Polk County
Voices
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • February 24, 2016 4A
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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
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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
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