Polk County
Voices
Polk County Itemizer-observer • September 20, 2017 4a
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EDITORIALS
It’s better to ask
We’re in the business of asking questions. Sometimes,
those questions are hard ones, and, honestly, we often
know the answer before we ask. But we still have to ask.
Last week, the Falls City City Council decided unani-
mously not to ask voters about whether or not to close the
Wagner Community Library. Instead, they decided them-
selves to begin the proceedings required to close it.
They had discussed putting a levy on the November bal-
lot, asking voters to financially support the struggling facil-
ity.
Falls City voters have recently turned down two oppor-
tunities to support the school district in its attempts to
build gyms and better buildings.
Thinking of those votes, the council was perhaps dis-
couraged in thinking that the library request would be
similarly denied. Also on the council’s mind are other
needs — street repairs and firefighting equipment. What
are the chances that voters would approve not one, but
two requests for money?
Sometimes it’s good to remember what it was like to be
young. You know your mom is probably going to tell you
that you can’t have another cookie, but you ask for it any-
way.
That’s exactly what Falls City City Council should have
done in this case — ask for the cookie.
The worst the community could do is say “no.” But resi-
dents have the right to decide what issues matter to them
most.
The community of Falls City may have a string of “no”
votes behind them, but they also have an impressive spirit
of cooperation and support of things that matter to them.
If the library matters to them, they will support it.
The council’s vote is final, but the closure process can
be reversed.
If the community wants to keep the library open, it
needs to act now and come together — as it so frequently
does. The people of Falls City need to volunteer at the li-
brary and decide how to pay for the library manager, as
well as the building and programs.
If not, the nearest public library will be in Dallas.
Nonresidents can obtain a free library card, but it has
more limits on how many items can be checked out.
Nonresidents can pay a fee ($60 per year for a house-
hold) to have the same check-out privileges as a Dallas res-
ident.
We understand the city council has to balance a num-
ber of issues, but the people deserve a chance to show
which of those issues are most important to them, not
have others assume they know what’s important to the
community.
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, 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
County Courthouse, first floor conference room, 850 main St.,
Dallas. 503-623-8173.
THurSDay, SePT. 21
• Monmouth arts and culture commission — 7 p.m., Vol-
unteer Hall, 144 Warren St. S., monmouth. 503-838-0725.
• Independence Parks and recreation Board — 6 p.m., In-
dependence Civic Center, third floor, 555 S. main St., Independ-
ence. 503-838-1212.
MOnDay, SePT. 25
• Independence library Board — 4 p.m., Independence
Public library, 175 monmouth St., Independence. 503-838-1212.
• Dallas School Board — 6:30 p.m., Dallas School District of-
fice, 111 SW ash St., Dallas. 503-623-5594.
• Independence city council — 6:30 p.m., Independence
Civic Center, 555 S. main St., Independence. 503-838-1212.
TueSDay, SePT. 26
• Monmouth Senior advisory Board — 1 p.m., monmouth
Senior Center, 180 Warren 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. 27
• 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
Eclipse watchers
prove thoughtful
We would like to extend
our heartfelt thanks to the
local community and those
who visited the Buena Vista
and Hilltop cemeteries over
the eclipse.
We appreciate your
thoughtful care of the
grounds and your respect-
fulness for others and their
loved ones who are buried
here.
Thank you for caring.
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
Robbery could
provide lessons
Anya Thaker
Monmouth
AFS program
differs from Rotary
I would like to clarify
some information presented
by James Algood in his letter
published Sept. 13.
He conflated two differ-
ent exchange programs
which have operated in Dal-
las for many years.
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
Marjorie A. Meador
The Hilltop Cemetery District
Board of Directors
What saddens me about
the Sept. 13 article about
the bank robbery is that Mr.
McKean was in need of
money and ended up run-
ning away with $714 in
cash.
Dallas is not known as an
affluent community and,
Bank of America, being a
very large bank-corporation,
could perhaps take this op-
portunity to locally instill
some help or alternatives
for those in dire need of
money, so that humbling
experiences like this do not
need to take place.
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
He was speaking about
Rotary International spon-
soring students from Dallas
to go to other countries, and
students from other coun-
tries to come to Dallas for
school.
He described the pro-
gram as American Field
Service, which is a separate
exchange student program.
Dallas Rotary has indeed
sponsored student ex-
change for many years.
At the same time, Ameri-
can Field Service, now
called AFS Intercultural Pro-
grams, has been providing a
similar service to our com-
munity for more than 60
years.
AFS was begun by former
ambulance drivers in the
American Field Service after
World War II, with the mis-
sion of promoting world
peace.
The first exchanges were
between the U.S. and Ger-
many in 1947.
We continue to provide
opportunities for intercul-
tural exchange for both
American students and stu-
dents from over 70 coun-
tries in most parts of the
world.
We recommend the expe-
rience as the best way to in-
crease understanding of our
increasingly interconnected
world.
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
Dale Derouin
Dallas
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-
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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 newspaper,
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
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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. 38
(USPS) - 437-380)
The official newspaper of Polk County • Serving Polk County families since 1875
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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
DISPlay aDVerTISInG
Heidi leppin .................Display advertising manager (ext.115).................hleppin@polkio.com
Rachel Best ....................Display advertising ............................................................rbest@polkio.com
aaron Stark....................Display advertising (ext. 110) ......................................astark@polkio.com
Karen Sanks...................Client Services (ext. 118)...............................................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.