INSIDE POLK
SISTERS FIND STRENGTH
COUNTY FAIR
BIKE
MS
Section C
Volume 141, Issue 32
www.Polkio.com
Page 8A
$1.00
August 10, 2016
Suspects considered armed, dangerous
Dallas Police Department is looking for three people connected to aggravated assault
By Emily Mentzer
The Itemizer-Observer
DALLAS — Dallas Police
is looking for three suspects
connected to an aggravated
assault involving a firearm.
Stephanie Tomlinson,
20, a transient, Bradley
Scott, 25, a transient, and
Brandon Allen, of Salem,
were last seen fleeing in a
stolen white, four-door
1993 Honda Accord with
the Oregon license
701EYP, according to Dal-
las Police.
The vehicle has black
bumpers, a Dutch Bros
sticker in the back window,
and is missing the back right
door trim and passenger
side mirror.
The suspects are consid-
e r e d
a r m e d
and dan-
gerous. If
spotted,
do not
approach.
Dial 911.
The in-
cident
happened at about 10:17
a.m. on Saturday, when Dal-
las Police officers responded
to a robbery at a mobile
home at the Dallas Mobile
Home Village, 573 E. Ellen-
dale.
Preliminary investigation
indicates suspects Tomlin-
son and Scott had recently
met the victim, according to
police reports.
They went to the victim’s
home accompanied by Allen.
Once inside the home,
they robbed the resident at
gun point, according to Dal-
las Police reports.
The resident, an adult
male, resisted and a shot
was fired by a suspect dur-
ing the altercation, accord-
ing to police.
Initially, it was believed the
victim was shot. However, it
was determined he was actu-
ally struck on the head, possi-
bly with the pistol, Dallas Po-
lice reported. The bullet exit-
ed the mobile home through
the roof.
If you have any informa-
tion about this incident or
the location of the suspects,
please contact the Dallas Po-
lice Department and ask for
Detective John Wallace or
call 911.
No other details about the
incident were available at
press time.
Quick work saves homes from grass fire
IN
YOUR
TOWN
DALLAS
Dallas school District
will test the high school
track and field for hard-
ness.
»Page 10A
EDUCATION
Dallas school District
finds unanticipated in-
crease in its ending
fund balance.
»Page 10A
By Jolene Guzman
FALLS CITY
The Itemizer-Observer
“Manos returns”
hopes to be completed
in time for original
film’s 50th anniversary.
FALLS CITY — Firefighters
prevented a grass fire from
damaging homes outside of
Falls City on Aug. 3 with a
multiple-agency response —
and a little luck with the di-
rection of the wind.
At 2:56 p.m., fire agencies
were called to “high risk
grass fire” in a pasture off
Liberty Road near Falls City.
The 911 caller said he was
working in the field when the
equipment he was using hit a
rock and sparked the blaze.
Strong winds and dry condi-
tions didn’t help matters.
“It got out of control before
he could do anything about
it,” said Dallas Fire & EMS
spokeswoman April Welsh.
Welsh was one of the first
to arrive on the scene and
said crews from as far away
as Corvallis and Salem
rushed out to help.
The fire was under control
by 4:30 p.m., and firefighters
switched to “mop up” duty,
extinguishing hot spots and
monitoring the area.
Falls City Fire Chief Bob
Young said his biggest con-
cern with the fire was the
strength of the wind. He said
a number of houses nearby
could have been threatened
depending on the direction
»Page 3A
INDEPENDENCE
Central has work to
do on english lan-
guage learner pro-
gram.
»Page 2A
MONMOUTH
Zimfest ready to
bring a taste of Zimbab-
wean music and dance
to Western Oregon.
»Page 3A
POLK COUNTY
AprIl Welsh/ for the Itemizer-Observer
Firefighters contained a grass fire in a pasture off Liberty Road near Falls City on Aug. 3. Fire crews were able to pre-
vent the fire from spreading from the field to houses. Liberty Road was closed as firefighters put out the fire.
of the breeze.
Thankfully, the wind was
blowing in the opposite di-
rection.
“We got lucky,” he said.
Welsh said the fire burned
between six and eight acres
of pasture and a small sec-
tion of oak forest.
Fire crews from Falls City,
Dallas, Southwest Polk, Polk
No. 1, Amity, Corvallis, Salem
and Oregon Department of
Forestry responded to the fire.
The Polk County Sheriff’s
Office was on standby to as-
sist with evacuations had
they been necessary.
Polk County Public Works
and the sheriff ’s office
closed Liberty Road while
firefighters put out the fire.
While major damage was
averted, Welsh said it is im-
portant to keep in mind
summer conditions when
working outside.
“It’s a good reminder that
when people are working in
their fields — in the heat of
the day when it’s warm and
windy — how fast a fire can
start and get away from
you,” she said.
She suggested, if possible,
working in the early mornings
when temperatures are cooler.
“Thankfully, we got a
quick stop and it didn’t dam-
age any homes,” Welsh said.
school registration
information.
