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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (June 28, 2017)
Polk County News Polk County Itemizer-Observer • June 28, 2017 3A Man charged with sex abuse of child Salem Police suspect Johnson may have additional victims Itemizer-Observer staff report JOLENE GUZMAN/Itemizer-Observer file The Polk County Board of Commissioners will consider adding a taxing district to pay for facilities at the fairgrounds. County seeks other options By Jolene Guzman The Itemizer-Observer POLK COUNTY — In May, voters narrowly reject- ed a $10 million bond for county facilities mainte- nance. On June 20, County Ad- ministrator Greg Hansen proposed a plan to address repairs and maintenance in lieu of the bond. It included asking Public Works and Behavioral Health to cover costs at their respective buildings. Behavioral Health is the largest occupant of the Academy Building, which was recently remodeled. The Polk County Jail needs a new roof soon, and the money for that project would come from the coun- ty’s general fund, Hansen said. He said finding solutions for the historic courthouse and annex complex and the Polk County Fairgrounds & Event Center is tougher. The courthouse complex needs an estimated $7.5 mil- lion to $8.5 million in re- pairs, according to a facili- ties analysis commissioned by the county. Hansen said the fair- grounds has aging facilities and can’t cover operations costs without help. “When considering these facilities, the primary source of funding for any of these improvements will fall upon the general fund, which does not have adequate resources to address the necessary re- pairs without a serious dis- ruption to the services we currently provide,” Hansen wrote in a memo to the Board of Commissioners. His proposal provided separate options for the courthouse complex and fairgrounds. He recommended scaling back the $10 million bond to $8.5 million to address needs at the courthouses. That would cost an esti- mated 16.5 cents per $1,000 of assessed value on proper- ties in the first year, and av- erage less than 15 cents over the 10-year life of the bond. Hansen said the board didn’t want to pursue that option in November this year, but would wait until 2018, if it decides to place a bond before voters. For the fairgrounds, Hansen recommended ex- ploring a permanent solu- tion: A taxing district, similar to what voters approved for Polk County’s Oregon State University Extension pro- gram. Now, the fairgrounds fa- cility needs help from the county to balance its budg- et. “The (general fund) trans- fer to the fairgrounds is $75,000,” Hansen said. “That could easily go to $250,000 before you know it and you’re still not address- ing things.” A taxing district charging a permanent rate of 10 cents per $1,000 would generate about $550,000, of which $250,000 could pay for oper- ations. The remaining $300,000 could be leveraged to fi- nance repairing existing buildings or new construc- tion. County leaders will have time to weigh the pros and cons of the fairgrounds pro- posal, as it probably won’t see a ballot until after a re- newal of the public safety levy goes before voters in November 2019. “This idea will require some research,” Hansen said. WEST SALEM — Salem Police Detectives arrested a suspect on numerous sexu- al charges against a female minor, according to a press release from the Salem Po- lice Department. Officers were performing a routine check of Orchard Heights Park at about 12:50 a.m. on Monday when they encountered a vehicle, ac- cording to the release. Upon making contact with the adult male occupant of the vehicle, they also found a 16-year-old female in the vehicle. Further investiga- tion led officers to believe there was illegal activity, and an investigation en- sued. After interviews by de- tectives, Kyle Johnson, 26, of Salem, was arrested on charges of compelling prostitution, delivery of a controlled substance to a minor, second-degree sex- ual abuse, and first-degree online sexual corruption of a child. The investigation showed that Johnson first made contact with the vic- tim on a social media plat- form and