with stepping in.
“They have some time
that I don’t, and they have
passion and a very serious
disease that they’re talking
about that does need a lot of
attention,” Garcia said. “I be-
lieve there are a lot of illness-
es out there that do need at-
tention. This is one that we
don’t talk about much.”
The Astra has a lot of his-
tory for Garcia and a lot of
sentimental value. For it to
be used to promote aware-
ness and earn money for MS
is a “perfect situation for the
car,” Garcia said.
“I’m really looking for-
ward to working closer with
these guys and helping them
achieve their goal, and see
what happens,” he said.
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Continued from 1A
“One, I worked directly with the bank to tell them that
they had squatters at the property,” she said. “I don’t think
they cared.”
City officials say addressing the situation doesn’t look
like it will be easy given the city’s limitations.
“There’s got to be things that we as a city can do for
these vacant homes,” Councilor Jenn Drill said. “Is there is
a way to find out what our options are?”
Protheroe said, as written, the city’s code restricts its
power to address the issue. That can be solved, but will
take some time with a short-handed staff.
Protheroe noted that revisions in the code would have
to take into account the city’s financial restrictions and
couldn’t just be modeled after other cities.
Ungricht noted the banks and the code aren’t the only
hurdles in the way.
“Most of the cities you are talking about do have a code
enforcer,” Ungricht said. “We are being double hammered
on these properties, not only within our code, but not hav-
ing an active code enforcer.”
Falls City hasn’t had a code officer since 2014, and its
city court has been inactive for the same length of time.
Councilor Tony Meier said even cities with code officers
have had difficulties dealing with abandoned properties
and the people who choose to live in them.
“A lot of big cities are having the same problem that the
banks just won’t take care of it, and they are in the same
situation we are,” Meier said. “There’s not much they can
do except condemn it and bulldoze it.”
Ungricht said he wants to work for something better.
After talking with the Polk Community Development Cor-
poration and Falls City’s Service Integration Team, he be-
lieves the plan to have ownership transferred could work.
“We could get some properties, and there are people
willing to build on them,” he said.
Man arrested on firearms charges
closed and neighborhood
residents were alerted to the
incident and directed to stay
in their homes.
After several hours of un-
successful attempts to con-
tact the suspect directly,
most of the involved officers
cleared the area, leaving be-
hind a monitoring unit
while other officers contin-
ued to attempt contact with
friends and relatives of the
suspect, Banuelos said.
At about 9:15 a.m.,
Robert Christiansen, 57,
was contacted by police at
his residence and later
taken into custody without
incident for unlawful use of
a weapon, reckless endan-
gering, and disorderly con-
duct. The involved firearms
were seized from the resi-
dence. Banuelos said alco-
hol may have been in-
volved in the incident.
“We would like to thank
the Monmouth Police ...,
the ... Sheriff’s Office and
the Dallas Police ... for all of
their assistance,” Banuelos
said. “We would also like to
thank the residents of the
Kbel Ylienimi neighbor-
hood ... (and) ... the friends
of Mr. Christensen who
helped resolve the situation
without incident.”
Itemizer-Observer staf report
INDEPENDENCE — An
Independence man was ar-
rested on Monday after offi-
cers and deputies attempt-
ed to contact him for
roughly six hours.
On Monday at about 3:18
a.m., Independence Police
officers responded to the
area of Kbel Yliniemi and
Stryker roads in Independ-
ence on multiple calls of
shots fired.
Independence officers
and a Monmouth officer on
scene heard additional
shots fired and determined
they were coming from the
backyard of one residence,
said Independence Sgt.
Tino Banuelos.
There was no indication
that the shots were being
directed at anyone specifi-
cally, he said.
With the assistance of offi-
cers and deputies from Dal-
las Police and the Polk Coun-
ty Sheriff’s Office, a perime-
ter was set while attempts
were made to contact the
suspect without exposing
anyone involved to unneces-
sary peril, Banuelos said.
