Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current, January 25, 2017, Image 4

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Polk County itemizer observer., January 25, 2017, Page 4A, Image 4

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Newspaper Page TextPolk County Voices Polk County Itemizer-Observer • January 25, 2017 4A How to Contact Officials EDITORIALS Homeless forum good first step Inspired by the outpouring of interest on Facebook community pages, Polk County’s first forum to address homelessness happened on Thursday. The event was well- attended, with about 80 people coming to see how they can get involved with helping the homeless population in Polk County. Action is needed, but it’s tricky, because homelessness has many facets and faces. County Commissioner Jennifer Wheeler had good intentions when she joined with offi- cials in Marion County to form the Marion-Polk task force to address homelessness, and was wise to remove Polk from the group when its leaders began to lose focus. That doesn’t mean she — and others in Polk County — doesn’t want to address the issues and see what can be done to help those in need. When the Dallas community bulletin board on Face- book exploded with people asking that very thing — how can I help those out in the cold tonight? — the community forum was arranged. People learned about what resources are available and what is needed, both immediately and down the road. Some things are larger than community members can handle — mental health, low wages, high rents, housing shortage — while other things discussed are more man- ageable. While the Mid-Valley Community Action Network works to get a handle on just how large a homeless population exists in Polk County, community members can work to collect donations of cash and clothing for those on the streets and in parks. When one has nothing, everything counts. Today at Valley Life Center, the annual Community Con- nect event will help hundreds connect to resources, get a fresh hair cut, eat a warm meal, gather much-needed sup- plies, and even get basic care for a beloved pet. It’s a great chance to see services in action. Even if you don’t need help, swing over and take the op- portunity to “shop” for a place to volunteer. Find out where you want to donate your time — your most precious re- source — and sign up. Spend time this weekend going through your closet and seeing what you have that you aren’t using anymore — is it still in good shape? Would someone else find joy from something collecting dust in your home? Donate it on the first Saturday of the month to the Polk Family and Community Outreach donation center — the warehouse space is donated by Salem Health West Valley to store items that will be given to people in need in the Polk County community. Set out a box at school, work or church to collect food, socks, coats, gloves, hats or cash. It truly takes a village to help everyone in the communi- ty. When the residents of Polk County set their minds to something, nothing stops them. Homelessness is not something that can be prevented, but people who experience it or are close to experiencing it can be helped. It is wonderful to see the first steps taken. PUBLIC AGENDA Public Agenda is a listing of upcoming meetings for gov- ernmental and nongovernmental agencies in Polk County. To submit a meeting, send it at least two weeks before the actual meeting date to the Itemizer-Observer via email (ionews@polkio.com). — ThursdAy, JAn. 26 • Monmouth-Independence networks Board of direc- tors — 7:30 a.m., Henry Hill Education Support Center, 750 S. Fifth St., Independence. 503-837-0700. TuesdAy, FeB. 2 • Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk County Courthouse, ﬁrst ﬂoor conference room, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-623-8173. WednesdAy, FeB. 1 • Monmouth historic Commission — 6 p.m., Volunteer Hall, 144 S. Warren St., Monmouth. 503-838-0725. • Monmouth Planning Commission — 7 p.m., Volunteer Hall, 144 S. Warren St., Monmouth. 503-838-0725. • Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk County Courthouse, ﬁrst ﬂoor conference room, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-623-8173. GOVERNOR Gov. Kate Brown (dem.) 160 State Capitol 900 Court St. NE Salem, OR 97301 503-378-4582 Email: via website, http://governor.oregon.gov/ — STATE LEGISLATORS sen. Arnie roblan (District 5, Democrat) S-417 State Capitol 900 Court St. NE Salem, OR 97301 503-986-1705 sen.arnieroblan@state.or.us www.oregonlegislature.gov/roblan LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Trump’s first action affects homebuyers Congratulations Trump voters. Your boy in the White House in his first official act signed a presidential order suspending a plan by Hous- ing