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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (June 8, 2016)
DALLAS TRACK REACHES WEAVER NAMED PLAYER 12 YEARS OLD OF THE YEAR Page 10A Page 10A Volume 141, Issue 23 www.Polkio.com June 8, 2016 $1.00 Sheriff schools program needs help PCSO is asking businesses to contribute to fund for drug, online safety education materials By Jolene Guzman The Itemizer-Observer POLK COUNTY — Sheriff Mark Garton wants his deputies to have a bigger role in P o l k C o u n t y ’s schools a n d h e’s launched a fundrais- ing cam- paign to Garton help make that hap- pen. Now that the Polk County Sheriff’s Office is approach- ing full staff and 24-hour pa- trol coverage, he would like to have deputies teaching children about drug preven- tion and online safety. While police of- ficers have plenty of experience with both topics, they might not know how to convey those messages to children in a classroom set- ting. That’s why Garton is ap- pealing to businesses to help purchase educational mate- rials sheriff’s office employ- ees can use in schools. In the past, Garton has de- signed his own presenta- tions, but the process is time consuming and frequent up- dates are needed as drug-use and social media trends shift. To solve that problem, the sheriff’s office is in a part- nership with the National Child Safety Council, which provides materials and up- dates appropriate for teach- ing any age group, including adults. “It’s an all-inclusive pack- age,” Garton said. “Any po- lice officer can grab it and go teach that topic.” Materials are costly, about $1.90 per child, and grants are virtually non-existent for this purpose, with the exception of gun safety programs, “Eddie Eagle” and “Project Child Safe,” Garton said. Businesses in Polk County were sent letters requesting assistance in late May, but Garton stressed donations are voluntary. “This is not a tax,” he said. “This is something we want to provide that we can’t pro- vide now.” He said the office has al- ready received about a dozen donations, a few of them substantial. Garton would like to have enough funding available by early July to have materials in hand before school be- gins in September. Sheriff’s office officials are meeting with school dis- tricts to see what programs may be the most helpful for the issues students face. The National Child Safety Pro- gram offers a wide variety of programs, so Garton can order materials based on what is needed. “We don’t have to do the same thing in all schools,” he said. “We can tailor it.” Garton said all schools would like drug prevention presentations. Other common requests include online and social media safety for children and parents. “That is something that we feel is important if they (schools) want it, and they do,” he said. See EDUCATION, Page 5A IN YOUR TOWN DALLAS All six schools in Dal- las School District will be tested for lead. »Page 3A FALLS CITY See more photos from Falls City High School’s graduation ceremony online at www.polkio.com. »Page 14A INDEPENDENCE May the cure be with you Central senior Han- nah Boyack looks for- ward to next step after high school. »Page 12A MONMOUTH Monmouth Main Street Amphitheater is over budget by about $20,000. »Page 5A PERRYDALE Senior Hannah Hal- lock prepares for a new experience at Western Oregon. »Page 12A SPORTS Triathlon field games proves a more difficult challenge than it first appeared. »Page 10A EDUCATION EMILY MENTZER/Itemizer-Observer The Polk County Relay for Life hit Riverview Park in Independence on Saturday and Sunday. The event raised money for cancer research, cele- brated cancer survivors and remembered those who have been lost. For more on Relay for Life, see Page 7A. Monmouth blaze caused by electrical wires By Emily Mentzer The Itemizer-Observer MONMOUTH — A fire de- stroyed the home of Sandy Newland, 137 College St. N., in Monmouth on the evening of June 1. The call came in at 8:25 p.m. Firefighters from Polk No. 1 and Dallas Fire were on scene in about five or six minutes, Polk No. 1 Assistant Chief Neal Olson said. Crews from Dallas Fire knocked out a chain link fence to access the roof, where they cut a hole to fight the fire. The blaze was bat- tled from both outside and inside the home. Olson said a couple of things made the fire difficult, including access. “I’m worried about the structural integrity,” Olson said. “We already had the roof collapse in the garage. THE NEXT 7 DAYS PLANNING FOR YOUR WEEK We don’t want to send any- one in there if the roof’s going to collapse.” One reason for the quick response was the fire depart- ments were in training. About 35 firefighters responded and had the fire contained and under control in about 30 minutes, Olson said. Olson said the residents were not home at the time of the fire, but witnesses re- ported seeing a dog run away. The family dog, Bear, was found the next day and re- turned to Newland and her grandson, who she raises. A car parked in the drive- way also caught fire, but was extinguished before the car was engulfed in flames. The heat caused a power line that had been connect- ed to the house to drop onto a car port. See FIRE, Page 5A Senior Alicia Scherer ready to take on the film industry. »Page 12A Retire tired American flags at Elks Itemizer-Observer staff report EMILY MENTZER/ Itemizer-Observer Firefighters work to contain a blaze at 137 College St. N. in Monmouth on June 1. INDEPENDENCE — The Independence Elks Lodge Post 1950 will team up with the Boy Scouts to re- tire old flags on Tuesday, Flag Day. The Scouts will receive the keys to the old flag drop box, located in front of the Elks Lodge, at 5:45 p.m. The ceremony will follow at 6. Flags will be properly and respectfully disposed of behind the lodge, at 289 S. Main St., Independ- ence. The public is welcome to attend the ceremony. Bring old, tattered flags to be retired with you. For more information on how to respect the American flag: www.mili- tary.com/benefits/re- sources/us-flag-code. wed thu fri sat sun mon tue The Polk County Master Gardeners will discuss land- scaping at its meet- ing at Trinity Lutheran Church. 7 p.m. Free. Polk County’s Young Professionals will meet at Country Financial in Dallas for a social network- ing event. 5:30 p.m. Free. Rock out with or enjoy the music at the Guthrie Park Acoustic Music Jam Session 6:30 p.m. Free (do- nations accepted). Ash Creek Arts Cen- ter will host its free Second Saturday Family Art Program where kids will make windsocks. 2 p.m. Free. Enjoy a hearty meal at the Buell Grange Breakfast, including pancakes, hash browns, French toast and sausage. 8 a.m. $6. It’s never too late to learn a instrument with the Willamette Valley New Horizons Orchestra. 6:30 p.m. $25 monthly fee. Take a moment to celebrate the Amer- ican Flag. All day. Cloudy Hi: 71 Lo: 50 Showers Hi: 67 Lo: 48 Mostly cloudy Hi: 64 Lo: 47 Mostly cloudy Hi: 66 Lo: 48 Partly sunny Hi: 70 Lo: 51 Mostly cloudy Hi: 69 Lo: 49 Partly sunny Hi: 64 Lo: 47