Polk County News
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • January 25, 2017 7A
MLK inspired man to work for unity
George Furniss, of Dallas, heard King’s ‘I Have A Dream’ speech in person
By Jolene Guzman
The Itemizer-Observer
DALLAS — Rev. George
Furniss was 24 when he
heard words that would in-
spire him to spend decades
fighting for civil rights and
social justice.
It was August of 1963,
and Furniss was one of
200,000 people who had
gathered on the Washing-
ton Mall during the March
on Washington.
“It was a milestone expe-
rience to be at the March
on Washington. Two hun-
d re d t h o u s a n d p e o p l e
gathered there on that Au-
gust day on the Washington
Mall, in front of the Lincoln
Memorial, hearing a series
of excellent white and
black civil rights leaders,”
he recalled.
The crowd had been
standing for a little more
than three hours when the
last speaker, Martin Luther
King Jr., took the stage.
“Everyone was pretty
tired. I think everybody was
thinking it would good to
have this over. It would be
good to go home,” Furniss
said. “And then was his
speech.
“He electrified the crowd.”
Furniss knew they were
listening to history in King’s
“I Have a Dream …” speech.
He forgot about the long
hours of standing and lis-
tened to the words. Furniss
was particularly struck when
King spoke of transforming
“the jangling discords of our
nation into a beautiful sym-
phony of brotherhood.”
“That is based on more
than just tolerance between
groups, but it is based on ac-
ceptance and friendship and
GEORGE FURNISS for /Itemizer-Observer
Rev. George Furniss gave a speech “Beyond Tolerance” inspired by the work of Martin
luther king Jr. on Jan. 16 as Dallas First Presbyterian Church.
love among people,” Furniss
said, adding that journey is
incomplete. “It’s a continu-
ing struggle. It really is.”
Furniss spoke on that
theme on Martin Luther
King Jr. Day last week at Dal-
las First Presbyterian Church
in his talk, “Beyond Toler-
ance.”
Now a resident of Dallas
with his wife Sandra Larson,
the pastor at the church,
Furniss believes more peo-
ple need to seek under-
standing of views different
from their own, particularly
in the politically polarized
times we live in.
“Talk to each other and
learn, have significant dia-
logue about their world
views,” he said. “It needs to
be intentional. So much our
lives are just kind of parallel
lives. We are in situations to-
gether, but we don’t engage.”
It’s a belief he practices in
his life, even having weekly
coffee dates with a friend on
the opposite end of the po-
litical spectrum.
He said the key isn’t nec-
essarily to persuade or be
persuaded, but simply en-
courage listening — and un-
derstanding.
“It’s been extremely help-
ful for me to understand his
point of view,” Furniss said.
Furniss is active in the
Polk County Taskforce for
Human Equality, which has
hosted speakers addressing
stereotypes about race rela-
tions, Islam and transgender
individuals. Once again, the
purpose is to foster under-
standing, he said.
“We feel that is a way to
make a contribution in Polk
County,” he said.
He’s active with the na-
tional civil rights organiza-
tion, Sojourners, and Bread
for the World, an organiza-
tion fighting hunger and
food insecurity.
Furniss, 78, hasn’t lost
faith in the movement.
“King said that the arch of
history goes toward justice
and I believe in that. People
of all faiths who believe in
the brotherhood of man
must not grow discouraged,”
he said. “They must realize
it’s a long struggle, but it will
be successful.”
Safety coalition video contest open to high school students
Itemizer-Observer staff report
SALEM — A Oregon Young
Employee Safety Coalition con-
test for high-school students
encourages them to increase
awareness about safety on the
job. Students may submit a 90-
second video that inspires
young workers to do at least
one thing differently to stay
safe on the job. The video must
include the theme: Speak up.
Work safe.
The video must educate
young workers about the im-
portance of speaking up in the
workplace. Participants are en-
couraged to develop a key
message or slogan, use humor,
and get creative while empha-
sizing ways to protect them-
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Help and encouragement after the death
of a spouse, child, family member or friend.
Please join us for a 13 week seminar and support group
that meets weekly to help you face the challenges of
grief. Each session focuses on a specific topic and offers
a DVD presentation and small group discussion time. A
personal workbook is included for taking notes on the
presented material and On Your Own sections.
$35 registration includes workbook. Scholarships available.
First session, “Is This Normal?” begins
Monday, Feb. 6 • 6:30 pm
Weekday Bible Building , 1156 SE Holman Ave.
