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
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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
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• Boulders & Wall Rock • Patio Stone
• Rainbow & Beech Cobble
• Crushed Rock • Plant Materials
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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
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on $90 order.
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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
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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.