Polk County News
8A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • May 24, 2017
County facilities bond fails
By Jolene Guzman
The Itemizer-Observer
POLK COUNTY — Re-
pairs and updates to Polk
County’s facilities will have
to wait.
A bond that would have
paid for $10 million in main-
tenance to the courthouse
complex, the fairgrounds fa-
cilities, and the Polk County
Jail, with minor work at
other buildings failed in the
May 16 election.
The vote tally was 52 per-
cent to 48 percent, or 7,742
voting “no” to 7,232 voting
“yes.”
With voters declining the
bond, the county will have
to decide what to do next.
“The problems aren’t
going to fix themselves,” said
County Administrator Greg
Hansen.
He said he will bring op-
tions to the board to priori-
tize projects and figure out
how much money can be
spent without cutting opera-
tions too much.
“We can’t ignore it, but we
don’t have the money to pay
for it,” Hansen said.
He said he may bring a
plan for the board to review
and revise as soon as the
JOLENE GUZMAN/Itemizer-Observer file
The $10 million bond would have paid for repairs at various county facilities.
end of this month.
“We’ll try to begin to ad-
dress it. Are we going to ad-
dress $10 million worth?
Absolutely not — we don’t
have the money,” Hansen
said. “It will take years and
years to address it and
hopefully we don’t have to
impact operations too
much to do it. We’ll have
that discussion.”
Another option is refining
what the bond asked of vot-
ers — the bond on the May
16 ballot would have cost an
average of about 20 cents
per $1,000 of assessed
value — and putting it on a
future ballot.
“There wasn’t a whole lot
of campaigning, against or
for it, and it was fairly close,”
Hansen said. “Those are all
board decisions.”
Hansen said voters had
to be make choices in this
election. People in South-
western Polk Rural Fire
Protection District had two
bonds to balance, as did
voters in West Salem, who
had to decide on the coun-
ty’s bond and one to pay
for a new police station in
Salem.
“It’s unfortunate, but it’s
still tough times for a lot of
people,” he said.
SW Polk bond approved
By Jolene Guzman
The Itemizer-Observer
DALLAS — Chief Fred Her-
tel, Southwest Polk Rural Fire
Protection District’s adminis-
trator, is breathing a sigh of
relief after voters on May 16
approved the district’s 15-
year, $5.2 million bond.
Voters passed the meas-
ure by a margin of 54 per-
cent to 46 percent, with the
vote tally at 1,012 to 852.
Proceeds from the bond
will purchase much-needed
equipment, including
breathing units that allow
firefighters to enter burning
buildings to put out blazes
or for rescues, Hertel said.
The day following the
vote, Hertel was cautious
about the win.
“From talking to people
in the political realm, it
looks like it’s a favorable
vote,” he said. “I think that’s
a pretty good margin for
Polk County.”
Hertel said planning for
how to spend the money
started a year ago when dis-
cussions of placing the bond
on the ballot began.
In addition to breathing
units, fire engines and
equipment, the district’s
board designated the money
to replace the Rickreall sta-
tion and build a new one in
the Salt Creek area.
The district now turns to
details of making that hap-
pen.
“I am going to ask that we
have a purchasing, contract-
ing training for the board
brought in so that we are fol-
lowing all the rules appro-
priately and that they under-
stand what they are,” Hertel
said.
Special Districts Associa-
tion of Oregon will help with
training.
“None of it is going to
happen immediately,” Her-
tel said. “None of it is even
budgeted in our budget
until July 1, and then it may
take even longer than that
to get the bonds processed
and sold..”
He added the measure
wouldn’t have succeeded
without a team effort.
“It’s sure a sigh of relief,”
he said. “We couldn’t have
done it without all the help
from the staff here and the
volunteers, the union and
the (political action commit-
tee) that ramped up. It was a
good group effort.”
