Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (June 21, 2017)
Polk County News 2A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • June 21, 2017 Santa Train leaves station for final time By Emily Mentzer The Itemizer-Observer INDEPENDENCE — Cyn- thia Jaramillo will be moving to New Mexico at the end of June, and will be taking an Independence tradition with her: Santa Train. “We did that for six years,” Jaramillo said. “This would have been seven. Last year, we counted 3,800 peo- ple showed up.” The event, traditionally held on the first Saturday of December, brought children from all over Independence for presents, hot chocolate, and, of course, for a chance to sit with the Big Guy him- self — who arrived in style via train. Jaramillo, a train engi- neer, made the event — originally organized by the Friends of the Independ- ence Library and on a small- er scale — something bigger than life, coordinating dif- ferent organizations and businesses to donate toys, hot chocolate, or music. Even the Independence Heritage Museum played a role, always loaning the an- tique chair Santa Claus sat in while hearing the wishes of children. “It’s really sad, because I know the kids really de- EMILY MENTZER/Itemizer-Observer file The Santa Train will no longer be part of Independence’s Christmas festivities. pended on that train and those presents,” Jaramillo said. “I don’t mean to be selfish about it, but I don’t want it to happen with this railroad.” Friends of the Independ- ence Library board member Marilyn Morton said the tra- dition of Santa visiting the Independence Cinema will continue, but St. Nick will West Valley Housing Authority will hold their Work Session Meeting on Wednesday, June 28, 2017 beginning at 11:30 a.m. at 204 SW Walnut in Dallas, Oregon. The Regular Meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 28, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. at 204 SW Walnut in Dallas, Oregon. An Executive Session pursuant to ORS 192.660 will be held immediately following the Regular Meeting, if required. Agenda for the meeting is posted on the Housing Authority website at www.wvpha.org. The location for the meeting is handicapped accessible. Please advise the West Valley Housing Authority if you need any special accommodations to attend the meeting. For information, please call 503-623-8387, TDD 1-800-735-2900. Relay for Life of Polk County 2017 Sponsors Put the “AWE” In Awesome We relayers are in “AWE” every year over the generosity and support shown by our Polk County sponsors. However, words can’t describe how “awesome” it is when our sponsors donate at these levels to join us in the fight against cancer: ♥ $13,160 cash for research & patient services ♥ $18,350 value of goods & services Please join us in thanking the following sponsors of Relay For Life of Polk County 2017! • Salem Health West Valley • SHWV Medical Clinic - Dallas • Dallas School District • Polk County Itemizer-Observer • Eola Hills Wine Cellars • Dallas Retirement Village • Bollman Funeral Home • Polk County Association of Realtors • Pressed Coffee & Wine Bar • Republic Services • Dutch Bros Coffee • SHWV Medical Clinic - Monmouth • SHWV Specialty Clinic • Bookey Strong • Royal Flush/Tony Teal • Les Schwab Tire Centers of Dallas, Independence & West Salem • NW Natural • Western Days • H&R Block Dallas & Monmouth • First Community Credit Union • James W. Fowler Construction • Dallas Family Medicine LLC • Michelle Hasbrook, DMD • Washington Street Steakhouse & Pub • Mungo Signs & Screen Printing • White’s Collision Service • Old Mill Garden & Feed • LimeBerry • Sweeny's Pub & Lotto • Dallas Rotary Club • Monmouth/Independence • Partnership in Community Living, Inc. Rotary Club • Mitch Ratzlaff State Farm • Squirrel's Taxi Service • OrePac Manufacturing • Elkay Wood Products • Rolling Prairie Farms • Woolsey Family Dental • Anytime Fitness • Penna & James, LLC • Ron Wilson Center • The Party Doctor • South View Medical Arts • Van Well Building Supply have to find a new way to travel — perhaps horse and buggy. As Jaramillo and her wife, Donna, ready to leave Inde- pendence after 13 years, Cynthia has mixed emo- tions. They are heading to Farmington, N.M., which will be a homecoming for Cynthia, but Independence has become her family. “I love this town,” she said. “I like the people in it. I like that it’s a community. It’s not just friends, it’s like family.” Cynthia said when you meet one person in Inde- pendence, it is as though you’ve met 100. “That person knows 50 people, and that person knows 50 people, so it ends Thursdays! May - Sept 10 am - 3 pm NEW vendors each week! Vendors this week: Akha Farm • Bermudez Family Farm Beyerle Farm • Birdsong Farm • Blackrock BBQ City of Dallas – Aquatic Center • El Pique Gramma’s Sewing Basket • Healthy Harvest Micro-farm Karls Birdhouses & Feeders • Kettle Korn Lakeside Berry Farm • Loyal Organic Farm Majestic View Farm • OSU Extension – Master Preservers Rosie Scottish Goodies • The Soap