An armored vehicle from
the sheriff’s office was used
to facilitate the contact at-
tempts. Stryker Road was
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Pricing does not reflect
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Polk County
2016 Relay For Life Kick-Off
Saturday, Jan. 30, 2 to 5 pm
Independence Elks Lodge
• Live Entertainment by Ed Desmarteau at 4 pm
FREE performance donations benefit
American Cancer Society
• Register to be part of the June 4-5, 2016 Relay
• Prize drawings, light snacks, beverages
• Information on the event
• Education on Cancer Services
& Cancer Prevention
• Luminaria Ceremony
• Participants encouraged to bring 1 or 2
(2-4 oz) cans of food for Relay Luminaria bags.
Contributions go to the Salem Cancer Institute
and pet food going to local animal shelter
Relay For Life of Polk County
June 4-5, 2016
Riverview Park, Independence
For information contact: 2015relayfor lifepc@gmail.com
00
Friday - Saturday Jan 29 - Jan 30
THE 5TH WAVE (Digital) (PG13)
THE REVENANT (Digital) (R)
FINEST HOURS (Digital 2D) (PG13)
FINEST HOURS (NEC Dolby 3D) (PG13)
KUNG FU PANDA 3 (Digital 2D) (PG)
KUNG FU PANDA 3 (NEC Dolby 3D) (PG)
STAR WARS:
THE FORCE AWAKENS (Digital 2D) (PG13)
13 HOURS (Digital) (R)
NORM OF THE NORTH (Digital) (PG)
THE BOY (Digital) (PG13)
DIRTY GRANDPA (Digital) (R)
(1:45 4:25)
(12:00 3:05)
(1:45)
(4:35)
(12:10 4:50)
(2:35)
(12:20 3:25)
(12:05 3:15)
(12:30)
(2:45 5:00)
(12:15 2:40 5:05)
7:05
6:10
7:15
9:40
7:10
9:25
6:30
6:25
9:30
9:25
7:20
7:30
9:25
9:55
Sunday January 31
THE 5TH WAVE (Digital) (PG13)
THE REVENANT (Digital) (R)
FINEST HOURS (Digital 2D) (PG13)
FINEST HOURS (NEC Dolby 3D) (PG13)
KUNG FU PANDA 3 (Digital 2D) (PG)
KUNG FU PANDA 3 (NEC Dolby 3D) (PG)
STAR WARS:
THE FORCE AWAKENS (Digital 2D) (PG13)
13 HOURS (Digital) (R)
NORM OF THE NORTH (Digital) (PG)
THE BOY (Digital) (PG13)
DIRTY GRANDPA (Digital) (R)
(1:45 4:25)
(12:00 3:05)
(1:45)
(4:35)
(12:10 4:50)
(2:35)
(12:20 3:25)
(12:05 3:15)
(12:30)
(2:45 5:00)
(12:15 2:40 5:05)
7:05
6:10
7:15
7:10
6:30
6:25
7:20
7:30
Monday - Thursday Feb 1 - Feb 4
THE 5TH WAVE (Digital) (PG13)
THE REVENANT (Digital) (R)
FINEST HOURS (Digital 2D) (PG13)
FINEST HOURS (NEC Dolby 3D) (PG13)
KUNG FU PANDA 3 (Digital 2D) (PG)
KUNG FU PANDA 3 (NEC Dolby 3D) (PG)
STAR WARS:
THE FORCE AWAKENS (Digital 2D) (PG13)
13 HOURS (Digital) (R)
THE BOY (Digital) (PG13)
DIRTY GRANDPA (Digital) (R)
(1:45 4:25)
(3:05)
(1:45)
(4:35)
(4:50)
(2:35)
(3:25)
(3:15)
(2:45 5:00)
(2:40 5:05)
9:35
9:15
7:05
6:10
7:15
7:10
6:30
6:25
7:20
7:30