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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 9, 2017)
Polk County Voices Polk County Itemizer-Observer • August 9, 2017 4a EDITORIALS How to Contact Officials Educate visitors on fire danger Even with a forecast of showers for early next week, it’s still hot and dry out there. We’ve seen fires started by cars driving on fields — and this week, a car that broke down on the side of the road started a five-acre field fire. It wasn’t even on the grass — that shows you how high the fire danger really is. Residents of Polk County are familiar with fire danger — hot and dry conditions mean running field equipment and home lawn mowers in the morning when possible, being responsible with barbecues and cigarettes (does anyone smoke anymore?). But in less than two weeks, we will see a surge of out-of- towners, some from around the world, who will not under- stand why they can’t have a barbecue in the camping spot they’ve paid $500 a night for in the middle of a farmer’s field. They may think they’re not doing any harm by driv- ing around the grass looking for the perfect viewing spot or making s’mores around a campfire. It will be up to us to help educate them and spread the message of safety when it comes to fire danger during the Great American Eclipse. We hope people will be responsible next week, for themselves and their visitors. Let’s make this eclipse a good memory, rather than a fiery one. 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, auG. 9 • 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. • Monmouth Parks and Recreation Board — 7 p.m., Volun- teer Hall, 144 Warren St. S. Monmouth. 503-838-0725. • Polk County Board of Commissioners —9 a.m., Polk Coun- ty Courthouse, first floor conference room, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-623-8173. THuRSDay, auG. 10 • Polk County Fire District no. 1 Board — 6 p.m., Central Station 90, 1800 Monmouth St., Independence. 503-838-1510. • western Days Commission — 7 p.m., Independence Civic Center, 555 S. Main St., Independence. 503-838-1212. • Falls City City Council — 6 p.m., Falls City Community Cen- ter, 320 N. Main St., Falls City. 503-787- 3631. MOnDay, auG. 14 • Dallas School Board — 6:30 p.m., Dallas School District of- fice, 111 SW Ash St., Dallas. 503-623-5594. TuESDay, auG. 15 • independence Historic Preservation Commission — 4 p.m., Independence Civic Center, 555 S. Main St., Independence. 503-838-1212. • 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, auG. 16 • 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 Careless drivers needlessly kill deer As I write this, there is a small fawn (still in spots) struggling for life after being run down by an inconsider- ate driver who has no com- passion for the wildlife in the area. I have a question for the people who reside on and traverse on Brown Road (off Highway 22). What is your hurry? There have been many deer hit and killed on this road in the past few years. Why? Do you not realize this is a deer-populated area, and they do dash across the road. These are unwarranted killings. This street is not the Indy 500. Save lives; slow down; leave five minutes earlier. The body left dying in the roadway could just as easily be a child or a beloved pet. Pat Utter Dallas Staff brings Dallas library to life I want to acknowledge the terrific job and extend a big thank you to the staff at our Dallas library. The folks running the li- brary are always pleasant, knowledgeable, and helpful with accessing library mate- rials. They have activities for children and teenagers, present local art and artists, as well as authors and speakers. Our local library is a great place in our community be- cause the staff makes it great. Thank you. previously damaged and re- moved by these agencies. Karen Messer Dallas David Christensen Independence Evans used fear to push green agenda Commissioners not enforcing codes This is in regards to Paul Evans’ letter to the editor: Your letter was long- winded with no solution to the problem. Your letter was very tech- nical and hard to follow. As you know, the only way we will have a solution as you suggest is to have our government impose safer transport requirements of hazardous materials on our roadways. You act very concerned that this is an everyday oc- currence that is causing harm to our environment, when in fact these occur- rences are rare. I believe that you’re caus- ing panic within your party so that at some point you can justify the removal of fossil fuels from use and go to greener fuel alternatives. I have driven through that area at least six to eight times a week and have seen the damage firsthand. While we need safer vehi- cles that carry hazardous materials, we also need bet- ter patrols of our roads, in- cluding Highway 99W. As a state representative, you should be asking how Benton and Polk county sheriffs could increase pa- trol so these types of situa- tions don’t occur. Also as a representative, maybe you should be con- cerned on how the Oregon State DEQ and the fire agency in Philomath has re- paired that section of road. As I write this, this sec- tion of road does not ade- quately replace what was Part of the Polk County Commissioners’ job is to see to the enforcement of the county zoning and land use codes. The commissioners say they work with law violators to get them to conform. However, in some instances that can never be accom- plished. It does not matter what zone you are in, if it is resi- dential in a subdivision or exclusive farm use, the abuse continues and in both cases have been going on for over a year. We live close in West Salem in a nice residential subdivision. The non-enforcement of the land use zoning and land use codes and state regulations by Polk County could affect many of the surrounding property own- ers financially and could have possible health conse- quences. The county counsel told us to hire an attorney. This is an admission that the county does not intend to enforce the law. Most senior citizens do not have money to hire an attorney. Call your state represen- tative, whether you are a Democrat or Republican, if you are being harmed by this non-enforcement. This lack of zone enforce- ment could affect any Polk County landowner at any time. 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 Lanny Robson West Salem WANT TO WRITE A LETTER? Letters to the editor are lim- ited to 300 words. Longer letters will be edited. Election-related letters of all types are limited to 100 words. Writers are limited to one elec- tion-related letter per election season. Election letters from writers outside of Polk County are not accepted. Each writer is restricted to one letter per 30-day period. Letters that are libelous, ob- scene or in bad taste will not be printed. Attacks by name on businesses or individuals will not be printed. Letters to the editor that are obvious promotions for a busi- ness, products or services will not be printed. The Itemizer-Observer does not guarantee the accuracy of facts presented by letter writers; dissenters are welcome to re- spond. Letter writers who dis- agree with other published letter writers should maintain a civil discourse and address the subject, not the author. Letters, like all editorial mate- rial submitted to the newspa- per, are edited for length, grammar and content. Letters must include the au- thor’s name, address and tele- phone number. This includes letters submitted via the I-O’s website. Names and cities of res- idence are published; street ad- dresses and telephone numbers are used for verification pur- poses only. Letters must be submitted from individuals, not organiza- tions, and must be original sub- missions to the I-O, not copies of letters sent to other media. Letters of thanks to busi- nesses, individuals and organi- zations are limited to 10 names. The deadline for letters to the editor is 10 a.m. Monday. Let- ters submitted may not be re- tractable after this deadline. — Reach us at: Mail: Editor, Polk County Itemizer-Observer, P.O. Box 108, Dallas, OR 97338. Fax: 503-623-2395. Email: ionews@polkio.com. Office: 147 SE Court St., 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 — 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. 32 (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 DiSPLay aDVERTiSinG Heidi Leppin .................Display Advertising Manager ....................................hleppin@polkio.com Rachel Best ....................Display Advertising.............................................................rbest@polkio.com Karen Sanks...................Client Services ...................................................................ksanks@polkio.com CLaSSiFiED LinE aDVERTiSinG Dawn Ohren.....................................................................................................................ioads@polkio.com PRODuCTiOn Kathy Huggins ..............................................................................................................iosales@polkio.com The Polk County Itemizer-Observer assumes no financial responsibility for errors in advertise- Karyn Pressel .................................................................................................................iosales@polkio.com ments. It will, however, reprint without charge for the portion of an advertisement web: www.polkio.com Phone: 503-623-2373 Fax: 503-623-2395 which is in error if the Itemizer-Observer is at fault. POSTMaSTER: Send address changes to: Polk County itemizer-Observer, P.O. Box 108, Dallas, Oregon 97338