Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (May 3, 2017)
Polk County Voices Polk County Itemizer-Observer • May 3, 2017 4A LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Let’s not go back to dark ages in one another. Or we don’t have to. Perhaps for as long as we have beating hearts of our own, we can choose to let others live with a little less suffering. Eh? In response to Harold Pippin’s letter about Mon- mouth being an inclusive city. Here’s another one wishing for the good old days. So, he wants an ad- ministration that will run things as the founders in- tended. So, let’s bring back slavery. No voting or rights for women. Decisions made by white merchants and property owners only. What about all men (people) cre- ated equal. Life, liberty pur- suit of happiness. Some- times I am amazed humans have made it this far. Why can’t we share our free- doms? J. F. McDonald Monmouth Elect Milligan for school board Louis Stuckey Monmouth Help fill the bus Immigrants are with food for needy vital to community For several years the Cen- tral School District Trans- portation Department has conducted a food drive to provide assistance for the community. This event is called “Fill the Bus,” and its purpose is to provide daily living necessities for local families in time of need. Not only will boxes be placed in all of Central schools, but they will be at the Central School District office and the Transporta- tion Department office, 520 Hoffman Road, Independ- ence. We want to allow stu- dents and employees the opportunity of participating in this amazing drive. We would also like to encour- age all residents of Mon- mouth and Independence to help us with this just cause. The “Fill the Bus” drive will be taking place at two different locations. The first day will be May 6 in the Bi- Mart parking lot in Mon- mouth and the second on May 20 in the Roth’s parking lot in Independence from 9a.m. to 3 p.m. Our goal is to completely fill the bus with personal and non-perishable food items. Working with chil- dren and parents on a daily basis, the Transportation Department understands the need to assist our com- munity when times get tough. All proceeds will go to Ella Curan Food Bank, and we would love for you to join us in supporting this worthy organization. Teri Barry Independence In response to Mr. Pip- pin’s letter which appeared in the April 26 Itemizer-Ob- server: Myself and many other Monmouth residents worked with our Hispanic friends and neighbors to encourage our Monmouth City Council to pass the In- clusivity Resolution, which supports the Oregon State Statute 181.850. Under this law, state and local police are not allowed to enforce federal immigration law if a person is not involved in criminal activity. It does not provide a safe haven for anyone who is suspected of or who has committed a crime. This allows local law en- forcement's time and money to be spent on activ- ities which our tax dollars were meant for (protecting our communities from ac- tual threats and keeping the peace, not interrupting the families and work of peace- ful, hardworking individuals because of their skin color). Mr. Pippin refers to un- documented people as “criminals.” I know many of these so-called criminals. People who left Mexico many years ago to protect their families from the threat of gangs and violence in their communities. Peo- ple who came here to fill the demand for difficult manual labor jobs that U.S. citizens don’t want to do. People who risked their lives to find a better life for their children. Children who were brought here at a very young age and know no other life. Mr. Pippin, what would you risk for your family? These so-called criminals are paying rent, supporting local businesses, and paying taxes to support your Social Security, and will never reap the benefits. I support fair immigration reform and a path to citizenship. I reject the oversimplification of viewing undocumented human beings, real people I know, as criminals. Patricia Dixon Monmouth Teachers endorse Mann for board The CEA interviewed candidates running for the Central 13J School Board. Both of the candidates in contested Zone 2 are excel- lent. In contested Zone 5, the CEA officially endorses Kristina Mann. Mann is the mother of two Central stu- dents, and has worked as a bus driver for the district, in the criminal justice system, and as a small business owner. The CEA feels that her experience, her willing- ness to serve the students, and her commitment to making the board respon- sive to the public makes her the stronger candidate. Please vote for Kristina Mann for 13J School Board, Zone 5. Laura Waight Monmouth President, Central Education Association Salt Creek says yes to fire bond Our Salt Creek Neighbor- hood Association executive committee and “neighbor- hood watch” road captains voted unanimously to sup- port the Southwest Polk Fire District bond measure 27- 125. This would provide funds to rebuild the Rickreall sta- tion and construct a new sub-station at Salt Creek. It provides modern communi- cation equipment and re- places outdated SCBA, not approved for rescue entry into a burning house after 2018. It provides OSHA ap- proved protective gear for our volunteer firefighters who risk their lives to fight our fires. This bond will help pro- tect lives of your family and community in fire and med- ical emergencies. We urge a “yes” vote. Bruce Sigloh Salt Creek Neighborhood Association, president Laws, meanings change over time Letter to editor in re- sponse to Mr. Harold E. Pip- pin’s letter of April 26. Mr. Pippin: Our laws are not com- mandments. They are forev- er and always interpreted one way, then another, then amended, altered, or re- pealed. Some are more un- changeable than others. We use language to describe our reality. As the meaning and nuance of words change, then so does our