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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 30, 2017)
DALLAS WESTERN OREGON ROTARIANS Page 5A FOOTBALL Volume 142, Issue 35 www.Polkio.com Page 12A August 30, 2017 $1.00 Man drowns in Dallas pool Itemizer-Observer staff report DALLAS — A 22-year- old Dallas man died after being found unresponsive at the Dallas Aquatic Cen- ter Saturday afternoon. At about 2:26 p.m., aquatic center employees called 911 saying CPR was in progress on a person at the pool, according a press release from the Dallas Police Department. Lifeguards attempted lifesaving efforts until Dal- las Fire & EMS medics ar- rived to take over. Medics took the man, Marshall Weaver, to Salem Health West Valley, where at- tempts to save his life were unsuccessful, police said. Dallas Police Depart- ment, in conjunction with the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office and the Polk County District At- torney, are investigating the incident. “At this point, it appears this was a tragic drowning accident,” Dallas Police Chief Tom Simpson said in the release. The department didn’t have additional details by Monday evening, but will release more as soon as it is appropriate, Simpson said. Arnett arrested on rape charges Itemizer-Observer staff report POLK COUNTY — Harol Ramos Arnett, 23, was ar- rested on Aug. 23 for al- legedly raping a 13-year- old girl between July 1 and Aug. 22. Ac- cording to the Arnett probable cause statement, Arnett was living with the girl and her mother in a detached garage. He approached the girl in an unwanted sexual way, the statement said. Later, he asked the girl to help him with a dresser in the garage. He shut the door behind her, put his hand on her throat, and had unwelcome sexual in- tercourse with her. Arnett allegedly had unwanted sexual intercourse with the girl at least one other time. He was arrested by Polk County Sheriff’s deputies and charged with first-de- gree rape, second-degree rape, first-degree sodomy, strangulation, and first-de- gree sex abuse. He is lodged in the Polk County Jail. Se- curity is set for $207,500. Ar- nett was appointed an at- torney, Julio D. Vidrio. His trial is set for Oct. 13. THE NEXT 7 DAYS PLANNING FOR YOUR WEEK IN YOUR TOWN DALLAS high school track and field project to be completed over two years. »Page 14A FALLS CItY City seeks feedback on transportation needs. »Page 6A INDePeNDeNCe Photo illustration by STEPhANIE BLAIr/Itemizer-Observer the intersection of Sacre Lane and Church Street bustles with children when school is in session. Traffic sparks concerns Monmouth resident wants changes at intersection of MES By Stephanie Blair The Itemizer-Observer MONMOUTH — Paul Sieber, a resident of Mon- mouth for longer than four decades, is looking for a change in his neighborhood. Nine years ago, Sieber was serving on Monmouth’s Traf- fic Safety Commission. He submitted a request to the commission, asking that the streets and sidewalks around Monmouth Elemen- tary School be improved for the safety of the students who commute to school by walking and biking. “You have to understand that there are (more than 500) students at MES, they all arrive basically through that intersection, and they don’t come alone, they come with their parents and their cars, all the buses come through there, garbage trucks, milk delivery trucks all come through that inter- section,” Sieber said. “The street between Sacre and 99 is three blocks, and a lot of kids are coming on bikes, and there’s no bike lane, no guidance to tell them or show them where they should be.” The request — which called for raised crosswalks at the intersection of Church Street and Sacre Lane, the relocation of speed signs to “effective distances” from the intersection, and the in- stallation of bike lanes and school zone or school cross- ing signs — was not pursued by the commission. Now, a f t e r n e a r l y a decade, Sieber has directed his request to the city coun- cil — more specifically, to councilor Laurel Sharmer. In an email response to Sieber’s request, Sharmer claimed, “If nothing is done about this I guarantee there will be campaign signs around town next year that say, ‘Safety for MES Students! (insert name) for Monmouth City Council.’ And we will throw the bums out.” Sharmer read Sieber’s emailed request during the citizen comments section of the Aug. 15 Monmouth City Council meeting. The council then passed Sharmer’s motion to direct city staff to prepare a report describing how to maximize pedestrian and bicyclist safety near MES, as well as a budget for those changes, with a 4-1 vote. Sieber requested to be added to the group prepar- ing the report as a citizen advisor, but was denied ad- mission due to the council’s decision to “bypass any citi- zen advisory group partici- pation at this time,” as Pub- lic Works Director Russ Cooper, the leader of the staff group filing the re- quested report, explained to Sieber via email. Sharmer then wrote an email to Cooper and Sieber, endorsing Sieber’s request to join the group. The email was copied to Councilor Royal Johnson, City Manager Scott McClure and Emily Mentzer, editor of the Itemizer-Observer. See MeS, Page 7A Vets help fix home »Page 6A MONMOUtH Community Yard Sale returns on Saturday. »Page 2A POLK COUNtY Suspect arrested after pursuit into Polk County. »Page 6A SPORtS Dallas cross-country coach Monique Lankheet seeks elusive accomplishment. »Page 13A Harvey, Labor Day increases fuel prices Itemizer-Observer staff report POLK COUNTY — As harvey continues to blast Texas and the Gulf Coast with heavy rains, inflicting some of the worst flood- ing in history in the hous- ton area, gas prices are climbing in many parts of the country. For the week, the na- tional average for regular unleaded adds 4 cents to $2.38. This is one of the largest one-week price surges for the national av- erage seen this summer. The Oregon average gains 2.5 cents to $2.84. harvey isn’t causing sig- nificant increases in pump prices in Oregon since Oregonians don’t depend on the Gulf Coast for gaso- line. Still, prices here will likely climb a few cents due to increased demand for the Labor Day holiday. By Jolene Guzman The Itemizer-Observer MONMOUTH — Brandon Doeden had recently pur- chased a fixer-upper home outside of Monmouth on Airlie Road when his life screeched to a halt. Three months ago, he was in the middle of do-it-your- self renovations when he was in a motorcycle accident in Fossil. “It was pretty surreal,” Doeden said of the accident that left several other people injured, as well. The crash put him in the hospital and left him facing months of recovery. Finish- ing the renovations — or even getting things to the point where he could make do — wasn’t possible. “I’ve spent a lot of time here, looking at what I need to get done,” said Doeden, who still walks with a signifi- cant limp. See VetS, Page 7A City unveils new logo featuring the Cooper Block tower. Social media JOLENE GUZMAN/ Itemizer-Observer Be sure to follow the Itemizer-Observer on Twit- ter @PolkIONews, Insta- gram and like us on Face- book and check www.- polkio.com. Marv Olson helps complete work on Brandon Doeden’s home on Aug. 19. wed thu fri sat sun mon tue Come support a fundraiser at Salem health West Valley hospital going on today and Thurs- day. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Celebrate the end of summer with Johnny Limbo and the Lugnuts for the final Sounds of Sum- mer concert. 6:30 p.m. Free. Show off your musi- cal skills, or hear some jams at the Guthrie Park Acoustic Music Jam Session. 6:30 p.m. Free. The Annual Mon- mouth Community Yard Sale returns to Main Street Park. See what items you can find! 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Polk Flea Market offers a variety of treasures just wait- ing to be found at the county fair- grounds. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. $1. Celebrate Labor Day and get ready for the first day of school for Polk County students on Tuesday. Support the Wolves when Western Ore- gon’s women’s soc- cer team hosts Northwest Chris- tian. 4 p.m. $5. Mostly sunny Hi: 80 Lo: 56 Mostly sunny Hi: 83 Lo: 55 Sunny Hi: 93 Lo: 59 Sunny Hi: 98 Lo: 60 Sunny Hi: 97 Lo: 58 Sunny Hi: 94 Lo: 61 Partly sunny Hi: 97 Lo: 62