»Page 2A
SPORTS
Obstacle training
course in Independ-
ence nearing comple-
tion.
»Page 8A
Three-day fair packed with fun for all
By Jolene Guzman
The Itemizer-Observer
RICKREALL — Most people at a
county fair wouldn’t be surprised
to see people riding horses, bulls
or even kids riding sheep — mo-
mentarily at least in a “mutton
busting” event.
How about camels? Or in a heli-
copter? Or atop a monster truck?
Oh yes, you will find all that at
the Polk County Fair when the an-
nual festival kicks off on Thursday.
“Boots, Chaps and Cowboy
Hats” is the theme for the 2016 edi-
tion of the fair, and you no doubt
will see a lot related to being a
“cowboy” or “cowgirl” during the
three-day event.
As a matter of fact, fair man-
agers and exhibit superintendents
have animals coming out of their
ears, metaphorically speaking.
“We are going to be really full.
We are putting them in every nook
THE NEXT
7
DAYS
PLANNING
FOR YOUR
WEEK
and cranny,” said Tina Andersen,
fair manager. “We are trying to
stretch that small animal barn to
make it bigger.”
Returning for a second year is
“Hell on Hooves” Rough Stock
Rodeo, and the fair has the seating
to accommodate a larger crowd
this year.
“Tina worked really hard and
brought in tons more bleachers, so
we are going to have tons more
seating at the rodeo,” Fair Board
Chairwoman Anna Scharf said.
If after strolling through the
packed animal barns and watching
the exciting rodeo events, you are
looking for something atypical of a
county fair, you can find plenty to
satisfy your curiosity.
Carl, dubbed the “world’s largest
caramel popcorn ball,” will occupy
the only place it could fit: in the
middle of the grass playground
near the Les Schwab Stage.
Camel rides will be in the lawn
Boots, Chaps and Cowboy Hats
What: 2016 polk County Fair.
When: Thursday through saturday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Where: polk County Fairgrounds & event Center, 520 s. pacific high-
way West (99W), rickreall.
Admission: Daily: adults, $8; juniors (ages 11 to 15), $5; seniors (62 and
older), $5; children 10 and younger are free. season passes: adult, $20;
junior, $10; and senior, $10.
Of note: seniors are free on Thursday until 4 p.m. and active duty mil-
itary are free on any day with a photo ID. Due to the rodeo, adult admis-
sion after 4 p.m. on Thursday is $10.
Parking: $3 per car.
See more in Section C.
area just south of the sheep barn,
and on Saturday evening, you can
take a ride in the American Thun-
der Monster Truck.
A different sort of rodeo — this
time with ATVs — is scheduled for
Saturday afternoon.
Madjek’s inflatable carnival, the
kids’ safety area, carnival games
and laser tag will be open each day
to entertain the kids.
A grant from the Siletz Tribe en-
hanced the safety area in Building
D, providing for giveaways and a
booth where parents can have
their children’s fingerprints taken
and get a photo for identification
purposes.
“That is going to provide some
really cool stuff in our kids’ safety
area,” Andersen said.
Oregon Beverage Service will be
operating the beer and wine gar-
den, offering a selection of Oregon
microbrews and wine.
Nearby, the Les Schwab Stage
will feature artists ranging in style
from old-timey to blues to classic
rock.
All the fun will cost a little bit
more Not in admission costs, but
in parking.
This year, the fair will charge $3
per car to park.
That doesn’t mean you have to
make a second stop to pay to park,
though: admission and park fees
will be collected at the fairgrounds
entry point.
Scharf said the new fee is due to
the state’s minimum wage in-
crease.
“Minimum wage went up July 1.
Our fair is in August,” she said. “A
lot of people we hire are coming in
before fair, and they stay after fair.
We can’t afford to absorb those
costs.”
wed
thu
fri
sat
sun
mon
tue
Catch a performance
from Boka Marimba
at Monmouth Music
in the park before
Zimfest kicks off on
Thursday.
6:30 p.m. Free.
head to the polk
County Fair for the
rodeo, complete
with bull riding and
mutton busting.
7 p.m. $8, $10 after
4 p.m.
Check out the
groovy sounds of
the Ivie, Mezierie,
Foss Trio at redgate
Vineyard. Food and
beverages for sale.
6-9 p.m. $5.
Grab your yoga mat
and head to Dallas
Yoga and Balance
studio for Donation
Yoga. The class is
free with donation.
Take the morning
off from cooking
and have breakfast
at the Buell Grange
hall, just northwest
of Dallas.
8-11 a.m. $6.
Network while en-
joying catered lunch
at the Dallas Cham-
ber of Commerce
luncheon at the Dal-
las Civic Center.
11:30 a.m. $12.
empty your pockets
and see if you have a
coin worth collect-
ing at the polk Co.
Coin Club, Mon-
mouth senior center.
7 p.m. Free.
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11 a.m. By donation.