Polk County
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Polk County Itemizer-Observer • June 7, 2017 4A
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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
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which is in error if the Itemizer-Observer is at fault.