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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 9, 2016)
THINK THINK DALLAS FOOTBALL FIRE SAFETY Page 8A EARNS WINS Page 11A Volume 141, Issue 45 www.Polkio.com November 9, 2016 $1.00 Familiar Dallas sight soon to be no more Now a liability, the decades-old building is being dismantled By Jolene Guzman The Itemizer-Observer JOLENE GUZMAN/ Itemizer-Observer Crew began tearing down the grain elevator on property owned by Valley Life Center last week. The building has fallen into disrepair and considered a safety hazard. DALLAS — Jack Posey watches with interest as a 5,000-pound wrecking ball strikes what is left of the grain elevator behind Valley Life Center on Miller Street in Dallas. The impact makes the whole building shudder and a cloud of dust bellows out. “There it goes,” he said, focusing on the next swing of the wrecking ball. Within minutes, a big chunk of the wood structure collapses with a crash and even bigger cloud of dust. “We are looking at 40- year-old dirt,” Posey said. “It’s been in there for years.” Decades, likely. The grain silo was built in the 1940s or 1950s, say dis- mantling onlookers and the property’s owner, Valley Life Center. Those who live near Miller Street in Dallas know the sight well. But within a few weeks, it will be no more. Last week crews began tearing it down. Unfortu- nately, what some in town consider a local icon had be- come an attractive nuisance for the owner. It’s no longer part of a farming operation, so it sits vacant all year. “It’s been a liability. We couldn’t keep people out of there,” said Chris Barker, the pastor of Valley Life Center. He said people have gone in the grain elevator and lit candles or engaged in other potentially dangerous activi- ties. It’s poor structural condi- tion has become a safety hazard, especially during wind storms. “Metal (siding) kept flying off,” Barker said, adding the church’s neighbors weren’t thrilled about that. Barker said the contractor taking the building down will recycle some of the ma- terial. Clean up will probably be the most time-consum- ing part of the project. Those who wish to take a last look or photo of the old grain silo should do so soon. The dismantling has been a slow, careful process thus far, but that will change. “We didn’t give them a time limit,” Barker said, but added: “The last part will go faster.” He said the crew has done a number of similar projects in the Willamette Valley in recent years, perhaps a sign of the changing agricultural practices. See SILO, Page 7A Home-field disadvantage? By Lukas Eggen The Itemizer-Observer INDEPENDENCE — When Dallas’ football team celebrated its 50-14 win over Eagle Point on Friday, the team turned toward their home fans. But it wasn’t the familiar confines of Gillespie Stadi- um that they saw — it was Panther Stadium at Central High School. The Dragons’ home play- off game was moved be- cause of field conditions at Dallas. “It was too muddy,” ath- letic director Tim Larson said. “Unless it was a pro field, I don’t think any grass field would have been in good condition with all the rain we had. There would be no traction for either team.” Larson said the decision to move the game was the school’s choice – they were not forced to by the OSAA. Dallas did host Lebanon on Oct. 28 – a game that de- cided the Mid-Willamette Conference league champi- on. “It didn’t seem like it was in that bad of shape, but once the players got on it, it was pretty clear,” Larson said. Dallas football coach Tracy Jackson said he under- stood the decision. “I would say that I felt like the mud took away some things that make us a little more special,” Jackson said. “The mud can turn players like Tanner (Earhart) or Aaron (White) and make them regular. I felt being on turf gave us the best chance of being successful.” See FIELD, Page 12A The Itemizer-Observer POLK COUNTY — Imag- ine a country at war. Our country, in fact. As youths and men sign up to join the fight overseas, they leave behind women, children and the eld- erly to hold down the fort. In Polk County, that meant harvesting crops, selling land to Camp Adair at rock-bottom prices — THE NEXT 7 DAYS PLANNING FOR YOUR WEEK and later buying it back at inflated ones — letters to and from loved ones over- seas, rationing and trying to keep spirits bright in the toughest of times. Take a walk down memo- ry lane with the Itemizer-Ob- server’s newest endeavor with the Polk County Histor- ical Society in this week’s special edition of Home Front: When a nation was at war. DALLAS Sheriff’s office under- goes special training. »Page 2A FALLS CITY City council to dis- cuss installing barri- cades at Michael Hard- ing Park. »Page 6A INDEPENDENCE Central football de- feats Sandy in the first round of the state play- offs. »Page 11A MONMOUTH Western Oregon to perform stylized, in- sightful play. »Page 13A SCHOOLS Dallas theater pro- gram to perform “Much Ado About Nothing.” »Page 14A SPORTS Dallas sophomore Trevor Cross places 37th at state. »Page 11A Man killed trying to cross Highway 22 Itemizer-Observer staff report LUKAS EGGEN/ Itemizer-Observer Muddy conditions on Ron August Field led Dallas athletics officials to move the Drag- ons first-round playoff football game to rival Central High School’s facility. Life during wartime illustrated in ‘Home Front’ By Emily Mentzer IN YOUR TOWN The stories and photos are taken from oral histories and newspaper clippings from both the I-O and the Monmouth Herald, provided by the historical society, about how the residents of Polk County experienced World War II. It’s an interesting look at life during an epic war, and begs the question, could we do it again? While the entire world is not at war, many are still left behind today as loved ones go overseas. Polk County is wed thu fri sat Veterans will be honored this morn- ing during a Mass and breakfast at Mid-Valley Christian Academy. 8:15-11 a.m. Free. Network with other Young Professionals at an after-hours gathering at Old Mill Feed and Seed in Dallas. 5:30 p.m. Free. Happy Veterans Day! The Independ- ence Elks Lodge hosts a dinner, free for veterans and their spouses. 6 p.m. Guests: $5. Take a stroll through downtown Willam- ina and enjoy the annual Coastal Hills Art Tour, with a chance to win art. 9 a.m. -5 p.m. Free. Rain/sun Hi: 62 Lo: 47 Partly sunny Hi: 62 Lo: 50 Rain Hi: 59 Lo: 48 Showers Hi: 59 Lo: 46 no longer near any military facilities, but with an active National Guard and young people joining the military, families continue to worry, send care packages, and look for words from their service members — though usually it’s more instant than the U.S. Postal Service. We don’t have to use ra- tion stamps to buy gro- ceries. See HOME, Page 7A sun Grab breakfast at the Buell Grange and take a break from cooking this morning. 8-11 a.m. $6. Rain Hi: 57 Lo: 50 WEST SALEM — A pedestrian was killed Thursday night while try- ing to cross Highway 22 just west of West Salem. Oregon State Police troops responded to a re- port of a pedestrian versus vehicle crash at about 7:55 p.m. on the highway near Frontage Road. OSP said the prelimi- nary investigation re- vealed a 50-year-old man, who has not been identi- fied pending notification of his family, was attempt- ing to cross the highway south. He was struck by a 2016 Chevrolet Cruz sedan traveling west- bound and then hit by a second vehicle, a 2007 Toyota Corolla. The area of the high- way is not lit by street lights and there is no des- ignated crosswalk, police said. OSP was assisted by the Polk County Sheriff's Of- fice and the Oregon De- partment of Transporta- tion. This is an active investi- gation and more informa- tion will be released as it becomes available, police said. mon tue Save a life; donate blood with the American Red Cross blood drive at West- ern Oregon’s Werner center. 10:30 a.m. -4 p.m. Looking for some- thing to do with your young one? In- door Play Park in Dallas is open Tues. through Fri. 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Rain Hi: 58 Lo: 47 Partly cloudy Hi: 57 Lo: 45