and Urban Develop- ment to reduce the cost of homeowners’ mortgage in- surance for first-time home buyers using mortgages backed by the Federal Hous- ing Administration. Now it will be more ex- pensive for these new buy- ers to buy that first home. This will negatively impact 750 to 800 thousand work- ing, middle-class Americans each year. The Obama Administra- tion had planned to lower the cost of this insurance by almost one-third. But immediately after being sworn, Trump sus- pended the original plan. If you plan to buy a house under the HUD program, the mortgage insurance on that loan will go up, making it more difficult to afford the home. Now, Trump’s buddies in the insurance business can rest easy that they will be making the maximum pos- sible and increase their in- come by millions of dollars. Meanwhile, middle-class, working-class Americans qualifying for an FHA- backed mortgage will be less able to afford that first home or will pay millions more for the privilege. Your boy is really sticking up for middle America. Thanks, Trumpies, even you will be shafted by this. Fred Brown Dallas Stellar service, care at Salem Health In early December, my husband took me to the emergency room of Salem Health West Valley at the di- rection of my surgeon in Portland. Usually, I have to go to Saint Vincent’s Hospi- tal for the symptoms I was having, but the road condi- tions were not safe. My sur- geon said he would be avail- able to the physicians at Salem Health West Valley’s ER. Those physicians were incredible. Together this skilled team successfully prevented me from requir- ing a dangerous surgery. I was admitted to Salem Health West Valley where I remained for four days. I was impressed with the highly skilled and compas- sionate care I received. The nurses worked around the clock and were attentive to my needs. I also want to thank the housekeeping department. There were two women who I called, “The Merry Maids,” who I looked forward to seeing every day. They visit- ed me and shared their ex- periences and their families. They did a great job of cleaning my room and acted as goodwill ambassa- dors. Another person that added to the healing process for me was Bill, from the kitchen. He was an absolute delight. When I started the re-feeding process, he helped me plan the menu of foods I could eat. I tried really hard to cheat and sneak food in the menu that I wanted to eat, but Bill would not let me. He made the re-feeding process fun, and he was very profession- al. Those of us in Polk Coun- ty are fortunate and blessed to have this professional in- stitution right here in Dal- las, and my husband and I were so blessed to know that we did not have to race up to Portland to relieve my suffering and prevent a complete intestinal obstruc- tion. I would highly recom- mend this hospital to any- one looking for skilled and compassionate care. Joy McGavock Dallas Many thanks for early Christmas gift The residents of Jefferson Lodge Memory Care Com- munity, located at 664 SE Jefferson Street in Dallas, re- ceived an early Christmas gift from the members of New Life Ministries, located in Monmouth. Jefferson Lodge sends a huge thank-you to the church members who went out of their way to make Christmas so special for their residents. Members donated supplies and their time to make a Christmas ornament for each resident in the memory care com- munity. The handmade gifts were delivered individually and accepted with so much gratitude from the commu- nity. Memory loss not only takes away a person’s ability to remember, but it changes their cognitive abilities and sensory perception as well. The ornaments delivered by New Life Ministries not only encourage Jefferson Lodge residents to reminisce about Christmases past, but they provide a piece of beauty for them to enjoy as well. From everyone at Jeffer- son Lodge, thank you, New Life Ministries, for dedicat- ing your time and resources to lifting the spirits of our residents. If you would like to know more about the exceptional care services provided at Jef- ferson Lodge Memory Care Community, call 503-623- 8104 or visit www.Jefferson- LodgeMemoryCare.com. sen. Jackie Winters (District 10, Republican) S-301 State Capitol 900 Court St. NE Salem, OR 97301 503-986-1710 sen.jackiewinters@state.or.us www.oregonlegislature.gov/winters sen. Brian Boquist (District 12, Republican) S-305 State Capitol 900 Court St. NE Salem, OR 97301 503-986-1712 sen.brianboquist@state.or.us www.oregonlegislature.gov/boquist rep. david Gomberg (District 10, Democrat) H-471 State Capitol 900 Court St. NE Salem, OR 97301 503-986-1410 rep.davidgomberg@state.or.us www.oregonlegislature.gov/gomberg rep. Paul evans (District 20, Democrat) H-281 State Capitol 900 Court St. NE Salem, OR 97301 503-986-1420 