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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 16, 2017)
Polk County Voices Polk County itemizer-Observer • august 16, 2017 4A EDITORIALS The eclipse — and eclipse visitors — arrive this week Whether you’re looking forward to the Great American Eclipse Monday and all that goes with it, or dreading the predictions of tens of thousands of tourists flooding Polk County, it’s here. Parties in Dallas and Independence kick off this week, with celebrations extending throughout the county from Falls City to the outskirts of Monmouth and into the coun- tryside. As the big event nears, stories of doom and gloom con- tinue to saturate every news source, from warnings that credit cards may not work, power may go down, internet may be overwhelmed — as may cell towers — fire danger is high, grocery stores may run out of food, gas stations out of fuel. Hopefully by now you’ve taken steps to be prepared for the worst so you can sit back and enjoy it, hoping for the best. Then there’s the new wrinkle with possible counterfeit eclipse viewing glasses. We’ve published many articles and a guest piece by Salem Health West Valley Dr. Steve Stice about the importance of eye safety during the eclipse, and hope you’ve taken heed and done your homework on the viewing glasses and filters you’ve purchased. If you have any doubt, we suggest using the pinhole projection method to enjoy the eclipse, saving your eyes altogether. No one wants to see anyone permanently damage their eyes for this event. We have a best guess from the National Weather Service about what the skies will show on Monday, but good me- teorologists know that models aren’t exact. Keep an eye on the weather this weekend — and stay tuned to our website, polkio.com, where we will update that story as we know more on Saturday. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Support club’s efforts to install turf at DHS field The Dallas Booster Club has launched a major fundraising effort to install artificial turf on the surface of the Dallas High School football field. Our goal is to raise $850,000 in cash and in- kind donations by April 2018, with installation slat- ed for August of that year. Several individuals and businesses in the communi- ty, as well as the Dallas School District, have already stepped up to support our efforts. In addition, there is a team of people who has worked almost daily since the spring to help with pub- licity, mailings, event plan- ning, Summerfest booth, and so much more. Thank you all for getting behind this project. There is a way for every person or business in Dallas and surrounding areas to contribute. We are organiz- ing a communitywide drive to collect cans and bottles for Bottle Drop. We also have a Turf Proj- ect Kickoff event coming up Sept. 29. Please visit our website at www.dhsboosterclub.org for more information. Thank you for helping us to provide a much-needed facility that our entire com- munity can use and be proud of. I learned my lesson, how about you? Eric Martinez Dallas Polk should remain in county’s name Stephanie Earhart Dallas Booster Club President Dallas Speeder rethinks going so fast 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. 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. ThurSdAy, AuG. 17 • Independence Parks and recreation Board — 6 p.m., in- dependence Civic Center, third floor, 555 S. main St., independ- ence. 503-838-1212. • Monmouth Arts and Culture Commission — 7 p.m., Vol- unteer Hall, 144 Warren St. S., monmouth. 503-838-0725. TuESdAy, AuG. 22 • Independence City Council — 6:30 p.m., independence Civic Center, 555 S. main St., independence. 503-838-1212. • Monmouth Senior Advisory Board — 1 p.m., monmouth Senior Center, 180 S. Warren St., 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. 23 • Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk County Courthouse, first floor conference room, 850 main St., Dallas. 503-623-8173. I was speed racing on the highway, thinking how thrilling it was to be ahead. It felt great until I was stopped by a deputy. As soon as I saw those flashing lights I knew I was in trouble. I was scared what was about to happen for the consequences of my driving. I thought about what could have happened to myself or other drivers if I were to lose control. Not only would I have gotten hurt, but families, friends, and loved ones are all at stake and could have been in danger all because us showing off. I asked myself, “Was it re- ally worth it?” The answer is no, it wasn’t worth putting other people at risk due to a little thrill seeking. As the deputy walked back my stomach sank. I knew I couldn't afford a ticket. Luckily his printer wasn’t working, so he invited me to the station the next day to discuss the citation. Once I arrived he want- ed to use this as an exam- ple of what can happen from speeding and what consequences could hap- pen. Did you know that the court can suspend your li- cense for too many tickets? If the DMV suspends it you have to pay $75 to get it reinstated. The court may order you to take a safety drivers class. Each offense has a mini- mum and maximum fine. I had a good experience and am glad I was stopped. My experience was a wakeup call because I need to be more aware of the dangers. Statistics say that on an average day 112,000 people are cited for speeding, and 41 million people are cited annually, costing $6.2 bil- lion. Come on people, wake up, save your money and don’t break the law. Let’s bring these number down. 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. This letter is written re- garding the current peti- tion that is circulating to change “Polk” County to “Reagan” County. President Regan was one of our most illustrious presidents. However, President Polk was the president who assured that the Ore- gon Territory became part of the United States. In his Inaugural Ad- dress on Dec. 2, 1945, he stressed strongly that the British would not, as it had hoped, acquire con- trol of the Columbia River and the area that is now Washington and Idaho. He asserted the territo- rial rights that kept the entire Oregon Territory under the control of the United States. During his presidential campaign in 1844, Presi- dent Polk pledged to set- tle the boundary of the Oregon Territory with Great Britain. Once he was elected, he followed through on that promise and acquired sole title to the Oregon Terri- tory for the United States. Prior to that time, Great Britain and the United States had jointly occu- pied the Oregon Territory since 1818. He was able to compro- mise with Great Britain and assure that present- day Oregon, Idaho and Washington, as well as the Columbia River, would be under sole control and ownership of the United States. There are historical ties that should not be ig- nored between Oregon and President Polk. The individuals seeking to remove his name and replace it with “Reagan” have not pointed to any strong historical ties of President Reagan to Ore- gon. President Polk’s strong advocacy for Oregon should be remembered and preserved. Stephen Mannenbach Dallas HOW TO REACH US Vol. 142, No. 33 (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
