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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (March 30, 2016)
Polk County Voices Polk County Itemizer-Observer • March 30, 2016 4A How to Contact Officials LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Fix streets before it gets too late 18 percent of this wage. This is why I support Bernie Sanders, who, through his education poli- cy, will empower people rather than making them dependent on handouts to secure their future votes, as the current party in power is doing. Everything on this planet only lasts so long and so it is with the streets of Dallas. The time to pay the piper is now. I get the part about there never being enough money to go around because I am one of those folks, but the proverb “For Want of a Nail” seems apropos here — for want of a nail the shoe was lost, then the horse, rider, battle, and ultimately the kingdom followed. Let’s “shoe the horse” be- fore the “kingdom” is lost by voting “yes” on the bond measure for street repair. Gary Weis Dallas Invest in streets now, save later Tom Augustyn Dallas County shines in volunteer efforts I appreciated Joe Koubek’s letter about the Ford Program benefiting the community. I had spotted the interpretive/way finding signs to the Rickreall Trail System in driving by two sites. Being physically chal- lenged, I hadn’t stopped to walk to the signs to read them. I want to inform commu- nity members of the jewel we have in Polk County: Services Integrated Teams. Polk County, and the school districts in the county, each contribute funds and have a group of governmental, nonprofit, religious groups, and interested community members that help decide how to coordinate services and provide for needs in the community. Salem Health (the “par- ent” corporation over Salem Hospital and West Valley Hospital) also contributes money, and they “earmark” their funds for health needs. I’m sure I first read about this program at least 10 years ago, when I was still a Kiwanis member. I started participating to facilitate the club assisting the community, and the community learning about the club. Later, the club “folded,” and I have participated as a Dallas Lion and interested community member. When a need is brought before the committee, we often “brain- storm” solutions, and indi- vidual groups often volun- teer to assist. It is my understanding that no other county in Ore- gon has this commitment to collaborate to meet needs. Barb Chrisman Dallas Retain Wheeler as commissioner I will be voting to retain Jennifer Wheeler as our Polk County Commissioner. Her years of governmental expe- rience and as our commis- sioner earn her the right to be re-elected. She will con- tinue her efforts to support public safety; to maintain our local infrastructure; to protect property rights; and to judiciously manage our tax dollars. Jennifer represents Polk County citizens with hon- esty and integrity, using common sense and good judgment in her decision making. She is a strong advocate for community involve- ment; victims of domestic violence; promoting local businesses and preserving our rural farm communi- ties. Wallace W. Lien West Salem Outlet would provide low-cost groceries As we know, there are no Grocery Outlet Bargain Mar- kets in the whole of Polk County at this time. The cit- izens of Polk County, for years, have had to drive a long way to Salem, McMin- nville and Corvallis to shop for groceries. It is a hardship for people who cannot afford to or are unable to drive to other towns. Local Safeway and Wal- mart stores’ prices are too high, and people with low incomes cannot afford to shop or buy all they need at these stores. So, we are badly in need of a Grocery Outlet right here in Dallas. The Dallas Mini Market, located between Oak and Mill streets, was opened last year, but lasted only a few months before going out of business. It had limited options, the prices were too high and the market has been vacant for some time. It is my suggestion for that vacant market to be converted to the Dallas Out- let Bargain Market. It would create a much better busi- ness. Also, the location in downtown Dallas is a great advantage for many nearby neighborhoods. Customers can walk to do their shop- ping rather than go to Safe- way and Walmart, thus avoiding heavy traffic. The Grocery Outlet can provide affordable dry foods, dairy, fruits, vegeta- bles, meats, medicines, tools, organic foods, Cart bus tickets, etc. It’s time for a Grocery Outlet to be established in Dallas and I hope it will be soon. M.L. Hamstreet Dallas Sanders to empower people Concerning Emily Mentzer’s excellent article on the minimum wage, I am writing to comment on Rep. (Paul) Evans’ assertion that “profit ... and value therein has not been equally dis- tributed ... .” Sounds too much like “to each accord- ing to their ability and each according to their need.” In six years, federal mandated inflation will erode at least Homeowners know a roof leak, if not quickly repaired, will involve interior ceilings, walls and furnishings. The same holds true for our streets. If defects are not quickly repaired, the cost to repair Dallas street sub-structures will rapidly mushroom from about a dollar to $4 or $5 per square foot. Economically, we should no longer postpone repair- ing Dallas’ residential streets. Our willingness to invest a few tax dollars now will save thousands of dollars in the future. Let’s keep Dallas a great place to live. Vote yes to fix our streets. Jim Fairchild Dallas Dallas bond small effect on taxes A third-party evaluation indicates that greater than 50 percent of our streets are rated less than good. Of those, two-thirds are rated poor. Let’s not be like other cities that wait too long to fund street repairs, or it will become a debt no one will fund. The City Street Bond in May’s election will ensure we don’t incur a lifelong debt for street repair. The County Road Bond will be paid off January 2017. This new bond will take effect as the county bond expires; our taxes will only go up slightly. Let’s keep our streets up to date. 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 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 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 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 30 • Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk County Courthouse, irst loor conference room, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-623-8173. • Rickreall Watershed Council — 2 p.m., Delbert Hunter Ar- boretum House, Dallas City Park. 503-623-9680, ext. 104. MONDAY, APRIL 4 • Central School District Board of Directors — 6:30 p.m., Henry Hill Education Support Center, 750 S. Fifth St., Independence. • Independence Planning Commission — 7 p.m., Independ- ence Civic Center, 555 S. Main St., Independence. 503-838-1212. • Dallas City Council work session — 5:30 p.m., Dallas City Hall, 187 SE Court St., Dallas. 503-831-3502. The council meeting will follow at 7 p.m. TUESDAY, APRIL 5 • 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, APRIL 6 • 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. 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 Ken Kentch Dallas 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. Letters to the editor that are obvious promotions for a business, products or services will not be printed. The deadline for letters to the editor is 10 a.m. Monday. Let- ters submitted may not be re- tractable after this deadline.For the complete letters policy, see our website at polkio.com. HOW TO REACH US Vol. 141, No. 13 (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
