Polk County News
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • October 11, 2017 11A
Research
Continued from Page 1A
Those included in focus
groups are carefully select-
ed, DeLong said.
“We want to get a good
random sample of citizens
into a room to talk about
these issues. We don’t want
to have in the room a sam-
ple of people who come to
public meetings, because
they tend to skew one way
or another,” she said. “We
want to hear from the mid-
dle section, the people who
are going to go out and
vote.”
Focus groups are where
agencies find out if voters
are aware of the issue in
question, the likely response
to proposed solutions, and
why people approve or re-
ject options, DeLong said.
“We don’t ask, ‘What will
make you vote yes,’” she
said. “We want to know what
information do voters need
to make a decision.”
DeLong said often focus
groups will bring up ques-
tions that agencies hadn’t
considered, and that may
change the strategy of a
bond campaign.
“That is the place that you
POLICE REPORT
are able to have a really in-
depth conversation and drill
down,” said City Manager
Ron Foggin.
DeLong said focus groups
and polls may tell an agency
that pursuing a bond isn’t
worthwhile at that point.
She said if the positive re-
sponse is less than 45 per-
cent, she recommends
agencies take more time to
talk to voters about the
issue.
Voters were split on
Southwestern’s bond after a
poll, but responses from vot-
ers helped the district
change its message.
“It totally reorganized my
talking points,” said Hertel,
who also is Southwest’s
chief. “And immediately ...
the feedback was better.”
The cost to hire Campbell
DeLong is $37,000, with half
paying for conducting two
focus groups and a report to
the council with a recom-
mendation.
The other half — if it’s
necessary after focus
groups — pays for a tele-
phone poll and final report
and recommendation to the
council.
Club
Continued from Page 1A
“Let’s say you give a
speech,” Dressel said. “A little
more than halfway through
the meeting, there’s an evalu-
ation of your speech. Notice
how I didn’t say I’m evaluat-
ing you. I’m evaluating the
speech, which is very differ-
ent. I don’t need to slap you
across your face. I need to
appreciate what values you
did bring to the table and
present some suggestions in
a way you can hear it. If you
do better, I feel better be-
cause I want you to succeed.”
There are a number of
topics club members can
focus on, from storytelling to
learning how to interview
better. Those programs can
take time, but no matter how
deep you want to dive in, you
may be surprised about how
you’ll change over time.
“We did a youth leader-
ship program,” Dressel said.
“There were these two girls
who sat in the front row and
were pouting. No teenager
wants to be a part of a high
school speech class. Four
weeks into the class, they’re
bouncing into the room. I
asked one of them what they
thought of the class now?
She said, ‘I never saw myself
as a leader before. Now I
think I can enjoy myself
being a leader.’ It still puts
tears in my eyes. Her world
used to be small, but once
her confidence increased,
her world grew up.”
In addition to personal-
ized programs, there are also
competitions that Toastmas-
ters can compete in.
The Toastmasters will
meet weekly on Tuesdays.
Meetings will last one hour.
Membership dues are about
$50 for six months and $100
for 12 months, Dressel said,
but potential members are
welcome to attend a few
meetings with no pressure to
see if this club is for them.
“When we don’t want to
give speeches, we can limit
ourselves,” Dressel said.
“When we have the confi-
dence to speak publicly,
that confidence will play
out in other areas of our
lives.”
For more information: Ed
Dressel, 503-269-0032 or
Dressel@gmail.com; or Brent
Smith, 503-586-8971 or Run-
ningBrent@gmail.com.
Information for the police
report comes from law en-
forcement agencies. Not all
calls for service are included.
The status of incidents re-
ported may change after fur-
ther investigation. Individu-
als arrested or suspected of
crimes are considered inno-
cent until proven guilty.
—
DALLAS
Arrests/Citations
• Delson M. Creekmore, 41,
of Falls City in the 2000 block
of SW Fairview Ave. on Sun-
day on a charge of failure to
register as a sex offender on
annual registration date or
after moving.
• Heather A. Harrison, 41, of
Dallas in the 500 block of
Main St. on Friday on a proba-
tion violation.
INDEPENDENCE
Arrests/Citations
• Tirsco Cardoza Ausencio,
36, of Independence, in the
1200 block of Monmouth St.
on Saturday for driving while
under the influence of intoxi-
cants and possession of
methamphetamine.
MONMOUTH
Arrests/Citations
• Laura Kristian Walker, 29, of
Monmouth, in the 700 block of
Madrona St. E. on Oct. 3 for men-
acing – use or display of weapons,
and physical harassment.Main St.
E. on Sept. 11 for second-degree
disorderly conduct.
Books
Continued from Page 12A
After that, it is taken to Thrift Books in Portland, a ware-
house that sells books online and gives a portion of the
sale back to the Friends.
Perhaps the favorite part of every reader is the bag sale,
held the last hour — 2 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Perkins said.
