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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 24, 2016)
Polk County Voices Polk County Itemizer-Observer • February 24, 2016 4A How to Contact Officials EDITORIALS Honoring excellence Friday night Dallas showcased the individuals and busi- nesses who worked to make the city a better place to live, work and play over the last year. The 59th annual Community Awards — with the theme of honoring courage — left those in the audience inspired. If it didn’t, it should have. Award presenters told stories about the winners, show- ing how they display courage and leadership in their per- sonal and professional lives. There was the story of two police officers scrambling to pull a colleague from a burning patrol car. Or the police and fire chaplains who comfort those suf- fering from tragedy. City Manager Ron Foggin spoke of the difficulties a new business experienced trying to get its doors open, includ- ing hitting a gas main and dealing with a building flood. Honored at the ceremony was an art teacher who has been an inspiration to a generation of students, a young professional who in a short time has encouraged others in his age group to strive for success, and a popular small business that began with literally nothing. The community honored the achievements of its late friend, Ron Lines, a man who “got it done” and with a smile. Dallas’ First Citizen, Bob Brannigan in six years has paved a path toward access to better health care and has served on more committees than most people do in a life- time. All stories of courage. But there were other themes Fri- day evening: humility and gratefulness. The chaplains said it is their privilege to serve others in what could be their greatest moment of need. Officers Jim Rodriguez and Colby Hamilton say they thank God for being in the right place at the right time. The businesses thanked their customers and the com- munity for their success. Brannigan offered more leadership to conclude the night, calling others to serve. It’s that kind of courage that builds communities — and makes them better. Congratulations winners, you deserve the recognition. PUBLIC AGENDA Public Agenda is a listing of upcoming meetings for gov- ernmental and nongovernmental agencies in Polk County. To submit a meeting, send it at least two weeks before the actual meeting date to the Itemizer-Observer via fax (503- 623-2395) or email (ionews@polkio.com). — WEDNESDAY, FEB. 24 • Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk County Courthouse, irst loor conference room, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-623-8173. THURSDAY, FEB. 25 • Rickreall Watershed Council — 1 p.m., Delbert Hunter Ar- boretum House, Dallas City Park. 623-9680, Ext. 104. • Monmouth-Independence Networks Board of Direc- tors — 7:30 a.m., Henry Hill Education Support Center, 750 S. Fifth St., Independence. 503-837-0700. TUESDAY, MARCH 1 • Monmouth City Council — 7 p.m., Volunteer Hall, 144 S. Warren St., Monmouth. 503-838-0725. • Dallas Urban Renewal Advisory Committee — 5:30 p.m., Dallas City Hall, 187 SE Court St., Dallas. 503-831-3565. • Polk County Board of Commission work session — 9 a.m., Polk County Courthouse, BOC oice, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503- 623-8173. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2 • Monmouth Historic Commission — 6 p.m., Volunteer Hall, 144 S. Warren St., Monmouth. 503-838-0725. • Monmouth Planning Commission — 7 p.m., Volunteer Hall, 144 S. Warren St., Monmouth. 503-838-0725. • Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk County Courthouse, irst loor conference room, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-623-8173. 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 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR WOU faculty still wait for contract I am a faculty member at Western Oregon University, but this university means more to me than just being my employer. I grew up nearby and learned quickly how special WOU is. Many of my friends’ parents were faculty here, and most of the teach- ers in my classes were grad- uates. I came to campus for events or to study regularly. Through those experiences, I learned that the individu- als here genuinely care about the feeling of com- munity at WOU and made people, regardless of status, a priority. I am proud to be a part of the WOU community, but recent salary negotiations have saddened me. Our defining sense of community is threatened by inequitable offers that are, seemingly, geared to drive WOU’s faculty apart. Despite an independent board and state funding model rewarding WOU for doing what we do best — serving students who may not have otherwise been able to attend a universi- ty — our lowest paid faculty are being offered a smaller percentage increase than other faculty, and this is, simply, not fair. The leadership of this university needs to remem- ber that people are key to keeping this gem of the Willamette Valley special and treat them accordingly. Camila Gabaldon Monmouth Grant to help raise suicide awareness On behalf of the Polk County Family and Com- munity Outreach Depart- ment, and the Polk County Suicide Prevention Coali- tion, we would like to ex- press our gratitude to The Siletz Tribal Charitable Con- tribution Fund and to Salem Health Community Benefit for their recent funding of Polk County’s suicide pre- vention efforts. The Siletz Tribal Charita- ble Contribution Fund awarded Polk County $7,500 in November to help pro- vide suicide prevention training in Polk County. This represents a huge boost to the suicide preven- tion efforts that the Suicide Prevention Coalition has been trying to make since May of 2015. In January 2016, Polk County received more great news when Salem Health announced that they had awarded Polk County $50,000 to promote suicide prevention and training in our