Polk County News
2A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • February 24, 2016
Dallas loses community leader
By Emily Mentzer
The Itemizer-Observer
DALLAS — Buck
Buchanan, longtime champi-
on of Dallas, died on Feb. 12.
Buck, 92, was a real con-
tributor to the community,
said Robert Wilson, friend
and fellow businessman.
“He was highly commit-
ted to the prosperity of the
downtown area,” Wilson
added. “He made a big mark
on Dallas.”
Buck opened the Ben
Franklin store in Dallas and
another in Monmouth.
“I moved to Dallas to
open a business, Coast to
Coast, and moved into the
store that Buck had moved
out of,” said Clint Branum.
“He was very helpful to me
to get me going.”
Buchanan shared his per-
spective of business — and
of Dallas in particular —
with others to increase their
success as well as his own.
He knew
how the
D a l l a s
economy
worked
and what
the needs
of the peo-
ple were,
Buchanan
Branum
said.
“He seemed to understand
the town real well,” he said.
When Safeway an-
nounced plans to move, it
was Buck who made an ef-
fort to keep them down-
town, Branum said.
“He worked real hard on
working with Safeway,” he
said. “He said if they would
stay downtown, he would try
to find them a whole city
block. Of course he couldn’t
find a whole city block
downtown, but he did make
an effort to hold onto an an-
chor for downtown. He tried
and nobody else did.”
Buck was honored
statewide for his efforts as a
businessman, earning the
Oregon Retailer of the Year
in 1982.
Buchanan touched more
than downtown.
Buchanan was involved in
Dallas Rotary and Breakfast
in the Park. He served on
Dallas School Board, worked
with Kids Inc., and the area
coordinator for the Muscu-
lar Dystrophy Association.
Buck and his wife, Donna,
hosted several Rotary ex-
change students.
He was one of the
founders of Dallas Krazy
Dayz, what is now known as
Summerfest. He also was
part of the group that found-
ed Kids Inc.
“Buck was a fixture,” Dal-
las Mayor Brian Dalton said.
Buchanan was honored
with both the Junior First
Citizen and the First Citizen
awards. He helped get the
stadium built at Dallas High
School, Dalton said.
“He meant a lot to Dallas,”
he said. “He was a leader in
the community and worked
very hard. He was a real en-
ergetic kind of person with a
real civic spirit. We’ve lost a
lot of that.
“There was no one more
civic-minded than Buck.”
Buchanan was a member of
the Dallas United Methodist
Church. His wife, Donna, pre-
ceeded him in death.
A celebration of life will be
at 11 a.m. on Monday at Trin-
ity Lutheran Church in Dallas.
For a complete obituary,
see Page 6A.
Casa seeks more volunteers
By Jolene Guzman
The Itemizer-Observer
POLK COUNTY — Volun-
teers are the backbone of Casa
of Polk County, and the foster
child advocacy group is look-
ing for more to join its ranks.
Casa (Court-Appointed
Special Advocates) is hold-
ing its volunteer orientation
on March 4 at the Polk
County Courthouse confer-
ence room, 850 Main St.,
Dallas, from 5 to 6 p.m.
Orientation introduces
potential volunteers to what
the program does before the
required 10-week training
class begins March 18.
Join the Casa team
What: Casa volunteer training orientation.
When: March 4 at 5 p.m.
Where: Polk County Courthouse conference room, 850
Main St., Dallas.
For more information: 503-623-8473.
Director Katey Axtell is
hoping to graduate 12
“casas” from the class, which
will keep the volunteer levels
steady and the case load of
each one manageable.
Casa pairs trained volun-
teers with abused and neg-
lected children who have
been removed from their
homes. The volunteers ad-
vocate on behalf of children
as they move through the
court system.
It’s not easy work, said
Mike Barnett, assistant di-
rector, but that shouldn’t
stop people from attending
orientation.
“We would love to have a
full class,” he said. “Anyone
who is interested in finding
out more about the pro-
gram, come to the orienta-
tion to see if it’s for them.”
Axtell said there are more
ways to contribute, includ-
ing helping coordinate
events, writing grants, work-
ing in the office and serving
on the board of directors. To
meet national standards, the
organization needs more
board members who are not
advocates, she added.
Polk County’s program has
grown since 2013 and now
has a new office in Dallas
and 54 casas.
Axtell said the goal is to
have a casa for every child
by 2018. She said to achieve
that, the program would
need about 80 volunteers.
With the help of the com-
munity, it on pace to achieve
that goal.
NEWS IN BRIEF
Monmouth renews liquor licenses
MONMOUTH — The Monmouth City Council decided to rec-
ommend the Oregon Liquor License Commission renew the li-
censes at establishments in town.
Sgt. Isaiah Haines said three of the 16 establishments that
sell liquor — for either on-premises consumption or of-premis-
es — had calls for service relating to alcohol.
