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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (April 12, 2017)
Polk County Voices Polk County Itemizer-Observer • April 12, 2017 4a How to Contact Officials EDITORIALS Wind storm Friday reminds us: prepare Power and internet service was intermittent on Friday morning as winds gusted through the valley. Nearly 100,000 Pacific Power customers were without power for at least half of the day as powerlines fell left and right. While it wasn’t as severe locally, with a few felled trees and powerlines, it was a good reminder to be prepared. Saturday, reporter Jolene Guzman attended the Prepare Fair, where she was reminded that the Cascadia Zone earthquake is overdue — with a 33 percent chance that it will happen in the next 50 years. That seems like a long ways off. Some of us don’t expect to be on the planet in 50 years, but our children and chil- dren’s children will be. But it’s not that the quake will hap- pen in 50 years. It’s not like the Great American Eclipse, when we know the exact date and time the event will take place. The earthquake could happen right now, as you’re read- ing this editorial. It is more important than ever to start the 24-weeks to preparedness. While it may feel daunting, with baby steps, you can feel the peace that comes with preparedness for you, your family, your furry friends and livestock. We urge our government leaders in the State Capitol to make preparedness at all levels a priority. We’ve been told time and again that the government will not be coming to help us in a large-scale disaster. That means depending on ourselves and each other. Consider signing up for the Polk County Community Emergency Re- sponse Team, and learn how you can help your family bet- ter prepare, and how you can help the community in times of crisis. 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, aPRiL 12 • Monmouth Tree advisory Board — 7 p.m., monmouth Senior Center, 180 Warren St. S., monmouth. 503-838-0725. • independence Heritage Museum Commission — 4 p.m, Independence Heritage museum, 112 S. Third St., Independ- ence. 503-838-1212. • Monmouth Library advisory Board — 7 a.m., monmouth Public Library, 168 Ecols St. S., monmouth. 503-838-0725. • Monmouth Parks and Recreation Board — 7 p.m., Volun- teer Hall, 144 Warren St. S., monmouth. 503-838-0725. • Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk County Courthouse, first floor conference room, 850 main St., Dallas. 503-623-8173. • Polk Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Di- rectors — 6 p.m., 580 main St., Suite A, Dallas. 503-623-9680. THuRSDay, aPRiL 13 • Polk County Fire District no. 1 Board — 6 p.m., Central Station 90, 1800 monmouth St., Independence. 503-838-1510. • Western Days Commission — 7 p.m., Independence Civic Center, 555 S. main St., Independence. 503-838-1212. • Falls City City Council — 6 p.m., Falls City Community Cen- ter, 320 n. main St., Falls City. 503-787- 3631. MOnDay, aPRiL 17 • independence Tourism and Events Commission — 6:30 p.m., Independence Civic Center, 555 S. main St., Independence. 503-838-1212. • Dallas City Council — 7 p.m., Dallas City Hall, 187 SE Court St., Dallas. 503-831-3502. • Dallas Budget Committee — 5:30 p.m., Dallas City Hall, 187 SE Court St. 503-831-3502. TuESDay, aPRiL 18 • independence Historic Preservation Commission — 4 p.m., Independence Civic Center, 555 S. main St., Independence. 503-838-1212. • Monmouth City Council — 7 p.m., Volunteer Hall, 144 War- ren 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, aPRiL 19 • Monmouth Planning Commission — 7 p.m., Volunteer Hall, 144 Warren St. S., monmouth. 503-838-0725. • Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk County Courthouse, first floor conference room, 850 main St., Dallas. 503-623-8173. • Falls City School District Budget Committee — 5:30 p.m., 111 n. main St., Falls City. 503-787-3521. 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 Indy Station should City did disservice be finished first to community On a daily basis as I enjoy Independence City Park, I watch the progress of the new construction project as it takes shape. There was another con- struction project that was started and never finished. It’s an eye sore on the city, and one that is forgotten about. I’m talking about the site at 203 Monmouth St. As I sit there and think about that site and building, one thing comes to mind: Will this project be complet- ed or will a skeleton of a building never completed be sitting there as the prop- erty on South Second and Monmouth streets. We, as citizens, should stand up and hold the mayor accountable for this project that was never com- pleted. The city should not allow new construction projects to start until the one on South Second and Monmouth streets is either completed or torn down. Jimmy Christensen Independence Indy detective’s column appreciated Thank you for the column written by Detective Sarah Scharf of the Independence Police Department regard- ing Child Abuse Awareness Month. The column was very clear, concise and easy to understand. It also gave valuable information