Polk County News
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • March 1, 2017 7A
Parks: House, Senate bills seek to clarify statute
Continued from Page 1A
Foggin pointed out that
public bodies indemnify
their employees, so the law-
suit ends up being the gov-
ernment’s responsibility
anyway, thus eliminating
immunity.
“What this resolution will
do, really, is to send a mes-
sage to the state legislature
saying, please know that
recreational immunity …
makes it so people can come
and enjoy (parks and open
spaces) and we don’t have to
worry about being sued,”
Foggin said.
While Polk County has yet
to address the issue, Morgan
Smith, the county’s attorney,
said the supreme court’s de-
cision is rooted in the long,
twisting history of tort cases
against government bodies
in Oregon branching all the
way back to the 1850s.
Then, government agen-
cies could not be sued, only
individuals.
That changed in the 1960s
when the Oregon Torts
Claims Act allowed the gov-
ernment to be sued, but set
a cap on how much could be
claimed. Individuals — em-
ployees of the govern-
ment — could no longer be
sued, he said.
That changed yet again in
2009, when the courts found
that individuals could be
named in lawsuits, but only
if the plaintiff was claiming
damages of more than the
tort cap, which is now
$691,000.
The government is still re-
JOLENE GUZMAN/Itemizer-Observer
Chelsea Ramey, left, pushes Oliver Ramey on a toy in Dallas City Park while Kayce Howard watches.
sponsible for defending em-
ployees.
Now Johnson vs. Gibson
opens governments to more
lawsuits specifically involv-
ing parks and other open
spaces, he said.
If the legislature doesn’t
clarify the statute, Smith
thinks public spaces will be
closed or more fees will be
charged for use.
“It would have an impact
on how we would manage
parks,” he said.
Two identical bills have
been introduced in the
Oregon House and Senate
to address the issue, Senate
Bill 327 and House Bill
2792.
Those bills clarify that
employees or agents of
landowners are covered by
recreation immunity when
acting within the scope of
their duties.
Not everyone agrees that
public landowners should
have the benefit of immuni-
ty in all cases. The Oregon
Trail Lawyers Association is
supporting a bill that would
eliminate recreational im-
munity for government bod-
ies.
Senate Bill 504 would
allow people to sue for neg-
ligence if, for example, play-
ground equipment or trails
aren’t properly maintained.
“All the bill says is that
families have a right to have
their day in court,” said
Arthur Tower, OTLA political
director. “It states injured
families have a right to make
their case.”
Smith said he thinks
recreational immunity is a
good policy, providing in-
centive for opening land to
public use.
“I think it’s worked well,
especially with as outdoorsy
as Oregon is,” he said.
But he acknowledges that
the those lobbying against it
have good arguments, too.
Tower said the SB 504 is
not intended to put a
damper on use of public
land and parks, but make
sure those spaces are prop-
erly maintained for safety.
He said agencies can defend
themselves against cases if
they create and follow a
“safety plan” for mainte-
nance at their facilities.
His hope is that lawmak-
ers will be able to find a
compromise that public
landowners and users can
live with.
“Government should ac-
cept responsibility, not shirk
it,” he said. “We have to find
a path forward that protects
families.”
Polk County Worship Directory
DALLAS
Calvary Chapel Dallas Currently meeting for
worship and verse by verse Bible teaching at
628 SE Jefferson St. www.calvarydallasor.com
Worship service begins at 10 a.m. on Sunday.
Sunday school is available from youth ministry
and below to nursery. Wednesday evening
cafe-style Old Testament study starting at 6:30
pm. Come join us for a relaxed study around
a cup of coffee or drink. Mens prayer is Satur-
day at 7:30 a.m. Womens Bible studies are
scheduled also, call for times. The
Pastor/Teacher is Larry King. Come join us
and be a part of God's family here in Dallas.
For more information call 503-831-1074.
