Polk County News
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • November 23, 2016 3A
Minet fixes throttling issue
By Emily Mentzer
The Itemizer-Observer
INDEPENDENCE —
Monmouth Independence
Networks has fixed the
problem it had with slow-
ing services, said PJ Arm-
strong, tech director.
“We identified a module
that is in our core router,”
he said. “What it does is
process the data stream
twice, so when we hit a
point where we’re doing
five gigs of traffic every
night, it’s required to do it
twice.”
That slowed down every-
one’s access, or “throttled”
services.
Armstrong told the
Minet board of directors
Thursday that a different
device was aggregated to
the router and has opened
the data services.
“We’ll find out Sunday
how close we’re getting to
that 10 gigs, which is our
effective limitation,” Arm-
strong said.
Also at the board meet-
ing, Buzz Brazeau, chair of
Minet’s finance committee,
presented a request to in-
crease reserves by more
than 100 percent used for
capital improvements to
the company.
The upgrades are part of
the company’s strategic
plan, which has not yet been
presented to the board.
“I’m on side with your
identification of needs,”
said Jon Carey, Minet board
member and Monmouth
city councilor. “We’re in-
creasing both the reserve
and the tech refresh over
100 percent each, at a time
where Independence has
got lots of money; Mon-
mouth doesn’t. So that’s a
pretty large jump instantly
at a time where it’s chal-
lenging on the cities’ end.”
Brazeau said the large
jump is because Minet as a
company has not ad-
dressed the lagging tech-
nology throughout its 10-
year history. If the budget is
not approved to allow for
upgrades, Minet would be
closer to a “mega failure,”
Brazeau said.
“It could not only affect
our current operating posi-
tion and negatively affect
the growth potential, but it
would leave the cities to
cover the entire debt,”
Brazeau said.
Board member and Inde-
pendence City Manager
David Clyne said that while
he understood the need, he
hesitated to buy into a plan
he hadn’t seen.
“I’m not disagreeing
with the needs,” Clyne
said. “At the end of the day,
we respond to the same
p e o p l e. W h e n we t a l k
about our rates for water
and sewer, they say, you
have $500,000 (going to
Minet) that’s included in
my water bill, and now
you’re looking to up it.
We’re missing a piece of
transparency here. The city
councils have not had buy-
off on this plan.”
Board chair and Mon-
mouth City Manager Scott
McClure said he supported
the plan.
“We need to know these
are not one-time invest-
ments,” he said, noting that
if any of Minet’s endeavors
to expand business oppor-
tunities succeeds, the com-
pany could be making
money quickly.
The board approved in-
creasing the budgets for
Minet’s capital improve-
ments.
DEQ to test well water in Polk County
POLK COUNTY — The Oregon Department of Environmental
Quality will offer free well water testing in the Mid-Willamette Val-
ley as part of a groundwater study.
DEQ will test for nitrate, arsenic, bacteria, and pesticides as part
of the statewide groundwater monitoring program. DEQ will test
60 to 100 wells and send well owners reports of results.
DEQ will collect well water samples in February 2017 and over
the summer.
For more information, see the DEQ groundwater monitoring
page. To be considered for the study: 503-693-5736.
“I have not retired.” — Clara Nimmo, Owner
223 Birchwood Dr., Dallas
Behind the bowling alley,
3rd house on right,
white picket fence.
Hours: 8-5 T/W/Th
and 8-5:30 Fri
• Alterations
• Dress Making
• Tailoring
• Repairs
NEWS IN BRIEF
Dallas responds to gas leak
DALLAS — A gas leak detected on Nov. 15 near Southeast Shet-
terly and Academy streets in Dallas was repaired the same day.
Dallas Fire & EMS responded to a report of a natural gas leak
and found a 2-inch transmission gas line had been damaged by
construction equipment. Natural gas was free flowing from the
line.
NW Natural also responded to temporarily fix the leak. NW
Natural personnel was on scene for an extended period to re-
pair the damaged line.
This area is under development and no occupied residences
were effected.
Old Mill recognized nationally
DALLAS — Old Mill Feed and Garden was one of six stores to
be recognized for the Retail Display Building contest spon-
sored by Purina.
