Polk County Education/News
Polk County itemizer-Observer • April 13, 2016 13A
Veterans: Local support needed
Kadell
Kalpakoff
Bischopink
Russell
Gentry
Corrections posts ‘most wanted’
DALLAS — Polk County
Community Corrections lists
these individuals as “most
wanted” for April. Citizens
with information on the
whereabouts of any of them
can call Community Correc-
tions at 503-623-5226.
• Phillip Andrew Kadell,
born Aug. 15, 1985, 6-0,
180 pounds, brown hair,
brown eyes. Charge: Ha-
rassment.
• Paul William Kalpakoff,
born Jan. 27, 1983, 6-2, 151
pounds, brown hair, green
eyes. Charge: Fourth-degree
assault.
• Duncan James
Bischopink, born Feb. 16,
1985, 5-4, 185 pounds,
brown hair, hazel eyes.
Charge: Larceny.
• Scott Anthony Russell,
born Sept. 3, 1965, 6-2, 160
pounds, brown hair, hazel
eyes. Charge: Burglary, pos-
session of methamphetamine.
• Beth Gentry, born April
1, 1965, 5-4, 120 pounds,
brown hair, brown eyes.
Charge: Possession of
methamphetamine.
Loss: Budget to be revealed April 25
Continued from Page 1A
“We keep hoping that we
will see some increase be-
cause of new construction
or families moving to town,
but we are just not seeing
it,” Montague said.
She said the district will
have several employees re-
tire this year and is in a
wait-and-see mode on hir-
ing replacements.
“At this point, we have a
plan to have a balanced
budget for next year even
with this decrease,” Mon-
tague said.
That plan will be present-
ed in full to the district’s
budget committee on April
25. The meeting is sched-
uled for 6 p.m. at the district
office board room, 111 SW
Ash St., Dallas.
“We are not seeing an
end to the declining enroll-
ment anytime soon,” Mon-
tague said.
In other business, the dis-
trict:
• Learned it had received
a $1,492,900 grant for a seis-
mic upgrade at Whitworth
Elementary School.
For more information the
Dallas School District en-
rollment losses and the
budget, see the April 20 edi-
tion of the I-O.
Continued from Page 1A
Cameron Smith, director
of the Oregon Department
of Veterans Affairs, also at-
tended the hearing to speak
in favor of the opening a
Polk County office.
Hansen said the money
approved will start the new
program, which should be-
come permanent, with an
opening target date of Jan. 1,
2017.
He said the county still
needs to hire a service offi-
cer and find a location for
the office.
“That’s why we need to
have a Jan. 1 start, not a July
1 start,” Hansen said. “We
will iron all those things
out.”
Wheeler said ideally, the
program will cost about
$140,000, with $60,000 to
$65,000 of that coming from
the county.
Crowder said he’s excited
that he can now tell the vet-
erans he works with through
the support group Battle
Buddies that a service officer
is on the way. He said he will
assist the county in any way
he can as it hires staff and
finds a location.
“I’m ecstatic that they are
taking this step,” Crowder
said. “There is going to be a
lot of happy veterans and I
will be one of the first. I still
have not gotten through
with my claim. I want to
help them be successful and
the commissioners be happy
they did this.”
Street bond meeting set for Thursday
Itemizer-Observer staff report
DALLAS — Proponents for a
$10 million street bond in Dal-
las that will be on the may bal-
lot will hold a public meeting
at 7 p.m. thursday at the Polk
County Courthouse, 850 main
St. in Dallas.
Citizens For A Better Dallas,
a political action committee,
will provide information and
answer questions about the
bond measure. the measure
Wagons: Students trek simulated Oregon Trail
Continued from Page 14A
Not all groups gave details
about what would be packed
for the trek. The wagons were
built from plywood — includ-
ing the wheels, unfortunately,
Creson said — paid for by the
IES parent-teacher club.
Thomas said she was con-
tacted about the project by
Brian Ross, fourth-grade
teacher at IES, and CHS Prin-
cipal Greg Mitchell was sup-
portive of the woodshop stu-
dents taking it on.
This is the first year of this
collaboration.
“Not all the kids have the
same thinking process or
help at home,” Thomas said.
“They’re trying to make it
more fair. It’s been fun watch-
ing them work with kids.”
Dustin Sparks and David
Wilson, both seniors, worked
together to put the finishing
touches on their wagon.
“We’re trying to make it
easy for them, or easier,”
Sparks said.
The actual assembly got a
little messy as Gaby Rodarte
and Mackenzie Butler glued
the sides onto the base of
their wooden cart.
Gaby said construction
was going well, in spite of
getting glue on her fingers.
office would be a place for
vets to find assistance with
their claims, but also meet
and connect with each other.
“I think it’s time. I’m really
happy that the budget com-
mittee approved the posi-
tion,” Wheeler said.
She said not being a veter-
an, she isn’t familiar with the
complicated system vets
have to navigate to claim
benefits, but something
Crowder said stuck with her.
“He said the words veteran
and homeless should never
be used in the same sen-
tence,” she recalled. “For
people who have given their
time and sacrificed for our
country, he’s absolutely
right.”
Hansen said a full-year
seeks voter approval for a
property tax increase that
would fund residential street
repairs in Dallas.
those attending the public
meeting may enter from the
Jefferson Street side of the
Courthouse.
For more information about
the campaign, go to www.citi-
zensforabetterdallas.com or
visit Citizens For A Better Dal-
las’ Facebook page at
http://bit.ly/1mfc8iy.
Presented by:
Willamette Agate
& Mineral Society, Inc.
A Non-Profit Educational Organization
Admission: $2.00 • FREE under 12
FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY
APRIL 15 APRIL 16 APRIL 17
9 am - 5 pm
9 am - 5 pm
10 am - 4 pm
Rocks & Gems (Rough & Polished Specimens),
Jewelry, Fossils, Beads and Minerals from around the world
• Dealers • Exhibits
• Creative Craft Demonstrations
• Fluorescent Show
• Silent Auction • Grab Bags
• Door Prizes & Much More
KID’S CORNER Games • Educational • Fun
TREASURE HUNT Saturday - 1:00 pm Kids under 12
Join in the Fun for Thundereggs, Agates & Eggs full of Surprises!
Emily mEntzEr/itemizer-Observer
Gaby Rodarte (left) and Mackenzie Butler secure the front of the wagon to the base.
“I think it’s going to make
it on the trail,” she said.
Madison Walker was not
so sure.
“My dad builds things like
this,” she said. “He’s a welder.
He built something like this
and it completely tore apart —
and he’s a professional.”
Each wagon will be cov-
ered and include wooden
wheels, which had to be
carefully sanded so they
would roll properly.
Once the wagon kits are
complete, the names of the
groups of pioneers will be
spray painted on the sides,
but any more decorating will
be left to the pioneers them-
selves.
For a video of students
working together, see the I-
O’s Facebook.
Sunday - 2:00 pm
ORAL AUCTION
In support of the Scholarship Fund