Church of God of Prophecy New Begin-
nings - 575 SW Ash St., (corner of Ash &
Stump St.) Pastor Travis Clemons, 541-671-
0375. Bible Study School 10:00 a.m. Morning
Worship 11:00 a.m. We welcome all to come
and get acquainted with our Pastor and his
wife Christina. Home Bible Study 6:00 p.m.
Sunday. Associate Pastor Jim Dickason 503-
302-9816.
Church of Christ - 691 N.E. Kings Valley
Hwy. Sunday Class 9:30 a.m. Worship Service
10:30 a.m. Sunday Afternoon Service 2:00
p.m. Thursday evening Bible Study 7:00 p.m.
We follow the New Testament Plan of Salva-
tion in becoming a Christian and the Pattern
of the N. T. Church. We would be glad to study
the Bible with you and answer any of your
questions. We would like to present a very
helpful one hour overview of the Bible. Call
503-831-4886.
Dallas Alliance Church - 775 E. Ellendale,
Dallas, 503-623-2265, Email office@dallasal-
liance.org, Lead Pastor Jim Jamieson; and
Youth/Children’s Pastor Lance Baker; Every
Sunday: classes for all ages at 9:15 a.m.,
Morning Worship at 10:30 a.m., (Nursery pro-
vided for a.m. services); Tuesdays: Youth
Night 7:00 p.m. in Ediger Hall; Wednesdays:
Adult Prayer Meeting 1:00 p.m., Choir practice
6:45 p.m. Call for info on current Bible Studies.
Web: dallasalliance.org.
Dallas Church - PO Box 462, Dallas, OR
97338, 503-623-2711. Worship Gatherings:
Sundays 10am. Meeting at 450 SE Washing-
ton St., Dallas OR 97338. Atmosphere is re-
laxed, families & children welcome, come as
you are, current music & relevant teaching
about Jesus. Pastor: Ben Bauman. www.dal-
laschurch.org
Dallas Foursquare Church - Located at 976
SW Hayter St. on the corner of Washington
and Hayter. Worship Service: Sundays at
10am. Youth Group: Sundays 6pm to 8pm.
Pastor: Darrin Hausler. We are a multi-gener-
ational church with a heart for our community.
Our mission is to Love God and Love People
to Extend His Kingdom. For more info call us
at 503-623-8277 or you can visit us online at
dallasfour.com.
Dallas Presbyterian Church invites you:
Warm, spirit-filled fellowship with traditional
Sunday worship 10:30 am, engaging discus-
sion study groups, prayer "chain" and a loving
spirit.—Adult Sunday School 9 am, men's
breakfasts Tuesdays at 7 am, women's
groups, needle crafts group and Indoor Play
Park (for children with accompanying parent).
Sensitivity to older adult accessibility and
needs. 789 SW Levens, Dallas. 623-3397 dal-
preschurch@gmail.com.
Evangelical Bible Church - 1175 S.E. Howe,
Dallas 503-623-2331. Senior Pastor Jerry
Franz, Visitation Pastor Allan Wiebe, Youth
Pastor Nathan Ensz. Sunday: Worship *8:00
a.m.; *10:45 a.m.; *6:00 p.m.; Sunday School
9:30 a.m.; High School Youth Group 7:00 p.m.;
Thursday: Jr. High Youth Group - 7:00 p.m.;
2nd & 4th Tuesday: MOPS *9:00 a.m.;
Wednesday: AWANA - 6:30 p.m.; Prayer
Meeting & Bible Study 7:00 p.m.; Thursday:
Bible Studies *9:00 a.m. & *7:00 p.m.
(women); Thursday Group Bible Study 2:00
p.m. *Nursery care provided.