POLICE REPORT
Information for the police
report comes from law en-
forcement agencies. Not all
calls for service are includ-
ed. The status of incidents
reported may change after
further investigation. Indi-
viduals arrested or suspect-
ed of crimes are considered
innocent until proven
guilty.
—
DALLAS
Arrests/Citations
• Luis Fernando Garcia Cer-
ventes, 34, of Independence,
in the 2000 block of Mistletoe
Road on May 16 on charges of
giving false information to a
police officer, second-degree
criminal trespassing and flee-
ing or attempting to allude a
police officer.
• Leonardo Cisneros, 25, of
Dallas, in the 500 block of SE
Jefferson St. on May 17 on
charges of driving under the
influence of intoxicants and
failure to perform the duties
of a driver when property is
damaged.
• Michael A. Armstrong, 25,
of Keizer, on SW Harder Ave.
on May 17 on charges of driv-
ing while suspended and fail-
ure to carry or present an op-
erator’s license.
INDEPENDENCE
Arrests/Citations
• Melissa Ann Rodgers, 38,
of Independence, in the 600
block of S. Fifth St. on May 16
on two bench warrants for
failure to appear.
• Rosalyne Crandall, 28, of
Independence, in the 600
block of Hyacinth St. on May
17 on four counts of dog li-
cense required.
• Jonathon Allen Roberts,
31, of Sheridan, in the 500
block of N. Walnut St. on May
18 on a bench warrant for fail-
ure to appear.
MONMOUTH
Arrests/Citations
• Jake Simmons, 20, of Inde-
pendence, in the 100 block of
Warren St. N. on May 6 for
driving under the influence of
intoxicants.
• Lane Michael Crimson, 19,
of Monmouth, at Jackson St.
W. and Stadium Dr. N. on May
8 for DUII, reckless endanger-
ing, and possession of mari-
juana when younger than 21.
• Michael Melvin Napier, 46,
of Salem, in the 1600 block of
Monmouth St. on May 9 for
possession of methampheta-
mine.
• Brian Wesley Yaras, 44, of
Dallas, at Jackson St. E. and
Catron St. N. on May 9 for sec-
ond-degree animal neglect.
• Kristin McGrath, 33, of
Monmouth, in the 100 block
of Main St. W. on May 13 for
physical harassment and sec-
ond-degree disorderly con-
duct.
• Raymond Cruz, 34, of Mon-
mouth, in the 400 block of Pa-
cific Hwy. N. on May 15 for pos-
session of methamphetamine.
NEWS IN BRIEF
M-I Rotary selling strawberries by the bucket
POLK COUNTY — The Monmouth-Independence Rotary Club has started its annual strawberry
fundraiser. Orders are due by June 8.
People may order fresh, cleaned, stemmed and sliced berries by phone or email, 503-838-6687
or strawberry@mirotaryclub.org.
Berries cost $50 for 30 pounds.
Exact date for pickup depends on weather. Pickup sites include Independence, Dallas or Cor-
vallis. Proceeds go toward the club’s youth programs.
Monmouth Police Department seeks reserves
MONMOUTH — The Monmouth Police Department is accepting applications for reserve police
officers to augment full-time staff.
Successful candidates will attend the Mid-Valley Reserve Training Academy from November
through May, and may obtain credit from Western Oregon University or Chemeketa Community
College toward a degree. Minimum qualifications include: 21 years or older, high school diploma
or GED, valid Oregon driver’s license, and no criminal history.
For more information: www.ci.monmouth.or.us, or Officer Mike Hamilton, 503-838-1109.
Central High School awarded metalworking grant
INDEPENDENCE – Central High School received a Spark Something Great Educational Grant
from Hypertherm, a U.S.-based manufacturer of plasma, laser and waterjet cutting systems and
software.
The grant programs aims to get the latest plasma technology into schools so the next genera-
tion of metalworkers can train on equipment they will find when entering the workforce.
As one of 10 recipients, CHS will receive a Hypertherm Powermax45 XP plasma system, curricu-
lum kit, and in-person training from a Hypertherm industrial cutting expert.
