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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 3, 2016)
COUPLE PLANS FOR DALLAS BOWLING READY RETIREMENT Page 7A TO STRIKE Volume 141, Issue 5 www.Polkio.com Page 10A 75¢ February 3, 2016 IN YOUR TOWN G RADUATION G AINS DALLAS The Dallas City Coun- cil considers a street bond and utility fee to help with upkeep and repair for the city’s roads. »Page 2A FALLS CITY A Kickstarter cam- paign is underway to help inish the sequel to “Manos: The Hands of Fate.” »Page 5A JOLENE GUZMAN/ Itemizer-Observer file Perrydale teacher and administrator Dan Dugan speaks to the school’s Class of 2015 in June. Perrydale was one of three school districts that saw significant increases in on-time grad rates for the 2014-15 school year. Perrydale had a 100 percent rate, and Dallas and Central numbers improved. State’s annual report mistakingly lists Central’s four-year rates as significantly lower By Jolene Guzman The Itemizer-Observer POLK COUNTY — Dallas, Perrydale and Central made big gains in their on-time graduation rates for the 2014-15 school year, though Central’s may not read that way on the state report. The four-year graduation rate tracks the number of stu- dents who enrolled in ninth grade in 2011-12 and earned diplomas within four years. Perrydale notched a per- fect 100 percent graduation rate, up from 87 percent in 2013-14. Dallas improved to 82 percent from 66 percent in the previous year, according to a report from the Oregon Department of Education released Thursday. Central’s officially report- ed rate fell just slightly to 72 percent from 73 percent, but that excludes 26 kids who were part of the district’s fifth-year program. Those students complet- ed all work needed to earn a regular diploma and should 84%* 86%* 83% 88% 82% 84% 82% 86% 50% 58% 50% 60% 100% 100% 87% 87% * A reporting mistake has Central’s rates at 72 percent and 74 percent for its four-year grad and completer rates on ODE’s report. have been included in the four-year rate, said Superin- tendent Buzz Brazeau. Stu- dents in the fifth-year pro- gram are awarded an “ad- vanced diploma” after fin- Source: Oregon Dept. of Education and Central School District ishing a year of classes at Chemeketa Community College. Brazeau said in the state’s report only two students were listed in the “diploma earned but not awarded” category when it should have included 28. He said the mistake was caught too late to change before the data was released, but it will be reported accu- rately in next year’s report. If those students had been included, Central’s rate would have been 84 percent. “It would make it signifi- cantly different, but it did not get reported or catego- rized correctly so we are stuck with the number they show,” Brazeau said. In recent years, Dallas has put its focus on helping stu- dents meet “essential skills” requirements in math and language arts, said Dallas High School Principal Steve Spencer. Essential skills are achievement benchmarks in the subjects of reading, writ- ing and math that students must meet in order to grad- uate. See GRAD, Page 15A Fatal crash on Washington Street Friday By Jolene Guzman The Itemizer-Observer DALLAS — A young girl was killed Friday night in Dallas in a collision between a car and pedestrian. Officers responded to a report that a person had been hit by a car near the in- tersection of Washington and Shelton streets at about 6 p.m. Friday. Dallas Police Lt. Jerry Mott said the girl was crossing Washington Street from north to south at the un- marked crosswalk at Shelton and was about two-thirds across when an eastbound sedan struck her. The girl, Arianna Mattson, 12, was taken to the hospital but did not survive her in- THE NEXT 7 DAYS PLANNING FOR YOUR WEEK juries, according to police. Dallas Police did not re- lease the girl’s name due to her young age or the driver’s name. A death notice was submitted to the Itemizer- Observer (see Obituaries, Page 6A). LaCreole Middle School included her name with her family’s permission in a post on its Facebook page about counseling avail- able for students on Monday. Mattson was a sixth-grad- er at LaCreole. Mott said there was no in- dication speed or impair- ment from drugs or alcohol. He added the driver was not distracted, sleepy or having medical issues that could have contributed to the crash. Visibility on the dark and wed Grab your yarn and knitting needles or crochet hook and start “Yarning for Others” at St. Thomas Church. 3-5 p.m. Free. Rain Hi: 47 Lo: 42 rainy night could have been a significant factor in the ac- cident Mott said. He said the street light on the south side of the road was working, but the light on the north side was out at the time of the ac- cident. “I believe the driver just didn’t see her.” Mott said. “There’s nothing to suggest the driver has done anything criminal.” As the crash resulted in a fatality, the Polk County Dis- trict Attorney’s Office will make final decisions on the investigation. A celebration of life for Mattson will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Sundial Mobile Home Park Community Center, 2300 Lancaster Drive SE, Salem. JOLENE GUZMAN/Itemizer-Observer A memorial has been set up for Arianna Mattson on Washington Street in Dallas where the accident occurred. INDEPENDENCE Monmouth-Indepen- dence Networks Board of Directors approved an 11 percent increase in cable rates. »Page 2A MONMOUTH Western Oregon oi- cials and teachers are at an impasse at negotia- tions over salaries. »Page 16A SPORTS Central swimmer AnneMarie Hasbrook has become the Pan- thers’ quiet leader. »Page 10A POLK COUNTY Central and Dallas high schools will co- host the Oregon Thes- pians Southern Region- al Acting Competition on Saturday at CHS. »Page 15A Dallas woman dies in accident Itemizer-Observer staf report DALLAS — A Dallas woman died Friday fol- lowing an accident in which she accidently set her clothing on ire while trying to warm herself next to her ireplace. Dallas Fire & EMS re- sponded to the call in the 300 block of Southeast Mill Street, which came in at 4:21 p.m. Thursday. Crews took her to Dallas High School’s football ield, where they were met by Life Flight air ambu- lance. The woman was lown to the burn center at Emanuel Hospital in Portland. She died of her injuries on Friday. Dallas Fire & EMS did not release more informa- tion about victim, includ- ing her name, by press time. thu fri sat sun mon Enjoy coloring with other adults at Mon- mouth Public Li- brary. Supplies are provided for this re- laxing pastime. 5:30 p.m. Free. Guthrie Park Com- munity Center on Kings Valley High- way will be alive with music at its acoustic jam session. 7-10 p.m. Free. Head down to the Rickreall Grange Hall for its monthly lea market and enjoy breakfast or lunch, and baked goods. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. “KP and the Kings,” a quartet from Polk County, will perform gospel music a cap- pella at Grace Bap- tist Church. 11 a.m. Free. Meet more people who share your gar- dening passion at the new Dallas Gar- den Club at Evan- gelical Bible Church. 7 p.m. Free. Showers Hi: 51 Lo: 39 Rain Hi: 53 Lo: 40 Cloudy Hi: 50 Lo: 37 Cloudy Hi: 60 Lo: 40 Sunny Hi: 59 Lo: 41 tue Eat pancakes and get ready for Lent with Shrove Tues- day at St. Thomas Episcopal Church. All are welcome. 5-6:30 p.m. Free. Partly Sunny Hi: 62 Lo: 43