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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (March 16, 2016)
Polk County Voices Polk County Itemizer-Observer • March 16, 2016 4A How to Contact Officials EDITORIALS WOU is a valuable community asset What a weekend in Monmouth, as thousands of fans and student-athletes gathered for the NCAA Division II men’s basketball West Regional at Western Oregon Univer- sity. The electricity in the air was palpable Monday night when the Wolves took the title, heading to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Division II March Madness tournament in Texas. Monday’s game sold out by lunch; the stadium was packed with community members, students and employ- ees of WOU, all cheering the team. And what a team! It’s been a long time coming. When senior Andy Avgi, who was named the tourna- ment’s Outstanding Player, first started at WOU, the team wasn’t on top. It was a battle for the new coaching staff and players, and they’ve taken that battle farther than any other men’s basketball team in the university’s history. With so many eyes on Western’s campus over the weekend, it’s nice to remember what a valuable asset the university is to Polk County and to Monmouth year- round. Western Oregon offers top-rate educational opportuni- ties for students and continuing education for adults. On campus, you can find quality entertainment throughout the year, whether it be a sporting event, music, dance, theater or cultural opportunities. Whether it’s the Smith Fine Arts Series, or just walking around campus during the summer, catching students practicing an instrument under the shade of a tree, the an- nual Chinese New Year celebrations, or Abby House demonstrations against domestic violence outside the Werner University Center — WOU always has something going on. With its own board of trustees and new President Rex Fuller — both in their first year — Western’s campus is becoming more and more a community place, bringing people from all over Polk County to one spot. The college is a large employer — the largest in Mon- mouth. Because the university is such a large customer of Monmouth’s utilities, it helps stabilize the water, sewer and electric bills for residents of the town. The founders of Monmouth built the college, and the two remain closely tied together. 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 Dragon Run benefits body, kids You don’t run? Not a problem. You can still par- ticipate by walking. Here is your chance to get out for some good exercise and help the Dallas Education Fund at the same time. I would like to encourage the adults in our communi- ty to show up for the Drag- on Run on April 9. Go to www.runsignup.com/Drag- onRun for all the details and to register. Let’s get out in force and show our kids, grandkids and neighborhood children that we care about them. See you on April 9 — your body and Dallas education will thank you. Patty VanWell Dallas Support Dallas’ street bond Dallas was half its current size when I came here more than 40 years ago. Some of the streets look like they have not been touched since, so I am happy to see that our city council has voted to place a bond issue on the May ballot to begin repairing the residential streets. It’s only a down pay- ment, but it’s a good begin- ning. Just as we pay to main- tain our homes, we must maintain our shared home. Please join me in voting yes on the street bond and keep Dallas the well-kept city I found so long ago. Dale Derouin Dallas 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 PUBLIC AGENDA Public Agenda is a listing of upcoming meetings for governmental 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 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. THURSDAY, MARCH 17 • Monmouth Arts and Culture Commission — 7 p.m., Vol- unteer Hall, 144 S. Warren St., Monmouth. 503-838-0725. • Independence Parks and Recreation Board — 6 p.m., In- dependence Civic Center, third loor, 555 S. Main St., Inde- pendence. 503-838-1212. • Polk County Fair Board — 8 a.m., Polk County Fair- grounds and Event Center, Main Building, Meeting Room No. 2, 520 S. Paciic Highway (99W), Rickreall. 503-623-3048. MONDAY, MARCH 21 • Independence Tourism and Events Commission — 6:30 p.m., Independence Civic Center, 555 S. Main St., Independ- ence. 503-838-1212. • Dallas City Council — 7 p.m., Dallas City Hall, 187 SE Court St., Dallas. 503-831-3502. TUESDAY, MARCH 22 • Independence City Council — 7:30 a.m., Independence Civic Center, 555 S. Main St., Independence. 503-838-1212. • Monmouth Senior Advisory Board — 1 p.m., Monmouth Senior Center, 180 S. Warren St., Monmouth. 503-838-0725. • Polk County Board of Commission work session — 9 a.m., Polk County Courthouse, BOC oice, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-623-8173. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23 • Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk County Courthouse, irst loor conference room, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-623-8173. 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 businesses 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 dis- agree with other published letter writers should maintain a civil discourse and address the subject, not the author. Letters are due by 10 a.m. on Monday to make it into that Wednesday’s paper. For the complete letters pol- icy, see online www.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. 11 (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
