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
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from the Oregon newspaper Publishers association
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Dallas, Oregon 97338
Phone: 503-623-2373
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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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which is in error if the itemizer-Observer is at fault.
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