EASTER EGG
PEFFLEY TAKES UP
HUNTS
Page 7A
Volume 142, Issue15
TENNIS
www.Polkio.com
Page 11A
April 12, 2017
$1.00
CASA
receives
more
money
IN
YOUR
TOWN
DALLAS
Dallas Cinema set to
reopen on Friday.
By Jolene Guzman
The Itemizer-Observer
DALLAS — On Thurs-
day, Polk County Budget
Committee approved giv-
ing Polk County CASA
$10,000 more than was
proposed in the 2017-18
budget.
The extra funding is to
“keep
our
doors
open,”
said
CASA
board
member
Mike
Hansen
Barnett
in a presentation to the
committee on Thursday.
“But we don’t just sit
back and ask for hand-
outs,” he added.
Starting in 2015-16,
Polk County began offer-
ing the program financial
support, enabling the or-
ganization to open an of-
fice in Dallas.
CASA volunteers are
advocates for children in
the foster care system
while their cases are in
the courts.
Barnett said CASA has
been active on the
fundraising front, holding
an annual golf tourna-
ment and Christmas tree
sale, among other events,
but still struggles to cover
all of its expenses.
While still in need of fi-
nancial assistance, the
program has improved
upon its mission of repre-
senting children, Barnett
said.
The mostly volunteer
program has placed 85
percent of children in the
court system with advo-
cates.
More CASA volunteers
will graduate from the
training program in about
six weeks.
“The kids coming in are
getting CASAs right away,”
Barnett said. “Basically, we
are backfilling the cases
that have been around for
a while.”
Polk County Adminis-
trator Greg Hansen said
the plan in fiscal year
2015-16 was to provide
$25,000 to CASA and re-
duce that amount each
year until the program
was self-sufficient.
In 2017-18, CASA was
supposed to receive
$5,000, but it was clear
earlier this year that
plan wasn’t going to
happen, Hansen said.
“Was that optimistic?
Very much so, but it
was the hope and the
goal,” Hansen said.
“Obviously, that hasn’t
become a reality. I think
(it) probably won’t get
there, at least in the
short-term.”
See CASA, Page 13A
THE NEXT
7
DAYS
PLANNING
FOR YOUR
WEEK
»Page 6A
FALLS CITY
City Council to dis-
cuss search for a city
manager.
»Page 10A
INDEPENDENCE
City gives the green
light to Organic Invest-
ments.
»Page 2A
Photo courtesy of Marshall GuThrIe/for the Itemizer-Observer
Mayor Steve Milligan stands with several supporters of an inclusivity resolution after the April 4 council meeting.
Monmouth officially ‘inclusive’
MONMOUTH
The community takes
part in Craft with a Cop.
»Page 14A
After hearing from dozens of WOU students, residents, council says yes
By Emily Mentzer
The Itemizer-Observer
MONMOUTH — The
Monmouth City Council re-
ceived a standing ovation
from Western Oregon Uni-
versity students and Mon-
mouth residents who filled
Volunteer Hall at the coun-
cil’s April 4 meeting.
The reaction came after
the council unanimously
approved an inclusivity res-
olution, addressing immi-
grant concerns while also
addressing all members of
the community.
“It would be a good state-
ment of how we stand on
the issue,” City Manager
Scott McClure said. “It
wouldn’t change any of our
practices, but it would make
a good statement.”
Co u n c i l o r Jo n Ca re y
thanked everyone who par-
ticipated in bringing the in-
clusivity resolution to coun-
cil. The council had heard
from dozens of students and
residents since late January
before passing the inclusivi-
ty resolution.
“We’re capitalizing on
your expertise, your interest,
and coupling that with Ore-
gon law and other things,”
he said. “Hats off to you all
who got this ball rolling. It’s
a good spot to be, as far as
I’m concerned, and it allows
the council to sort of get out
in front of some of these
things and provide leader-
ship for our community.”
Councilor Laurel Sharmer
also thanked the audience
and those who have partici-
pated and testified on be-
half of an inclusivity resolu-
tion.
“Thank you to all you
white and brown and men
and women and retired
and children and adults
who would not go away
without letting us make
Monmouth an inclusive
city,” she said.
Mayor Steve Milligan said
that in the 12 years he has
served as a city official, he
had not received as many
emails as he had on April 4
before the council meeting.
“I’m really glad that peo-
ple are participating,” he
said. “My only regret is that
we can’t do more. There’s
so much that still needs to
be done beyond being an
inclusive city for solving
problems for those who are
dreamers for more hope
for the future, so you can
get a green card or citizen-
ship.”
Milligan encouraged the
audience to continue the
movement to the state and
federal level.
“We’ll all work together to
make a better place to live,”
he said.
To read the inclusivity res-
olution, go online to
polkio.com.
Dallas men sentenced in poaching case
Itemizer-Observer staff report
DALLAS — Two Dallas
men were sentenced on elk
poaching and wasting
charges in Benton County
Court.
According to Oregon State
Police, David Bruce Maxfield
Jr., 26, of Dallas, pleaded
guilty to one count of taking,
angling, hunting, or trap-
ping in violation of wildlife
law or rule, a misdemeanor.
