Polk County News
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • July 19, 2017 5A
NEWS IN BRIEF
Fire Marshal talks wildfire prevention
SALEM — The Oregon State Fire Marshal is asking residents and
visitors to take steps to prevent wildfires as warm weather persists
and vegetation dries out.
Here are some tips to remember when enjoying the outdoors:
• Know fire risks and obey fire restrictions, such as campfire
bans.
• Avoid parking or driving on dry grass as hot vehicles can start
a wildfire.
• Vehicles are required to have a shovel and fire extinguisher or
at least a gallon of water in many areas.
• Do not use candles, fireworks, tiki torches or other open flames
in wildland areas.
• Remember that sky lanterns are illegal in Oregon airspace.
• Dispose of smoking material in deep, sturdy ashtrays.
• Make sure butts and ashes are extinguished with water and
sand.
• Never discard butts on the ground or in vegetation.
For more wildfire prevention information and restrictions go to
www.keeporegongreen.org and the Oregon Department of
Forestry at www.oregon.gov.
Grace Church services at Pressed
DALLAS — Grace Church is hosting Saturday church services at
Pressed Coffee & Wine Bar Saturdays through Sept. 2.
The services are at 6 p.m. at Pressed, 788 Main St., Dallas.
Saturday services are an alternative to Sunday morning worship
for people who can’t attend then or don’t normally go to church.
No children’s ministry or childcare are provided.
For more information: call Pastor Ben at 503-623-4961 or email
ben@graceindallas.org.
Stewart named state club president
DALLAS — Gaye Stewart, a Dallas resident and founder of the
Dallas Garden Club, will serve as Oregon State Federation of Gar-
den Club president for 2017-19.
There are more than 2,600 people who belong to one of the 86
garden clubs in Oregon, Stewart said.
“Our organizational goals are focused on conservation or our
air, water, forests, land and wildlife,” Stewart said. “My President’s
Project is focused on preservation of the pollinator bees.” The
theme for Stewart’s term is “Plant a Seed, Reap a Harvest.”
KVCS holds border change meeting
KINGS VALLEY — The Kings Valley Charter School is considering
a change of the district boundary to become part of the Falls City
School District.
The school is currently part of the Philomath School District.
The KVCS board will hold a meeting to provide information to
community, answer questions and receive feedback about the
proposed change.
The meeting is Sunday from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Kings Valley Char-
ter School gym, 33840 Kings Valley Highway, Philomath.
For more information: 541-929-2134.
S enior Center to present Holocaust
MONMOUTH — Monmouth Senior Center, 180 Warren St. S.,
Monmouth, will hold a presentation on the Holocaust Monday at
noon.
David Rosenfeld, a first-generation immigrant of German-Jewish
parents, will speak about his family’s experiences during and since
World War II.
There is no cost to attend.
Light refreshments will be served.
For more information: 503-838-5678.
Falls City eclipse event approved
By Jolene Guzman
The Itemizer-Observer
FALLS CITY — Solar
eclipse viewers now have an
option of camping in Falls
City’s Upper Park and join-
ing in a Great American
Eclipse breakfast and view-
ing party on Aug. 21.
Camping, which would
be available from Aug. 19
through Aug. 21, and the
viewing event are hosted by
The Boondocks restaurant
in Falls City.
Government
The Falls City City Coun-
cil approved an application
Thursday allowing camping
for about 150 people in the
city park and closing a por-
tion of North Main Street
near the restaurant Aug. 21
from 6 a.m. to noon.
The owner of Frink’s
General Store, Kirby Frink,
said he didn’t approve of
the street closure, saying it
would affect his business on
what could be the busiest
day of the year.
Event organizer and The
Boondocks co-owner Laura
Britton said the closure
would not block customers
from going to the store.
“I really don’t think it’s
that big of a deal. I really
don’t think there’s going to
be that many people on the
road from 10 a.m. to 11
a.m.,” said Mayor Terry Un-
gricht of the street closure.
Councilor Lori Jean Sick-
les, also the co-owner of
The Boondocks, didn’t vote
on the application.
Councilor Dennis Sickles,
Lori Jean’s brother, de-
clared his relationship to
the restaurant owners, but
voted yes.
Falls City to put two levies on ballot
By Jolene Guzman
The Itemizer-Observer
FALLS CITY — Granted
they are submitted on
time, two five-year opera-
tional levies will appear on
the November ballot for
Falls City voters, one for
Wagner Community Li-
brary and another for the
city’s fire department and
streets.
T h e
Falls City
C i t y
Council
voted on
Thursday
to have
M a y o r
Ungricht
Terry Un-
gricht do
the research and submit
paperwork to election offi-
cials for both levies.
Ungricht asked that the
motion say he would “try”
to get the levies submitted,
because he’s afraid it
would be too much work
to complete before the
deadline.
Items for the ballot must
be approved 60 days be-
fore the election, which is
on Nov. 14.
“I will try,” Ungricht
said following the vote. “I
just want everybody to un-
derstand that we are on
the deadline. I’m not say-
ing it’s impossible.”
Ungricht said it would
cost $1.30 per $1,000 of as-
sessed value on properties
to keep the library open.
He also gave a report on
the state of the city’s fire
department and paved
streets.
He said he submitted a
grant to FEMA to replace
the fire department’s
breathing units that allow
them to conduct interior
firefighting and rescues.