Faith Evangelical Free Church - 2290 E. El-
lendale Ave., Dallas, 503-623-8034; Interim
Pastor Dennis Beatty, Associate Pastor Ed
Sutter, Worship Pastor Ted Kitzmiller, Youth
Pastor Aaron Swank, Ministry of Children &
Family Debbie Davies. Sunday School 9:00
a.m.; Sunday Worship 10:30 a.m., Sunday
High School Youth Group 6:30 p.m.; Wednes-
day Jr. High Youth Group 7:00 p.m. Please call
or visit our website for information about other
meetings. www.faithfreechurch.org
First Baptist Church - 245 S.W. Church St.,
Dallas, 503-623-5189; www.gofbc.org; Church
Office Hours: Monday, Tuesday & Thursday
6:30 am - 11:30 am; Pastor Rick Bratton 503-
551-9561; Sunday School 9:30 a.m., Worship
10:45 a.m., Wednesday Bible Study 6-7 p.m;
Everyone Welcome!
First Christian Church - Joyfully Worshipping
& Serving 1079 S.E. Jefferson Street, Dallas,
503-623-2569. Pastor Darren Anderson. “Live
Wire Worship” with Praise Team - 8:30 a.m.,
Adult, Youth & Children Sunday School - 9:30
a.m., Morning Worship - 10:30 a.m. (Nursery
provided), Men’s Bible Study - Thursday, 8:30
a.m. Christian Women’s Fellowship - 2nd
Tuesday, 1:00 pm (Sept through June). Please
call church office for information about other
meetings.
Grace Community Church - 598 E. Ellendale
Ave. PO Box 69, Dallas, 503-623-4961. Senior
Pastor-Dave Bertolini, Pastor of Worship &
Discipleship-Ryan Bucher, Pastor of Student
Ministries-Ben Potloff. Sunday Worship: 1st
Service-9:00 a.m. with Kids, Youth, & Adult
Sunday School running concurrently. 2nd Wor-
ship Service-10:45 a.m. with Kids Worship
running concurrently. Nursery provided for 0 -
2 year olds during both services. Office open
Tuesday-Friday for office hours visit our web-
site at www.graceindallas.org. All are wel-
come!
Living Hope City Church - 180 SE Mill St.,
Dallas. Family Worship 10:30 am. www.living-
hopecitychurch.org Equipping Center & Of-
fices 186 SE Mill St., Dallas. For more
information call 503-623-6890.
Living Word Faith Fellowship - 830 SE Shel-
ton Street, Dallas, 503-623-9062. Pastor Joan
Siewert. Sunday Worship 10:00 a.m. Wednes-
day Worship 7:00 p.m. Children's Sunday
service 10:00 a.m., nursery provided. Men’s
fellowship second Saturday of month break-
fast at 8:00 a.m. at Murphy’s Restaurant, Dal-
las. Pastor Michael Van Dyke in charge of
men's fellowship. Call for additional informa-
tion. Website: www.proclaimhim.org
Salt Creek Baptist Church - 15075 Salt
Creek Road, Dallas, 503-623-2976. Senior
pastor David Curtis. Sunday School 9:30 a.m.
Sunday morning Worship 10:50 a.m. Nursery
provided for worship services. Classes for all
ages. Wednesday Senior High and Middle
School Youth at 6:30 p.m. Please call for infor-
mation about other meetings or visit our web-
site at www.saltcreekchurch.org.
Seventh-Day Adventist Church - 589 SW
Birch, P.O. Box 450, Dallas 97338-0450. 503-
623-5872. Services on Saturday: 9:30 A.M.
Sabbath School Bible Study for all age groups.
10:50 A.M. Worship Service. Office Hours:
Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 9 to Noon. Pas-
tor: Lary Brown
St. Thomas Episcopal Church – 1486 SW
Levens St., Dallas (at the corner of Levens &
Cherry) 503-623-8522. Email: stthomasdalla-
sor@gmail.com www.stthomasdallasor.org 10
AM worship with Holy Eucharist. Father Fred
Heard. Sunday School and Nursery Care
available during worship. The church has for-
mally adopted a policy of welcoming and fully
affirming individuals who are lesbian, gay, bi-
sexual or transgender (LGBT). The new policy
formalizes and expands on the church’s long-
standing tradition of radical hospitality towards
all people regardless of race or ethnicity, mar-
ital status, disability or socio-economic status.
