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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 18, 2017)
SEE INSIDE TANNER OMLID LEADING Section C Volume 142, Issue 3 THE WOLVES Page 11A www.Polkio.com January 18, 2017 $1.00 Dallas officers cleared by grand jury IN YOUR TOWN Unanimous decision made Friday after hearing testimony, watching body, dash camera footage By Jolene Guzman The Itemizer-Observer DALLAS — Two Dallas of- ficers involved in the Dec. 16, 2016, shooting in Dallas that killed Jeremiah N. An- derson will not face charges. Friday, a Polk County grand jury cleared Sgt. Rob Hatchell and Officer Michael Fleming in the incident, said a press release from the Polk County District Attorney’s Office. The finding was unanimous. According to the DA’s re- port, the grand jury found that Hatchell and Fleming’s use of deadly force was law- ful and justified because: • The use of physical force was necessary to defend the police officer or another per- son from the use or threat- ened imminent use of dead- ly physical force; and • The officer’s life or per- sonal safety was endangered in the particular circum- stance involved. On Dec. 16 at 5:18 p.m., a 911 caller reported a suspi- cious vehicle in the Dallas Walmart parking lot, 321 NE Kings Valley Highway. The caller described the vehicle as a green F-150 pickup truck and said the driver of the truck, appeared to be intoxicated and was flailing around in the driver’s seat. Dallas officers Aaron Mol- lahan, Fleming and Hatchell were dispatched to investi- gate the call. They contacted the driver of the pickup, identified as Jeremiah Nels Anderson, 36. According to the DA’s office, Anderson confirmed to the officers that he had driven himself to the Walmart in the pickup truck. Mo l l a h a n d e v e l o p e d probable cause to believe Anderson was impaired by a controlled substance, based on “poor performance on several field sobriety tests as well as his confused de- meanor and speech,” the DA’s office said. Anderson refused the offi- cers’ requests for consent to pat him down for weapons. The officers determined they had probable cause to arrest Anderson on driving under the influence of intox- icants and asked him to place his hands behind his back to be cuffed. At that point, Anderson actively began resisting ar- rest and trying to break free from physical restraint. An- derson was told repeatedly to stop resisting, but he continued to struggle with the officers, the release said. The officers restrained Anderson face down, but were unable to get his arms out from under him. At this point, Anderson told officers he would shoot, and pro- duced a .45-caliber pistol from a shoulder holster. He fired at least two bullets, hit- ting Hatchell in the leg, ac- cording to reports from the DA’s office. Hatchell returned fire at close range, striking Ander- son in the lower extremities, the report stated. Anderson continued to struggle. Fleming fired one shot, striking Anderson in the head, according to the DA’s office. Anderson died at the scene. Hatchell suffered ex- tensive injuries to his leg and back, the DA’s report stated. See DAllAS, Page 7A DAllAS City Council holds off on replacing recreation director. »Page 7A FAllS CITY Owners of green Haven park quarrel with council over new water rates. »Page 2A INDEPENDENCE City Council appoints Mike Hicks to fill sixth spot. Clow Corner, Hwy 99 to get rounder »Page 6A MONMOUTH Monmouth Public Li- brary garners attention from nASA. »Page 14A SPORTS Andrew Barry gets defensive for Central’s boys basketball team. By Jolene Guzman »Page 11A The Itemizer-Observer POLK COUNTY — Roundabout. That’s the solution for the intersection at Clow Corner and Highway 99W that Polk County and Oregon Department of Transportation officials agreed to pursue Tuesday morning. County officials say it’s not a perfect solution and more expensive than the traffic signal they have been wanting for a decade, but it’s at least doing something at an in- tersection that has a his- tory of serious crashes. As of September, the intersection of has been the spot for 32 crashes in the last 10 years, accord- ing to ODOT. Of those, five were very serious crashes, with two fatali- ties. County officials said other serious crashes have occurred since a fa- tality in September. ODOT has $3.39 million in an account waiting to be spent on a safety im- provement at the intersec- tion, about $1.6 million short of what would be needed to build a round- about. Tim Potter, ODOT’s Area 3 manager, said he can get started with engi- neering and right-of-way acquisition now if the commitment is for build- ing a roundabout. “I’ve been through my seven stages of grief on this traffic signal,” said Craig Pope, the Polk County Commissioners board chairman. “We have money, we can start doing something.” See ODOT, Page 2A THE NEXT 7 DAYS PLANNING FOR YOUR WEEK Ask Dr. before going to ER with flu Itemizer-Observer staff report ErIn OSgOOD/for the Itemizer-Observer Erin Osgood, inset, begins work to reach out to Polk County veterans as the county’s first veterans service officer. Polk gets own VSO to help local veterans Erin Osgood starts work to reach out, help wade through veterans