He’s not confident that
the city will receive the
grant, and said the unit ex-
pires in two years.
“The only reason I can
think that we are not being
awarded it is that we have
950 people and 1.2-square
miles (in the coverage
area),” he explained. “The
money is real tight, so
they’re going to service
areas that cover more pop-
ulation and area. … We
will no longer be able to go
inside to fight a structural
fire. That means you stay
outside, keep it cooled
down and let it burn.”
He added a few vital
roads in town have de-
graded to a dangerous
level and others will be
there soon.
“You guys have driven
The Doctor is
The temperature
inside your car can
reach unhealthy highs,
let us service your A/C and
protect you and your family!
the Dallas Public Library.
Councilors Lori Jean
Sickles, Charlie Flynn and
Dennis Sickles said they
were uncomfortable not
putting Wagner Library
funding on the ballot after
making a pledge to do so
last month during a joint
meeting with the Falls City
School District.
“This coming up with
the fire department and
the streets is brand new. It
wasn’t discussed at that
time,” Dennis Sickles said.
“I’m uncomfortable drop-
ping the library thing after
the meeting that we had.
I’m not saying I’m uncom-
fortable doing a levy for
the streets and the fire de-
partment.”
Meier noted no official
vote was taken to proceed
with the library levy.
“It’s also our jobs to re-
ally set priorities and, to
me, the fire department,
especially the fire depart-
ment, is a priority,” Meier
said.
“To me, when you say
you are going to do some-
thing, that’s a priority,”
Lori Jean Sickles respond-
ed.
Flynn made a motion to
include both on the No-
vember ballot, and it was
approved unanimously.
on our paved roads,” he
said. “They are in desper-
ate need, especially after
last winter.”
He proposed a com-
bined operational levy for
the fire department and
the streets, estimated at
between $1.60 to $2 per
$1,000 of assessed value to
pay fire needs and street
maintenance.
The fire department also
would be able to replace
its heating system, radios
and hoses for its trucks.
Councilors Tony Meier
and Cliff Lauder said they
would support asking vot-
ers to approve that levy
and not pursue funding for
the library.
“We are going to ask the
citizens of Falls City to give
up money, and I believe
that the fire department
and the streets are more
important than the li-
brary,” Lauder said.
He added, and Meier
agreed, that putting both
levies on the ballot risked
failure of both.
Ungricht said closing
the library wouldn’t mean
all library services would
disappear, and the city is
working with the county to
establish a van route be-
tween Falls City and Dallas
that could take people to
Monmouth 2017
Music in the Park
Main St. Park Amphitheater
Every Wednesday through August 30 ~ 6:30pm
MUSIC, FOOD, BEER & WINE GARDEN
Look for the
Music in the Park Series
on Facebook for more
information about this
year’s artists.
Performing Tonight
July 19
Hillstomp
- The Car Doctor
Dallas Lions Club’s 9th Annual
Celebrating 10 years of service!
Start at Levens St. Bridge - Finish at Main St. Bridge
760 Monmouth Cutoff Rd, Dallas • thecardoctor.vp.com
The Car Doctor
Full Service Auto Repair 503-623-8570
Saturday
July 29 • 2 pm
Tickets
$
2
PER
DUCK
#9
(Blues)
FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Bring your chairs
and blankets
and we’ll see you
in the park!
For More Information Contact:
Mark Fancey 503-751-0147
Reconnect with friends of yesteryear!
Over 100
amazing prizes
from our
business community.
and
presents
Tickets on sale at these locations: Bounty Market • Courtyard Coffee
& Deli • Dallas Animal Clinic • Dallas Chamber Office
• Dallas Trophy • Sassy’s Keggs & Eggs • The Car Doctor
• Walmart (Saturdays from 10-4). Or call 503-302-3848.
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.
Performing July 21
le
etti
Old Sty s & Spagh
ame
unch
L
Board G abilia
Memor
DALLAS CITY PARK
Live
Music
Show begins at 7:30
IDOL GENERATION
August 6 • 10AM to 3PM
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Find us on Facebook:
Dallas Old Timers Reunion Picnic
Friday - Thursday • July 21 - 27
WONDER WOMAN (Digital) (PG13)
(12:40 3:45)
DESPICABLE ME 3 (Digital) (PG)
(12:15 2:30 4:45)
SPIDER-MAN:
HOMECOMING (Digital) (PG13)
(12:45 3:45)
VALERIAN & THE CITY OF A
THOUSAND PLANETS (Digital) (PG13)
(1:00 4:00)
DUNKIRK (Digital) (PG13)
(11:45 2:15 4:45)
THE BIG SICK (Digital) (R)
(1:40 4:25)
CARS 3 (Digital) (G)
(12:00 2:35)
WISH UPON (Digital) (PG13)
(5:10)
WAR FOR THE PLANET
OF THE APES (Digital) (PG13)
(12:35 3:40)
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Visit our website,
www.polkio.com
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...for local news, sports
and community events.
Lawn Seating — Bring blankets & chairs
This Week’s FREE MOVIE:
Showing July 20 • 9:45
LEGO BATMAN
JULY 28 Concert: 5 Guys Named Moe - 7:30 PM
JULY 27 Movie: Moana - 9:45 PM
6:45 9:50
Follow us on
• VENDORS • BEER & WINE GARDEN
Riverview Amphitheater, Independence, OR
Visit our website: independenceamphitheater.com