Polk County News
2A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • December 14, 2016
Falls City searches
for code solution
DEADLINES
NEWS DEADLINES
For inclusion in the
Wednesday edition of the
Itemizer-Observer:
Social news (weddings,
engagements, anniver-
saries, births, milestones) —
5 p.m. on Thursday.
Community events —
noon on Friday for both the
Community notebook and
Community Calendar.
Letters to the editor —
10 a.m. on monday.
Obituaries — 4 p.m. on
monday.
By Jolene Guzman
The Itemizer-Observer
FALLS CITY — The city of Falls City is zeroing in on a
code enforcement solution.
Mayor Terry Ungricht said a Western Oregon University
professor and student team are going to help with re-
searching and building a plan to have the Falls City City
Council judge cases. The only roadblock at this point is
finding a qualified officer. Ungricht has had little luck get-
ting in contact with the Oregon Code Enforcement Asso-
ciation, but may soon meet with the city’s former officer.
“I feel we have a plan in place if I can find a code en-
forcement officer,” Ungricht said at Thursday’s council
meeting.
Falls City may have potentially good news on code en-
forcement, but received a disappointing response to its
application for sewer system improvements.
“We were declined,” Ungricht said.
He said Community Development Block Grant admin-
istrators said it was a strong application and encouraged
the city to try again in March. In the meantime, Ungricht
will research grant and low-interest loan options to cover
the $800,000 in project costs not paid for by the $2.5 mil-
lion CDBG grant.
In other business, the council:
• Applied for a grant to purchase 10 “self-contained
breathing apparatus” units for the Falls City Fire Depart-
ment. The cost of the equipment is $69,500. The city will
provide 5 percent, or $3,311.
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lUKAS EGGEn/ Itemizer-Observer
Jaysen Ridout brings a taste of Hawaii to Independence through his new restaurant.
Restaurant brings ‘hearty’
Hawaiian delights to Indy
By Lukas Eggen
The Itemizer-Observer
INDEPENDENCE —
When owners Jaysen and
Sylvia Ridout opened their
doors to the Keeaumoku
Hawaiian Grill, located at
268 S. Main St., Independ-
ence, on Dec. 3, they expect-
ed a chance to settle in.
“We were actually think-
ing we were going to have a
soft opening and get the
kinks out in the kitchen,”
Ridout said.
But word spread through-
out the community and
Keeaumoku’s “soft opening”
turned into the talk of the
town.
“We were really unpre-
pared for that,” Jaysen said.
“Word spread, and we didn’t
even post anything on social
media or pass out fliers.”
There’s good reason the
community has been
chomping at the bit.
The Ridouts previously
ran the Pandan Leaf food
cart out of Salem.
“We were doing Filipino
Aloha
What: Keeaumoku Hawaiian Grill.
Where: 268 S. main St., Independence.
Hours: Tuesdays through Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Of note: Owners Jaysen and Sylvia ridout bring Hawai-
ian flavors to Independence.
For more information: 503-420-6695.
fusion food,” he said. “It had
Vietnamese, Korean and
Hawaiian influences, but we
wanted to make that transi-
tion to a restaurant.”
Food is more than Rid-
out’s profession. It’s helped
him become closer to family.
Growing up, Ridout’s fa-
ther wasn’t a part of his life,
but thanks to a shared pas-
sion for food, the two be-
came closer when he was
16.
“The way we got recon-
nected was basically
through food,” Ridout said.
“He would tell me his
dreams and his passion
about owning a restaurant.”
Keeaumoku is a realiza-
tion of both their dreams.
“I would say people can
expect a really hearty plate,”
Ridout said. “Hawaiian food
is known for that. We want to
offer really hearty plates at
affordable prices.”
Independence was always
high on the Ridouts’ list of
places to make a family
dream come true.
CORRECTIONS
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“It has this really cool
small-town atmosphere,”
Ridout said. “This seemed
like one of the best spots to
open a restaurant in, and
then this spot became avail-
able. It was a bit like fate.”
The Ridouts are open
Tuesdays through Saturdays
from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., but
are considering expanding
to Sunday mornings, as well
as trying a breakfast menu.
As for an official grand
RECORDED
HIGH LOW RAIN
opening?
Dec. 6................. 40 29 .08
“I think it’s probably too
Dec. 7................. 39 29 .00
late for that,” Jaysen said,
Dec. 8................. 34 30
.47
smiling.
Dec. 9................. 49 33
.52
For now, Jaysen and Sylvia
Dec. 10.............. 50 33 .36
are having to work out the
Dec. 11.............. 49 42 .67
kinks on the fly because
Dec. 12.............. 49 32 .00
Keeaumoku is quickly be-
rainfall during Dec. — 3.01 in.
coming a popular spot for
rain through Dec. 12 — 44.86 in.
locals.
“We are, in a way, living
o u t m y d a d’s yo u n g e r
dreams of opening a restau-
rant,” Ridout said. “We didn’t
expect the community to be
this welcoming. That was re-
DAllAS — Dallas Public li-
ally cool. We’re really here to brary, 950 main St., Dallas, will
feature a selection of photo-
serve people great food.”
graphs by Peter Celich.
Celich rediscovered a pas-
sion for photography while
traveling the world during the
last few years.
Celich’s photography will be
on display through December.
For more information: 503-
623-2633.
WEATHER
Library to feature
Peter Celich
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