rep.paulevans@state.or.us www.oregonlegislature.gov/evans rep. Mike nearman (District 23, Republican) H-378 State Capitol 900 Court St. NE Salem, OR 97301 503-986-1423 rep.mikenearman@state.or.us www.oregonlegislature.gov/nearman — U.S. CONGRESS sen. ron Wyden (dem.) 221 Dirksen SOB Washington, D.C. 20510 Phone: 202-224-5244 Fax: 202-228-2717 Salem oﬃce: 707 13th St. SE, Suite 285, Salem, OR 97301 Phone: 503-589-4555 Email: via website, www.wyden.senate.gov Joy McGavock Dallas WANT TO WRITE A LETTER? Letters to the editor are lim- ited to 300 words. Each writer is restricted to one letter per 30-day period. Letters that are libelous, ob- scene or in bad taste will not be printed. Attacks by name on businesses or individuals will not be printed. Letters to the editor that are obvious promotions for a busi- ness, products or services will not be printed. Letters, like all editorial mate- rial submitted to the newspa- per, are edited for length, gram- mar and content. Letters must include the au- thor’s name, address and tele- phone number. This includes letters submitted via the I-O’s website. Names and cities of res- idence are published; street ad- dresses and telephone numbers are used for veriﬁcation pur- poses only. Letters must be submitted from individuals. Letters of thanks to busi- nesses, individuals and organi- zations are limited to 10 names. The deadline for letters to the editor is 10 a.m. Monday. Let- ters submitted may not be re- tractable after this deadline. Full letters policy available at www.polkio.com. — Reach us at: Mail: Editor, Polk County Itemizer-Observer, P.O. Box 108, Dallas, OR 97338. Fax: 503-623-2395. email: ionews@polkio.com. Oﬃce: 147 SE Court St., Dallas. sen. Jeﬀ Merkley (dem.) 313 Hart SOB Washington, D.C. 20510 Phone: 202-224-3753 Fax: 202-228-3997 Salem oﬃce: 495 State St. SE, Suite 330, Salem, OR 97301 Phone: 503-362-8102 Email: via website, www.merkley.senate.gov rep. Kurt schrader (dem.) 108 Cannon HOB Washington, D.C. 20515 Phone: 202-225-5711 Fax: 202-225-5699 Salem oﬃce: 544 Ferry St. SE, Suite 2, Salem, OR 97301 Phone: 503-588-9100 Fax: 503-588-5517 Email: via website, www.schrader.house.gov — POLK COUNTY Board of Commissioners 850 Main St. Dallas, OR 97338 Phone: 503-623-8173 www.co.polk.or.us — CITIES dallas 187 SE Court St. Dallas, OR 97338 503-623-2338 www.ci.dallas.or.us Falls City 299 Mill St. Falls City, OR 97344 503-787-3631 www.fallscityoregon.gov Independence 555 S. Main St. Independence, OR 97351 503-838-1212 www.ci.independence.or.us Monmouth 151 W. Main St. Monmouth, OR 97361 503-838-0722 www.ci.monmouth.or.us HOW TO REACH US neWsrOOM Emily Mentzer ..............Editor/Monmouth/Independence Reporter ....ementzer@polkio.com Vol. 142, No. 4 (USPS) - 437-380) The official newspaper of Polk County • Serving Polk County families since 1875 Winner of 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2014 General Excellence Awards from the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association Periodicals postage paid at Dallas, OR, Independence, OR and Monmouth, OR. Published weekly at 147 SE Court Street Dallas, Oregon 97338 Phone: 503-623-2373 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Polk County — One Year $35 Other Oregon Counties — One Year $40 Outside of Oregon — One Year $45 POsTMAsTer: send address changes to: Polk County Itemizer-Observer, P.O. Box 108, dallas, Oregon 97338 Lukas Eggen..................Sports Editor......................................................................leggen@polkio.com Jolene Guzman............Dallas/Falls City/Polk County Reporter ................jguzman@polkio.com dIsPLAy AdVerTIsInG Heidi Leppin .................Display Advertising Manager ....................................hleppin@polkio.com Rachel Best ....................Display Advertising.............................................................rbest@polkio.com Karen Sanks...................Client Services ...................................................................ksanks@polkio.com CLAssIFIed LIne AdVerTIsInG Dawn Ohren.....................................................................................................................ioads@polkio.com PrOduCTIOn Kathy Huggins ..............................................................................................................iosales@polkio.com Karyn Pressel .................................................................................................................iosales@polkio.com The Polk County Itemizer-Observer assumes no ﬁnancial responsibility for errors in advertise- ments. It will, however, reprint without charge for the portion of an advertisement Web: www.polkio.com Phone: 503-623-2373 Fax: 503-623-2395 which is in error if the Itemizer-Observer is at fault.