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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 27, 2017)
Polk County News Polk County Itemizer-Observer • September 27, 2017 5A Inmate crew fixes roof of ‘Pink Pokey’ By Jolene Guzman The Itemizer-Observer FALLS CITY — With more a than a touch of irony, a crew of Marion County in- mates helped restore the building that used to serve as Falls City’s jail on Friday. The Falls City Historic Landmarks Commission launched an effort to restore the city’s old jail and turn it into a museum this summer. JOLENE GUZMAN/ Itemizer-Observer Inmates from Marion County helped complete work at the old Falls City jail building on Friday. So far, the commission, led by commission Chairman Mike McConnell, has cleaned and painted the in- side. Marion County Jails — whose commander Kevin Schultz is a former Falls City resident — has offered the project a big assist, helping provide authentic jail cots and bedding, and Friday sending a crew from its re- entry program to help clean up, add a second coat of paint inside and repair the roof. “It’s an opportunity to give back to the communi- ty,” said the re-entry pro- gram counselor Jeremy Gilmore. The re-entry program is a transitional treatment drug and alcohol treatment pro- gram that had participants serving half the program be- fore they are released and half after they are released. While still in custody, the participants spend Fridays doing leisure and recre- ational activities, such as taking a trip to a bowling alley or other forms of drug - and alcohol-free entertain- ment. After hearing of the needs in the restoration project, Gilmore thought partici- pants could spend their Fri- day working. He said doing the kind of work need Friday is a good fit for the pro- gram’s goals. “A lot of these guys have skills. If they put them to use they really do well,” said People are devastated by the catastrophic hurricanes and they can’t recover alone. Sponsored by: Knights of Columbus, Council #8129 St. Thomas More, PO Box 672, Dallas Visit kofc.org/disaster to Donate and Learn more. LAST DAY Sept. 28 10:00 am - 3:00 pm Featuring Growers, Producers & Artisans of the Polk County area & beyond! 182 Academy St., Dallas (corner of Main & Academy) TOMORROW is the LAST Market day to SHOP for the season! Live music: Cash & Company 11am to1pm Food Truck: Black Rock BBQ OSU Master Preservers will be on-site to give simple to complex preserving tips and tricks for your winter preserving needs! Confirmed Vendors: Black Rock BBQ • Tony Diaz Fresh Farm Produce • Unobtainium Food and Beverage Inc. • Birdsong Farm • The Soap Store • Good & Bready • Akha Farm • Bermudez Family Farm LLC • Butterfly Flower Farm • Ah-nuts • Stanley’s Seedless Table Grapes • OSU Master Preservers Stop by and stock up one last time on fresh local produce such as apples, plumbs, pears, watermelon, cantaloupe, seedless table grapes, variety of tomatoes, green beans, peppers, cucumbers, onions, squash, corn on the cob, garlic, onions, eggplant, potatoes, dried beans, canned goods, artisan breads, dipping sauces & shrubs, meats (Beef, chicken, duck & rabbit) duck & chicken eggs, on-site fresh glazed nuts, teas, spices, baked goods, jams/jellies, local honey, freeze dried raspberries, fresh cut flower bouquets, soaps and more! 503-623-2564 Facebook.com/bountymarket http://www.exploredallasoregon.org/bounty-market.html JOLENE GUZMAN/Itemizer-Observer Marion County inmates work on the old Falls City’s old jail building on Friday. program parole officer Steve McNeal. Gilmore and McNeal were also pleased to move the restoration forward. “This building has fasci- nated me since I first saw it 20 years ago,” McNeal said. He thought it was a stor- age shed — which it may have been at that time — and never realized it’s histo- ry. McNeal is interested in what the commission finds out about the history of the jail and if they can find a for- mer inmate to describe what it was like to stay in the “Pink Pokey.” Gilmore said he had never been to Falls City before Fri- day and hadn’t been aware the city had a jail. The crew worked fast in the welcome and warm sun Friday, quickly moving from prepping the roof to picking up yard tools to remove weeds and overgrown grass from around the building. “It’s been really success- ful,” Gilmorme said of the program. “They are learning valuable work skills. These guys thoroughly enjoy it. This beats being locked up.”
