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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (June 7, 2017)
Polk County Voices Polk County Itemizer-Observer • June 7, 2017 4A How to Contact Officials EDITORIALS Friday Court provides hope Polk County’s Mental Health Court’s first graduation had only two graduates, but it was one of the most hopeful of a season full of such events. Not just for the two men who completed the program, Kelly Fields and Anthony Brown, or the eight others en- rolled, but for all people who could get caught in a cycle of mental illness and the criminal justice system. As Friday’s keynote speaker Sen. Brian Boquist said, this is path forward. For Polk County, and other counties in the state that have similar programs, its new path — one that is overdue. With a comprehensive solution to mental health care still being drafted or debated at the legislative level, local communities have to take matters into their own hands. What Polk County has started is commendable. Mental Health Court, or Friday Court — named after the day it’s held each week — isn’t easy, nor should it be. It requires a strong commitment on behalf of the partic- ipants. They pay consequences for breaking rules, which can include spending time in jail. In turn for making those strides to better their lives, par- ticipants work with a dedicated team that wants to see them succeed. That may not be something participants ex- perienced not in the court system before — people who care deeply about them and their future. Before this program started in 2016, the Polk County Jail ended up being a treatment center for those suffering with mental illness who also committed crimes. It wasn’t equipped to serve that purpose. With this program — and others in the county — jail workers are no longer asked to handle something they are not trained for. And for participants, Friday Court represents hope. 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 Poor sportsmanship sets bad example On May 30, my husband and I arrived at the Dallas Softball Field to watch our great-granddaughter play. Upon arrival, we noticed a woman (the opposing coach) mid field flinging her arms around and shouting at one of our team’s coach- es — all in view of both teams of young players. She then, along with a man who appeared to be her assistant coach, came to the front of our team’s dugout and continued shouting directly in front of our girls. Subsequently, a demand was made by the opposing team that one of our coach- es leave the premises, and the coach refused to field her team until he did leave. Subsequently, the game was cancelled. We are appalled that these children were subject- ed to such behavior from the adults assigned to lead and teach them. These adults should be ashamed. Lynne Bowen Dallas 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 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, JunE 7 • Monmouth Historic Commission — 6 p.m., Volunteer Hall, 144 Warren St. S., monmouth. 503-838-0725. • 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. THurSDAy, JunE 8 • 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, JunE 12 • Hops and Heritage Festival Commission — 6 p.m., Inde- pendence elks lodge, 289 S. main St., Independence. 503-838- 1212. • Monmouth Tree Advisory Board — 7 p.m., monmouth Senior Center, 180 Warren St. S., monmouth. 503-838-0725. • Dallas School Board — 6:30 p.m., Dallas School District of- fice, 111 SW ash St., Dallas. 503-623-5594. TuESDAy, JunE 13 • Independence City Council — 7:30 p.m., Independence Civic Center, 555 S. main St., Independence. 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. • WIMPEG Board of Directors — noon., Volunteer Hall, 144 Warren St. S., monmouth. WEDnESDAy, JunE 14 • 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. 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 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 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 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. 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. 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. 23 (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.