St. Thomas Welcomes you—please join us.
Trinity Lutheran Church - 320 SE Fir Villa
Rd, Dallas, 503-623-2233. Interim Pastor - Al
Berg. Adult Sunday School 9:00 a.m. Worship
Service 10:00 a.m.; Kids Church during 10:00
a.m. Worship. Youth Group HS/MS 11:30 a.m.
Sundays. Wednesday evening Contemporary
Service 6:30 pm. Free Medical Clinic 1st & 4th
Saturday of each month. www.dallastlc.org.
Catch us on Facebook.
United Methodist Church – A church with
Open Hearts, Open Minds & Open Doors. 565
SE LaCreole Drive, Dallas, 503-623-2481.
Rev. J. Quinton Kimbrow, Minister. Worship
Service 11 a.m. Sunday School for Adults &
Youth, 9:30 a.m. Sunday School for Children
during worship service. Child-care available.
Handicap access. All are welcome! Email: dal-
lasumc@qwestoffice.net
Website:
www.sites.umcdallas.com
Valley Life Center (Assemblies of God) -
1795 S.E. Miller Ave., Dallas, 503-623-4116.
Lead Pastor: Chris Barker; Associate Pastor:
Ted Gibson; Children’s Director: Crystal
Barker; Youth Director: Kirk Bathke. Sunday
Morning Service 10:30 a.m., Wednesday
Family Night 6:30 p.m. Please call for more in-
formation or visit our website at www.valleylife-
center.com
FALLS CITY
Falls City Christian Church 233 S. Main
Street, Falls City, Oregon 97344, 503-787-
3104 Sunday Service: 10 am; www.falls
citycc.com
Falls City United Methodist Church - 242 N.
Main Street, Falls City, 503-851-3213. Pastor
Rebecca Strader. Morning worship Sunday
9:20 am. All denominations are welcome.
www.fallscityumc.org
Seventh-Day Adventist Church - 205 N.
Main, Falls City 97344, 503-787-3907. Pastor
Lary Brown. Sabbath School Sat. 9:30 am-
10:40 am; Worship Service 11 am. Community
Service Center (Food Bank) third Wed. of
each month, noon-3pm.
INDEPENDENCE
Buena Vista Community Church - 11355
Church St., Buena Vista. Independence. Pas-
tor Larry Lyon. Morning Worship 10:00 a.m.
Cornerstone Church of God - 4395 Inde-
pendence Hwy, Independence, 503-838-5119.
Sunday Service and Children’s Church 9:20
a.m. Nursery available. Wednesday Kids Klubs
6:30 p.m.. Thursday Adult Bible Study 6:30 p.m.
First Baptist Church - A warm, friendly
church that cares about you! Located at 1505
Monmouth St., Independence (across from
Central High School); 503-838-1001. Senior
Pastor Michael Parks. Sundays: Worship
Service 11 am Wednesdays: AWANA 7 pm
(during the school year). Thursdays: Youth
Group 6:15pm. Join us for small groups and
life groups throughout the week. First Baptist
Church has ministries for children, youth,
adults, families and seniors, throughout the
week. Check us out at www.independence-
firstbaptist.com
St. Patrick Parish, Catholic - 1275 E St., In-
dependence. 503-838-5801. Father Henry
Guillen Vega Masses Sat., vigil 5 p.m.; Sunday
9:30 a.m. (English), 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. (Span-
ish); Weekdays Mon, Tues, Wed, & Thurs.
9am, Saturday 7 p.m. (Spanish). Evergreen
Nursing Home; Holy Days 9 a.m. (Eng) & 7
Call 503-623-2373 to be added to this directory.
p.m. (Eng/Span). Sacrament of Reconciliation:
Sat 3:30-4:30 p.m. or by appointment. Religious
Education: RCIA Mon 7:00-8:30 p.m.; Mid-High
& High School Grades Mon 7:00-8:30p.m.;
Grades 1-4 Tues. 7:00-8:30 p.m. WOU Cam-
pus Ministry: Mass Sun. 5:00 p.m. at 315 N.
