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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (April 6, 2016)
ROCKY MOUNTAIN NURSERY THOMAS GNIADECKI Page 7A Volume 141, Issue 14 LIVING IT UP Page 11A www.Polkio.com April 6, 2016 75¢ IN YOUR TOWN DALLAS Dallas holds its first budget committee meeting with a focus on the city’s long-term outlook. »Page 6A FALLS CiTY NOW HIRING Jolene Guzman/Itemizer-observer An employee at MAK Metal welds a component on Monday. The company recently finished an expansion. Local businesses seek qualified workers for living wages By Jolene Guzman The Itemizer-observer DALLAS — Like the rest of us, Ray Tate is waiting for the end of the rain. The founder and CEO of American Gas & Technology, the company converting the former Tyco building off Monmouth Cutoff Road in Dallas into its new produc- tion facility, said the fre- quent showers — or down- pours — has the remodel in a holding pattern. At issue is the work re- maining on the 127,000- square-foot building’s roof. Tate said about 40 struc- tures need to be removed, leaving holes that rain could pour through. “We can’t do a lot of that until the weather improves,” Tate said, noting he’s en- couraged by last week when the valley saw its first con- tinuous days of sunshine this year. He hopes having to dodge rain like a baseball team in March won’t last much longer, and it certainly hasn’t diminished the company’s plans in Dallas. AG&T’s rain delay is not unlike what Dallas and the wider community endured during the recession and re- covery — and like the weather reports, indicators suggest sunnier times may be on the way. The arrival of the compa- ny, which specializes in the development of inexpensive Jolene Guzman/Itemizer-observer The economic outlook in Polk County looks brighter. liquefied natural gas fueling stations, and growth in ex- isting businesses has played a part in those more hopeful expectations. AG&T picked Dallas after looking at several other loca- tions across the country, in- cluding Tennessee, Missouri, Oklahoma and California, Washington and other com- munities in Oregon. AG&T leaders found what they needed in Dallas. “I just came up here and the more we looked, the bet- ter it got,” Tate said. Dallas was more than will- ing to welcome the business into the long-vacant facility that stood as a symbol of lost jobs in the community. “I think just the fact that something positive is hap- pening there and that you’ve got ownership that is opti- mistic and wanting to locate here and believes that this is the place for their company, is pretty great,” said Jason Locke, Dallas’ economic de- velopment director. “Suc- cess builds on success.” AG&T believes it has de- veloped technology that will lead to plenty of success. Tate said investors in the technology will receive a healthy return on their in- vestment, estimating a 13 times their initial contribu- tion in five years. With gov- ernment subsidies given to companies producing alter- native fuels, that figure grows to 18 times. See BuSineSS, Page 6A Indy man arrested Adams steps down as publisher after long standoff Leppin, Mentzer to take reins as leadership team of I-O itemizer-Observer staff report INDEPENDENCE — On Sunday, just after 5 a.m., 49- year-old James Michael Munoz, of Independence, was taken into custody with the assistance of Salem SWAT after an almost six- hour standoff, according to a press release from Inde- pendence Police Sgt. Tino Banuelos. On Saturday, at 11:05 p.m., Independence Police officers were dispatched to a domestic disturbance in- volving firearms on South Sixth Street near Mon- mouth Street. The first responding offi- cers encountered Munoz, who was armed at the time, Banuelos said. Munoz en- tered his residence and re- fused to come out. With victims away from the loca- tion, officers from sur- rounding agencies assisted THE NEXT 7 DAYS PLANNING FOR YOUR WEEK in preparing the scene for negotiations with Munoz based on reported threats to engage law enforcement. Neighborhood residents were notified and evacuat- ed as necessary in prepara- tion for a Salem SWAT re- sponse, Banuelos said. Munoz ultimately came out and was taken into cus- tody without incident. Banuelos said. He was lodged at the Polk County Jail pending charges of un- lawful use of a weapon, menacing, coercion, fourth-degree assault and three counts of reckless