Polk County News
10A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • October 19, 2016
JOLENE GUZMAN/Itemizer-Observer
The Dallas City Council issued a letter of support for a
proposed “third bridge” over the Willamette River in
Salem.
Dallas council
supports bridge
By Jolene Guzman
The Itemizer-Observer
DALLAS — The Dallas City Council issued a letter of
support for the proposed “third bridge” crossing over the
Willamette River in Salem.
A public hearing on amendments to the Salem-Keizer
Urban Growth Boundary, Salem Area Comprehensive Plan
and Salem Transportation System Plan to allow for build-
ing the bridge was held on Oct. 12 in Salem.
The council voted on Oct. 3 to submit the letter for that
hearing.
Dallas City Manager Ron Foggin said building the bridge
as planned will provide a more direct route to Interstate 5
than the current bridges that run through downtown
Salem. That could be good for business in Dallas and Polk
County, he said.
“To us, the third bridge is a lifeline to I-5,” Foggin said.
“Where right now, one of the things we continue to run
into when we talk to folks who rely on especially truck traf-
fic is that we are a little too far off of I-5 to be of real signif-
icance to manufacturing.”
Foggin noted that the bridges spanning the river now
may not survive an earthquake of any significance. The
new bridge could provide for transporting people and sup-
plies in and out of Polk County in the event of that kind of
emergency, he said.
The Salem River Crossing Oversight Team named the
proposed bridge’s location as the “preferred alternative” in
2014, following a decade of studies on possible options.
The joint public hearing was before Polk County Board
of Commissioners, Polk County Planning Commission,
Salem City Council, Keizer City Council and Planning
Commission, and Marion County Board of Commission-
ers.
Julie Warnke, transportation planning manager for the
city of Salem, said each government body must deliberate
and vote on the planning requirements for the bridge. The
Polk County Planning Commission is set to discuss
amendments on Oct. 26 and the Board of Commissioners
has the issue on its Nov. 9 agenda.
The city of Salem will take final action on the amend-
ments.
Warnke said on a related but separate track, the final en-
vironment impact statement on the proposed bridge is un-
derway.
“Right now it is estimated to be published in mid-2017,”
she said.
Comments will be taken on the statement after it is re-
leased, followed by a record of decision that will finalize
approval of the bridge proposal.
That doesn’t give the project a green light yet. Designat-
ing funding sources, and design and construction phases
would need to be final before building could begin,
Warnke said.
“This is just all in the planning process,” she said.
EMILY MENTZER/Itemizer-Observer
Erubiel Valladares will serve as Independence’s community liaison.
Liaison: Valladares bringing
the community together
Continued from Page 1A
Valladares was born and
raised in Queretaro, Mexico,
the son of a merchant. The
town is rural, and its loca-
tion made it the perfect
place for leaders to meet,
making it the Cradle of the
Revolution.
“I grew up in dirt — not
on a farm, but on the out-
skirts of the metro from
Queretaro,” Valladares said.
“Our brick walls and dirt
backyards — it was really
rural and rustic, and for me,
it was fun, playing in the
dirt.”
After living in Oregon for
20 years — and working and
raising a family here — he
considers Oregon his home.
He came to Woodburn at
the age of 17, and quickly
joined the National Guard.
Valladares didn’t speak a
lick of English, but after
Meet Erubiel
What: Meet and Greet: Erubiel Valladares
When: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday (today)
Where: Three Legged Dog, 250 S. Main St., Independence
Of note: Erubiel has been playing guitar since he was 10.
He will play at his meet and greet, where people will also
get to meet other city staff members.
basic training, his English
was much improved — so
much so that his high school
teachers recommended he
apply for the distinctive
David S. Brody Scholarship:
a full ride to Western Oregon
University for bilingual, bi-
cultural students. The schol-
arship is awarded once a
year, Valladares said.
After graduating from
Western, Valladares took an
interest in getting back to his
roots, and worked with non-
profits such as Latinos
Unidos Siempre, an organi-
zation out of Salem which
focuses on coaching and
mentoring Latino youths.
Afterward, he helped build a
community registration with
PCUN, Oregon’s farmworker
union, Pineros y
Campesinos Unidos del
Noreste.
Now he’s taking his expe-
rience in working with the
community to Independ-
ence.
“There’s a lot in the Latino
culture,” Valladares said. “I
can understand why it’s a
challenge to reach out to
them. I’m not here to tell
them what to do. I’m here to
help give them the tools so
they can come out and par-
ticipate.”
Valladares said he hopes
to show people, particularly
those in the Latino commu-
nity, how to get involved in
everything from planning
commission to organizing
events. He even hopes to get
some volunteers to cook for
the fire department.
Even something as simple
as giving an hour to read to
children in Spanish can be
helpful, Valladares said.
“When you have someone
that’s native from Mexico,
and they want to help with
the language, we have the
schools, we have the library,
there’s lots of things we can
do, it’s just a matter of ideas
and who can participate,” he
said.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Continued from Page 4A
Nearman protects
fiscal values
The fiscal and social con-
servative values of Polk
County are under assault
and must be protected.
Mike Nearman, Republi-
can candidate for House
District 23, is known as a
fighter, devoted to conser-
vative principals, does not
“reach across the aisle” in a
vain attempt of reconcilia-
tion to the Democratic ma-
jority, which only waters
down conservative princi-
pals.
If you want a man who
stands for principal, who
will fight to keep govern-
ment out of your pocket-
book and under control,
who is widely respected by
his Republican base and fel-
low candidates, who means
what he says and says what
he means, vote Nearman.
Rose Bajorins
Falls City
Thompson cares
about pollinators
I am an organic gardener
of 50 years who is support-
ing Jim Thompson, who is
deeply concerned with the
loss of our pollinators, and
will work with Legislators
already working on a polli-
nator plan for Oregon.
In the interim, both gar-
deners and farmers can
benefit by planting native
flowers in strips beside their
plants.
We are running out of
water. Homeowners can
help by planting Xeric, or-
namental grasses.
Oregon is facing many se-
rious issues, including
clashes between farmers
and residents. We need Jim
back on the agricultural
committee her served on for
six years to deal with these
prickly problems.
Jean Astrinsky
Buena Vista
Whitlow best man
to move forward
Todd Whitlow, patrol ser-
geant, Yamhill County Sher-
iff’s Office, is responsible for
managing law enforcement
services of four cities with a
budget of over $1 million.
He has worked in all divi-
sions of the Sheriff’s Office.
With his management skills,
the overall crime rate has
significantly decreased.
With his broad experi-
ence, Todd will establish
trust, improve relationships,
bring creativity and prob-
lem solving solutions, and
excellence in service for all
citizens.
Todd will work with em-
ployees in moving the Sher-
iff’s Office into the future,
including strong training
programs and using the
most cost-effective tech-
nologies.
Elect Whitlow sheriff.
David Dunkin
Dallas
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