Polk County News
DEADLINES
NEWS DEADLINES
For inclusion in the
Wednesday edition of the
Itemizer-Observer:
Social news (weddings,
engagements, anniver-
saries, births, milestones) —
5 p.m. on Thursday.
Community events —
Noon on Friday for both the
Community Notebook and
Community Calendar.
Letters to the editor —
10 a.m. on Monday.
Obituaries — 4 p.m. on
Monday.
ADVERTISING DEADLINES
Retail display ads — 3
p.m. Friday.
Classified display ads
— 11 a.m. on Monday.
Classified line ads —
Noon on Monday. Classified
ads are updated daily on
www.polkio.com.
Public notices — Noon
on Friday.
CORRECTIONS
The Polk County Itemizer-
Observer is committed to pub-
lishing accurate news, feature
and sports reports. If you see
anything that requires a cor-
rection or clarification, call the
newsroom at 503-623-2373 or
send an email to
ementzer@polkio.com.
WEBSITE
The Polk County Itemizer-
Observer website,
www.polkio.com, is updat-
ed each week by Wednes-
day afternoon. There, you
will find nearly every story
that appears in the print
version of the newspaper,
as well as some items, in-
cluding additional photos,
that do not appear in print
due to space limitations.
The Itemizer-Observer is
also on Facebook, Twitter
and Instagram. Watch for
breaking news, links to sto-
ries, sports scores updates
and more.
WEATHER
RECORDED
HIGH LOW
Sept. 19............ 66
Sept. 20............ 59
Sept. 21............ 65
Sept. 22............ 69
Sept. 23............ 73
Sept. 24............ 76
Sept. 25............ 70
51
44
42
44
49
44
53
RAIN
.95
.66
.01
.00
.00
.00
T
Rainfall during Sept. — 2.29 in.
Rain through Sept. 25 — 35.74 in.
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • September 27, 2017 3A
Get well water tested free of charge
By Jolene Guzman
The Itemizer-Observer
DALLAS — Not sure when
the last time your well was
tested or want to know how
often it should be tested?
Oregon State University
Extension in Polk County
has a person for that.
Chrissy Lucas, Extension’s
ground water quality out-
reach program coordinator,
has begun working with Polk
County residents.
Polk Extension added the
program in its 2017-18
budget, and Lucas started in
the county in August.
The program offers resi-
dents with wells or septic
systems advice and expert-
ise on how to maintain their
systems and keep them
healthy.
Testing wells isn’t required
by law — except for when a
property is sold — but peri-
odic testing can inform
owners about what is in
their water.
“There’s a lot of misinfor-
mation about how often well
water should be tested,”
Lucas said.
She said wells should be
tested every one to three
years for coliform bacteria
and nitrates.
Wells should also be tested
for arsenic once to see if it is
present and at what level. Ar-
senic in water typically
comes from surrounding soil
and rock, not from a surface
contaminant, unlike col-
iform bacteria and nitrates.
“The level of arsenic does-
n’t tend to change,” Lucas
said. “You either have it or
you don’t.”
Lucas said well users too
often don’t think about test-
ing their wells until some-
thing is noticeably wrong,
like the water smells, tastes
or looks different.
Serious problems with
water quality and safety may
not present themselves that
way, so testing could be crit-
ical for your health.
“Fecal coliform bacteria
can make you very sick,”
Lucas said.
Long-term arsenic expo-
sure is associated with many
health conditions, including
cancer, she said.
Exposure to nitrates,
which can come from pesti-
cides, can cause health risks
after long-term exposure, in-
cluding hindering the body’s
ability to absorb oxygen,
Lucas said.
The presence of nitrates is
a warning sign for more seri-
ous contamination.
Nitrates in your water in-
dicates that surface contam-
inants are finding their way
into your water — which is
h ow c o l i f o r m b a c t e r i a
makes its way into a well,
Lucas said.
As part of the ground
water program, OSU Exten-
sion offers free nitrate test-
ing. Bring a half a cup of
water in a clean container to
the Polk office, located at
289 E. Ellendale Ave., Suite
301, Dallas, for testing.
Testing can be done on
the spot if someone is avail-
able. If not, results will be
available within a few days.
