Polk County
Voices
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • September 27, 2017 4a
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EDITORIALS
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cost $4 for a month, or $20 for the year. Our print subscrip-
tion is $35 a year for in-county readers — just 67 cents a
week.
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about accessing the website.
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. 27
• Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk
County Courthouse, first floor conference room, 850 Main St.,
Dallas. 503-623-8173.
MOnDay, OCT. 2
• Central School District Board of Directors — 6:30 p.m.,
Henry Hill Education Support Center, 750 S. Fifth St., Independ-
ence.
• independence Planning Commission — 7 p.m., Independ-
ence Civic Center, 555 S. Main St., Independence. 503-838-1212.
• Dallas City Council — 7 p.m., Dallas City Hall, 187 SE Court
St., Dallas. 503-831-3502.
TuESDay, OCT. 3
• 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, OCT. 4
• Monmouth Historic Commission — 6 p.m., Volunteer Hall,
144 Warren St. S., Monmouth. 503-838-0725.
• Monmouth Planning Commission
— 7 p.m., Vol-
unteer 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.
Visit our website, www.polkio.com
...for local news, sports and
community events.
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
Take responsibility
for self, family
Bank not to blame
for being robbed
Kayla Robertson
Dallas
On the Sept. 13 I-O edito-
rial page, Anya Thaker
seems to feel that bank rob-
bery is OK if the robber
needs money. Perhaps what
he needed was a job.
The entire county has
businesses posting help
wanted signs. This man de-
cided to break the law in-
stead.
The writer also called for
more help for persons in
need. It seems people do
not want to take responsi-
bility for their own lives
anymore. Assistance for the
needy is abundant, yet we
are constantly bombarded
by the media to donate to
all manner of causes.
People, if you can’t take
care of yourselves, I beg you
to stop having children until
you can. Or if you do have
the wherewithal to pay your
way, do it instead of spend-
ing on wants instead of
needs and then asking the
public to support your chil-
dren.
Perhaps instead of spend-
ing on the newest tech de-
vice or cigarettes or alcohol
or junk food or tattoos or
fancy fingernails etc. you
can support yourself and
your family. Just sayin’.
What happened to per-
sonal responsibility?
In response to “Robbery
could provide lessons.”
The only thing “sad”
about the bank robbery
Sept. 13, perpetrated by
Caleb McKean, was how
frightened the employees of
Bank of America must have
felt.
Telling BOA that because
this felon robbed their Dal-
las location they need to
“take this opportunity to …
help those in dire need of
money” is uncalled for.
Within a two-block radius of
this crime, there are four
community help centers
that would have been more
than willing to help Mr.
McKean with any need from
food, clothing, housing,
mental health and employ-
ment.
Mr. McKean had many
other options to obtain any-
thing he needed, including
money, the legal way. To tell
the victims of a crime that
they need to “take this op-
portunity” is an insult.
It should also be men-
tioned BOA gives around
$200 million a year to chari-
ties.
Please place responsibili-
ty to where responsibility is
due. In this instance, it
should be on Mr. McKean.
Turf field is a need
for the community
Lynne I Bowen
Dallas
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
Barbara Chaney, Claudia
Drill, and Rod Buchanan
Dallas
SUPERINTENDENT’S CORNER
New courses for Dallas students
Welcome back to school.
As we get the year rolling,
it’s time for an update on
our Career and Technical
Education (CTE) progress.
As you know Measure 98 (al-
though not fully funded) is
used to support our efforts
to increase learning oppor-
tunities for our students.
This fall, Dallas High
School launched three new
CTE programs: Culinary
Arts, Business, and Health
Sciences.
The engineering program,
and information and com-
munication technology pro-
grams were also expanded
by adding new courses.
These new and expanded of-
ferings add to our already
well-developed agricultural
sciences program. We are
able to increase opportuni-
ties through our partnership
with Chemeketa Communi-
ty College.
We currently have more
than 550 Dallas students en-
rolled in one of the six pro-
gram areas. We are working
to provide students with
local internships.
The programs in partner-
ship with Chemeketa are
unique in that Chemeketa
instructors are teaching the
courses for Dallas students
at Dallas High School.
Students are not only re-
ceiving high school credit,
but also college credit. Stu-
dents are able to take advan-
tage of introductory college-
level coursework while in
high school in a career area
that interests them.
Students gain necessary
knowledge and skills to ei-
ther join the workforce or
continue their education
earning between eight to 11
credits during the year, de-
pending on the program. The
cost to students is the Col-
lege Credit Now fee of $25.
We look forward to a great
year, and there’s much more
to come.
Michelle Johnstone
Dallas School District
Superintendent
WANT TO WRITE A LETTER?
Letters to the editor are lim-
ited to 300 words. Longer letters
will be edited.
The deadline for letters to the
editor is 10 a.m. Monday. Let-
Follow us on
In October of 1965, our fa-
thers, Howard Brandvold
and Buck Buchanan, along
with other Dallas communi-
ty-minded volunteers saw a
need for a covered stadium.
This vision became a com-
munity effort and in Sep-
tember if 1966, Dragon fans
sat with pride in their new
stadium.
We see a new need. We
need community involve-
ment to repeat history and
s u p p o r t t h e “F i e l d o f
Dreams” Dallas High School
turf/track project.
The multipurpose turf
would allow for year-round
access to the community for
sports, events such as Relay
for Life, graduation and jog-
a-thons.
How can you help? There
are several ways you can
help, please take the time to
find out more about this
project at www.DHSBoost-
erClub.org or call 971-208-
5855.
All donations, large or
small, will help our “Field of
Dreams” come true.
Thank you.
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
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
—
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. 39
(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
POSTMaSTER:
Send address changes to: Polk County itemizer-Observer, P.O. Box 108, Dallas, Oregon 97338
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
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Phone: 503-623-2373
Fax: 503-623-2395