Polk County
Voices
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • September 13, 2017 4A
How to
Contact
Officials
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Keep ‘Polk’ in Polk
County
said: “This is not a free
lunch.”
All workers will be paying
some reasonable amount
into Medicare.
We senior citizens on So-
cial Security pay some of it
to Medicare.
There will be many ad-
vantages: in a democratic
society, health care should
be nonprofit.
Employers and employ-
ees will not have to buy ex-
pensive insurance.
Regarding the county
name change.
Mike Nearman needs to
keep his eye on the prize.
Wait. In a few years go for
Trump County.
He can change his own
name to Mike Reaganman.
This whole thing is trickle
down foolishness.
Mike E. Neufeldt
Dallas
Walden Joura
Dallas
Can’t legislate
bike, ped safety
Good news uplifts
readers on Sept. 6
Everyone is expected to
jump right in and vote for
everything that protects
anyone from anything that
could possibly happen.
News flash: it can’t be done.
Back in the “good old
days,” parents taught their
kids to “stop, look both
ways, then if everything was
clear, cross the street.”
Nowadays kids and bicy-
clists defy traffic and walk
straight out without looking.
I guess it would not be
“cool” to let someone see
you look for traffic.
Ask football players and
anyone who has studied
physics, if two objects try to
occupy the same place, the
bigger, faster and heavier
one always wins.
If you can’t watch out for
yourself, you had better
hope that the “state” will al-
ways be there to protect
you. You will not survive in
the real world.
My husband and I wish
to thank all those who work
in putting the news in the
paper.
The Sept. 6 edition was so
uplifting. We both commit-
ted that there were only
positive stories about our
communities.
We sincerely hope you
continue and make this a
trend in showing how won-
derful our community is.
— Mr. and Mrs. Mills
Michelle Mills
Dallas
Consider those
who live here first
Gary Richards
Monmouth
Rotary Club well
deserving of press
Outstanding article on
Dallas’s Rotary Club.
These “unsung heroes”
have accomplished great
projects throughout this
community for decades.
Their pride and joy is fix-
ing up the cooking facilities
in the newer section of Dal-
las City Park.
They also maintain the
gazebos and shelters.
One great asset of our Ro-
tary Club — the long-stand-
ing support of maintaining
very successful American
Filed Service Student Pro-
gram over numerous
decades.
My good friend Brian
Shetterly was selected for
such an honor — represent-
ing Dallas Rotary Club as an
overseas exchange student
in Norway; 1968-1969.
His two older brothers
were also AFS students. Dal-
las High School always gets
at least one AFS student
each year.
They are supported by
the Rotary Club and hosted
by a family who dedicate
their lives to the mission
and goodwill of AFS.
The article stated Rotary
Club honors high school
students by hosting them
for their meetings.
I was selected Student
Rotarian from Dallas High
School during May 1969.
It was a great experience
speaking to the members
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 actu-
al meeting date to the Itemizer-Observer via email
(ionews@polkio.com).
—
WEDNESDAy, SEPT. 13
• Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk Coun-
ty Courthouse, first floor conference room, 850 Main St., Dallas.
503-623-8173.
THURSDAy, SEPT. 14
• Polk County Fire District No. 1 Board — 6 p.m., Central Sta-
tion 90, 1800 Monmouth St., Independence. 503-838-1510.
• Falls City City Council — 6 p.m., Falls City Community Cen-
ter, 320 N. Main St., Falls City. 503-787- 3631.
MONDAy, SEPT. 18
• Dallas City Council — 7 p.m., Dallas City Hall, 187 SE Court
St., Dallas. 503-831-3502.
TUESDAy, SEPT. 19
• 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, SEPT. 20
• 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 Coun-
ty Courthouse, first floor conference room, 850 Main St., Dallas.
503-623-8173.
giving the latest reports
from the high school.
Ironically, Robert Cow-
man was Student Rotarian
in 1967.
We were both members
of that “other club.” Dallas
High had a Kiwanis Key
Club, which Robert and I
were members.
The late Curt Lamb led
the club. Sad to see Kiwanis
go today.
Very noteworthy were
members of the Rotary —
especially Bob Ottaway
going to Thailand to aid in
purification of water sup-
plies and ensuring Thai’s
No. 1 staple — rice — re-
mains disease-free.
That is the biography of a
great club. Thank you so
much for highlighting the
Dallas Rotary Club. It’s out-
standing recognition long
overdue.
James Allgood
Independence
Keep it simple for
health care
During my work in sci-
ence, I learned that difficult
problems can best be solved
by keeping the solution
simple.
(Keep It Simple Stupid.)
Hopefully, the problem of
affordable health care for all
U.S. citizens can be solved
with a single-payer plan
(Medicare E for Everyone).
We will be insured by
Medicare, however, as Presi-
dent Barack Obama had
An open plea to all who
are moving or thinking of
moving here.
Please respect the exist-
ing environment and com-
munities the way they are,
not the way you want to
change them or what you
can buy.
(Human failing — doing
something just because you
can.)
As someone who lost
their home to speculators
and developers to gentrifi-
cation the long-term out-
come does not justify the
short-term gain for the few.
Please think about clean
water and air over conven-
ience and contrived neces-
sities.
And where does all our
waste really go?
So welcome, if you appre-
ciate what we have, not
necessarily what might be.
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
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
Louis Stuckey
Monmouth
WANT TO WRITE A LETTER?
Letters to the editor are
limited to 300 words.
Longer letters will be ed-
ited.
Election-related letters
of all types are limited to
100 words. Writers are lim-
ited to one election-related
letter per election season.
Election letters from writ-
ers outside of Polk County
are not accepted.
Each writer is restricted
to one letter per 30-day
period.
Letters that are libelous,
obscene or in bad taste will
not be printed. Attacks by
name on businesses or in-
dividuals will not be
printed.
Letters to the editor that
are obvious promotions for
a business, products or
services will not be printed.
The Itemizer-Observer
does not guarantee the ac-
curacy of facts presented
by letter writers; dissenters
are welcome to respond.
Letter writers who disagree
with other published letter
writers should maintain a
civil discourse and address
the subject, not the author.
Letters, like all editorial
material submitted to the
newspaper, are edited for
length, grammar and con-
tent.
Letters must include the
author’s name, address
and telephone number.
This includes letters sub-
mitted via the I-O’s website.
Names and cities of resi-
dence are published; street
addresses and telephone
numbers are used for veri-
fication purposes only.
Letters must be submit-
ted from individuals, not
organizations, and must be
original submissions to the
I-O, not copies of letters
sent to other media.
Letters of thanks to busi-
nesses, individuals and or-
ganizations are limited to
10 names.
The deadline for letters
to the editor is 10 a.m.
Monday. Letters submitted
may not be retractable
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. 37
(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