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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 9, 2016)
Polk County News 6A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • November 9, 2016 Falls City to block cars FEMA grant keeps firefighters Council to seek costs preventing parking at park By Jolene Guzman The Itemizer-Observer FALLS CITY — Installing barricades blocking vehicle access to Michael Harding Park — and how to pay for them — will be a topic of discussion at Thursday’s Falls City City Council meeting. Previously, the council decided to pursue blocking nonemergency vehicles from the park adjacent to the falls on the Little Lucki- amute River. On Thursday, Mayor Terry Ungricht will present cost estimates for purchase and installation of the bar- ricades. Based on bids from Ad- vantage Precast, the four barricades needed to close off the parking lot would Learn more The Falls City City Council meets at 7 p.m. on Thursday at the Falls City Community Center, 320 N. Main St. For more informa- tion: 503-787-3631. cost $250 apiece. Weyerhaesuser donat- ed large boulders to line the street next to the park to keep cars out. Placing the barriers and boulders is projected to cost $1,333. Ungricht said filling the barricades with cement and gravel and installing a gate for emergency re- sponse would cost at most $1,000, but he believes with volunteer labor, that cost could be reduced. The parks budget would be challenged to pay for the work, Ungricht said. “Looking over the parks budget, I can come up with $2,800, but this will leave us struggling to finish the year if there are any problems, such as vandalism,” he wrote in a memo to the council. He added that the coun- cil will need to decide how much in general fund re- sources should be used for park projects. Also on the agenda for Thursday is a code enforce- ment update, results of the 2015-16 financial audit, and a resolution to approve use of grant funds to repair the Dutch Creek crossing on Mitchell Street. Dallas Fire & EMS hires two for daytime emergencies By Jolene Guzman The Itemizer-Observer DALLAS — Two seasonal firefighters hired by the city of Dallas for the summer and early fall months will be stay longer. That is thanks to a two- year grant from FEMA’s Staffing for Adequate Emer- gency Response program. The program provided Dallas Fire & EMS enough funding to hire two full-time firefighters for two years. Fire Chief Fred Hertel said the department did a statewide search for candi- dates, but it didn’t have to look far. “We found the best candi- dates in-house,” Hertel said. Hertel introduced Austin Champ, a paramedic, and Jesse Friedow, an EMT, at Monday’s Dallas City Coun- cil meeting. They began working on Tuesday. “What started out, as the chief mentioned, as season- al employees, basically sum- mer and early fall daytime response, turned into two years,” said City Manager Ron Foggin. “We are excited to see how they can help us because we need all the help we can get during the day, those peak hours.” Foggin noted many of the department’s volunteers are not available during the day- time hours due to working out of town. Friedow and Champ, who were both volunteers previ- ously, were hired to help through fire season and im- prove response times. In other business, the council: • Heard an update on planning for the August 2017 solar eclipse. City staff is working on a proposal to allow tent camping in Roger Jordan Community Park, near the Dallas Aquatic Center. Campers would be able to use the showers and bathrooms at the center. The council would have to approve using the park for that purpose. Foggin said there are plans for selling viewing glasses and T-shirts for the event. “We are going to have a downtown party like we’ve never had before and never going to need to have again,” Foggin said. “This is probably the biggest tourist event we will see in a long, long time.” court reporter and a com- puter technician. She retired after a combined 36 years of dedicated service. Karen and Merle attended Fa i t h Fre e Eva n g e l i c a l Church. Karen loved to gar- den and raised a bountiful vegetable garden, and a vari- ety of berries. She enjoyed canning and sharing with her family. Karen loved and raised hors- es at their home in Dallas. She had been active with Polk County 4-H. Karen also e n j oye d s c ra p b o o k i n g , stamping and making cards with her friends. Karen and Merle enjoyed traveling to the Oregon coast. Karen loved her twin granddaughters and rarely missed any of their sporting and school events in Eu- gene. She was a dedicated grandmother. Karen was full of love and was always giving to others who were in need and made a difference in countless lives. She is survived by her husband, Merle; son, Todd (Shanna) Bitikofer; daugh- ter, Tami Dettwyler; grand- daughters, Ashlyn and Amber Bitikofer; along with sisters, Kathy, Peggy and Bonnie. Funeral Services will be on Wednesday, Nov. 9, (today) at 11 a.m. at Dallas Mortuary Tribute Center. Entombment will be at Rest- lawn Mausoleum. Memorial contributions may be made to Salem Dream Center in care of Dal- las Mortuary Tribute Center who is caring for the family. To leave an online condo- lence for the family go to www.dallastribute.com. Cemetery. Farnstrom Mor- tuary handled arrange- ments. Online memories and condolences at Farn- stromMortuary.com. OBITUARIES Lynda Carrol Johnson March 14, 1946 – Oct. 21, 2016 Lynda Carrol Johnson, formerly Hedrick and origi- nally Werline, died Oct. 21, 2016. Lynda disliked veal, needlessly complex ques- tions, and obituaries that omit- ted the cause of death. She loved na- ture, her dog, and obituaries that were funny. Having expected to die tight-rope walking, she would be disappointed to learn that she instead died of complications from a re- cent stroke. Her family is grateful that she is with her Lord and sav- ior, Jesus, but shall miss her dearly. A lifelong resident of In- dependence, Lynda was born March 14, 1946, to John Werline and Marjorie Locke Werline. As the eldest child of three siblings, Lynda was a natural