Polk County
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Polk County Itemizer-Observer • March 16, 2016 4A
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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
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Phone: 503-623-2373
Fax: 503-623-2395