Polk County
Voices
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • August 24, 2016 4A
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EDITORIALS
Take a chance,
run for council
GOVERNOR
gov. Kate Brown (dem.)
160 State Capitol
900 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-378-4582
Email: via website,
http://governor.oregon.gov/
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STATE LEGISLATORS
sen. Arnie roblan
(District 5, Democrat)
S-417 State Capitol
900 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1705
sen.arnieroblan@state.or.us
www.oregonlegislature.gov/roblan
Hopefully people are busy collecting the needed signa-
tures to run for city council positions open in Dallas, Falls
City, Independence and Monmouth.
All four cities have local positions up for election or re-
election in November. While the Presidential race is per-
haps the most interesting, it’s the local races that have the
most immediate effect on people’s lives.
The local governments establish taxes, go out for bonds,
decide which new parks to approve, and pass ordinances
from chickens to smoking in public parks to dog licensing.
City councils hire the city manager, who hires everyone
else and makes decisions such as how many public works
employees are on staff to address issues ranging from
keeping storm drains clear to patching potholes.
Councilors — along with citizens on the budget com-
mittees — decide where the cuts will be made when the
budget gets tight, and where improvements can be made
when money allows.
Last time we checked, the number of people running for
council offices in the four cities was lower than the actual
number of vacancies available. We hope that people will
gather the necessary paperwork and put themselves up for
election for councils.
There’s no paycheck for the hours involved in answering
concerns from constituents, and reviewing council packets
and information. But rewards come in seeing the differ-
ence you make in your community.
sen. Jackie Winters
(District 10, Republican)
S-301 State Capitol
900 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1710
sen.jackiewinters@state.or.us
www.oregonlegislature.gov/winters
sen. Brian Boquist
(District 12, Republican)
S-305 State Capitol
900 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1712
sen.brianboquist@state.or.us
www.oregonlegislature.gov/boquist
rep. david gomberg
(District 10, Democrat)
H-471 State Capitol
900 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1410
rep.davidgomberg@state.or.us
www.oregonlegislature.gov/gomberg
Fire departments
work fast all summer
rep. Paul evans
(District 20, Democrat)
H-281 State Capitol
900 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1420
rep.paulevans@state.or.us
www.oregonlegislature.gov/evans
Summer is nearly at an end — at least as far as the
school children are concerned — and we’ve had our share
of fires in Polk County. Many homes that were vacant at
the time were devastated by fire.
Field fires also sparked throughout the county.
But no lives were lost, thanks to quick response by Dal-
las Fire & EM, Southwest Fire and Polk Fire No. 1.
Our fire departments — and especially our volunteer
firefighters — deserve a big pat on the back for getting us
through another fire year. With temperatures raging in the
100s for three days last week, and plenty of hot, dry days
with high winds in July, it made for ideal fire conditions.
Our fire departments support each other to keep all of us
safe.
We need to do our part, too.
Many of the house fires were started by overloaded out-
lets — too many things plugged into one place. This is an
easy fix.
Take a look at your electrical plugs — are they over-
loaded? What aren’t you using all the time? Unplug whatev-
er is not being used and help reduce the chance of fire.
Another house fire was started by improper disposal of
hazardous chemicals.
Walk around your house and take a look to see if you’ve
left those rags you cleaned the grill with are still wadded up
on the back patio.
Together, we can help reduce the fire activity and help
our firefighters, ourselves and our neighbors.
rep. Mike Nearman
(District 23, Republican)
H-378 State Capitol
900 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1423
rep.mikenearman@state.or.us
www.oregonlegislature.gov/nearman
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U.S. CONGRESS
sen. ron Wyden (dem.)
221 Dirksen SOB
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: 202-224-5244
Fax: 202-228-2717
Salem office: 707 13th St. SE,
Suite 285, Salem, OR 97301
Phone: 503-589-4555
Email: via website,
www.wyden.senate.gov
sen. Jeff Merkley (dem.)
313 Hart SOB
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: 202-224-3753
Fax: 202-228-3997
Salem office: 495 State St. SE,
Suite 330, Salem, OR 97301
Phone: 503-362-8102
Email: via website,
www.merkley.senate.gov
PUBLIC AGENDA
Public Agenda is a listing of upcoming meetings for gov-
ernmental and nongovernmental agencies in Polk County.
To submit a meeting, send it at least two weeks before the
actual meeting date to the Itemizer-Observer via email
(ionews@polkio.com).
—
ThursdAy, Aug. 25
• Monmouth-Independence Networks Board of direc-
tors — 7:30 a.m., Henry Hill Education Support Center, 750 S.
Fifth St., Independence. 503-837-0700.
TuesdAy, Aug. 30
• Polk County Board of Commission work session — 9
a.m., Polk County Courthouse, BOC office, 850 Main St., Dallas.
503-623-8173.