Like with well water test-
ing, Lucas said many people
don’t how often their septic
systems need to be checked
and pumped.
Maintenance on septic
systems is a little more com-
plicated and varies based on
the size of the system and
size of the family using,
Lucas said.
She suggested if people
are unsure to have it in-
spected by a professional.
She said at the least, a
septic system needs to be
pumped every 10 years, but
it very well could be needed
more frequently.
Lucas said she’s available
for assistance with testing
and answering any ques-
tions about well and septic
system maintenance.
“We are really excited to
offer people this service,”
she said.
Dallas City Council tames decorum standards
By Jolene Guzman
The Itemizer-Observer
DALLAS — The Dallas City
Council approved changes to
its rules on Sept. 18, includ-
ing removing from decorum
standards a requirement that
councilors act “in manner
appropriate to the dignity of
their office outside council
meetings.”
That change was the sub-
ject of discussions at the
council’s administrative sub-
committee meetings in May
and July, where councilors
discussed whether they
should be required to refrain
from personal attacks against
other councilors on social
media.
Discussion of decorum
rules began after council
members expressed concern
over discovering City Manag-
er Ron Foggin had applied for
a position in another city
through a newspaper story,
and not from Mayor Brian
Dalton and other councilors
who knew because they were
asked for references.
A special meeting was
called in January to discuss
the matter and establish rules
about what information
should be shared.
Before that meeting, a dis-
cussion started on Facebook
among councilors and resi-
dents about what should be
done in response.
A conversation on Coun-
cilor Jackie Lawson’s Face-
book page involving other
councilors, though not a quo-
rum, from Jan. 4 called for
Mayor Brian Dalton’s resigna-
tion “for dereliction of duties”
related to knowledge of Fog-
gin’s job application. The post
and comments on the post
were emailed to the I-O.
“I am beyond being pa-
tient and gracious any more
... with the mayor manipulat-
ing the outcomes of his pet
projects and the power trip
he is wielding. Now more
than ever he needs to be re-
moved,” the post read.
Though no council mem-
bers have publicly accused a
specific councilor of violating
council decorum rules, con-
cern over the potential for
less-than-civil discourse on-
line was the source of the de-
bate.
“I’m talking about people
getting on Facebook and say-
ing this city councilor is a
bunch of crap and don’t lis-
ten to them,” said Councilor
Ken Woods Jr. in a subcom-
mittee meeting in May. “They
are doing stuff like that.”
Some councilors felt that
the rules should hold coun-
cilors to same level of deco-
rum required in council
meetings at all times, includ-
ing while using social media.
Others felt that requirement
is too restrictive. The com-
mittee recommended not in-
cluding social media and re-
moving a requirement to
maintain the decorum stan-
dards outside meetings on a
split vote.
On Sept. 18, the council
vote was 6-2 in favor of the
changes. Lawson was absent.
“I’m going to be voting no
on this,” said Councilor Kelly
Gabliks. “I really liked what
(Councilor) Jennie (Rum-
mell) said in our subcommit-
tee meeting and something
very similar that (Councilor)
Ken (Woods Jr.) said and that
is: We are always city coun-
cilors and I think we should
be held to a higher standard.”
She said she doesn’t have a
problem with disagreements
and expression of them, but
believes it should be consid-
ered crossing a line when per-
sonal attacks are used.
Other councilors said the
rule wasn’t necessary be-
cause no councilors have en-
gaged in personal attacks.
“I’m probably the most
outspoken councilor there is
and I am probably the coun-
cilor that a lot of this got
started by because I do share
with the community what is
going on on social media,”
said Councilor Micky Garus.
“I want to know a specific ex-
ample of when that has hap-
pened because I’ve never
seen that. I’ve never engaged
in that.”
Garus asked for other
councilors to point to an ex-
ample, but none was provid-
ed.
Woods joined Gabliks in
voting no on the changes.
Councilor Jim Fairchild
said he voted for the changes
because he had not wit-
nessed councilors using per-
sonal attacks.
“To attack one of us on the
internet … it’s a bad practice
and really harmful to the
community,” said Dalton after
the vote. “Micky is right: We
don’t normally do that and
hopefully we won’t start.”
Joyful Sound Hearing
Have you considered reconditioned
hearing aids? We are currently
significantly over stocked with used
& reconditioned hearing aids.