affairs By Jolene Guzman Serving those who served The Itemizer-Observer DALLAS — Erin Osgood, Polk County’s new veterans service officer, is more than ready to begin helping those who have served. Since starting the job on Jan. 3, Osgood and her assis- tant Marie McCandless have had their hands full getting their new office running. “It’s a brand-new build- ing, so we’ve been hitting a few roadblocks just making sure everything works prop- erly,” Osgood said. “We haven’t been up and fully functioning yet. We are hop- ing for a soft opening by the end of (this week) when we can see veterans.” The position is new for Polk County, and the cost is being split between the state and county. Before this year, veterans had to go to the Veterans Af- fairs office in Salem for help with their claims. Osgood, who grew up in the Corvallis and Albany What: Polk County Veterans Service Office. Where: 240 SW Washington St., Dallas. Hours: Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Contact: 503-623-9188; website, http://www.co.polk.or.us/vso. area, previously served as the VSO in Grant County for 18 months. She and McCandless are U.S. Army veterans, and they both are eager to bring better service to the veteran community in Polk County. “I like working with vet- erans. It’s a nice way to give back,” Osgood said. “Since I can no longer serve, it’s nice to serve those who served.” Osgood said what she’s seen of the support system in Polk County for those in need, including veterans, is impressive. She’s already a member of the county’s service integra- tion teams, a program that pools resources in each wed thu Donate to Dallas First Christian Church’s sock drive, benefit- ing those in need through Polk Com- munity Connect. 8:30 a.m.-noon. Join the community at the open house of the recently re- modeled Mon- mouth Senior Center. Rain Hi: 49 Lo: 40 Showers Hi: 45 Lo: 36 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. fri What better way to spend the evening than with friends and a free movie at Dallas Public Li- brary? 5:30 p.m. Free. Showers Hi: 40 Lo: 32 community to help those needing assistance. “I’m just really excited to start work here in Polk County,” Osgood said. “I’ve been really surprised at all the amazing services that are already in place here. There’s already such a strong sense of community in this county and I’m really excited to be part of it.” Osgood’s main responsi- bility is to help veterans navigate the complicated claim process with the U.S. Department of Veterans Af- fairs. She can walk veterans through applying for med- ical, disability, home loan and education benefits. “We spend time with vet- erans making sure that their … claims are correct so they are getting the benefits they deserve and they are getting the money that they are en- titled to,” Osgood said. “It is very complicated. The VA is very particular in how they want claims filled out. The paperwork can be very con- fusing, so we spend a lot of time with veterans filling out the forms with them. We make sure everything is cor- rect so that they get the cor- rect benefits as quickly as possible.” With an estimated 8,000 veterans living in Polk Coun- ty, Osgood is betting her of- fice will be busy. “We are excited to take on the challenge, and we will meet whatever need is here in the county,” she said. Osgood said she plans to begin outreach efforts to the Falls City and Grand Ronde areas soon in hopes of reaching veterans who may not otherwise come into the office. See VSO, Page 7A POLK COUnTY — With the onset of flu season, winter weather condi- tions, and usual admis- sions for heart disease, stroke and other health conditions are keeping many hospitals busy, ac- cording to the Oregon Health Authority. Influenza can cause achiness, fever, cough and sore throat. People with mild symptoms who want to be seen can protect others and avoid long waits in the emergency room by calling their pri- mary care provider before heading to the hospital, the OHA stated. Many people with flu symptoms recover with rest and drinking plenty of fluids. People should call 911 if someone they know with the flu has severe shortness of breath or is difficult to wake. For those 65 and older, pregnant women, children and those with chronic med- ical conditions or weak im- mune systems who get fever with cough or sore throat, talk to a health care provider. Flu cases in Oregon have spiked in recent weeks. Laboratories in the state reported 1,641 speci- mens that were positive for influenza during the week of Dec. 25-31 — up from 609 positive flu spec- imens the week before. For more information: flu.oregon.gov. sat sun mon tue The Polk County Livestock Associa- tion will have its an- nual meeting at the fairgrounds. Scott Wagner will speak. 5:30 p.m. $15-$20. Has it been a while since you’ve cracked the cover of your Bible? Today is na- tional Bible Sunday, a great reason to start. Join the Willamette Valley Orchestra at Monmouth Senior Center to learn an instrument. 6:30 p.m. $25/month. James2 Community Kitchen feeds all who are hungry each week at St. Philip Catholic Church. 4:30 p.m. Free. Rain Hi: 39 Lo: 31 Showers Hi: 40 Lo: 30 Showers Hi: 40 Lo: 30 A.M. Rain/Ice Hi: 39 Lo: 30