For more information
or to register please
call Kate or visit our
website.
503-917-1625
www.crossandcrownministries.org
GRAND OPENING!
Dallas Retirement Village celebrates the grand
opening of Lodge Residences and the Clubhouse!
Wednesday, January 25th at 11:00 am
Ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11:30 am. Tours to follow.
Wine tasting and coffee sampling in the Clubhouse lounge, movie and
snacks in the theatre and a performance by our resident drum
collaboration. Appetizers and refreshments will be served.
For more details, call 503-623-9211.
503-623-9211
225 NW Jasper St, Dallas, OR 97338
www.dallasretirementvillage.com
Dallas Retirement Village is a faith-based, non-profit organization open to all.
TALKS
1/8 PAGe (4.917” x 2.5”) ........................................ $ 69
$
1/4 PAGe (4.917” x 5.083”) .............................. 132
$
1/2 PAGe (10” x 5.083”) (4.917” x 10.292”) ...... 242
$
Full PAGe (10” x 10.292”) .............................. 473
$
Prime location BACk PAGe .................... 552
Deadline:
Feb. 8
Publishes:
Feb. 22
FULL A C dd
O
for onl LOR
$50 mo y
re!
Call Heidi, Rachel or Karen 503-623-2373
Itemizer-Observer • 147 SE Court St., Dallas • www.polkio.com
selves and their co-workers.
The top three entries will take
home cash prizes ranging from
$300 to $500. Schools will offer
matching amounts. For more
information: youngemploy-
eesafety.org.
POLICE REPORT
Information for the police
report comes from law en-
forcement agencies. Not all
calls for service are included.
The status of incidents re-
ported may change after
further investigation. Indi-
viduals arrested or suspect-
ed of crimes are considered
innocent until proven guilty.
—
DAllAS
Arrests/Citations
Luann K. Hayford, 55, of
Dallas, in the 100 block of
Rainbow Ave. on Jan. 8 on
second-degree criminal mis-
chief — crime damage, and
second-degree disorderly
conduct.
Patrick A. Swearingen, 51,
of Dallas, in the 600 block of
Main St. on Jan. 11 on second-
degree criminal mischief —
vandalism.
Kenneth R. Short, 29, of
Salem, in the 100 block of W.
Ellendale Ave. on Jan. 13 on
misdemeanor driving under
the influence of intoxicants,
failure to perform the duties
of the driver — property dam-
age, and reckless endanger-
ing.
Loren S. Teter, 55, of Dallas
in the 500 block of E. Ellendale
Ave. on Jan. 19 on second-de-
gree theft, second-degree
criminal mischief and unlaw-
ful controlled substance —
prohibited acts.
Daymn P. Reynolds, 21, of
Dallas in the 100 block of SW
Court St. on Jan. 21 on prohib-
ited exposure.
INDePeNDeNCe
Arrests/Citations
Melisa June Marie
Collinsworth, 31, of Dallas, in
the 1600 block of Monmouth
St. on Jan. 2 for possession of
methamphetamine. On Jan. 9
in the 800 block of N. Main St.,
Collinsworth was arrested for
second-degree theft — re-
ceiving stolen property.
Anthony Wesley Good, 31,
of Salem, in the 900 block of S.
Main St. on Jan. 2 for proba-
tion violation, failure to report
as a sex offender, and posses-
sion of methamphetamine.
Ramon Garcia Fabela, 28, of
Independence, in the 3300
block of Independence Hwy.
on Jan. 2 for driving under the
influence of intoxicants and
reckless driving.
Andrea Elena Quiroz, 21, of
Independence, at S. Seventh
and C sts. on Jan. 7 for posses-
sion of methamphetamine
and a warrant for probation
violation.
MONMOuTH
Arrests/Citations
Sonya Janet Rae Wright-
house, 27, a transient in Mon-
mouth, in the 100 block of Ed-
wards Rd. S. on Jan. 12 for
probation violation and sec-
ond-degree criminal mistreat-
ment — family or other.
NEWS IN BRIEF
State lawmakers to host students
SALEM — The Oregon House of Representatives and the Ore-
gon Senate will once again host students from around the state
as part of the honorary page program.
The program allows students to witness the legislative process
in an up-close and personal way in a space of about six hours.
For more information or to apply: oregonlegislature.gov, “citi-
zen engagement.”
