Polk County
Voices
polk County itemizer-Observer • July 12, 2017 4A
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EDITORIALS
Be inspired to
take action
Something happened over the Fourth of July in Dallas,
and it was more than fireworks and a barbecue competi-
tion.
It was another viral Facebook post that ended up show-
ing the true spirit of this community.
A woman vandalized signs and places throughout town,
but was stopped in her tracks after defacing the Sgt. Ian
Tawney Memorial Park sign. A witness took her picture
and called police before she could spray-paint anymore
signs in town.
What happened next started in a similar manner to what
we often see on Facebook. Someone posted a picture of
the vandalism and complained. Public shaming of the
woman — unknown to many at the time of posting. How
could anyone do this? What a terrible thing!
Then, a sort of vigilante stepped in. Alex Lofton and his
family and friends took matters into their own hands.
Lofton noticed the Facebook post because it was getting so
much attention, and, at 11 p.m. on July 4, drove over to the
Ian Tawney Memorial Park with a bucket of soapy water
and scrub brushes in hand. He used the light from his
headlights to begin the work of trying to clean the pink
spray-paint from the veteran’s sign.
When the paint would not wash off, Lofton and his crew
got some acrylic paints and began trying to paint over the
graffiti.
That wasn’t good enough. The pink kept coming
through. So, Lofton and his friends worked in the heat of
the day repainting it a darker, “Marine Corps Green.” They
didn’t stop until the work was done.
Of course, the town took note. On the evening of July 4,
people began posting pictures of Alex and his family work-
ing in the dark of the night by headlights, and the com-
ments changed from complaints to praise and love.
We’re not suggesting people paint city property on a
regular basis, but we hope the community will remember
what Lofton, his family and friends accomplished last
week.
We hope that, before you post a picture of trash in Dal-
las City Park and complain about how rude your fellow
residents are for littering, you will pick up the trash. If you
must post, post about how lovely the park looks because
you’ve helped keep it clean.
You don’t have to be a part of a commission or council
to take responsibility for the beauty of your town.
As for Lofton and his crew, our hats are off to you.
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, JuLy 12
• 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.
• Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., polk
County Courthouse, first floor conference room, 850 Main st.,
Dallas. 503-623-8173.
THuRSDAy, JuLy 13
• Polk County Fire District no. 1 Board — 6 p.m., Central
station 90, 1800 Monmouth st., independence. 503-838-1510.
• Falls City City Council — 6 p.m., Falls City Community Cen-
ter, 320 N. Main st., Falls City. 503-787- 3631.
MOnDAy, JuLy 17
• Dallas City Council — 7 p.m., Dallas City hall, 187 se Court
st., Dallas. 503-831-3502.
TuESDAy, JuLy 18
• Monmouth City Council — 7 p.m., Volunteer hall, 144 War-
ren st. s., Monmouth. 503-838-0725.
• Polk County Board of Commission work session — 9
a.m., polk County Courthouse, BOC office, 850 Main st., Dallas.
503-623-8173.
WEDnESDAy, JuLy 19
• 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.
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
Science doesn’t
judge, it observes
Oh dear, Mr. Davies, I am
quite confused after reading
your opinion on global
warming in the June 28
paper.
It seems that the argu-
ment about the planet’s
warming and cooling peri-
ods and the cyclical nature
of these phases on the
earth, brought to you by re-
cent centuries of scientific
research, observation, ex-
periments, publishing find-
ings, peer review, more ex-
periments, etc., until gradu-
ally over time the entire
warming and cooling peri-
ods and the effect these pe-
riods have on our planet,
humanity, animals, plants,
all are valid in the discus-
sion.
Yet the very same scien-
tific processes that have
been discovering, docu-
menting, experimenting,
publishing, reviewing, and
explaining the effects of
global warming on our
planet, humanity, animals,
plants, are not valid.
I don’t know that one
could use scientific findings
of a previous time to dis-
claim the scientific findings
during this time.
If indeed science has
truly discovered the warm-
ing and cooling cycles of the
earth, does it not also make
sense that science would
discover when the earth is
in distress in those cycles
from manmade influences?
Science does not judge.
Science observes and meas-
ures and shares its conclu-
sions. What we do with
those newly found facts be-
longs to us. Not to science.
Science has and is continu-
ing to do its job in docu-
menting and telling the
news of global warming that
is here.
Our Creator gave us the
gifts of science and faith.
With the two together, we
can move forward to keep
our planet healthy and in a
good working order for hu-
manity’s future.
