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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (March 9, 2016)
Polk County Voices Polk County Itemizer-Observer • March 9, 2016 4A How to Contact Officials EDITORIALS County offers plenty to brighten your days Don’t let the gloomy weather get you down. There are plenty of things to be bright about in Polk County. Friday, Monmouth and Independence celebrated resi- dents and businesses that make the town great by giving back to the community. This Friday, Western Oregon University will host the NCAA Division II West Regional, with eight teams — in- cluding WOU — competing for a spot in the Elite Eight. Students from LaCreole Middle School are working to save money to attend the world championships of robot- ics. The team, Shift, will head to Kentucky in April to repre- sent Dallas among the best of the best. Then there’s the “news that could have been worse.” Thanks to the sprinkler system at Forest River and the quick response from Dallas Fire & EMS, a fire on Thursday did not get out of control. The fire, started by a cigarette, could have been much worse, affecting not only Forest River and its employees, but all of Dallas. Thanks to the perfect timing — and perhaps a little chance – Monmouth City Councilor and Central High girls basketball assistant coach Jon Carey was saved from a car accident-turned-fire on March 2. Polk County Reserve Deputy Eric Berry and Lincoln County Deputy Eric Larson were in the right place at the right time to pull Carey from his car before it ignited and went up in flames. 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, MARCH 9 • Independence Heritage Museum Commission — 4 p.m., Independence Heritage Museum, 112 S. Third St., Independ- ence. 503-838-1212. • Monmouth Library Advisory Board — 7 a.m., Monmouth Public Library, 168 Ecols St. S., Monmouth. 503-838-0725. • Monmouth Parks and Recreation Board — 7 p.m., Volun- teer 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. • Polk Soil and Water Conservation District Board — 6 p.m., USDA Service Center, 580 Main St., suite A, Dallas. 503-623- 9680, ext. 5. THURSDAY, MARCH 10 • Polk County Fire District No. 1 Board — 6 p.m., Central Station 90, 1800 Monmouth St., Independence. 503-838-1510. • Western Days Commission — 7 p.m., Independence Civic Center, 555 S. Main St., Independence. 503-838-1212. • Falls City City Council — 6 p.m., Falls City Community Center, 320 N. Main St., Falls City. 503-787- 3631. • Polk County Fair Board — 8 a.m., Polk County Fair- grounds, 520 S. Paciic Highway (99W). • Luckiamute Watershed Council — 7 p.m., Volunteer Hall, 144 S/ Warren St., Monmouth. 503-837-0237. SATURDAY, MARCH 12 • Monmouth Tree Advisory Board — 7 p.m., Monmouth Senior Center, 180 S. Warren St., Monmouth. 503-838-0725. MONDAY, MARCH 14 • Hops and Heritage Festival Commission — 6 p.m., Inde- pendence Elks Lodge, 289 S. Main St., Independence. 503-838- 1212. • WIMPEG Board of Directors — 7 p.m., 150 N. Knox St., Monmouth. 503-838-0725. • Dallas School Board — 6:30 p.m., Dallas School District of- ice, 111 SW Ash St., Dallas. 503-623-5594. • Southwest Polk Fire Protection District Board — 7:30 p.m., Rickreall Fire Station, 275 Main St., Rickreall. 503-831- 3530. (location moves each month) TUESDAY, MARCH 15 • Independence Historic Preservation Commission — 4 p.m., Independence Civic Center, 555 S. Main St., Independence. 503-838-1212. • Monmouth City Council — 7 p.m., Volunteer Hall, 144 S. Warren St., Monmouth. 503-838-0725. • Dallas Parks Advisory Board — 5:30 p.m., Dallas City Hall, 187 SE Court St., Dallas. 503-831-3502. • Falls City School Board — 6:30 p.m., Falls City High School, 111 N. Main St., Falls City. 503-787-3521. • Polk County Board of Commission work session — 9 a.m., Polk County Courthouse, BOC oice, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-623-8173. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16 • 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 Support bond to fix community streets Our Dallas streets have been falling into disrepair for 20-plus years. Street damage begins with water finding cracks in the asphalt, degrading the road base. As more cracks occur, they become “spider webs.” The streets then de- teriorate faster becoming more expensive to repair. Let the damage continue without repair, and the streets will need complete reconstruction. We now have many streets in poor condition, and so I support the 10-year bond to repair them. I want to be a part of keeping Dallas a great place for all of us to work and live. Debra Nord Dallas Gas, tech company may keep kids here Very exciting news ap- peared in the IO regarding the proposed new job op- portunities in Dallas to be provided by American Gas & Technology. This has the potential to propel tremendous eco- nomic growth in Dallas and bring (hopefully) family wage jobs to our town. It would be helpful to get a little more information re- garding timelines (when might hiring begin), wages (just an approximation of the entry level salary range) and benefits. My husband and I relo- cated to Dallas seven years ago after retirement, but our son and his family have been here close to 20 years. It would be wonderful to see good jobs for our grand- children, and even great- grandchildren, keeping them close. Lynne Bowen Dallas Resident disagrees with raise for Minet Dear Editor. A raise for Minet’s manager. Really? For what? Carl Nightengale Independence 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 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 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. Election letters from writers outside of Polk County are not accepted. 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. Attacks by name on busi- nesses or individuals will not be printed. Letters to the editor that are obvious promotions for a busi- ness, 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. Letter writers who disagree with other published letter writ- ers should maintain a civil dis- course and address the subject, not the author. Letters, like all editorial mate- rial submitted to the newspa- per, are edited for length, grammar and content. Letters must include the au- thor’s name, address and tele- phone number. This includes letters submit- ted via the I-O’s website. Names and cities of residence are published; street addresses and telephone numbers are used for veriication purposes 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. Letters submitted may not be retractable after this deadline. — Reach us at: Mail: Editor, Polk County Itemizer-Observer, P.O. Box 108, Dallas, OR 97338. Fax: 503-623-2395. Email: ionews@polkio.com. 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. 10 (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