communities. According to the Oregon Health Authority, suicide is currently the second leading cause of death for individu- als ages 10 to 34 in Oregon and represents the eighth leading cause of death for Oregonians overall. The generosity of the Siletz Tribe and Salem Health will go a long way in helping us to address this important issue. The influence and im- pact of their gifts will be felt in our communities for years to come. We look for- ward to working with many of you in Polk County as we strive to provide resources, training, and support to prevent suicide. Doug Gouge Dallas Use of clause is abuse of power Remember the phrase, “absolute power corrupts absolutely”? Well I never thought I would see this in my life- time. I mean, after all, we live in a democracy gov- erned by the people and for the people, don’t we? This week our state representa- tives and governor voted with an emergency clause to raise the minimum wage. Whether I agree with the minimum wage increase is not the point, it’s that they used the emergency clause to approve it. The emergency clause is just what it sounds like, for emergencies. But by using it for this purpose they have taken the power of petition out of the hands of the peo- ple. A few years ago our state representatives enacted a similar law but did not use the emergency clause; this allowed the people to get enough signatures and place it on a ballot which the people subsequently voted down. Again, whether you agree or disagree to raising the minimum wage isn’t the point. The point is this is a bla- tant misuse of power. Our only recourse now it is elec- tion time is to vote them politicians out of office. Oh your representative will use the reason that sometimes we have to vote against a certain block of people because they just don’t understand or they don’t have enough informa- tion. Since I am a past city councilor and mayor, I agree that sometimes misin- formation or lack of infor- mation can make it seem as though you are voting for or against a certain block of people, but never should there be a push to eliminate the rights of the people or their opportunity to chal- lenge your decision. This in my opinion was done by this group of peo- ple. 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 Larry Dalton Monmouth WANT TO WRITE A LETTER? Letters to the editor are lim- ited to 300 words. Longer letters will be edited. Election-related letters of all types are limited to 100 words. Writers are limited to one elec- tion-related letter per election season. Each writer is restricted to one letter per 30-day period. Letters that are libelous, ob- scene or in bad taste will not be printed. Letters to the editor that are obvious promotions for a business, products or services will not be printed. The Itemizer-Observer does not guarantee the accuracy of facts presented by letter writers; dissenters are welcome to re- spond. Letters, like all editorial material submitted to the news- paper, are edited for length, grammar and content. Letters must include the au- thor’s name, address and tele- phone number. This includes letters submitted via the I-O’s website. Names and cities of res- idence are published; street ad- dresses and telephone numbers are used for veriication pur- poses only. Letters must be submitted from individuals, not organiza- tions, and must be original sub- missions to the I-O, not copies of letters sent to other media. Letters of thanks to busi- nesses, individuals and organi- zations are limited to 10 names. The deadline for letters to the editor is 10 a.m. Monday. For the complete policy: polkio. com. For more information: email ionews@polkio.com, call 503-623-2373, or come visit us at our oice: 147 SE Court St., Dallas. 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. 8 (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 Periodicals postage paid at Dallas, OR, Independence, OR and Monmouth, OR. Published weekly at 147 SE Court Street Dallas, Oregon 97338 Phone: 503-623-2373 Fax: 503-623-2395 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Polk County — One Year $27 Other Oregon Counties — One Year $33 Outside of Oregon — One Year $38 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Polk County Itemizer-Observer, P.O. Box 108, Dallas, Oregon 97338 The Polk County Itemizer-Observer assumes no inancial responsibility for errors in adver- tisements. It will, however, reprint without charge for the portion of an advertisement which is in error if the Itemizer-Observer is at fault. NEWSROOM Nancy Adams ...............Publisher/Editor .............................................................nadams@polkio.com Lukas Eggen..................Sports Editor......................................................................leggen@polkio.com Jolene Guzman............Dallas/Falls City/Polk County Reporter ................jguzman@polkio.com Emily Mentzer ..............Monmouth/Independence Reporter ..................ementzer@polkio.com DISPLAY ADVERTISING Heidi Leppin .................Display Advertising Manager ....................................hleppin@polkio.com Rachel Best ....................Display Advertising.............................................................rbest@polkio.com Karen Sanks...................Client Services ...................................................................ksanks@polkio.com CLASSIFIED LINE ADVERTISING Dawn Ohren.....................................................................................................................ioads@polkio.com PRODUCTION Kathy Huggins ..............................................................................................................iosales@polkio.com Karyn Pressel .................................................................................................................iosales@polkio.com Web: www.polkio.com Phone: 503-623-2373 Fax: 503-623-2395