Store Tony Diaz • Unobtainium Food & Beverage Wine Fauve • Wizarts Illustration 182 Academy St., Dallas Facebook.com/bountymarket http://www.exploredallasoregon.org/bounty-market.html • Boulders & Wall Rock • Patio Stone • Rainbow & Beech Cobble • Crushed Rock • Plant Materials • Compost • Bark • Soil Blends • Potting Soil• Pumice • Perlite 5192 Salem-Dallas Hwy Next to Cafe 22W Restaurant Salem, Oregon 97304 503-391-2833 M-F 7:30 - 5:30 • Sat 8 - 6 • Sun 10 - 4 FREE Local Delivery Every Monday to Dallas and Independence on $90 order. Contractors Discounts Coupons cannot be combined with any other offer or discounted items. Expires 6/30/17 Yard Sale Season is here! We can make it easy for you! Advertise it in our classifieds! up everybody knows you,” she said. “Donna and I fit in this group. Right away, peo- ple took to us. They loved when we were around. They want us to be around.” The Jaramillos had a big impact in Independence in their 13 years. Cynthia was the first fe- male exalted ruler at the In- dependence Elks Lodge, and she and Donna were the first gay couple in a lodge. While exalted ruler, Cynthia worked to open the lodge to more community events. She took Ford Leadership classes while in Independ- ence as well as ethics com- mission classes. She toyed with the idea of running for local political office. Cynthia was one of the delegates that brought Independence the title of All-America City. Cynthia plans to get ac- tive in leadership activities in Farmington, too. “I try and meet every- body,” she said. “My father was the same way, because you never know if you’re going to meet them again. That’s what he told me. ‘You’ll never see them again.’ But here, you meet everybody and they all know you.” To celebrate their love for Independence, Cynthia and Donna will throw a party at Chase Bar and Grill on Sat- urday at 3 p.m. “I’m inviting the entire town,” Cynthia said. “We’re going to open up the park- ing lot, rope it off, have ta- bles out there for the over- flow. We’ll play the jukebox for music. They’re doing a menu just for us that day.” City receives park grant By Emily Mentzer The Itemizer-Observer INDEPENDENCE — The city of Independence got a boost to pay for a park on the area between the Willamette River and the In- dependence Landing devel- opment, said Shawn Irvine, economic development di- rector. A $414,000 grant from the Oregon Parks and Recre- ation department was awarded to the city for hard- surface trail improvements on the lower terrace of the property, Irvine said, as well as a ramp and stairway, and a couple small plazas — one at the top of the stairs and one at the bottom. “It is property the city owns,” Irvine said. “The plan is, as part of the develop- ment, there will be a trail.” The trail will link current trails along the Willamette to city hall, he said. “It’s exciting because this is the next extension of our riverfront greenway plan,” Irvine said. “We have a mile north and south of that In- dependence property. Now, not only do we own it, we’re going to be able to develop it Visit our website to make that parkland con- nection.” The grant required a 40 percent match. Irvine said the city used the value of the property and the money al- ready spent on the Inde- pendence Landing project to cover the match. DEADLINES NEWS DEADLINES For inclusion in the Wednesday edition of the Itemizer-Observer: Social news (weddings, engagements, anniver- saries, births, milestones) — 5 p.m. on Thursday. Community events — Noon on Friday for both the Community Notebook and Community Calendar. Letters to the editor — 10 a.m. on Monday. Obituaries — 4 p.m. on Monday. ADVERTISING DEADLINES Retail display ads — 3 p.m. Friday. Classified display ads — 11 a.m. on Monday. Classified line ads — Noon on Monday. Classified ads are updated daily on www.polkio.com. Public notices — Noon on Friday. CORRECTIONS The Polk County Itemizer- Observer is committed to pub- lishing accurate news, feature and sports reports. If you see anything that requires a cor- rection or clarification, call the newsroom at 503-623-2373 or send an email to ementzer@polkio.com. WEBSITE Please call Dawn today! 503-623-2373 www.polkio.com Solution on Page 6A www.polkio.com The Polk County Itemizer- Observer website, www.polkio.com, is updat- ed each week by Wednes- day afternoon. There, you will find nearly every story that appears in the print version of the newspaper, as well as some items, in- cluding additional photos, that do not appear in print due to space limitations. The Itemizer-Observer is also on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Watch for breaking news, links to sto- ries, sports scores updates and more. WEATHER RECORDED HIGH LOW June 13............. 64 June 14............. 69 June 15........... N/A June 16........... N/A June 17............. 75 June 18............. 83 June 19............. 88 51 48 N/A N/A 58 58 59 RAIN T .00 .13 .02 .00 .00 .00 Rainfall during June — 0.74 in. Rain through June 19 — 33.30 in.