description of reality. Most people leave their own land because of cruelty. They are suffering too much; there’s no relief; and they have to get out. If they wait in line, they die. As humans, we have the capacity to cause suffering 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. Steve Milligan Monmouth Dave Hunt for Dallas schools If you are looking for someone who knows how important our schools are, Dave Hunt is the person you should vote for to serve on our Dallas School Board. All five of Hunt’s children have enjoyed the great edu- cation programs our schools provide. Dave has helped support them in al- most every activity they have been involved in, from dance team, soccer, senior party, you name it. Dave is a caring person with a solid work ethic who will work with our educators, school administrators and commu- nity to make sure we are leading by example. Eriks Gabliks Dallas Property tax increases spiral To my mind this explains part of why this nation is in such financial trouble. Property taxes keep on rais- ing to pay off increasing bonds that keep getting voted in. According to an article I read, about 52 percent of families rent now instead of owning their own home. When over half of the voters think that they are no Gary Richards Monmouth Vote yes on county facilities bond Please support the Polk County Facilities Bond. The $10 million bond would take affect after the current road bond expires, and the costs are estimated to be less than the road bond. The needed funds would go to many projects, includ- ing the Polk County Fair- grounds. As the current fair board chair, I can speak firsthand to the needs at the fair- grounds. The bond will allow for repair on the main building and the arts and crafts building; roof replace- ment, restroom upgrades along with many other proj- ects will improve safety and access. I urge you; vote yes for our county facilities. Anna Scharf Perrydale Polk County Fair Board Chair PUBLIC AGENDA 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 election-related letter per election season. Election let- ters 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. I have had the opportuni- ty to watch the positive changes over the last several years, as a budget commit- tee member and now as school board member of Central 13J. These changes have led to improved gradu- ation rates and improved literacy. I have tremendous re- spect for the teachers, staff, and administration of Cen- tral 13J. We are becoming a model district for other dis- tricts in the state and na- tion. As your school board member, I want to keep this momentum going. Vote Steve Milligan for Central 13J Zone 5. longer paying property taxes, they will vote for any- thing that they think some- one else will have to pay for. And then they cry about their landlords raising rent, “Freeze rents,” they say. What they are not under- standing is that every time they vote for another “feel good” bond measure, they themselves are raising their own rent. When the land- lords’ costs of owning that property increase, they must raise the rent to cover those expenses. Eventually I see many of the private landlords trying to sell their properties to get out of the hassle. Then ei- ther the properties get torn down for construction of apartments, or taken over by corporations that man- age properties. Another possibility would be govern- ment housing. I’m not sure about this, but I would assume that government housing would not pay property taxes. If that is so, then you have even less local tax income, so up go the tax rates again. It sounds like a vicious spi- ral to me. I could see an Orwellian future where everyone would have to live in gov- ernment controlled apart- ments and have their in- come taxes spiraling out of sight to support those apartments because there was no more private prop- erty to tax. There really is no such thing as a free lunch. Public Agenda is a listing of upcoming meetings for governmental and nongovern- mental agencies in Polk County. To submit a meeting, send it at least two weeks before the actual meeting date to the Itemizer-Ob- server via email (ionews@polkio.com). — WEdnEsdAy, MAy 3 • Monmouth Historic Commission — 6 p.m., Volunteer Hall, 144 Warren St. S., Mon- mouth. 503-838-0725. • Monmouth Planning Commission — 7 p.m., Volunteer Hall, 144 Warren St. S., Mon- mouth. 503-838-0725. • Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk County Courthouse, first floor con- ference room, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-623- 8173. MondAy, MAy 8 • Hops and Heritage Festival Commis- sion — 6 p.m., Independence Elks Lodge, 289 S. Main St., Independence. 503-838-1212. • dallas school Board — 6:30 p.m., Dallas School District office, 111 SW Ash St., Dallas. 503-623-5594. TuEsdAy, MAy 9 • Independence City Council — 7 p.m., In- dependence Civic Center, 555 S. Main St., Inde- pendence. 503-838-1212. • Polk County Board of Commission work session — 9 a.m., Polk County Courthouse, BOC office, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-623-8173. • Monmouth Budget Committee — 6 p.m., Volunteer Hall, 144 Warren St. S., Monmouth. 503-838-0725. • WIMPEG Board of directors — Noon, Vol- unteer Hall, 144 Warren St. S., Monmouth. WEdnEsdAy, MAy 10 • Independence Heritage Museum Com- mission — 4 p.m., Independence Heritage Mu- seum, 112 S. Third St., Independence. 503-838- 1212. HOW TO REACH US nEWsRooM Emily Mentzer ..............Editor/Monmouth/Independence Reporter ....ementzer@polkio.com Vol. 142, No. 18 (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 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Polk County — One Year $35 Other Oregon Counties — One Year $40 Outside of Oregon — One Year $45 PosTMAsTER: send address changes to: Polk County Itemizer-observer, P.o. 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.
