Polk County News
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • June 28, 2017 5A
Pollen: Ways to limit allergies Merritt: Encouraged with how
Polk County’s system works
Typical allergy timeline
Continued from Page 1A
She said the clinic saw a
decrease in the number of
patients coming in feeling
miserable, which is the staff’s
informal way of noting how
bad the season is going.
That doesn’t mean
breathing has been easy all
the time.
Last weekend the grass
pollen counts were in the
“very high” category, as
measured by the station at
Oregon Allergy Associates in
Eugene that provides data to
the National Allergy Bu-
reau’s database.
On Friday, the count was
358. On that scale, 200 is
considered “very high.” This
year, the highest count was
757, recorded on June 5-6.
Monday, the count had
fallen to 79, still classified as
“high.” The tree pollen
count was 23, in the moder-
ate range.
Pollen.com’s levels for the
Salem area increased dra-
matically starting on June 17
and have stayed in the
“high” to “medium-high”
range through. According to
the site, most allergy suffer-
ers begin to have symptoms
when levels reach “medi-
um.”
Even if pollen counts are
down, windy days and har-
vest season create problems
for allergy sufferers, when
Trees:
• Cedar and pine can pollinate as early as December.
• Hazelnut, juniper, cypress and spruce begin in January.
• Alder, birch and elm start in February.
• The last group, pollinating in March and April, including
oak, sweet gum, sycamore, cottonwood, maple, ash, hickory-
pecan, beech locust and walnut.
Grass:
• Usually the grass season is at its peak from Memorial Day
to Fourth of July, but depending on the climate, it can shift a
little earlier or a little later. The Willamette Valley has very high
grass pollen due to nearly 500,000 acres of land used for com-
mercial production of grass seed.
Weeds:
• Typically, weeds pollinate toward the end of summer and
into fall until first frost.
Perennial allergens:
• People who have allergies to feathers, animal dander, dust
mites or mold may have symptoms year-round. Those symp-
toms may be worse during colder weather with increased in-
door exposure.
— Source: Oregon Allergy Associates.
tree pollen gets whipped
around and work in fields
kicks up extra pollen, Bren-
ner said.
Beyond taking medica-
tion, those with allergies can
alleviate some of their symp-
toms by following practical
advice.
Brenner said to pay atten-
tion to pollen counts and al-
lergy forecasts, such as those
provided by Pollen.com.
Daily pollen counts are
available at www.oregonal-
lergyassociates.com/pollen-
counts.html.
Extra precautions are
needed during harvest sea-
son.
“We usually suggest peo-
ple keep their windows
closed, especially if they live
next to a hay field,” she said.
She said people should
take a shower before going to
bed at night so they are not
spreading the source of their
suffering to their pillow —
and keep their windows
closed.
“It might be cooler (to
have the window open), but
you might not be able to
sleep because you are sneez-
ing all night,” she said.
Continued from Page 1A
She applied and inter-
viewed for the job. She got
a second interview and
eventually a job offer.
“It just seemed so seam-
less,” she said. “It was
something that was a huge
step out of the box for me
because I was born and
raised in Jackson County.”
Merritt said she’s still
unsure how she will feel
about the rain in the
Willamette Valley, but is
impressed with what she’s
seen of the department
that will be hers starting
next week.
“Here, everybody just
works together. It’s not
about our own agency, it’s
about the client, which is
how it should be,” she
said.
Merritt worked for Jack-
son County, first in the ju-
venile program before
moving to a program su-
pervising adults.
From there, she took a
job with the county’s pa-
role and probation pro-
gram. In her last post, she
was a manager working on
grant writing and with the
agency’s community part-
ners.
Merritt started in Polk
County at the beginning of
June and is still learning
how the system works.
She’s encouraged by
programs like the county’s
new mental health court,
which she believes is a
good response to a grow-
ing issue in law enforce-
ment.