Of those three, Main Street Pub and Eatery had 35 incidents
including multiple arrests for driving under the inluence of in-
toxicants in which the person admitted to consuming alcohol
at the pub. Other calls included intoxicated persons, thefts, dis-
orderly conduct, trespass, assault and prohibited exposure.
Haines said with the additional traic at the pub, the number
of calls was not out of the ordinary.
“It’s not that we’re always comfortable with it, but this has
been what it’s been for the last several years,” he said. “I think
this is because it’s a busy establishment, and it’s pretty much
the only place to go.”
Seed library kicks off on Saturday
MONMOUTH — The OSU Extension Master Gardeners will
present a starting seeds seminar at the Monmouth Public Li-
brary at 11 a.m. on Saturday.
The free presentation will include a hands-on activity of
planting seeds to take home.
“The irst year of our seed library was very successful,” Librar-
ian Krist Obrist said. “We gave out over 3,200 packets of seeds,
both vegetable and lower seeds.”
At Saturday’s event, participants may learn about the pro-
gram and some of the classes that will be ofered throughout
the year. Door prizes and light refreshments will be available.
“We will be announcing a pumpkin growing contest as well
as information about this year’s garden photo contest,” Obrist
said.
The seed lending library allows adults to receive up to ive
seed packets a day, no library card required.
For more information: www.ci.monmouth.or.us.
HART to host open house Saturday
INDEPENDENCE — Horses Adaptive Riding and Therapy will
host an open house from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday at its new fa-
cility at 6665 Rickreall Road, Independence.
People will be able to tour the new facility, meet the therapy
horses, learn about adaptive riding programs, watch demon-
strations with riders and enjoy refreshments.
For more information, see the organization on Facebook.
Indy council approves liquor licenses
INDEPENDENCE — The Independence City Council approved
recommendations to renew liquor licenses for nine full on-
premises sales, six limited on-premises sales and nine of-
premises sales establishments.
Councilors had a few questions regarding Chase Bar and
Grill, which had seven alcohol-related calls to police in the last
year, including one person who was charged with driving
under the inluence of intoxicants and admitted to drinking at
that establishment.
Councilor Forrest Peck asked what oicers were doing to
curb incidents at Chase.
Chief Bob Mason said they will meet with the management
and owners of the restaurant.
“This is the second year in a row that shows there are prob-
lems there, so we want to make sure we stay on top of it.”
The council requested a verbal update in three months.
February 27, 2016 9:00 - 4:00 PM
February 28 10:00 - 4:00 PM
Polk County Fairgrounds
Rickreall, Oregon
www.mvwagfest.com
mvwagfest@gmail.com
SEMINARS
SATURDAY 2/27
Premier Sponsor:
10:30 am
John Burt of Farmers Ending Hunger:
“Farm to Food Bank Partnering to Solve Things”
11:00 am
Dr. Sherri Noxel, Director of OSU’s Austin Family Business Program,
Brought to you by SEDCOR:
“Planning for a Productive Family Farm Transfer”
12:00 pm
Stephanie Wood: “Native American Natural Harvesting”
2:00 pm
Tiah Edmundson-Morton of OSU Hops & Beer History Archive
and Makaela Kroin of UO Folk Life Network:
“History and Hop Lore in the Mid-Willamette Valley”
3:00 pm
Amy Garrett of OSU Extension Small Farms Program:
“Farming Without Irrigation”
Premier Sponsor:
Doors Open For
Social Hour
at 5:30 pm.
SATURDAY 2/27
11:00 am
Gretchen Anderson, Noted Idaho Author:
“Secrets of the Lazy Urban Chicken Keeper”
Dr. Ryan Scholz DVM
District Veterinarian for Western Oregon: “Avian Influenza”
2:00 pm
Domenica Protheroe of MI Chicken Revolution:
“Tips for the Winter Chicken Coop”
11:00 am
2:00 pm
Join the MI Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center
as we celebrate businesses, organizations, and individuals
for their contributions and support of our community
during our 51st Annual Community Awards Banquet!
FAIRGROUNDS MAIN BUILDING
1:00 pm
SUNDAY 2/28
For tickets or more information:
www.micc-or.org | 503.838.4268
MUSEUM STAFRIN ROOM
SUNDAY 2/28
11:00 am
1:00 pm
MUSEUM STAFRIN ROOM
LOCAL AUTHORS FORUM
Jennifer Chambers, Jo Brew, Lynn Mack, Marilyn Morton,
Pat Edwards, Sonja Ely, Evelyn Hess, Tom Branigar,
Joseph Blakeley, Scott MacCarther
Dr. Robert Faust of Bio-Ag: “Restoring Soil Health”
MAIN BUILDING SEMINAR AREA
Matthew Slaughter, President & Lab Director of Earth Fort:
“Fixing Broken Dirt: Restoring Soil Health with Biology”
Gretchen Anderson, Noted Idaho Author:
“Other Tips on Raising a Flock from Chick to Hen”