Polk County News
2A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • February 17, 2016
NEWS IN BRIEF
Monmouth PD to host coffee talk
MONMOUTH — Monmouth Police Department oicers will
gather with community members from 8 to 10 a.m. on Friday at
Rick’s Place, 123 Main St. E., in Monmouth, for “Cofee with a Cop.”
The event’s goal is to help break down barriers between police
oicers and the citizens they serve by removing agendas and al-
lowing opportunities to ask questions, voice concerns and get to
know the oicers in the neighborhood.
The cofee is free for those participating. For more information
about the program: www.cofeewithacop.com.
OSU Extension launches fitness program
POLK COUNTY — The Oregon State University Extension Serv-
ice is starting a new program, “Walk with Ease,” a new healthy liv-
ing program.
Participants meet from noon to 12:30 p.m. on Thursdays at the
Dallas oice, 289 E. Ellendale, suite 301. Get a free water bottle and
pedometer for signing up. Participants can share tips and encour-
age others to walk and eat healthy. A log book will be provided to
keep track of your walking, plus ideas and interesting things to en-
courage a healthy adventure.
To register or for more information: Judi, 503-633-8395.
Women for Ag announces winners
POLK COUNTY — Polk County Women for Agriculture (PCWA) is
happy to announce the winners of their ifth annual Constitutional
essay contest for Polk County high school students.
Jacob North, of Dallas, won irst prize and $300 with his essay
explaining what he had learned by reading the Constitution.
PCWA was impressed with the research he did and that he includ-
ed a bibliography.
Sam Kenyon was second and won $200 with his clear writing
and good insights. He noted that “it revealed to me . . . the wisdom
that was behind the key beliefs of our country’s strongest leaders.”
Third-place Kirk Fairchild was impressed that, “Men who had
limited to no experience with government came up with the doc-
ument that still governs our nation. . . It is a necessary document
for the survival of our nation.” He will receive $100.
PCWA sponsors this contest annually to encourage high school
students to read and understand the U.S. Constitution. In addition
to monetary prizes, each student will receive a set of books about
the Constitution and the Federalist Papers, donated by WINREP.
Contact Arlene Kovash, kovasha@gmail.com, for information
about next year’s contest.
Monmouth old PD station
now ready for sale or lease
By Emily Mentzer
The Itemizer-Observer
MONMOUTH — The old
police station in Monmouth
is up for sale or lease.
“It’s an open process,”
City Manager Scott McClure
said. “Submit your best
offer, your best plan.”
He said the city will ac-
cept purchase proposals at
the same time as consider-
ing lease options, which is
unusual.
“If they have a good idea
for a lease, the council
wants to entertain that,”
McClure said. The ultimate
goal is some money back to
the city and the best use of
the building.
An appraisal lists the
property at $250,000, and
needs a new roof, McClure
said.
“I would anticipate we
would want something in
that ballpark,” he said.
The need for a new roof
would be a discussion
point, he noted.
Government
“If we were going to have
to pay for a new roof, we’d
have to factor that into the
cost” of a lease, McClure
said.
The appraisal also noted
potential uses for the build-
ing, including apartments
and office space.
The land is zoned high-
density residential, which
would allow apartments to
go in rather easily, McClure
said.
If the building is used for
office space, a rezoning may
be required.
The deadline to submit
proposals is March 10, at
which time McClure said
he would take the ideas to
the city council to deter-
mine the future of the
building.
“If it’s a purchase, that’s
fairly straightforward,” he
said. “If it’s a lease, we’d
have to move toward a
more comprehensive rental
agreement.”
Although cities are not
generally in the habit of
managing property, there
are occasions when it bene-
fits the city and its resi-
dents, McClure said.
For example, some cities
house business incubators
to give entrepreneurs space
to create and start an idea.
Independence leases its old
library building to Ash
Creek Arts Center.
“Periodically, you have a
surplus building and you
try and find something to
do with it,” McClure said.
The building previously
housed the Monmouth Po-
lice Department and the
Monmouth Public Library
before that.
Taking shape
Falls City looks ahead to 2017 eclipse
FALLS CITY — The city of Falls City has formed an Economic De-
velopment Committee and its irst task will be to design an event
around the August 2017 solar eclipse.