Diane McBurnett
Monmouth
Cellphone sting
could bring revenue
So, I’m pretty sure it is no
secret that it is illegal to talk
or to text on a hand-held
cellphone while driving.
Why is it then that when I’m
out and about I observe far
too many drivers ignoring
this law? Come on folks,
hang up and drive.
WANT TO WRITE A LETTER?
letters to the editor are
limited to 300 words. longer
letters will be edited.
each writer is restricted to
one letter per 30-day period.
letters that are libelous,
obscene or in bad taste will
not be printed. Attacks by
name on businesses or indi-
viduals will not be printed.
letters to the editor that
are obvious promotions for a
business, products or serv-
ices will not be printed.
Here’s an idea, have a
plain clothes police officer
on a random day in a ran-
dom place photo ticketing
once a week. I’m guessing it
wouldn’t take long to be so
flush with cash that no pro-
gram or department would
be wanting for anything.
There would never again be
the need to ask the taxpay-
ers for a bond measure. We
could build that jail, put the
new roof on the current
one, hire those extra offi-
cers, do the courthouse
annex, fund all of the public
safety departments, take
care of the fairgrounds facil-
ities and probably have
funds left over.
Julianna Burke
Independence
Mini-Marathon
smashing success
On behalf of the 47th an-
nual Fourth of July Mini-
Marathon planning com-
mittee, we would like to
thank all the volunteers who
helped make this a fun
event.
Specifically, the Central
Lions Club, the staff at the
Independence library, the
Folck Family, Jacob Welch,
Carol Rose, Kelly Rockwell,
Cody Black, Bill and Linda
Lindh, the Kelly family, the
Cable family and other vol-
unteers for assisting with
day of race registration,
water station, and the finish
line.
We would also like to
thank all the businesses that
donated water and prizes
for our finish line raffle. We
had over 400 people register
this year. All proceeds from
this event go to support
local nonprofits and schol-
arships.
We hope you’ll consider
participating next year.
Jennifer O’Sullivan
Independence
Veteran recounts
Honor Flight
On June 23, I was a very
letters, like all editorial
material submitted to the
newspaper, are edited for
length, grammar and con-
tent.
letters must include the
author’s name, address and
telephone number. This in-
cludes letters submitted via
the I-O’s website.
The deadline for letters to
the editor is 10 a.m. Mon-
day. For the complete policy:
polkio.com.
happy World War II veteran.
My doctor, Dr. Edwardson,
recommended me to the
Honor Flight TLC program.
This is a nonprofit program
which honors veterans from
WWII, Korean and Vietnam
wars by giving them a free
trip to Washington, D.C., to
see all of the national war
monuments.
First stop was the WWII
Monument, built in 2004, a
beautiful fountain in the
middle surrounded by pil-
lars representing each state.
They didn’t rush us back
to the bus. We got to sit and
view the monument. While
sitting there under the
shade trees, many people
would come to us and shake
our hands to thank us for
our service. Young children
would come to us as well as
older people.
People knew we were vet-
erans because Honor Flight
gave all the veterans a T-
shirt labeled, “Veteran.” On
the back of the shirt there
were two quotes which
read, “If you can read this,
thank a teacher,” and “If
you can read this in English,
thank a veteran.”
We traveled to the Lin-
coln, Vietnam and Korean
memorials. The Navy Mon-
ument was next. Then they
took us to the Arlington Na-
tional Cemetery where we
saw the changing of the
guard. We saw the Iwo Jima
statue, then the Air Force
Monument, where we all
got out of the bus and had a
group picture taken to re-
member the trip. There
were 20 veterans and 20
guardians on this trip.
Thanks to Honor Flight’s
Diane and Jane, plus 20 vol-
unteers who helped us at
the airport, pushed us in
our wheelchairs, and helped
us in and out of the bus.
Thank you Dr. Edward-
son for suggesting this, and
the Honor Flight program
that gives veterans this
chance in a lifetime.
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
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
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
Melvin Olfert
Dallas
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
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
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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
Vol. 142, No. 28
(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
nEWSROOM
emily Mentzer ..............editor/Monmouth/independence reporter ....ementzer@polkio.com
lukas eggen..................sports editor......................................................................leggen@polkio.com
Jolene Guzman............Dallas/Falls City/polk County reporter ................jguzman@polkio.com
stephanie Blair.............General Assignment reporter........................................sblair@polkio.com
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Fax: 503-623-2395
which is in error if the itemizer-Observer is at fault.
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