THE PRACTICAL ART OF
QUILTING
Volume 142, Issue 11
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Page 7A
ALEC BARBA
Page 12A
www.Polkio.com
$1.00
March 15, 2017
Voters will decide on 15-year bond in May
By Jolene Guzman
The Itemizer-Observer
DALLAS — This May, vot-
ers in Southwest Polk Rural
Fire Protection District will
weigh whether to approve a
15-year, approximately $5
million bond for stations,
fire engines and equipment.
Southwest Polk’s board
approved putting the ques-
tion before voters on Mon-
day night.
“I figured it out, it’s going
to raise my taxes about
$1,000 per year on my prop-
erty. I’m willing to pay that
for fire protection,” said
Frank Pender, a board mem-
ber.
He lives about five miles
outside of Dallas on 80 acres
of forested land.
“We’ve had the services of
Southwest Polk several
times in my 37, 38 years of
living up there,” Pender said.
“It’s getting to the point
where we don’t have servic-
es, as far as the equipment,
to do the job.
“I know it’s hard on all of
us,” he added.
See BOND, Page 3A
IN
YOUR
TOWN
DALLAS
Seed to Supper
Zen Thai & sushi of-
fers taste of two worlds
on one plate.
Marion-Polk Food Share to hold gardening classes starting on Saturday
FALLS CITY
»Page 6A
By Emily Mentzer
The Itemizer-Observer
INDEPENDENCE — The first day
of spring is Monday. Even though it’s
still wet and muddy outside, now is
the perfect time to start planning
your garden.
It’s also a great time to start seeds
indoors, said Heather McPherson,
marketing and communications
manager for the Marion-Polk Food
Share.
The food share will begin hosting
gardening classes, “Seed to Supper,”
on Saturday at Independence’s In-
spiration Garden at Mt. Fir Park, 756
G St. Classes will be from 11 a.m. to
1 p.m. Saturdays through April 8. A
meal and children’s activities will be
provided.
A second workshop will be from
11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays be-
ginning April 1 through May 6 at
Colonia Amistad, 30 S. Gun Club
Road. This workshop will be taught
in Spanish. A meal will be provided.
The classes are taught by Marion
County Master Gardeners and are
free.
“We think that everybody should
have access to healthy, fresh food,”
McPherson said. “One of the ways
of doing that is to grow your own
food in your own garden. It’s a great
way to stretch your food budget,
give yourself access to healthy food,
and grow the kind of food that you
like.”
The process of tackling a garden
can be intimidating for some, she
said.
“The Seed to Supper class is easy,
fun, and taught by volunteers,”
Fix for roads dam-
aged during winter
weather will be difficult
to find.
»Page 5A
INDEPENDENCE
Independence Police
Department officers ar-
rest six for driving
under the influence in
February.
»Page 2A
MONMOUTH
Monmouth City
Council leaves marijua-
na zoning rules in
place.
»Page 5A
EDUCATION
Art Houghtaling will
do double duty as inter-
im superintendent for
Falls City school Dis-
trict.
»Page 14A
SPORTS
JOLENE GUZMAN/Itemizer-Observer file
Though it’s still muddy and wet outside, it’s the perfect time of year to begin planning a garden.
McPherson said. “It’s a great way for
people to get interested in growing
food and get excited to grow their
own food.”
The class is a lot about the plan-
ning process of a garden, she said.
“When the class is over in April
and May, that’s the perfect time to
start planting,” McPherson said.
“They can start seeds indoors or
plant cool weather crops, like peas,
now.”
Afterward, participants will re-
ceive free seeds and starter plants.
See SEED, Page 6A
Western Oregon’s
distance medley relay
team wins a national
title.
»Page 12A
POLK COUNTY
Polk County officials
join other O&C counties
in a request for timber
payment corrections.
Emotional moment for MI’s First Citizen
»Page 6A
Oregon’s
unemployment
rate drops
Monmouth Mayor
Steve Milligan was
honored as First
Citizen at the 52nd
Annual Monmouth-
Independence
Community Awards
Banquet on
Friday night.
The evening honored
businesses and
ndividuals who serve
the community.
For more, see Page
11A.
HAUGEN’s GALLErI
/for the Itemizer-Observer
Itemizer-Observer staff report
sALEM — Oregon’s un-
employment rate dropped
to 4.3 percent in January.
The rate was 4.5 percent
in December.
This is the lowest rate
since comparable records
began in 1976, according
to the Oregon Employ-
ment Department.
SPRING SPORTS
The complete guide
to prep spring sports
can be found inside.
»Section C
NEwSLETTER
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THE NEXT
7
DAYS
PLANNING
FOR YOUR
WEEK
wed
Enjoy the next part
of Western Oregon
University’s Com-
munity Lecture se-
ries.
3:30 p.m. Free.
Rain
Hi: 56
Lo: 39
thu
fri
sat
sun
mon
tue
share your love of
writing at the Dallas
senior Writing
Group at Dallas sen-
ior Center.
10 a.m. Free.
Happy st. Patrick’s
Day! Get in the spirit
of the Irish by wear-
ing green today.
Come meet and
chat with local po-
lice officers at Cof-
fee with a Cop at the
Independence Mc-
Donalds.
8 a.m. Free.
Western Oregon’s
baseball team will
host Central Wash-
ington for a double-
header, weather
permitting.
Noon. $7.
Hooray! The first day
of spring is upon us.
Have some rare
coins? Come take
part in the Polk
County Coin Club at
Monmouth senior
Center.
7 p.m. Free.
Partly sunny
Hi: 55
Lo: 39
Rain
Hi: 53
Lo: 47
Rain
Hi: 52
Lo: 35
Partly cloudy
Hi: 54
Lo: 37
Cloudy
Hi: 57
Lo: 41
Showers
Hi: 54
Lo: 42