“I don’t know what it is,
maybe we’ve ignored it
previously, but it just
seems more prominent,”
she said. “We are kind be-
hind the curve, but with
the mental health court
and the programs that are
in place here and the way
things are designed, I
think that they are staying
on top of the curve.”
Merritt believes the job
is about holding people
accountable, but also fol-
lowing that up with help-
ing clients make better
choices in the future or
helping them navigate the
challenges life throws at
them.
She believes probation
officers sometimes act as
law enforcement officers
and other times as social
workers.
“Sometimes you have
someone sitting across
from you who’s made a
mistake, or they’ve used.
They don’t always need to
go to jail,” she said. “I
think our job is important
to not only protect the
community and try and
support the criminal jus-
tice system, but to support
them.”
She said she will take
some time to figure how
best to do that here.
“Really, I think that my
plans are to work with the
staff here and the adminis-
tration to see what their
vision is for the depart-
ment,” she said. “I’m used
to the Jackson County
way; I need to learn the
Polk County way.”
Itemizer-Observer
Your source for local news and sports.
HEALTH DIRECTORY
AUDIOLOGY
GENERAL DENTISTRY
MASSAGE
Trust your hearing to those that specialize in hearing
and hearing related disorders. Evan L. Evans, Ph. D,
and Julie B. Evans, AuD are both doctoral level Audi-
ologists who have the knowledge, experience and
compassion to provide you with the best care for your
hearing health. We offer free hearing screenings; by
our hearing aid specialist. We offer full & complete di-
agnostic evaluations, counseling and recommenda-
tions by our clinical Audiologists. Other Audiological
services include testing, management and treatment
options for Tinnitus. We have the knowledge and ex-
perience to assist your physician with the diagnosis of
diseases and disorders pertaining to hearing and the
hearing mechanism. We offer wax removal or ceru-
men management, Tinnitus testing and Tinnitus man-
agement techniques. An Audiologist, having the
Audiology credentials of the American Academy of Au-
diology (F-AAA) and the The American Speech Hear-
ing and Language Association’s Certificate of Clinical
Competency (CCC-A) is the professional of choice for
anything related to hearing and or hearing related is-
sues. Serving our hearing impaired since 1980, with
two locations to serve you.
Audiology Associates
1343-A Monmouth St., Independence • 503-838-3001
2296 NW Kings Blvd, Corvallis • 541-757-2500
• DALLAS FAMILY DENTAL - Benjamin James DDS,
Tom Davis DMD, Les Wheeler DDS. 289 E Ellendale
Ave Ste. 204, Dallas. Dallas Family Dental provides
general and cosmetic dentistry for children and adults.
We are happy to serve as your dental providers, and
are accepting new patients. www.dallasfamilyden-
taloregon.com
• OUT OF GRAVITY MASSAGE - Julianne Klingberg
DeForest, LMT - 503.510.2256 - NOW IN INDEPEND-
ENCE Enter Stressed, Leave Blessed - Out of Gravity
Massage offers massage sessions to suit a variety of
needs and health concerns. Intuitive and holistic
bodywork are blended with extensive and varied edu-
cation, creating a caring and knowledgeable environ-
ment of healing. Also, with a prescription and a claim
number, up to a year's therapeutic massage sessions
will help in your rehabilitation from a motor vehicle
accident. Relaxation, well care, geriatric and pediatric
massage is available, as well as motor vehicle accident
rehabilitation. Infant massage instructional sessions
available. Call today for an appointment. 503-510-
2256 OR # 7627/ National #295187-00
CHIROPRACTIC
• JOYNT FAMILY CHIROPRACTIC - Dr. Brian Joynt,
DC - 629 Clay Street East, Monmouth, OR 97361
Family-oriented chiropractic clinic, dedicated to cre-
ating an unparalleled experience of service, quality
and care by teaching the true principles of chiroprac-
tic. We look forward to empowering each of you to
help your family participate more fully in life. New pa-
tients welcome. Accept most insurance. Auto/per-
sonal injury and work comp. Massage therapist on
site. Complimentary consultations. Call us today to
make your appointment (503) 837-0550.
