Polk County
Voices
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • February 17, 2016 4A
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
WOU should spend
money in classes
I’m a professor at Western
Oregon University. For
many years I have been very
proud of our school. I was
recently hopeful for Western
when I learned about the
new state funding model
and when I learned that we
would gain our independ-
ence from OUS and hire a
new president and new
board of trustees.
Now, however, when it
comes time for that new
president and board to pro-
vide faculty raises in salary,
the least well-paid faculty in
the state of Oregon, that
new president instead digs
in his heels and refuses to
budge in negotiations with
the faculty union.
He would rather spend
the school’s money, our
money, on new administra-
tive positions and new “ad-
ministrative projects,”
rather than pay its faculty.
At a time when students
are graduating with thou-
sands of dollars in debt,
they should be outraged at
the way this administration
is spending their money.
And their parents should be
outraged. And the taxpay-
ers of this state ought to be
outraged, too.
Somebody needs to tell
Western’s new president
(and its new board of
trustees) to spend that
money on teachers’ salaries
and classroom instruction,
where it belongs.
Ryan Hickerson
Woodburn
Issues at Central
are not a crisis
According to social
media, there is a “crisis” at
Central High School. As
chairman of the Central
School District Board of Di-
rectors, and having exten-
sive insight and knowledge
of the situation, let me as-
sure you there is no crisis.
Our students remain fo-
cused on their studies; our
athletes continue to com-
pete well at the 5A level; our
student leadership opportu-
nities through POWER
Peers, ASBEC and FFA are
growing; and our perform-
ing arts have never been
better, as exemplified by the
recent performances of
“Bang, Bang, You’re Dead.”
However, there is an in-
creasing frustration and di-
lished for this profession.
Ron Smith
Independence
Bird cannons
cause disruptions
vision between the adminis-
tration and the licensed
teaching staff at the high
school — so much so that a
“vote of no confidence” was
taken regarding the princi-
pal. The board carefully in-
vestigated this situation by
reviewing teacher com-
plaints, listening to staff
representatives, and analyz-
ing the facts — unanimous-
ly concluding the issues
brought forward do not
warrant the dramatic re-
moval of an employee. We
agree the environment and
communication processes
at the high school are not
acceptable and need to be
improved, which will re-
quire a commitment by all
parties involved.
Therefore, we are sup-
porting a plan designed by
our superintendent to im-
prove the situation.
For more information on
our district’s improvement
objectives, to read the
board’s response to the
“vote of no confidence,” or
to contact a board member,
visit our website at
www.central.k12.or.us.
Steve Love
CSD13J Board Chair
Monmouth
Thanks for making
Connect a success
On behalf of the Polk
Community Connect Plan-
ning Committee, we would
like to thank the many
agencies, organizations,
businesses, volunteers and
community members who
supported the fifth annual
Polk Community Connect
event.
More than 300 women,
men and children were
served at the event with
dental care, health screen-
ings, clothing giveaway, pet
care, bike repair, haircuts,
and meals served all day.
More than 30 resource or-
ganizations were present
with information for guests.
We are grateful to Valley
Life Center Church for again
serving as the host site facil-
ity.
Thank you to the Dallas
Ministerial Association and
local churches for their do-
nations and support. The
Salvation Army provided a
great breakfast and James2
Community Kitchen served
a wonderful lunch to the
guests. We would also like to
thank the United Way of the
Mid-Willamette Valley and
Mid-Willamette Valley Com-
munity Action Agency for
their support, as well as
Cherriots Salem Keizer
Transit for providing free
bus rides to and from the
event.
Jacks World Pet Grooming
and Supplies coordinated
and provided the pet care.
The Northwest HUB was
available to assist guests
with bike repairs and tune
ups.
Thank you to everyone
who assisted with the plan-
ning or served in a volun-
teer role the day of the
event. We are grateful for
the generosity of the com-
munities of Polk County.
Michelle Bornfleth
Polk County Family and
Community Outreach,
Service Integration;
Heather Wright – Living
Hope City Church;
Herm Boes – Salem
Leadership Foundation
Recreational pot
new ‘drug market’
Open Letter to the Inde-
pendence city councilors:
There are a growing number
of local citizens who are
concerned about the prolif-
eration of Independence’s
new “drug market” in our
community.
Specific ordinances must
already be in place which do
not allow these cartels to set
up shop in the proximity of
schools, churches, day care
centers and public parks.
So; what are they? How
many feet, yards, blocks or
miles must separate these
dispensaries from a public
playground or park? What is
the minimum allowable dis-
tance from a library, a
school, the YMCA, the dog
park or even the air park?
Notice the absence of an
objection to these money-
making operations.
Personally, I am all for it.
As well as your right to tax
the heck out of the industry.
Just keep this process in the
shadows away from our
children. Unlike the propa-
gation of liquor within the
city limits; there are those of
us who equate the pot store
existence to more inline of
that of a porno shop. I don’t
care who goes there. How-
ever, keep it away from my
grandchild.
Perhaps your staff can
submit an article to this
publication and educate the
rest of the citizenry as to the
boundaries you have estab-
My husband and I live at
the city limits of Dallas, fac-
ing Ellendale Road West, for
26 years. For the past six
years plus, we have been
tolerating the bird cannons
firing off across the way. As
the crow flies, over one
mile.
Our back porch, which
faces Ellendale, is now un-
usable due to the constant
booming. There are no trees
or structures between us
and the cannons that would
disrupt the percussion;
we’re on a hill.
I understand the farmer’s
dilemma to protect his crop.
What to use: Poison? Can-
nons? Glitter flags? Netting?
Some farmers are placing
elevated platforms to en-
courage raptor nesting and
habitation. Others are using
falconers to combat the
birds. I don’t have the an-
swer, and for that, I’m sorry.
I suffer from PTSD (post-
traumatic stress disorder)
and the booms torment me.
My husband is mostly deaf;
the booming doesn’t bother
him. Well, just move, you
say. We can’t. My husband is
gravely ill and facing surger-
ies. We literally don’t have
the funds or health to
move — we’re stuck.
I also know that I’m not
the only one suffering from
PTSD. We have many veter-
ans in the area that are also
suffering. When the cannons
were mainly used in Sep-
tember and October, it was
somewhat tolerable. This
year, they began in January.
According to the Oregon
agriculture guidelines, the
cannons may operate 30
minutes before sunrise and
30 minutes after sunset.
So far this year I have
been startled awake at least
15 times between 10:30 p.m.
and midnight by the win-
dow rattling, percussions
triggering my dogs to bark
as if there is an intruder.
I can sit in my living
room in the evening after
dark with the windows
closed and hear the con-
stant booms.
Please, can someone
come up with a solution?
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
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
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
Tina Smith
Dallas
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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.7
(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
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Dallas, OR, Independence, OR and Monmouth, OR.
Published weekly at 147 SE Court Street
Dallas, Oregon 97338
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Emily Mentzer ..............Monmouth/Independence Reporter ..................ementzer@polkio.com
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