Purina retailers from across the country submitted photos of
Flock-Tober festivities. Each store was provided a display build-
ing kit.
Stores were recognized based on creativity and background
chicken knowledge. More than 1,200 entries were received.
Fatal crash on Orchard Heights
DALLAS — The Polk County Sheriff’s Office responded to a
fatal car crash on Nov. 16 at 11:33 p.m. The crash took place in
the 5200 block of Orchard Heights Road Northwest. Upon ar-
rival, deputies located the sole occupant of the vehicle — Jesse
Robinson, of Salem, who was deceased inside the vehicle.
Preliminary investigation indicated that the vehicle, a 1990
Ford Ranger pickup, was headed west on Orchard Heights
when it failed to negotiate a curve in the roadway. Speed may
have been a factor.
Any person with information concerning the crash can con-
tact Deputy Mike Stevenson, 503-623-9251.
New book about local history available
INDEPENDENCE — A new book detailing life on a century
farm near Independence and Monmouth is now available.
“Rogers Road” is written by Jo Rogers Veatch. Veatch is the
daughter of former Polk County Representative Joe Rogers Jr.
and the great-granddaughter of former Monmouth Mayor
George Rogers. Joe Rogers Jr. owned and operated the Inde-
pendence Creamery from 1937-42.
The book is available for purchase at www.TheBookPatch.
com.
Veatch has pledged $1 of every book sold to the Independ-
ence Heritage Museum.
Illahe Vineyards to help food share
DALLAS — Through Dec. 31, Illahe Vineyards will participate
in the Willamette Cares Food Share to help Oregonians who
struggle with hunger.
Donations will go to Marion-Polk Food Share. Illahe is locat-
ed at 3275 Ballard Road, Dallas.
For more information about food drives: marionpolkfood-
share.org.
Friday & Saturday
November 25 & 26 • 9 am - 5 pm
FREE ADMISSION Food available on site.
Donations gladly accepted.
TWO BUILDINGS FULL, Over 100 Craft Spaces
with a variety of handmade crafts.
Polk County Fairgrounds
520 S. Pacific Hwy W., Rickreall • 503-623-3048
Downtown Dallas Merchants
Holiday Turkey Winners!
In addition to the 30 winners there were
27 TURKEYS
donated to the Dallas Food Bank.
Turkeys were purchased from
Dallas Safeway where winners
should pick up their turkey before Nov. 24th.
Dallas
Domino’s
is OPEN!
Please excuse our mess.
772 Main St, Dallas
503-623-8888
We apologize for any inconvenience.
A-Team Locksmith.............................................Tom Howard
Brixius Jewelers ................................................Sue DeVault
Calmlee’s Bookstore...................................Kayla Robertson
Capitol Auto Chevrolet........................................Jody Jones
Country Insurance .......................................Gary Suderman
Court Street Hair ...........................................Millie Cummins
Dallas Antique Mall .............................Betty Swartzendruber
Dallas City Cleaners .....................................Dennis Caswell
Dallas City Vapor Parlor .........................Shayne Handsaker
Dallas Yoga & Balance Studio.......................Erin Shumway
Domino's Pizza.............................................Lois Kaltenbach
First American Title ...........................................Shelly Hilker
Grandma's Attic Sewing ........................Janet DiBartolomeo
Heartstrings Florist ............................................Sharon Pike
Home Comfort .........................................Nancy Cruckshank
Jake's Garage ......................................................Tom Burton
Just Stuff...........................................................Shelby Burns
Old Mill Feed & Garden ..............................Elaine Lindegren
Polk County Itemizer-Observer .......................Terri Getchell
Pressed Coffee & Wine Bar .............................Ashley Taylor
Shear Perfection .........................................Amanda Howard
Some Things ...........................................................Lou Gray
The Decorated Wall ...........................................Jean Rogers
Tim’s Automotive Specialties............................Jim Dundon
Tipp’s Copy Center............................................Teresa Helm
Tony’s Place ..........................................................Tom Smith
Ugo’s Pizza .............................................Darcie LaFountaine
Van Well Building Supply......................................Bill Briggs
West Valley Taphouse................................Miranda Johnson
World Gym .......................................................Yturri Camara
Dallas Food Bank................................27 turkeys ~ Bev Linn