• THORNTON CHIROPRACTIC - Drs. Sharon and
Marty Thornton - Palmer Graduates - We care, God
cures. 1650 Monmouth St., Independence, OR 97351
• 503-838-3346. Office hours: Mon, Tues & Thurs 8-
noon & 2-6 pm; Wed 2-6 pm. & Fri 8-noon. Proudly
serving Polk County for over 17 years. Offering
Thompson Drop and other hands-on techniques, as
well as Advanced Activator Methods and Functional
Neurology. We provide gentle and effective full-spine
and extremity adjusting for all ages in a loving and car-
ing environment. We are accepting new patients for
Family Wellness Care, Medicare, Auto or personal in-
jury & Workers Comp. Licensed Massage Therapy
available on site.
COUNSELING
• CROSS AND CROWN COUNSELING ~ KATE
KOENS, NCCA Licensed Clinical Christian Counselor
and Certified Temperament Therapist. Cross and
Crown Counseling offers counseling services to indi-
viduals, couples and families as well as identity semi-
nars and grief recovery workshops. Our office is
located at 1156 SE Holman Ave. Dallas. Some specific
areas of counsel are adolescent, premarital, marriage,
trauma, crisis, grief, depression, anxiety, anger, di-
vorce, and identity crisis. We help our clients find
healing, learn communication skills, and appropriate
responses to individual and family needs and how to
obtain overall health, mentally, emotionally, and spir-
itually. We provide a safe and caring environment to
face life situations, address interpersonal and intrap-
ersonal conflict and help individuals realize their full
potential in order to live decisively with truth, rele-
vance, perspective, and purpose. For more informa-
tion or to schedule an appointment please call (503)
917-1625 or visit our website at www.crossandcrown-
counseling.com
• RANDALL C. JONES, DMD - 1004 Monmouth St., In-
dependence, OR 503-838-0434. Offering a broad
range of dental services in a relaxed and comfortable
atmosphere. New patients and emergencies welcome.
• WESTON K. MORRILL, DMD - 289 E. Ellendale Suite
#201, Dallas. 503-623-6616. Family, preventive, and
cosmetic dentistry. Complete dentistry for the entire
family. Se habla español.
• DR. MICHELLE HASBROOK, DMD - 120 N. Atwater,
Monmouth, OR 503-838-2998. Providing all phases of
dental care for children and adults. We welcome new
patients!
• KENNETH WINOKUR, DMD - 329 South Main Street
Independence, OR 97351. 503-838-1633. High quality
service with your comfort in mind. Nitrous oxide gas
sedation available. www.independencedental.org
GYNECOLOGY SERVICES
Gynecological care is available in Dallas at the Salem
Health West Valley Specialty Clinic. Gynecologist
Keita Sakon, MD, specializes in gynecology exams and
procedures, including hysteroscopy and laparoscopy,
as well as family planning, abnormal Pap evaluation,
treatment of pelvic pain, symptom control for
menopause and abnormal periods. Dr. Sakon works
in Dallas on Friday afternoons from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m.
seeing patients at the clinic and performing gynecol-
ogical procedures in the Salem Health West Valley
surgical suites. New patients are welcome! Salem
Health West Valley Specialty Clinic is located at 591 SE
Clay St., Dallas. Call 503-831-0784 for an appointment.
Visit salemhealth.org/westvalley.
HEARING HEALTH
• JOYFUL SOUND HEARING SERVICES, INC. Mark
Sturtevant, 312 Main Street, Dallas OR, 503-623-0290.
