Polk County News
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • October 12, 2016 7A
Chaplain: Pederson follows next adventure
Continued from Page 1A
He will be leading a small
church in the town of Wind-
sor — and moving closer to
full-time granddad duty.
“I’m going there because I
think I’m called there, but
also because my grandchil-
dren are there,” Pederson
said. “It’s nice that God is
working that out.”
He said that happened
before — nearly 30 years
ago when he was drawn to
Dallas. At the time he was a
pastor at a church in Kent,
Wash. Through an intern-
ship he found that he liked
working in small, rural
towns. Pederson felt com-
pelled to find one in Ore-
gon.
“I didn’t know where, but
just felt called to Oregon. I
checked three churches,” he
said. “I just drove to the
three cities that had open-
ings for Lutheran churches,
and when I drove into Dal-
las, something clicked. I
knew this was where I was
going to be.”
Soon after moving here,
he saw an opportunity to
fulfill a long-held dream,
but it came with a catch.
That catch turned into yet
another calling for Peder-
son.
“What happened with
that was that I had a child-
hood dream of being a fire-
fighter and Dallas had a vol-
unteer fire department,” he
said.
He drove to the station
on a night they were train-
ing and asked about join-
ing. The volunteer ranks at
that time were full at 70,
but the chief made Peder-
son a deal after learning he
was the new pastor at Trin-
ity.
“He said, ‘well, we do
need a chaplain,’” Peder-
JOLENE GUZMAN/ Itemizer-Observer
Dave Pederson has served as chaplain for Dallas Fire for more than 29 years.
son recalled.
His response: “I don’t real-
ly want to be chaplain.”
But the chief had some-
thing on him.
“He said, ‘I’ll tell you
what. I will make you a deal:
You be our chaplain and I
will let you be a firefighter,’”
Pederson said.
He took the deal.
“I was willing to do the
chaplaincy, but I wanted to
be a firefighter,” Pederson
said.
Until 10 years ago, he was
a firefighter. He also be-
came a medic. Pederson
has been a chaplain, now
one of five, the entire time.
Chaplains are called upon
in times of tragedy to pro-
vide comfort and counsel-
ing to victims and emer-
gency personnel.
Twenty-nine years later,
Pederson said he learned
early that filling the role is
simple, but never easy.
“You can’t change what
happened, and you can’t
make it better,” Pederson
said. “Sometimes the only
thing you have left is your
pain and when someone
comes along and tries to
take that away, they are tak-
ing away the last thing you
have of that person and you
get mad. What I learned
early on is that you just
needed to be there.”
He also recognizes when
delivering death notices to a
family, how you convey the
message matters.
“I’m always keenly aware
as I walk up with a police
officer that we are, together,
going to walk up and
change these people’s lives
forever. They will never be
the same again,” he said.
“That’s a heavy responsibili-
ty, and what you say does
matter. This is where it does
matter that you are clear.
They will remember every-
thing.”
Eriks Gabliks, the presi-
dent of volunteer firefight-
ers’ association, said Peder-
son has served honorably in
the position.
“Dallas Fire & EMS has
been fortunate to have Dave
as both a firefighter (cap-
tain) for a number of years,
and public safety chaplain
for 29 years,” he said. “He
has been a humble volun-
teer who has given thou-
sands of hours to our organ-
ization and the communi-
ties we serve.”
Pederson said that same
community has given him a
lot in return.
His children, Andy and
Keriann, graduated from
Dallas High School. He has
been involved in the school
Three Reasons We Are
Here... price, selection
and our customers!
7 A n n i v e r s a r y !
t h
S a t . O c t . 2 2
Customer
Appreciation
SAVE
ALL DAY with
Chamber: Metcalfe
to focus on events
Continued from Page 1A
“Dallas is a special place
that has a lot to offer to resi-
dents, visitors and business-
es,” Metcalfe said in a state-
ment from the chamber. “I
have been fortunate to have
worked within all of these
arenas for the past 12 years
and find my passion within
community events.”
Brannigan praised Met-
calfe’s leadership during her
tenure, especially the cre-
ation of the visitors center
to continue to promote
community events.
The center is the host of
Summerfest, Freedomfest,
Winterfest, Sounds of Sum-
mer and Polk County Boun-
ty Market.
“She has served the
chamber and visitors center
and the city of Dallas su-
perbly over the last 12
years,” he said. “I firmly be-
lieved the chamber would
not have survived had
Chelsea not been there.”
Brannigan said the cham-
ber has been reconsidering
its role in the community
for some time and wants to
shift to a model seen in
other communities.
He said modern cham-
bers of commerce have
leaned more toward advoca-
cy for business rather than
hosting community events.
He said the new director
will be tasked with leading
the chamber in that direc-
tion, while the visitors cen-
ter continues to focus on
events. Brannigan said the
new director will evaluate
the mission of both organi-
zations and may suggest re-
structuring to best achieve
those objectives.
The process will include
community input.
“(The new director) will
do an assessment process
and make a recommenda-
tion to the board about next
steps,” Brannigan said.
Metcalfe will help with
the transition, introducing
around town to the commu-
nity once that person is on
board.
“This community has my
heart, and I have enjoyed
leading both organizations
through good and tough
times over the years,” she
said. “I am excited to be
able to focus my time and
energy on events that bene-
since, not only through his
grilling abilities, but through
volunteering on the district’s
Citizen’s Oversight Commit-
tee and with the Dallas
Booster Club.
Pederson also is one of
the founding members of
the Dallas Community
Foundation.
“If you are around long
enough, they start using
you,” Pederson joked.
He said he will miss Dal-
las.
“There’s so many great
people here and people that
care for each other. It’s a
great small community,
something that you don’t get
in a larger town,” Pederson
said. “The people of this
church have been awesome.
I’m going to miss the fire de-
partment, too. That’s been a
neat part of my life.”
As for burger grilling duty,
Pederson said he’s found
someone he deems capable
of filling his shoes: fellow
chaplain Ken Braun.
“He’s been somewhat re-
luctant, but he’s been guilted
and shamed into doing it,”
he said, laughing.
20% OFF
fit our community and to
continue relationships with
key partners like the city of
Dallas, Polk County and
local businesses.”
*
STOREWIDE
Our way of saying Thank You!
Tons of Door Prizes!!!
* 10 % Off New merchandise.
Events 12-3 pm
CARICATURE
!
E
E
R
F
PORTRAITS
by Georgiana
Thomas
12-3
Free to customers.
First come. First served.
Custom Ring Making
by local artist
Kelsey Ensz 1 - 3 pm
Pick from an assortment of vintage buttons
& watch Kelsey work her magic creating
your one-of-a-kind ring right in front of you.
Back by popular demand:
SOUND WAVES
■
Old ■ New ■ In Between
Layaway Program Available
Tues - Sat 10:30 - 5:30
Sun 12:00 - 4:00 • Mon Closed
857 Main St, Dallas
503-831-3100
■