leader, quite dictatorial in disposition, and paradoxi- cally loved for her sense of humor. Her youth was spent lov- ingly tormenting her sister and serving as a fill-in par- ent for her younger brother. Her first marriage produced three children and one di- vorce, which was followed by a second marriage and two more children. Lynda always loved her two stepdaughters, Angie and Holly. The beauty of Lynda’s blonde hair and green eyes was matched only by her hard work ethic. She was a very dedicated and diligent house cleaner for several families in the In- dependence area, and took pride in her ability to oblit- erate filth from every nook and cranny as if she were Mr. Clean with better hair and a more fetching figure. She cleaned until her fin- gers were sore, and vacu- umed out of a house back- ward so that a home’s only footprints would belong to its owners. She loved her job and her clients. Her career ended shortly after being diag- nosed with Multiple Sclero- sis. Joining Curves helped re- store her strength. She loved the ladies there, and worked out nearly every day in order to earn prizes — except Sun- days, when she would al- ways remind her family that they were closed. Lynda was very proud of most of her children. Having her eldest child when she was only 17 resulted in her learning to be a better par- ent as she aged. She loved watching her eldest son and daughter grow into hardworking and confident adults. Lynda’s pride and joy was always her youngest daugh- ter, Kasey. The love and at- tachment between these two was very strong, and oh so loving. They knew each other’s hearts and have a bond that no distance can break. Better late than never, Lynda became a follower of Jesus and attended Calvary Chapel in Independence. In 2012, she was thrilled to be baptized, surrounded by friends and family. Her faith grew stronger in the following years, and her presence there will be missed. Lynda had a sharp tongue and always had to tell the “truth,” even when this was unnecessary or flat out wrong. She was a stubborn woman and a loving mother. She is survived by her first husband, Dale Hedrick; her children Shane, Dawn, Eric, and Kasey; by 14 grandchil- dren; and by her siblings, Janis and Johnny. She was preceded in death by her parents; her second hus- band, Doug Johnson; and their infant son, DJ. In Lynda’s honor, there will be a celebration of life on Saturday, Nov. 12, at 2 p.m. at Monmouth Christian Church, 959 Church St., in Monmouth. Please come prepared to laugh and shares stories of Lynda. She was a hoot! While flowers are welcome, the family invites mourners to consider a donation to the Marion County Dog Shelter, where Lynda adopted her companion dog, Sophie. Lynda would love that! Karen Kay Bitikofer Nov. 4, 1945 – Nov. 1, 2016 Karen Kay Bitikofer, a res- ident of Dallas, died unex- pectedly on Tuesday, Nov. 1, in Salem Hospital. Karen was born on Nov. 4, 1945, in McMinnville, the daughter of Harold and Fay Weigel Jordan. T h e f a m i l y moved to a Ra n c h a t Pow e l l B u t t e where her f a m i l y r a i s e d Brahman cattle. Karen graduated from Redmond High School. She married Merle Bitikofer on May 5, 1965, in Salem. They lived in Salem and Portland before settling in Da l l a s i n 1 9 7 0 . Ka re n worked for Polk County and the state of Oregon as a Joyful Sound Hearing 312 Main Street • Dallas • Hearing Testing • Hearing Aids • Service Call today for your FREE Consultation Mark Sturtevant 503-623-0290 Personally involved and invested in the Dallas community Welcoming new patients. Most insurance health plans accepted. Also a Moda preferred provider. Carl Edward Newsom April 11, 1941 – Oct. 31, 2016 Carl Edward Newsom, 75, of Dallas, died on Oct. 31 at Salem Hospital. He was born on April 11, 1941, in Biscuit, Ky., to Bert and Ray New- som. At Carl’s request, no serv- ices will be held. Private in- terment will be at Hilltop Salem 412 Lancaster Drive NE Salem, OR 97301 (503) 581-6265 Jeanne Shelton Nov. 25, 1929 – Aug. 19, 2016 Jeanne Shelton, 86, of Dallas, died on Aug. 19, 2016. She was born in Pedee to Katherine (Lacey) and James Siddall. The family will hold a cel- ebration of her life on Nov. 20 from 1:30 to 4 p.m. at the Polk County Historical Mu- seum, 560 S. Pacific High- way W., Rickreall, at the south end of the Polk Coun- ty Fairgrounds parking lot. Remembrances at 2 p.m.; buffet luncheon follows. Arturo ‘Jimmy’ James Franco June 29, 1980 – Sept. 18, 2016 Arturo “Jimmy” James Franco, 36, of Dallas, died because of cancer in Belling- ham, Wash., on Sept. 18. Military service with full honors to be held on Friday, Nov. 11, at 9 a.m. at Willamette National Cemetery in Port- land. Celebration of life to follow at Shilo Inn, 9900 Canyon Road, Beaverton. Obituary Information Obituary information must be submitted by 4 p.m. on the Monday before publication to be included in the newspaper. Most funeral homes handle obituary information and pro- vide it to the newspaper. How- ever, information can also be submitted directly from family members. Obituaries cost $8 per 25 words (column inch) and in- clude a photo and — for vet- erans — a flag. Obituaries placed by family members must be prepaid. Color and black-and-white photos can be submitted, but photos will only be published in black and white. The Itemizer-Observer uses a flag logo in the obituaries of people who served in the armed forces. Obituaries — like all infor- mation submitted to the news department — are subject to editing for style, content and length. Information can be brought or mailed to the Itemizer-Ob- server, 147 SE Court St., Dallas, OR 97338, or emailed to ionews@polkio.com. For more information: Emily Mentzer, 503-623-2373. Low Cost Cremation & Burial Funerals & Memorials Simple Direct Cremation $495 Simple Direct Burial $610 Traditional Funeral $2,175 Visit our website Discount priced Caskets, Urns and other Memorial items. Privately owned cremation facility. Locally owned and operated by Oregon families. “Polk County’s ONLY Family Owned Funeral Homes and On-Site Crematory” www.ANewTradition.com www.polkio.com