Knox St., Monmouth followed by a social hour.
MONMOUTH
Christ The King Christian Church - Meets
at 959 Church St. W., Monmouth 7:00 pm Sat-
urday Night. Christ The King Christian Church
is a conservative, contemporary, charismatic
Biblical Church. At Christ the King we learn:
the truths of the Bible, how to live Biblical
truths, how to please God, and how to be a
blessing to all people. Come and join us as we
learn and grow together. Everyone is wel-
come. Wally Wildman, senior pastor. For more
information call 503-623-2262. www.ctkmon-
mouth.com
Christ’s Church Methodist & Presbyterian
United - Come care and share with us. 412
Clay Street West, Monmouth, 503-838-1724.
Pastor Rebecca Strader. Worship Service 11
a.m. Call for information on small groups.
Church of Christ - 127 N. Heffley St., Mon-
mouth, 503-838-2360. Minister - Jon Siegrist.
Sunday School 9:45 a.m., Worship Service
10:45 a.m., Wednesday Service 7 p.m.
Faith Lutheran Church – 200 Monmouth-In-
dependence Hwy., Monmouth (the church with
the lighted cross on the “S” curve). Sunday
School and Adult Bible Classes 9:00 am; Di-
vine Service of Holy Communion 10:30 am.
During Lent Wednesday Soup Suppers 6:00
pm followed by Lenten Worship at 7:00 pm be-
ginning March 1 (Ash Wednesday), 8, 15, 22,
29, Apr. 5. 503-838-3459. Pastor Dallas C.R.
Dubke. www.FaithLutheranMonmouth.org;
Everyone is welcome!
Monmouth Christian Church - (503) 838-
1145; www.mymcc.cc. Lead Pastor: Sean
Bitzer. Pastors: Ulysses Vela, Aaron Barnhart
& Mary Weinbender. Sunday Service: 10am in
Monmouth (959 Church St.), 11am in Inde-
pendence (301 S. Main St.); Children’s pro-
gramming from birth to 5th grades every
Sunday. Questions? email info@mymcc.cc.
Join us this Sunday in person or LIVE online
at www.mymcc.cc.
New LIFE Ministries – we’re growing in
Polk County! CHILDREN'S CHURCH NOW
AVAILABLE! We are a God-loving, Bible-be-
lieving, non-denominational church body. This
church is a little different, in that it’s not just a
church service, but is all about being a “service
church”. We strive to seek out and serve the
needs of the community. It is our hope that God
will use us to make a difference. Come join us!
We meet at Henry Hill School 750 S. 5th St. in
Independence every Sunday morning at 10:00-
11:00 am. Our minister is Marion Seick. Feel
free to call us at (503) 871-5207. Please come
visit and worship with us this Sunday!"
Praise Assembly 189 Monmouth Ave S.,
Monmouth (locations in McMinnville and
Willamina as well). Our English worship gath-
ering is 11 am on Sundays, followed by a
Spanish service at 2 pm. Kid’s church available
for 12 and under. Youth group meets at 9:30
Sunday morning. Other ministries include: Cel-
ebrate Recovery (Tues, 7 pm), College Bible
study (Wed, 7 pm), and Spanish Bible study
(Thurs, 7 pm). Please check our website for the
most up-to-date information, www.praiseon-
line.net, or call us at 503-837-0300.
St. Hilda's Episcopal Church 245 Main St.
W., Monmouth, 503-838-6087, sthildas
church.org Sunday Eucharist - 10:00 am fol-
lowed by Fellowship. Children's Sunday
School & Adult Bible Study 9:00 am. Wednes-
day Worship at 8:00 am and 7:00 pm. Nursery
care provided. Call for periodic small groups
and celebrations. All are welcome!