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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (May 25, 2016)
Polk County News 6A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • May 25, 2016 Polk No. 1 joins It’s all in the details forces with CERT By Emily Mentzer The Itemizer-Observer EMILY MENTZER/Itemizer-Observer Steve Milligan, owner of Steve’s Abalone Jewels, shows his handcrafted jewelry at the Home-Based Business Fair on Friday at the Independence Elks Lodge. About 20 small and home-based businesses attended the event, filled with informational speakers throughout the afternoon. Explore: Take a peek at offerings Continued from Page 1A The county’s rich history in agriculture brings local food straight to your table at restaurants and farmers markets. In Polk County, we still believe in making food from scratch with fresh in- gredients. Whether you’re looking to stretch your legs, canoe or raft, or just lounge around and relax, you’ll find it here in Polk County. Enjoy the journey. Don’t see your favorite thing about Polk County in Explore? Send us an email and we’ll put it on the list for n e x t y e a r ’s e d i t i o n : ionews@polkio.com, sub- ject: Explore. Chief: Alcalde resigns after eight months Continued from Page 1A “It’s just frustrating for the other people that don’t t h i n k things are happen- ing fast enough,” Snair said. Alcalde “No t a l l the time does everything go like everyone thinks it should.” Snair said Alcalde will likely stay another two or three weeks to wrap up projects. Assistant Chief Neal Olson will serve as interim until the board can begin the process of looking for a new full-time chief. INDEPENDENCE — The Polk Fire District No. 1 board of directors decided Thursday to contribute to Polk County CERT (county emergency response team). To be considered part of the CERT program, the dis- trict will contribute $4,000 as a donation for the fiscal year 2015-16, and incorpo- rate $4,000 into its budget on an annual basis. Fire Chief Al Alcalde said the money could be taken out of the volunteer fund. The money would help pay for CERT’s insurance costs. Right now, CERT Di- rector Kimber Townsend receives an annual stipend of $12,000, paid for by the cities of Dallas, Independ- ence and Monmouth. With the additional con- tribution from Polk No. 1, it will ease costs by the city of Independence, which foots the majority of the bill for the program’s insurance costs. Townsend said CERT’s insurance depends on how many hours volunteers work, and can fluctuate be- tween $5,000 to $10,000 a year. With the fire district’s contribution, Townsend said 97 CERT-trained vol- unteers will be at the ready to help the district in what- ever capacity is needed, from traffic control during wildfire season to firefight- er support and rehabilita- tion. “If eight people come and need more help with food and more water, that’s an easy call to CERT,” Townsend said. “We can help with evacuations. We already support your dis- trict several times for train- ing.” Alcalde said contributing to the program will help the whole county be more prepared for a disaster or emergency situation. “We do not have a good system for a major emer- gency,” Alcalde said. “That has to change. That’s not good.” He pointed out that peo- ple in Polk County, includ- ing first responders, need to be prepared to maintain themselves for about two weeks. Joining the CERT program is a step toward better preparedness, Al- calde said. “It provides an avenue for more volunteers in a major emergency, a major crisis,” he said. “Having the CERT teams would give us another avenue to provide better service — we’re not going to be able to help everyone.” The board decided to make a donation to CERT for the 2015-16 year be- cause the budget had al- ready been prepared, but wanted to know how they could work it into the 2016- 17 budget and on an annu- al basis. For more on prepared- ness, see the June 1 Itemiz- er-Observer. OBITUARIES Patricia Avis Benjamin Aug. 9, 1927 – May 7, 2016 Patricia Avis Benjamin, 88, of Dallas, died May 7. She was born in Sunder- land, Vt., to Irving and Mar- jorie (Pike) Thompson. She married Howard Ben- jamin on Nov. 1, 1945. They moved to Torrance, Calif., with the Thompson family, and then moved to Eugene in 1962. Survived by son Rick (Shirley) Benjamin; daugh- ter Candice Benjamin Jones; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Howard and sister Nova Carr (Thomp- son). A private family gather was held. The Dallas Mortu- ary Tribute Center handled arrangements. To leave an online tribute: www.dallas- tribute.com. Janet Darrene (Comstock) Leibrant Feb. 3, 1935 – May 4, 2016 Janet (Comstock) Leibrant, 81, formerly of Monmouth, died May 4 at her home in Kingman, Ariz. She was born in Salem to Harold and Katrina (Staats) Joyful Sound Hearing 312 Main Street • Dallas Salem 412 Lancaster Drive NE Salem, OR 97301 (503) 581-6265 Low Cost Cremation & Burial Funerals & Memorials Simple Direct Cremation $495 Simple Direct Burial $550 Traditional Funeral $1,975 Discount priced Caskets, Urns and other Memorial items. Privately owned cremation facility. Locally owned and operated by Oregon families. www.ANewTradition.com • Hearing Testing • Hearing Aids • Service Call today for your FREE Consultation Mark Sturtevant 503-623-0290 Personally involved and invested in the Dallas community Welcoming new patients. Most insurance health plans accepted. Also a Moda preferred provider. Comstock, of Monmouth, and graduated from Central High School in 1953. Janet served as a nurse in Houston, Phoenix, Ariz., and in Kingman. Husband, Patrick Arnold Leibrant; son, Fredrick Lewis Leibrant; and brother, Ronald Day Comstock all died before she did. Survivors include daugh- ter Marla Kay (Philip) Kiri- akidois; sons, James Arnold (Cory) and William James Leibrant, all of Kingman; 10 grandchildren; seven great- grandchildren; and twin sis- ter Janice Marrene (Com- stock) Chitwood Newton. Celebration will be held at a later date in the Kingman area. Letters of condolence may be mailed to Leibrant Family, 3709 John L., King- man, AZ 86409. Evelyn Clare Ripplinger Nov. 27, 1924 – May 18, 2016 Evelyn Clare Ripplinger, 91, of Dallas, died May 18 in the Dallas Retirement Vil- lage. She was born in Bellville, Kan., to Cecil and Goldie Thompson Carpenter. She was a member of St. Philip Catholic Church, and enjoyed swimming at the YWCA and visiting with friends. Husband Frank Sr. and daughter Christine Ann both died before she did. Survived by children, Bar- bara Johannsen, of Ketchikan, Alaska, Frank Jr., of St. George, Utah, John, of Dallas, Jack, of Clatskanie, Jerry, of Vancouver, Wash., Paulette Sides, of Algeria, and Paul, of Ketchikan; 15 grandchildren; and 23 great- grandchildren. She was preceded in death by two sisters and a brother. Services were held. Burial was in the Willamette Me- morial Park in Albany. To leave an online tribute: www.dallastribute.com. Ralph Paul Wetter Aug. 26, 1939 – May 18, 2016 Ralph Paul Wetter, 76, for- merly of Falls City, died on May 18 at Brookdale Senior Living/Alzheimer’s and De- mentia, formerly known as Clare Bridge in Salem. He fought a brave, arduous bat- tle against Alzheimer’s dis- ease. He was born to Cora M. and Paul H. Wetter in Buffalo, N . Y. T h e f a m i l y moved to Corvallis in 1949, set- tling first in Falls City, and then moving to Corvallis, where Ralph graduated from Cor- vallis High School. Ralph joined the Naval Reserves and was convinced to attend Submarine School and Training in New Lon- don, Conn. He trained, worked, and learned his skill as a diesel mechanic, which became his livelihood. Ralph was a handyman, carpenter, fisherman, “Mr. Fix-It,” and became a heavy farm equipment mechanic for Polk County. He began his work at Polk County Farmers Co-op, which be- came Ag-West Supply, as it is known today. Ralph was a member of the Elks Lodge in Independence, and very ac- tive in the Dallas Wingdingers Remote Con- trol airplane group in Dallas. He built and flew many air- planes as his hobby and weekend entertainment. These planes are now on display at the Evergreen Mu- seum in McMinnville. Survived by wife, Donna Wetter, of Dallas; son Brian (Allison) Wetter, of Bend; daughter, Dawne Wetter, of Keizer; one grandchild; and sister Helen (Richard) Hart, of Cheyenne, Wy. At his request, no formal services will be held. Private interment will be in the Dal- las Cemetery. The family requests dona- tions to the Alzheimer’s Net- work in Oregon, Serenity Hospice, or Willamette Val- ley Humane Society. The Dallas Mortuary Trib- ute Center handled arrange- ments. To leave an online tribute: www.dallastribute.com. Merle William Hague June 16, 1941 – May 21, 2016 Memorial service for Merle William Hague will be at 3 p.m. on Tuesday at the Valley Life Center, Dallas. Visitation will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday and Friday at Dal- las Mortuary Tribute Center. Interment will be at Rest- lawn Memory Gardens in Salem. Dallas Mortuary Tribute Center handled arrange- ments. To leave an online tribute: www.dallastribute.com. Carl A. Koenig May 28, 1925 – May 21, 2016 Carl A. Koenig, 90, of Dal- las, died on Saturday in Dal- las. Services will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday at First Christian Church, 1079 SE Jefferson St., Dallas. Obituary Information Obituary information must be submitted by 4 p.m. on the Monday before publication to be included in the newspaper. Information can be brought or mailed to the Itemizer-Ob- server, 147 SE Court St., Dallas, OR 97338, or emailed to ionews@polkio.com.