Call now and schedule a hearing test.
Mark
Sturtevant
503-623-0290 • 312 Main Street, Dallas
LUCKIAMUTE
DOMESTIC WATER
COOPERATIVE
BOARD MEETING
Monday 7:00 p.m.
October 9th
503-838-2075
Monmouth Area Community Events Calendar
Location: Business Office
8585 Suver Rd. • Monmouth
www.windermere.com
DON’T FORGET!
Come to the
Household
FREE Hazardous
Waste Collection
Event!
PCL
Partnerships in
Community Living
503-838-2403
480 E. Main St.
Monmouth
DownTown
Trends
142 Highway 99 West
503-838-1445
Monmouth
355 N Pacific Ave.,
Ste A
Monmouth
503-838-4268
Sept. 30 — Apple Cider Fest, 10 am – 3
pm. Apple Cider and baked goods available
for sale. Apples are crushed on 100-year-old
equipment right in front of your eyes! Historic
Brunk House 5705 Salem-Dallas Highway 503-623-6251 Tours
of the Brunk House and Garden. Free family event, donations
accepted and appreciated. polkcountyhistoricalsociety.org
October 1 — Polk Flea Market. 9 am – 3 pm. Find a treasure at the
Polk Flea Market, Polk County’s oldest and largest Market selling
Antiques, Collectibles, Vintage Jewelry, Furniture, Militaria, Tools and
More. Adult Admission is only $1.00 and children 12 and under and
parking is free. Early Bird Admission is only $5.00 per adult from 6am-
9am Sunday morning. Polk County Fairgrounds and Event Center 520
SW Pacific Hwy (Hwy 99 W), Rickreall.
October 4 — CENTRAL Powderpuff Football Game! 7 pm. Central
High School.
October 6 — Edgar H. Smith Fine Arts Series presents BodyVox
returns with a promised transfusion of new work. Start with a group of
beautiful and talented dancers, add a hint of Hitchcock, a touch of
Vampire, top it off with a healthy dose of ghosts and zombies and you
get BloodyVox, a dance theater experience that mines cinema, folklore
and our collective nightmares to bring the season of spirits and All
Hallows Eve to life. Funny, bloody, and full of great dancing, this is
Halloween as only BodyVox can imagine it. This delightfully creepy
show is a must see for the entire family. $25 in advance - $30 at door -
$11 students Rice Auditorium, WOU Corner of Knox and Powell St,
Monmouth. Call Sandy Newland 503-838-8333.
October 6 — Central HOMECOMING – Central VS. Crescent Valley.
Begins at 7 pm. Central High School.
October 31 — Have a safe and fun Halloween! From the Monmouth
Business Association.
503-838-1141
297 N Pacific
Monmouth
800-732-0173
464 S Pacific Hwy
Monmouth
oregonstatecu.
Saving
Carpets
Daily
Carpet Hero
503-838-0869
Monmouth
LOOKING
FOR RENTALS?
297½ N. Pacific Hwy
503-838-1278
Western View
Properties
Property Management, LLC
Mon/Indep Chamber of Commerce
October Forum
Serving Polk County
Since 1875
503-623-2373
Join us in October for a tour or Western Oregon
University and learn about the campus, faculty
& staff, and more! RSVP online
http://www.micc-or.org or by calling the
MI Chamber Office 503-838-4268
503-838-2951
165 E. Main St.
Monmouth
Thirsty Thursday — October 19
DATE: Saturday, October 7th, 2017
TIME: From 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Independence Riverview Park (100 Main Street)
SPONSORED BY: Polk County, The Cities of Dallas,_______
Independence, Monmouth and Salem
Thirsty Thursdays are held the third Thursday
of each month from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM at
member locations. Registration is requested to
help the host site properly prepare. Attendees
are encouraged to bring a small giveaway (less
than $10) to promote your business or organi-
zation. Chase Bar & Grill, 1083 Monmouth Street, Independ-
ence. RSVP online http://www.micc-or.org or by calling the MI
Chamber Office 503-838-4268
503-838-1773
410 E. Main St.
Monmouth
To advertise in this calendar call Heidi at the Itemizer-Observer 503-623-2373 ext 115