Viewing of the eclipse is predicted to be the best in Oregon and
Falls City is in prime position to host people looking for a place to
take it all in, city oicials said.
City councilors Tony Meier, Gerald Melin and residents Patti
Sample and Rose Bajorins applied to serve on the committee, giv-
ing it a quorum. The Falls City City Council approved the appoint-
ments Thursday, but there still are three open seats to be illed.
The council also appointed Sample to serve on the city’s budg-
et committee, illing the last vacancy.
For more information or to apply serve on the Falls City Eco-
nomic Development Committee, go to http://www.fallscityore-
gon.gov/.
NEWS DEADLINES
For inclusion in the
Wednesday edition of the
Itemizer-Observer:
Social news (weddings,
engagements, anniver-
saries, births, milestones) —
5 p.m. on Thursday.
Community events —
Noon on Friday for both the
Community Notebook and
Community Calendar.
Letters to the editor —
10 a.m. on Monday.
Obituaries — 4 p.m. on
Monday.
ADVERTISING DEADLINES
Retail display ads — 3
p.m. Friday.
Classified display ads
— 11 a.m. on Monday.
Classified line ads —
Noon on Monday. Classified
ads are updated daily on
www.polkio.com.
Public notices — Noon
on Friday.
CORRECTIONS
The Polk County Itemizer-
Observer is committed to
publishing accurate news,
feature and sports reports. If
you see anything that re-
quires a correction or clarifi-
cation, call the newsroom at
503-623-2373 or send an e-
mail to nadams@polkio.com.
WEBSITE
The Polk County Itemizer-
Observer website,
www.polkio.com, is updat-
ed each week by Wednes-
day afternoon. There, you
will find nearly every story
that appears in the print
version of the newspaper,
as well as some items, in-
cluding additional photos,
that do not appear in print
due to space limitations.
The Itemizer-Observer is
also on Facebook, Twitter
and Instagram. Watch for
breaking news, links to sto-
ries, sports scores and more.
WEATHER
New garden club meets in Dallas Monday
DALLAS — The newly formed Dallas Garden Club will hold its
monthly meeting on Monday at 6:30 p.m. in the Builders Room at
the Evangelical Bible Church, 1175 SE Howe St.
Attendees should enter through the breezeway on the Miller
Street side of the church.
The club’s guest speaker will be Karen Beber from the Wooden
Shoe Tulip Farm in Woodburn. Club membership is open to both
men and women and visitors are always welcome.
For more information: Gaye Stewart, 503-510-4370.
DEADLINES
RECORDED
HIGH LOW
Feb. 9................. 61
Feb. 10.............. 62
Feb. 11.............. 59
Feb. 12.............. 57
Feb. 13.............. 50
Feb. 14.............. 57
Feb. 15.............. 62
EMILY MENTZER/Itemizer-Observer
Progress on the Monmouth Main Street Park Amphitheater is taking shape.
FREE Parking!
34
39
49
43
42
49
49
RAIN
.00
.00
.10
.16
.22
.24
.00
Rainfall during Feb. — 1.16 in.
Rain through Feb. 15 — 8.98 in.
A Pleasant Place to Buy or Sell Your RV
CALL TODAY FOR A NO-CHARGE EVALUATION.
9th Annual
Polk Home & Garden Show 2016
Feb 27 & 28
Sat 9am-5pm
Sun 10am-5pm
OPEN K!
WEE
Y
7 DA S A • Sat 9-5
Mon-Fri 9-6 -4
Sun 10
Rick 503-437-5398
4075 NE Three Mile Lane, McMinnville, OR
www.macrvsales.com Next to the Spruce Goose Aviation Museum macrvsales@gmail.com
FREE Admission
Look for
Come Support Local Businesses
Money
Talks
2016
Located at the
Polk County Fairgrounds
520 S. Pacific Hwy, Rickreall, Oregon
inside this
edition!
Mid-Valley
Winter Agfest 2016
Feb 27 & 28
Sat 9am-4pm
Sun 10am-4pm
Admission: $5 Adults, 18 & Under Free
Ruben 503-915-2080
Solution on Page 6A