Allen Craige Boal, 26, of Dal-
las, pleaded no contest to
one count of taking, angling,
hunting, or trapping in vio-
lation of wildlife law or rule.
Additional wildlife offens-
es were dismissed as part of
the plea bargain, according
to OSP.
Maxfield was sentenced
to: 12 months of bench pro-
bation; perform 40 hours of
community service; forfeit
all wildlife seized during in-
vestigation; forfeit weapon
seized during investigation;
pay $7,600 in fines, fees, and
restitution; and hunting
privileges suspended for
three years.
Boal was sentenced to: 12
months of bench probation;
perform 40 hours of com-
munity service; pay $7,600
in fines, fees, and restitution;
and hunting privileges sus-
pended for three years.
The charges stemmed
from an investigation by the
OSP Fish and Wildlife Divi-
sion Mid-Valley Team, which
concluded both subjects en-
gaged in the unlawful take of
a trophy 6x6 bull elk in the
Kings Valley area of Benton
County.
The bull elk was killed by
Maxfield, and neither sub-
ject possessed the proper
tag.
The subjects left the bull
elk to waste, only recovering
its head/antlers.
M a x f i e l d ’s b o w w a s
seized. Boal had a previous
wildlife offense conviction,
according to OSP.
Three men arrested during drug bust
Itemizer-Observer staff report
SALEM — Police arrested
three men and seized heroin,
cocaine and methampheta-
mine following a Polk Inter-
agency Narcotics Team and
Salem Police Street Crimes
Unit investigation into a
heroin distribution ring in
Polk and Marion counties.
In the early morning
hours Wednesday, the Salem
Police Department SWAT
Team searched a residence
at 2245 Maple Ave. NE in
Salem after investigators se-
cured a search warrant, ac-
cording to a Polk County
Sheriff’s Office press release.
During the month-long
investigation, detectives
identified Jeffrey Bledsoe
and Adrianne Santrizos as
distributors of heroin in both
counties, according to the
sheriff’s office report.
Officers arrested Bledsoe
and Santrizos on identical
charges: manufacture of
heroin within 1,000 feet of a
school; manufacture of hero-
in; two counts of delivery of
heroin within 1,000 feet of a
school; two counts of deliv-
ery of a substantial quantity
of heroin; three counts of de-
livery of heroin; two counts
of possession of a substantial
quantity of heroin; posses-
sion of heroin; possession of
methamphetamine; posses-
sion of a substantial quantity
of cocaine; possession of co-
caine; delivery of cocaine
within 1,000 feet of a school;
and delivery of cocaine.
The third suspect, Brian
Bledsoe, was charged with
possession of heroin.
All three men were taken
to the Polk County Jail.
Re s i d u e a m o u n t s o f
methamphetamine, 10.8
grams of cocaine, and 404.2
grams of heroin — in black
tar and brown powder
form — were found in the
search of the residence, ac-
cording to the sheriff’s office
report.
wed
thu
fri
sat
sun
learn about the
Monmouth-Inde-
pendence Commu-
nity Foundation at
the MI Chamber
lunch.
Noon. Free.
author Deborah
hopkinson will read
from her new book,
“a letter to my
Teacher,” at Dallas
Public library.
4 p.m. Free.
The river of Gems
returns to the Polk
County Fairgrounds
& event Center
today through sun-
day.
9 a.m.-5 p.m. $2.
Meet the easter
Bunny and search
for eggs at Gentle
Woods Park at the
MI YMCa’s annual
easter egg hunt.
10-11:30 a.m. Free.
head to Pedee’s
Womer Cemetery
for a sunrise service
this easter morning.
Breakfast will follow
at the church.
6:30 a.m. Free.
Showers
Hi: 54
Lo: 42
Showers
Hi: 52
Lo: 38
Rain
Hi: 54
Lo: 35
Partly cloudy
Hi: 58
Lo: 41
Partly cloudy
Hi: 58
Lo: 41
EDUCATION
Work on Whitworth’s
seismic upgrade will
begin this summer.
»Page 14A
SPORTS
Group looks to keep
adult recreation alive in
Dallas.
»Page 11A
West Salem
woman
sentenced to
54 months
Itemizer-Observer staff report
Dallas — Charla Ki
Vaughn was sentenced in
Polk County Circuit Court
on March 31 to serve 54
months in prison after
being convicted of deliv-
ering heroin and metham-
phetamine in two sepa-
rate cases.
One of the cases in-
volved Vaughn selling
methamphetamine within
1,000 feet of Central high
school in Independence.
Vaughn, 28, of West
salem, was the subject of
an investigation led by the
Polk Inter-agency Nar-
cotics Team.
The case was prosecut-
ed by the Polk County Dis-
trict attorney’s Office.
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mon
Network while en-
joying lunch at the
Dallas Chamber
lunch forum at the
civic center.
11:30 a.m. $12-
$15.
Showers
Hi: 57
Lo: 43
tue
Today’s the day! If
you waited until the
last minute, taxes
are due today.
Showers
Hi: 55
Lo: 41