Polk County
Voices
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • May 4, 2016 4A
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Vote Beth Jones
for District 23
the city of Dallas, that they
also have a list of streets
that are identified as the
ones to be repaired. I think
it would be a responsible
act for the city to publish a
list of all the streets destined
to be repaired, or maybe the
ones that aren’t, whichever
list is shorter. Could we tax-
payers see that list before
the voting begins?
Articulate, thought pro-
voking, compassionate, and
informative describe Beth
Jones. Those who experi-
enced firsthand her
thoughtful responses to
questions at April 24’s de-
bate came away with a new
appreciation for her passion
for public service. HD 23
could be the recipient of her
many skills should you de-
cide that she’s for you and
your community. Vote for
Beth Jones; she’s the leader
we are searching for who
can bring back the voices of
Dallas and surrounding
areas to the state legislature.
Patt Taber
Dallas
Pay it forward by
fixing streets now
Jo Ann Sample
Dallas
Wheeler deserves
your vote for office
Commissioner Jennifer
Wheeler has done a great
job representing Polk Coun-
ty and deserves your vote.
She has proven herself as
a leader in touch with vot-
ers, and a person that un-
derstands the need to look
forward to the future of the
county. She works well with
the other commissioners
and is respected by county
department heads as well as
county employees; a valu-
able skill that keeps the
county moving forward. She
makes decisions with the
best information available
with the desire to do what is
right by voters of Polk
County. I urge you to join
me in re-electing Wheeler.
Anna Scharf
Perrydale
Editorial gets it
right on economy
Thank you for your en-
lightened editorial opinion
“Time to step into the 21st
Century” (April 20). I
wholeheartedly agree that it
is time to stop flogging the
early 20th century timber
horse in order to get more
federal subsidies for county
coffers.
The O & C Lands issue is
a fun and interesting anom-
aly regarding the use and
revenue of public timber
lands, but the fact of the
matter is that since 1937,
the O & C Counties have re-
ceived far more revenue
than if those lands had
stayed in private hands.
Suing the federal govern-
ment now for “mismanage-
ment” of the use of our
public land, when the land
managers have already
agreed to increase timber
harvest above last years’
limit, have been more than
generous for over 70 years,
and are now trying to navi-
gate the diversified use of
the land dictated by Con-
gress, appears to be a folly,
and a genuine waste of the
funds that the county does
have.
Mom can’t take care of us
forever. It is time to look for
and support new sacred
cows. It is time to grow and
move on.
Danny Jaffer
Independence
County needs
Wheeler in office
I am supporting Jennifer
Wheeler in her bid for re-
election as a Polk County
commissioner. I have
worked with her on several
important issues within
Polk County and have
found her to be hardwork-
ing, honest and dedicated
to the needs of our county.
That has included difficult
conversations and issues
such as suing the federal
government over timber is-
sues. She supports public
safety, protecting private
property rights and manag-
ing tax dollars in a fiscally
responsible manner.
Robert Brannigan
Dallas
Residents should
vote yes on streets
Many of the organized
opposition to the Dallas
street bond do not live with-
in the Dallas city limits. By
contrast, I am a resident of
Dallas and feel a strong con-
nection to this community,
a community with so many
volunteers and people who
maintain their homes and
yards with such pride. That’s
why it is so important to
support our community
with funding for street re-
pairs and maintenance.
Please vote yes to fix our
streets.
Lynnette Henshaw
Dallas
or treasure, events, dona-
tions and a few long-forgot-
ten projects.
Our heartfelt thanks goes
out to the Ford Family
Foundation, The Meyer Me-
morial Trust, The Oregon
Community Foundation
and The Collins Foundation
for their extraordinary help
in their grant assistance.
And to the city of Mon-
mouth city council for their
vote confidence and trust in
carrying out their commit-
ment to the senior citizens
of Monmouth and sur-
rounding area. And this
leads me to the “Ram Rod”
of this outfit, Sue Teal. This
lovely lady has led this Cen-
ter for 27 years. Her leader-
ship and perseverance over
this time has led us to
where we are. We are all
very proud to have her in
her position as director.
The senior center has
been in existence for 30
years working for us “oldies
but goodies,” and the ex-
pansion should keep our
promise to our senior citi-
zens for another 20 more
years. Our seniors are a vital
element in our society and
should never be forgotten
or set aside. Their experi-
ences are important to the
future seniors that are some
day going to be using this
center for the Saturday
breakfasts, soup and pie,
line dancing, playing cards,
programs, birthday parties,
potlucks and just getting to-
gether to chat. All of these
organizations can be well
proud of what you have
done for your seniors and
community.
Jack Hinkle, president
Monmouth Senior Center
Friends Board
Senior center
reaches goal
Our goal has been
reached. The expansion
project for the Monmouth
Senior Center is now off and
running.
