PERRYDALE STUDENTS SOPHIA HENKE SETS MEET KINDERS SCHOOL RECORD Page 14A Page 11A Volume 142, Issue 13 www.Polkio.com March 29, 2017 $1.00 Sheriff’s office looking for suspects IN YOUR TOWN DALLAS Friends of the Dallas Library to host a book sale April 7-8. »Page 5A Itemizer-Observer staff report DALLAS — The Polk County Sheriff’s deputies still are searching for sus- pects — a man and a woman — in a home inva- sion reported Thursday. “It’s still ongoing,” said Sheriff Mark Garton. “We been getting lots of tips. It’s allowing us to track those down to see if they are legitimate. There’s been lots of help.” So far, though, none of those tips have led an ar- rest. A woman living on James Howe Road outside Dallas reported that at about 2 p.m. Thursday, an unknown man and woman entered her home and threatened her and her children if she didn’t open the safe in the home, according to the sheriff’s office. The female suspect used force to get the woman to comply — grab- bing her by the hair and shoving her around the residence. The male sus- pect didn’t use force, but remained in the house during the incident, ac- cording to sheriff’s reports. “The unknown female then forced the victim to the lower level of the resi- dence, and bound her hands to a table, and fled the residence,” the sher- iff’s office press release read. “It took about 10 to 15 minutes for the victim to free herself and call 911. The children were un- harmed during the inci- dent, but the victim had marks on her wrists, face, and knee.” The female suspect is de- scribed as about 35 years old, 190 pounds, about 5- foot-6, with dark hair. At the time of the incident, she was wearing a pink hoodie shirt (not a sweatshirt), black sweats, brown Ugg- style boots, gloves and sun- glasses. The man was de- scribed as about 35 years old, 6 feet tall, medium build, clean-shaven, and wearing a black hat, jeans, and a dark shirt. If anyone has any infor- mation on the possible identity of the two sub- jects, contact Detective John Williams at 503-623- 9251 or at williams.john- @co.polk.or.us or message the sheriff’s office on Face- book. THE NEXT 7 DAYS PLANNING FOR YOUR WEEK FALLS CITY A plan to build a gym is taking shape. »Page 14A INDEPENDENCE JANET WHEELER / for the Itemizer-Observer Dallas resident Janet Wheeler poses with a statue of Ernest Hemingway at La Floridita, the author’s favorite bar, on a recent trip to Cuba. Wheeler spent almost two weeks in the country, staying in three different cities. Local markets return Saturday. A time-forgotten land MONMOUTH Dallas woman travels to experience the art, the food and the beauty of Cuba By Jolene Guzman The Itemizer-Observer DALLAS — Of the nearly 100 countries Janet Wheeler has visited in her well-trav- eled life, Cuba is one of the few places she plans to re- turn to. That’s saying something, considering that she’s trav- eled to all seven conti- nents — yes, including Antarctica. “Cuba was a place I really wanted to go and it’s one of the few places that I say I want to go back because I want to know what’s going to happen,” said Wheeler, who lives in Dallas. “I want to see the change that is going to happen.” That change may already be taking place. Restrictions on Americans traveling to the island nation have loos- ened, and millions have al- ready visited this year. With tourists come money, and Cuba’s artists, musician and restaurants are benefiting, Wheeler said. Wheeler’s trip was from Feb. 24 to March 8. She booked it with a people-to- people exchange, in which American travelers become ambassadors to Cubans. She stayed in three cities: Havana, Trinidad and Cienfuegos. JANET WHEELER /for the Itemizer-Observer If you look closely at some old buildings in Cuba you will see signs of decay — even plants growing on them. The group she traveled with visited with a basket weaver, a coffee farmer, fishermen, and artists at several dance companies and art institutes. “The people are lovely,” Wheeler said. “They are so kind.” At first glance, Cuba looks like a place stuck in time. The streets are filled with cars made pre-embargo, which started in the early 1960s. Wheeler said she took photo after photo of the brightly painted cars when she arrived. “These cars, although they look marvelous, are sometimes painted with house paint. They have Russian engines. They are running on