OBITUARIES
Pamela Lynn
Welliver
Nov. 12, 1953 – May 19, 2017
After a long battle with
cancer, Pamela L Welliver
went home to the Lord Jesus
Christ on May 19, 2017, in
Monmouth, at the age of 63.
She leaves behind her lov-
ing husband, Glenn Welliver;
her daughters, Ann Holt and
Belinda Welliver; four grand-
children; great-grandchil-
dren; great-great-grandchil-
dren; and her three sisters,
Joanne Via, Doris Newton
and Charlotte VanHuss.
Pamela was born Nov. 12,
1953, in Prescott, Ariz., to
Benjamin and Vivian Chap-
man, who predeceased her.
Pamela was the youngest of
four daughters. She graduat-
ed from Dallas High School
in 1972, and attended ac-
counting classes at
Chemeketa Community
College. She was operations
manager for the Commer-
cial Bank in Silverton and
West Salem.
After her marriage to
Glenn Welliver in 1987, she
became office manager for
the family business —
Welliver Metal Products Cor-
poration.
Pamela had a lifelong love
for animals, travel and
camping, making one last
trip the first week of May.
Pamela began her battle
with Primary Peritoneal
Cancer in May 2015; she
fought her illness with
courage and remained a
brave, iron-willed woman,
even throughout her final
months.
She was greatly loved by
her family, friends and
church family at South
Salem Church of Christ.
Pamela’s ashes will be in-
terred at City View Funeral
Home & Cemetery in a pri-
vate event for family only. A
service to celebrate Pamela’s
life will be held at South
Salem Church of Christ, 310
Ewald St. SE, on May 26,
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Personally involved
and invested in the
Dallas community
2017, at 3 p.m. All are wel-
come.
Arrangements by City
View Funeral Home.
Sandra ‘Sandi’
Trussell
June 21, 1938 – May 13, 2017
Services will be held at a
later date. Serving the fami-
ly, North Santiam Funeral
Service, Stayton.
Beryle LaRose
Contreras
July 29, 1935 – May 19, 2017
Beryle LaRose Contreras,
81, of Grand Ronde, died
May 19.
She is survived by seven
children; 15 grandchildren;
19 great-grandchildren; two
brothers; and many nieces
and nephews.
Welcoming new patients.
Most insurance health plans accepted. Also a Moda preferred provider.
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Salem, OR 97301
(503) 581-6265
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Cremation & Burial
Funerals & Memorials
Simple Direct Cremation $595
Simple Direct Burial
$710
Traditional Funeral
$2,275
Discount priced
Caskets, Urns and
other Memorial items.
~ Polk County’s ONLY Family Owned Funeral Homes ~
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cremation facility.
Locally owned and operated
by Oregon families.
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Services will begin at 11
a.m. on May 26 in the Grand
Ronde Tribal Gym. The Dal-
las Mortuary Tribute Center
handled arrangements. To
leave an online tribute:
www.dallastribute.com.
Obituary
Information
Obituaries cost $8 per 25
words (column inch) and in-
clude photos and flags for vet-
erans. Death notices and serv-
ice notices run free of charge.
Obituary information must
be submitted by 4 p.m. on the
Monday before publication to
be included in the newspaper.
Most funeral homes handle
obituary information and pro-
vide it to the newspaper. How-
ever, information can also be
submitted directly from family
members. Obituaries placed
by private parties must be pre-
paid.
Color and black-and-white
photos can be submitted, but
photos will only be published
in black and white. The Itemiz-
er-Observer uses a flag logo in
the obituaries of people who
served in the armed forces.
Death notices — like all in-
formation submitted to the
news department — are sub-
ject to editing for style, con-
tent and length.
Information can be brought
or mailed to the Itemizer-Ob-
server, 147 SE Court St., Dallas,
OR 97338, or emailed to
ionews@polkio.com.
For more information: Emily
Mentzer, 503-623-2373.