for family members, friends and members of the com- munity who suspect abuse is happening to children. Let’s hope that this infor- mation can keep our most vulnerable children safe from harm. Patty Taylor Dutcher Monmouth Ding dong the trail is dead. On April 3, the Dallas City Council did their part to effectively kill the possi- bility of making the Rickre- all Creek Trail System a re- gional trail by approving a change to the urban growth boundary to include the Dallas Golf Course property on Orrs Corner Road while removing conditions that the trail be extended through the property. The property owner, who admitted that the usage as a golf course should never have been permitted in the first place, testified that in- clusion in the UGB was es- sential to the survival of the business because of plans to build a restaurant, a 20- space RV park, and an ex- panded pro shop that could not be built under the cur- rent provisional permit. I find it interesting that the property owner said there is no room for a 10- foot wide trail on an edge of the property, but has plenty of room for all the proposed new amenities. The council gave the property owner everything they wanted while getting nothing in return. The, “Not in my back- yard” argument presented by Ceres Gleann residents seems weak. The trail, if routed on the north edge of the golf course, would pass a total of 10 Ceres Gleann lots. The city had several op- tions, the most obvious being to send the matter back to the planning commission for further consideration, since the property owner decided to no longer honor the deci- sion of that body. The city could have col- laborated with the property owner to find ways to create a trail segment at no cost to the property owner. The timeline for complet- ing a trail extension could have been reconsidered. None of these were con- sidered. What about the goals of the Dallas 2030 Vi- sion? Ignored. Shame on you, City Council. Joe Koubek Dallas Reps need to support students About 644,000 Oregonians are facing food insecurity, about 33 percent of those people are youth, and about 10 percent are seniors. The Dec. 27 Itemizer-Observer ar- ticle regarding food insecuri- ty on Western Oregon Uni- versity’s campus, covered a lot of students’ daily strug- gles on campus, referencing a study from 2014, about 60 percent of students on my campus struggle to eat. It is appalling that we know more than half of stu- dents at Western Oregon University are struggling to afford food and yet we are looking at a 12 percent tu- ition increase. Things are not looking bright for me; the av- erage Oregon student gradu- ates with $30,000 in debt. We are drowning in debt and many are unable to afford basic necessities. Students need our local decision mak- ers to prioritize investment in higher education. Sen. Jackie Winters and Rep. Paul Evans need to be champions for their con- stituents attending Western Oregon University by support- ing the Oregon Student Asso- ciation’s Budget Asks, $765 million for universities, $636 million for community col- leges, and $155 million for the Oregon Opportunity Grant. It is important that we are giving all folks a fair shot at an affordable higher education. 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. 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 Ceph Poklemba Corvallis 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. 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. For the full letters policy: polkio.com. 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 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. 15 (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. 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Box 108, Dallas, Oregon 97338 Lukas Eggen..................Sports Editor......................................................................leggen@polkio.com Jolene guzman............Dallas/Falls City/Polk County Reporter ................jguzman@polkio.com DiSPLay aDVERTiSinG Heidi Leppin .................Display Advertising manager ....................................hleppin@polkio.com Rachel Best ....................Display Advertising.............................................................rbest@polkio.com Karen Sanks...................Client Services ...................................................................ksanks@polkio.com CLaSSiFiED LinE aDVERTiSinG Dawn Ohren.....................................................................................................................ioads@polkio.com PRODuCTiOn Kathy Huggins ..............................................................................................................iosales@polkio.com Karyn Pressel .................................................................................................................iosales@polkio.com The Polk County Itemizer-Observer assumes no financial responsibility for errors in advertise- ments. It will, however, reprint without charge for the portion of an advertisement Web: www.polkio.com Phone: 503-623-2373 Fax: 503-623-2395 which is in error if the Itemizer-Observer is at fault.