Venezuelan gas, which causes them to back- fire,” she said. “Any kind of metal or any commodities were so hard to get. The em- bargo really influenced them.” The colorful buildings, in many cases, are the same way. They are beautifully painted, but oftentimes crumbling. “It’s not what you think it is. You think it’s a well- groomed city,” Wheeler said. “You see these gorgeous buildings painted these beautiful colors and then you look at them. They don’t have windows, and they are falling apart on the inside, and the sea atmosphere has destroyed the wood, so they are rotting. And there are lit- tle trees growing out of the tops of the buildings.” See CUBA, Page 7A Polk BOC approves Sedcor support By Jolene Guzman The Itemizer-Observer POLK COUNTY — The Polk County Board of Com- missioners approved an eco- nomic development grant helping support the Strate- gic Economic Development Corporation efforts in Polk County for the next three years. The request was to pro- vide $35,000 annually, a combination of yearly dues and $20,000 to partially pay for the Polk and Yamhill counties business re t e n t i o n and expan- sion posi- ti o n cur- rently filled by AJ Fos- coli. Foscoli Fo s c o l i and Sedcor President Chad Freeman gave a presenta- tion to the board on March 21. “In the last three years, we’ve had an agreement with Polk County to support Sedcor for about $25,000 per year. We are looking to in- crease that level to $35,000, which will help us maintain the level of staffing we have,” said Chad Freeman, Sedcor’s president. Foscoli has worked with Sedcor since 2014, when the Make it the Willamette Valley initiative began. That pro- gram was designed to help manufacturing companies in Polk, Marion and Yamhill counties expand their busi- nesses and bring jobs to the region. It was paid for through a federal grant, funding from Polk, Marion, and Yamhill counties, as well as PGE, PacificCorp. Since being hired, Foscoli said he has been involved in six business expansion and recruitment projects; the an- nual Polk County job fair; providing support in devel- oping career and technical education classes at Dallas High School; and Innovate Independence, a workforce development program. See SEDCOR, Page 5A wed thu fri sat sun Stop by a local busi- ness and help cele- brate National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day. If you can brave our wild weather, take a stroll outside and be a part of National Take a Walk in a Park Day. The Naomi OES spring break rum- mage sale will be on Clay Street today and tomorrow. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Polk County Free Clinic offers medical and mental health services for those who are uninsured or underinsured. 7-11 a.m. Free. Help make Easter baskets for those who are home- bound at the Evan- gelical Bible Church in Dallas. 4:30 p.m. Free. Rain Hi: 55 Lo: 42 Showers Hi: 54 Lo: 37 Partly cloudy Hi: 58 Lo: 42 Partly cloudy Hi: 57 Lo: 40 Cloudy Hi: 55 Lo: 38 »Page 2A Council considers de- claring Monmouth an inclusive city. »Page 3A SPORTS Caedmon Blair looks to excel this spring. »Page 11A POLK COUNTY C ou r t ho u se c hi l d care may become reali- ty. »Page 3A Child Abuse Prevention Awareness kicks off Tuesday Itemizer-Observer staff report DALLAS — Families, businesses and commu- nity members are invit- ed to participate in the Polk County Awareness Walk at noon in support of child abuse preven- tion. The gathering will be in front of the steps of the courthouse, 850 Main St, in Dallas. Judge Sally Avera and District Attorney Aaron Felton will kick off the event with a welcome and brief overview of data re- lated to child abuse and crimes in Polk County. The walk commemo- rates Child Abuse Pre- vention Month, and is one of many events in the area to help raise awareness. Participants will walk around downtown Dallas with signs and pinwheels to raise awareness. Those joining the walk are asked to wear navy blue to show support for child abuse prevention and crime victims. For more informa- tion: polk.midvalleypar- enting.org. mon Drawing for begin- ners starts tonight at the Ash Creek Arts Center and goes four weeks. 6-7:30 p.m. $129. Partly cloudy Hi: 56 Lo: 40 tue The Oregon Mobile Vet will return to Dallas City Hall to give the first 50 li- censed dogs free microchips. 4-7 p.m. Free. Showers Hi: 60 Lo: 45