Polk County
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Polk County Itemizer-Observer • March 22, 2017 4A
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EDITORIALS
It’s spring, time to
get to that to-do list
As the weather warms and the days get longer, thoughts
turn to spring cleaning, gardening and getting ready for
summer road trips.
The Itemizer-Observer Home and Garden and Car Care
special section found inside this week’s paper can help.
In it you will find tips on everything from indoor garden-
ing to three easy projects to spruce up your backyard, to
tackling those house cleaning projects in a smarter way.
Let’s face it — we could all use help with those things,
right?
The Oregon State University Extension Service offers a
list of things to do to get your outdoor space ready to gar-
den, too.
There are even tips on how to keep backyard birds safe
during this migratory season.
Lists and reminders about keeping your car in tip-top
shape, tips on how to survive a family road trip with every-
one still liking each other, and even information on buying
a home can all be found inside the special section.
Gardening and home maintenance doesn’t have to be
hard — or take all day — and with the tips and stories
found in our Home and Garden and Car Care section, you
may find some great ideas on how to achieve the backyard
or home of your dreams.
Next month, we’ll print a medical directory, with tips on
how to keep yourself in prime condition.
Of course, with spring also comes spring break, which
starts for our K-12 schools on Monday.
If you’re not going out of town, find time to head to one
of our local libraries for some fun crafts and movies, or try
a 4-H class and learn about fiber arts, jam and biscuits, na-
ture, ceramics and photography.
Pick up a DIY book and continue to plan your garden or
backyard barbecues.
At Monmouth Public Library, anyone can choose up to
five free seed packets each day. Browse the selection of
seeds and get ready to enjoy fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs
and flowers all summer and fall.
Between rain showers, be sure to enjoy our city parks
and trails. They are great places to meet with friends for
picnics or playtime.
Take time to look around and notice the migratory birds
in our area. Stop and smell the flowers that are finally wak-
ing up after a long, cold winter.
Whatever you do, be safe. Don’t drink and drive. Re-
member to look for pedestrians and cyclists — with kids
out of school, foot and bike traffic will increase.
If you’re the one on foot or bike, do your part and look
for cars. Wear bright clothing and protective gear whenever
possible.
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
Electoral college is
obsolete today
Our nation’s government
is run as a democratic re-
public.
If we had a real demo-
cratic government of, by
and for the people, we
might not have Donald
Trump as president today.
I do not believe that Rus-
sia did elect Mr. Trump.
More likely, too many
“deplorable,” qualified
American voters chose him.
Also, the obsolete elec-
toral college is not as suit-
able as a popular vote count
would be.
Walden Joura
Dallas
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
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).
—
WednesdAy, MArCh 22
• Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk
County Courthouse, first floor conference room, 850 Main St.,
Dallas. 503-623-8173.
ThursdAy, MArCh 23
• Monmouth-Independence networks Board of direc-
tors — 7:30 a.m., Henry Hill Education Support Center, 750 S.
Fifth St., Independence. 503-837-0700.
MondAy, MArCh 27
• Independence Library Board — 4 p.m., Independence
Public Library, 175 Monmouth St., Independence. 503-838-1212.
TuesdAy, MArCh 28
• Independence City Council — 7:30 a.m., Independence
Civic Center, 555 S. Main St., Independence. 503-838-1212.
• Monmouth senior Advisory Board — 1 p.m., Monmouth
Senior Center, 180 Warren St. S., Monmouth. 503-838-0725.
• Polk County Board of Commission work session — 9 a.m.,
Polk County Courthouse, BOC office, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-
623-8173.
WednesdAy, MArCh 29
• Polk County Board of Commissioners —9 a.m., Polk Coun-
ty Courthouse, first floor conference room, 850 Main St., Dallas.
503-623-8173.
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. Jeff Merkley (dem.)
313 Hart SOB
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: 202-224-3753
Fax: 202-228-3997
Salem office: 161 High St. SE,
Suite 250, Salem, OR 97301
Phone: 503-362-8102
Email: via website,
www.merkley.senate.gov
WANT TO WRITE A LETTER?
Letters to the editor are lim-
ited to 300 words. Longer letters
will be edited.
Election-related letters of all
types are limited to 100 words.
Writers are limited to one elec-
tion-related letter per election
season. Election letters from
writers outside of Polk County
are not accepted.
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.
The Itemizer-Observer does
not guarantee the accuracy of
facts presented by letter writers;
dissenters are welcome to re-
spond. Letter writers who dis-
agree with other published
letter writers should maintain a
civil discourse and address the
subject, not the author.
Letters, like all editorial mate-
rial submitted to the newspa-
per, are edited for length,
grammar 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, not organiza-
tions, and must be original sub-
missions to the I-O, not copies of
letters sent to other media.
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.
—
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.
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. 12
(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
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Polk County — One Year $35
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Outside of Oregon — One Year $45
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Lukas Eggen..................Sports Editor......................................................................leggen@polkio.com
Jolene Guzman............Dallas/Falls City/Polk County Reporter ................jguzman@polkio.com
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which is in error if the Itemizer-Observer is at fault.