There are so many people
and organizations to thank
for the opportunity to ex-
pand this center. We started
planning for this project
some 12 years ago with Sat-
urday breakfasts, sales, trash
City budget should
focus on streets
Luxuries vs. necessities is
the dilemma before our city.
Safety and road mainte-
nance are two top priorities
of the city yet we have
(county) levies and bond
measures to fund what
should be funded through
our budget process. Why?
Perhaps it is because we are
taking money from our gen-
LAST CALL FOR ELECTION LETTERS
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With another election around
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for the Sept. 7 issue of the Item-
izer-Observer.
Thank you to our readers for
your spirited debates.
eral fund in order to main-
tain the aquatic center. The
amount needed for its
maintenance is almost
equal to what is necessary
for our roads. We must pro-
vide for our needs before we
fulfill our wants. If roads are
the priority, they must be
funded first.
Alan Minton
Dallas
Support riders for
Christ at car wash
The Dallas Riders For
Christ club has continued
its 2016 ride season after
our big move last fall. 101
thanks would not cover it all
for what the youth, parents
and volunteers have given
to this club over the 13
years functioning mostly
around Dallas. It is your
continued support to this
motorcycle — dirt bike —
youth and family club that
keeps us rolling and the vol-
unteers giving to these
youth around the valley. So
we ask for your further sup-
port in our first 2016
fundraiser, a car and truck
wash on Saturday from 10
a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Dal-
las Alliance Church parking,
775 E. Ellendale Ave. Also
check us on Facebook.
Thank you coming by and,
if you’re retired and know a
little about motorcycles,
please show the youth your
caring spirit.
Myron Kliewer
Dallas
Voters should see
list of streets first
I’m assuming since the
street bond measure has
been thoroughly vetted by
I moved to Dallas in 1967.
Over the years the city has
proposed levies and bonds
to provide a safer commu-
nity. Members of the com-
munity have supported the
betterment of our commu-
nity through their votes. We
are now in need of major
street repairs which benefits
everyone living in our com-
munity. Take pride in your
town and pay it forward for
our next generation. Vote
yes on the street bond. Pre-
serve Dallas; help show oth-
ers our pride.
values, vehicle mainte-
nance, community safety
and livability. We must
make significant repairs
very soon or future costs
will be even higher. While
not totally fixing all issues,
these funds will enable the
city to substantially impact
our long-overdue street re-
pairs. Please join me in vot-
ing yes.
We love Dallas; let’s keep
it beautiful.
Kevin and Carol Marshall
Dallas
Streets not as bad
as they appear
I am voting no on the
$10-million street bond. A
pro-street tax brochure had
a photo of a street which
they said was in need of re-
pair. I recognized the street
on which I drive every
week. It is half a block long.
It is not that bad. We need
to wait till the economy re-
covers before upgrading
cosmetics. Vote no.
Reg Wiensz
Dallas
Bill Hahn
Dallas
Street bond will
hurt businesses
Nearman still best
candidate for HD23
It will hurt Dallas busi-
nesses if the street bond
passes. Businesses owning
real estate will have in-
creased taxes. Businesses
leasing real estate will have
rent increases. The street
bond is anti-business. The
bond has hidden costs due
to the fact that businesses
will raise prices to compen-
sate for the higher real es-
tate taxes. Residents of Dal-
las should vote no on the
bond measure.
Please support Mike
Nearman in continuing the
work he is doing for House
District 23. Last primary,
Mike beat out Jim Thomp-
son because Jim changed
his thinking about marriage
being between a man and a
woman. Now, he wants to
run as an Independent but
standing on the same belief.
I am not sure why Beth
Jones is running when Mike
stands for all the things
Beth is for except he has al-
ready been doing a great job
in the House in opposing
the liberal left. Please vote
for Nearman. He will con-
tinue fighting for the values
of this District.
Ron Post
Dallas
Put streets as top
concern for Dallas
I urge the citizens of Dal-
las to vote yes for the street
bond. During the downturn
in the economy, property
values have decreased,
gasoline sales have dimin-
ished and, subsequently, tax
revenues earmarked for
streets and other infrastruc-
ture have dropped signifi-
cantly. Poor street condition
negatively affects property
John Frei
Dallas
Don’t wait for good
streets, fix them
Leaving a gift of great
streets to our children and
grandchildren is a great
goal, but I would like to
walk on streets now that are
smooth and avoid potholes
that can hurt the tires and
alignment of my car now.
The “No New Taxes”
group chooses to ignore our
crumbling residential
streets in the hopes some-
one else will deal with the
problem. We live here now;
we need to take responsibil-
ity now and fix our streets.
Please vote yes on the street
bond.
Ann and David Hurd
Dallas
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Vol. 141, No. 18
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