en- dangerment. “We would like to thank the Salem Police Depart- ment, the Monmouth Police Department, the Polk Coun- ty Sheriff’s Office and the Dallas Police Department for their prompt response and assistance,” Banuelos said. itemizer-Observer staff report DALLAS — Heidi Leppin and Emily Mentzer will share day-to-day managerial re s p o n s i - bilities at the Polk County Itemizer- Observer , as long- time pub- l i s h e r Leppin N a n c y Adams transitions into re- tirement. Leppin, advertising and production manager, and Mentzer, news editor, will team up to lead the I-O, Joe Petshow, president of Eagle Newspapers Inc., an- nounced to employees last week. Eagle is the parent company of the I-O. Adams, publisher and edi- tor, will be transitioning to other work for the corporate wed thu Put your spelling cap on and head to Indy Public library for Scrabble with Betty. Prizes are available. 1 p.m. Free. Save a life and do- nate blood during the american Red Cross blood drive at Dallas High School. redcrossblood.org. 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Sunny Hi: 76 Lo: 47 Sunny Hi: 83 Lo: 48 fri Relay for life will hold its annual spaghetti feed and silent auction at Christ’s Church in monmouth. 5 p.m. $5. Mostly sunny Hi: 72 Lo: 44 office, Petshow said. She is a former board member of Eagle. “Nancy’s professionalism is un- matched; her loyalty unwaver- i n g ,” h e s a i d . “Nancy will be explor- ing options Mentzer over the next months, including some within the Eagle fami- ly.” Leppin has worked for the Itemizer for more than 17 years in the advertising de- partment. “I am excited about all the new media we will be taking advantage of,” she said. “The business community de- serves it.” Leppin grew up in Dallas and Independence and raised three sons here. She will oversee the ad- vertising and production staff as well as continue to sell ads to local businesses. Mentzer started with the Itemizer-Observer as the Monmouth-Independence- Western Oregon University reporter in 2013. She has lived in Monmouth since 2008. “I am eager to serve the Itemizer and the community in this new capacity as edi- tor,” Mentzer said. Mentzer will oversee the new staff as well as the cir- culation employees while continuing to provide cov- erage of the Monmouth, In- dependence and Western Oregon communities. Mentzer and Leppin look forward to continuing the transition from a strictly print product to a multi- media news operation. Brittany Varney takes first at invite to lead the mountaineers’ track and field squad. »Page 12A inDePenDenCe Second-grader Is- abell Garcia-Becerra takes the helm as prin- cipal for the day at In- dependence elemen- tary School. »Page 14A MOnMOuTH Western oregon uni- versity is part of a pro- gram to redefine mas- culinity. »Page 11A SPORTS Perrydale senior Kirk Fairchild’s love of track and field overrides physical challenges. »Page 11A POLK COunTY Polk County adminis- trator Greg Hansen re- ports 12 percent higher budget numbers for 2016-17. »Page 3A Independence man sentenced for crimes itemizer-Observer staff report DallaS — eric Spier, 29, of Independence, was sentenced by Polk County Circuit Judge monte Campbell to serve seven and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to a series of theft, drug, and weapon-related crimes that occurred between may 2014 and may 2015 involving multiple victims. Spier was convicted of first-degree aggravated theft, second-degree bur- glary, first-degree theft, theft of a firearm, posses- sion of methampheta- mine, possession of a de- structive device, and felon in possession of a firearm. He was also ordered to pay restitution to the vic- tims of his crimes. The case was investigated by the Independence, mon- mouth, and Dallas police departments and the Polk County Sheriff’s office. sat sun mon tue Swing your partner at the second Satur- day old-time square dance at Guthrie Park Community Center. 7-10 p.m. $5-$15. Buell Grange Hall will be the place for Sunday breakfast this morning, just off Highway 22 north of Dallas. 8-11 a.m. $6. learn about the his- tory of Chinese americans, hosted by the Independ- ence museum, at the Indy Civic Center. 7-8 p.m. Free. overeaters anony- mous, a support group, meets at Salem Health West Valley each Tues- day. noon-1 p.m. Free. Cloudy Hi: 63 Lo: 42 Partly sunny Hi: 64 Lo: 42 Partly sunny Hi: 63 Lo: 43 Showers Hi: 62 Lo: 42