Providing Polk County with hearing solutions for 30
years. Services include: Hearing evaluations, Diagnos-
ing hearing loss; Impedance; Fitting all types of hear-
ing devices, Servicing all makes and models of hearing
aids; Ear inspections; Wax removal; Hearing protec-
tion. Hours: Monday - Thursday 9-4pm. (Fridays by
appointment only)
IMAGING SERVICES
• SALEM HEALTH WEST VALLEY offers state-of-the-
art all-digital diagnostic imaging services. With your
physician's referral, we provide bone densitometry,
CT scan, fluoroscopy, mammography, ultrasound, X-
ray and MRI services. Check out our comfortable and
spacious mammography suite. We are located at 525
SE Washington St., Dallas, 503-623-7302.
LABORATORY SERVICES
• SALEM HEALTH WEST VALLEY provides lab serv-
ices at two convenient locations in Dallas and Mon-
mouth. Both labs are fully accredited, providing
collections and testing with healthcare provider refer-
ral. Employment and self-referral drug testing is of-
fered. The West Valley Hospital lab in Dallas is open
24 hours, seven days a week, at 525 SE Washington St.,
503-623-7303. The Monmouth lab is located in the
Monmouth Medical Center, 512 Main St., Suite 300,
503-838-1388. It is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m.-
4:30 p.m., closed between noon and 1 p.m. Appoint-
ments are not required.
ORTHODONTICS
• YENNE & SCHOFIELD - SPECIALISTS IN ORTHO-
DONTICS - 580 Main Street, Suite E, Dallas, 503-623-
5002. Providing Polk County with orthodontic care for
children and adults for functions and cosmetics. Open
Tuesdays & Thursdays.
PHYSICAL THERAPY/
REHABILITATION SERVICES
• PINNACLE PHYSICAL THERAPY is an orthopedic
physical therapy facility committed to getting great re-
sults for each patient. We focus on advanced spine
care, women's health issues, sport rehab, vehicle ac-
cidents, and work injuries. We offer highly specialized
care including manual therapy, aquatic therapy, spe-
cific deep tissue mobilization techniques, Postural
Restoration Institute (PRI) techniques and therapeutic
exercise. We have a warm, caring and friendly staff
and accept most private health insurance, auto insur-
ance, and workers' compensation insurance. We offer
both male and female physical therapists. Often no
physician referral is needed to start care. Call us today
and ask how to get therapy for your condition or talk
to your physician to see if physical therapy is right for
you. Call us: 503-623-2433. We are conveniently lo-
cated at 210 W. Ellendale Avenue Dallas, Oregon
97338; (next to Taco Bell) Check us out on the web:
www.pinnacle-physicaltherapy.com
• SALEM HEALTH WEST VALLEY offers a wide range
of rehabilitation services. Our hospital in Dallas, lo-
cated at 525 SE Washington St. in Dallas, offers phys-
ical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy
and aquatic therapy (at Dallas Aquatic Center). 503-
623-7305. Our clinic in Monmouth offers physical
therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy.
Located at 512 Main St. 503-838-1388. Visit
www.salemhealth.org/westvalley.
PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS
• DR. CHARLES ESSEX, family medicine, is accepting
new patients at Salem Health West Valley Medical
Clinic, located at 512 Main St., Suite 300, Monmouth,
503-838-1182. With a proactive healthcare approach,
Dr. Essex provides care for the entire family and will
work with you to build a healthy lifestyle with annual
exams, immunizations, lifestyle counseling, sports
physicals, skin care, cancer screenings and more. New
patients are welcome.
• DR. JOHN HADLEY, family medicine, is accepting
new patients at the Salem Health West Valley Medical
Clinic at 555 SE Washington St., Dallas, 503-623-7301.
With a proactive healthcare approach, Dr. Hadley pro-
vides offers family medicine for your entire family from
newborns to adults with annual exams, immunizations,
lifestyle counseling, sports physicals, skin care, cancer
screenings and more. New patients are welcome.
Call the Itemizer-Observer at 503-623-2373
to have your business listed in this directory.