WedNesdAy, Aug. 31
• Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk
County Courthouse, first floor conference room, 850 Main St.,
Dallas. 503-623-8173.
WANT TO WRITE A LETTER?
Letters to the editor are lim-
ited to 300 words. Longer letters
will be edited.
Election-related letters of all
types are limited to 100 words.
Writers are limited to one elec-
tion-related letter per election
season.
Election letters from writers
outside of Polk County are not
accepted.
Election letters will be
printed beginning Sept. 7.
Each writer is restricted to
one letter per 30-day period.
Letters that are libelous, ob-
scene or in bad taste will not be
printed. Attacks by name on
businesses or individuals will
not be printed.
Letters to the editor that are
obvious promotions for a busi-
ness, products or services will
not be printed.
The Itemizer-Observer does
not guarantee the accuracy of
facts presented by letter writers;
dissenters are welcome to re-
spond.
Letter writers who disagree
with other published letter writ-
ers should maintain a civil dis-
course and address the subject,
not the author.
Letters, like all editorial mate-
rial submitted to the newspa-
per, are edited for length,
grammar and content.
Letters must include the au-
thor’s name, address and tele-
phone number.
This includes letters submit-
ted via the I-O’s website.
Names and cities of residence
are published; street addresses
and telephone numbers are
used for verification purposes
only.
Letters must be submitted
from individuals, not organiza-
tions, and must be original sub-
missions to the I-O, not copies of
letters sent to other media.
Letters of thanks to busi-
nesses, individuals and organi-
zations are limited to 10 names.
The deadline for letters to the
editor is 10 a.m. Monday. Let-
ters submitted may not be re-
tractable after this deadline.
The Itemizer does not accept
guest columns. The letters pol-
icy is intended to give a voice to
as many people as possible.
For more information: Editor
Emily Mentzer, 503-623-2373
ext. 117.
—
Reach us at:
Mail: Editor, Polk County
Itemizer-Observer, P.O. Box 108,
Dallas, OR 97338.
Fax: 503-623-2395.
email: ionews@polkio.com.
Office: 147 SE Court St., Dallas.
Itemizer-Observer Your community newspaper.
rep. Kurt schrader (dem.)
108 Cannon HOB
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: 202-225-5711
Fax: 202-225-5699
Salem office: 544 Ferry St. SE,
Suite 2, Salem, OR 97301
Phone: 503-588-9100
Fax: 503-588-5517
Email: via website,
www.schrader.house.gov
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POLK COUNTY
Board of Commissioners
850 Main St.
Dallas, OR 97338
Phone: 503-623-8173
www.co.polk.or.us
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CITIES
dallas
187 SE Court St.
Dallas, OR 97338
503-623-2338
www.ci.dallas.or.us
Falls City
299 Mill St.
Falls City, OR 97344
503-787-3631
www.fallscityoregon.gov
Independence
555 S. Main St.
Independence, OR 97351
503-838-1212
www.ci.independence.or.us
Monmouth
151 W. Main St.
Monmouth, OR 97361
503-838-0722
www.ci.monmouth.or.us
HOW TO REACH US
Vol. 141, No. 34
(USPS) - 437-380)
The official newspaper of Polk County • Serving Polk County families since 1875
Winner of 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2014 General Excellence Awards
from the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association
Periodicals postage paid at
Dallas, OR, Independence, OR and Monmouth, OR.
Published weekly at 147 SE Court Street
Dallas, Oregon 97338
Phone: 503-623-2373
SUBSCRIPTION RATES:
Polk County — One Year $35
Other Oregon Counties — One Year $40
Outside of Oregon — One Year $45
POsTMAsTer:
send address changes to: Polk County Itemizer-Observer, P.O. Box 108, dallas, Oregon 97338
NeWsrOOM
Emily Mentzer ..............Editor/Monmouth/Independence Reporter ....ementzer@polkio.com
Lukas Eggen..................Sports Editor......................................................................leggen@polkio.com
Jolene Guzman............Dallas/Falls City/Polk County Reporter ................jguzman@polkio.com
dIsPLAy AdVerTIsINg
Heidi Leppin .................Display Advertising Manager ....................................hleppin@polkio.com
Rachel Best ....................Display Advertising.............................................................rbest@polkio.com
Karen Sanks...................Client Services ...................................................................ksanks@polkio.com
CLAssIFIed LINe AdVerTIsINg
Dawn Ohren.....................................................................................................................ioads@polkio.com
PrOduCTION
Kathy Huggins ..............................................................................................................iosales@polkio.com
Karyn Pressel .................................................................................................................iosales@polkio.com
The Polk County Itemizer-Observer assumes no financial responsibility for errors in advertise-
ments. It will, however, reprint without charge for the portion of an advertisement
Web: www.polkio.com
which is in error if the Itemizer-Observer is at fault.
Phone: 503-623-2373
Fax: 503-623-2395