continued to communicate with her, eventually setting up meet- ings with her and offering controlled substances and alcohol, according to the police report. Due to the nature of the allegations against John- son, investigators are con- cerned that there may be additional victims. Anyone who has had similar approaches, propo- sitions or communications are asked to contact the Salem Police Department Tip Line at 503-588-8477. The Salem Police De- partment would like to re- mind parents to be aware of the online activities of their children. Computers should be kept in a com- mon area where activity can be readily viewed by others. Set limits on social media accounts and have rules in place to be able to view childrens' activities online, the press release stated. Salem police encour- aged parents to have con- versations with children about online safety to in- clude not becoming friends with people who are un- known to them, verifying the identities of those re- questing connections, and immediately reporting any approaches by strangers to connect in person, the re- lease states. Any requests for photos of sexual nature or the receipt of such pho- tos should be reported im- mediately to a responsible adult, and immediately discontinue contact with anyone who makes them feel uncomfortable. Parents should also be aware of and have consis- tent access to their chil- drens' smartphones, online gaming systems and the online activities they are engaging in when with their friends, the press re- lease states. Music from the Redgate Winery & Fieldhouse Friday, June 30 • 6-9 PM Reckless Rockhounds $5.00 cover ____________________ Saturday, July 1 • 6-9 PM Ivie, Meziere, Foss Trio $5.00 cover __________________________ Sunday, July 2 • 6-9 PM Mitch Lies & the Alibis Free. ____________________ Monday & Tuesday July 3 & 4 • 6-9pm Martin Gerschwitz $10.00 cover Tasting fees $10 Glass of wine $5 Must be 21. Food Available. 8175 Buena Vista Road Independence • 503-428-7115 • www.redgatevineyard.com Matinees are all shows before 6pm. New pricing for matinees are: Adult $8.00 Children $7.00 • Senior $7.25 Pricing does not reflect 3D showings. FRIDAY - WEDNESDAY • JUNE 30 - JULY 5 NOTICE The Polk County Sheriff’s Office has in its physical possession the un- claimed personal property described below. If you have any ownership interest in any of that unclaimed property, you must file a claim with the Polk County Sheriff’s office within 30 days from the date of publication of this notice, or you will lose your interest in that property. • Pencil us in! • • www.polkio.com Firearms, knives, bicycles, electronic equipment, jewelry, tools, bags/backpacks, sports equipment 1996 Jeep Cherokee, OR 161FLB, Vin #1J4FT68S5TL133117 2002 Subaru Outback, OR SL36977, Vin#4S3BH665926656981 WONDER WOMAN (Digital) (PG13) (12:40 3:45) THE HOUSE (Digital) (R) (12:35 2:50 5:05) BABY DRIVER (Digital) (R) (11:30 2:10 4:50) DESPICABLE ME 3 (Digital) (PG) (11:45 12:15 2:00 2:30 4:15 4:45) 47 METERS DOWN (Digital) (PG13) TRANSFORMERS: THE LAST KNIGHT (Digital) (PG13) (12:15 3:30) PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES (Digital) (PG13) (1:15 4:10) ROUGH NIGHT(Digital) (R) CARS 3 (Digital) (G) (11:30 2:05 4:40) 6:50 9:55 7:20 9:35 7:3010:10 7:00 9:15 6:30 8:45 6:4510:00 7:05 10:00 7:15 9:50 THURSDAY • JULY 6 WONDER WOMAN (Digital) (PG13) (12:40 3:45) THE HOUSE (Digital) (R) (12:35 2:50 5:05) BABY DRIVER (Digital) (R) (11:30 2:10 4:50) DESPICABLE ME 3 (Digital) (PG) (11:45 12:15 2:00 2:30 4:15 4:45) SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING (Digital) (PG13) TRANSFORMERS: THE LAST KNIGHT (Digital) (PG13) (12:15 3:30) PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES (Digital) (PG13) (1:15 4:10) ROUGH NIGHT(Digital) (R) CARS 3 (Digital) (G) (11:30 2:05 4:40) Contact Polk County Sheriff’s Office at: 850 Main Street, Dallas, OR 97338 • (503) 623-9251 (June 28; July 5, 12, 19, 2017) COmInG SOOn to a mAILBOX near you! YOUR LOCAL 2017-18 PHOnE BOOK Eagle Directories 147 SE Court St., Dallas • 503-623-2373 • www.polkio.com/polk-directory/ 6:50 9:55 7:20 9:35 7:3010:10 7:00 9:15 7:00 10:00 6:4510:00 7:05 10:00 7:15 9:50