Patrons may purchase a black library bag at the book
sale for $7, or bring their own and fill it up during that
final hour for $5.
“People who bring in a grocery sack can fill it for $5,”
Christ said. “People really look forward to that time. They
can spend that hour getting all kinds of things and walk
out knowing, ‘I’ve helped the library, and I’ve gotten some
good bargains.’”
“We have a lot of people who wait and come that last
hour because they know,” Perkins added.
“The idea is, if you buy it, then we don’t have to pack it
up,” Christ said.
OBITUARIES
Jeremy Colley
Sept. 15, 2017
Jeremy Colley, 24, lifelong
resident of Dallas, passed
away Sept. 15, 2017, in Dal-
las.
Jeremy
was pre-
ceded in
death by
his grand-
fathers
Clifford C.
C o l l e y,
F r a n k
Armstrong, and Lawrence
Teal; and aunt Sheila Rae
Colley.
Jeremy is survived by his
son Trenton; his father
Ronald Colley and step-
mother Lisa Clothier; moth-
er Jennie Sabin-Colley;
grandmothers Nedra Colley
and Lily Armstrong; broth-
ers Buddy Colley, Nick Col-
ley, and Dakota Dunn; his
Salem
412 Lancaster Drive NE
Salem, OR 97301
(503) 581-6265
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Simple Direct Cremation $595
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$2,275
Discount priced
Caskets, Urns and
other Memorial items.
Privately owned
cremation facility.
Locally owned and operated
by Oregon families.
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sisters Amanda Crotty,
Nicole Downes; and cousin
Paul Ames.
A celebration of life was
held Sept. 23, gathering
friends and family from
Southern California, Ore-
gon, Washington, and New
York.
The family wishes to ex-
tend their gratitude to all of
Jeremy’s friends for sharing
their memories, laughter,
and tears making an un-
bearable time positive in all
our hearts remembering the
joy and light he brought to
us all with his irrepressible
smile and thirst for squeez-
ing the most of every mo-
ment.
Jeremy Franklin Colley,
you are loved.
Brian LeRoy Meyer
Dec. 12, 1961 – Sept. 25, 2017
Brian grew up on Story-
book Farm in Falls City and
graduated from Falls City
H i g h
School.
He was
living in
Port Ange-
les, Wash.,
and work-
ing for TLC
Construc-
tion building logging roads
and maintaining the com-
pany’s equipment.
Brian is survived by his
mother Margaret, of White
City; sister Laurie Burke
(Tim), of White City; brother
Jeff (Kim), of Kimball, Neb.;
t h re e n i e c e s a n d o n e
nephew.
Preceded in death by his
father LeRoy and nephew
Allen Burke.
Memorial was held Mon-
day, Oct. 2, 2017.
Louise Fink
Tilgner Aebi
Nov. 16, 1915 – Oct. 3, 2017
Louise Fink Tilgner Aebi,
101, a resident of Dallas,
died Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017.
She was born on Nov. 16,
1915, the daughter of Arthur
Fink Sr. and Louise Zorn
while vacationing in Pasade-
na, Calif. Their home was
here in Salt Creek.
She was a 1934 Dallas
High School graduate, ex-
celling in typing, singing
and drawing cartoons for
the high school newspaper.
In 1934, she married
Lawrence Tilgner and had
four children. After his pass-
ing in 1956, she married
Alvin Aebi in 1958.
A s a yo u n g m a r r i e d
woman, she would sing
duets with the pastor when
he would hold worship serv-
ices in other areas of the
community. Louise loved
begin a wife, mother and
grandmother. She was there
for her step family as well,
looking for ways to unite the
families.
The annual Christmas
dinner was a special time.
Later she taught herself to
make baby quilts for the
grandchildren with embroi-
dery work.
She learned to decorate
birthday and wedding cakes,
which everyone loved.
She loved to collect tea
cups and have everyone
pick out the cup they want-
ed to use from the cabinet.
She daily prayed for her chil-
dren and grandchildren by
name.
She is survived by her
children John Tilgner, Char-
lotte Isaac, Delbert (June)
Tilgner, Sharon (Roderick)
Watson; stepchild Carroll
Aebi; along with 11 grand-
children, 17 great-grandchil-
dren; four great-great-
grandchildren; and eight
step-grandchildren. She was
preceded in death by hus-
bands Lawrence Tilgner and
Alvin Aebi; and stepson
Orval Aebi.
A memorial service was
on Tuesday, Oct. 10, in the
Salt Creek Baptist Church.
Private family interment will
be in the Restlawn Ceme-
tery.
The Dallas Mortuary Trib-
ute Center is caring for the
family. To leave a message or
m e m o r y, p l e a s e g o t o
www.dallastribute.com.
Ruthanne Gillett
Eric C. Jones
Oct. 6, 2017
June 2, 1970 – Oct. 3, 2017
Ruthanne Gillett, 62, a
resident of Dallas, passed
away with her husband by
her side after a year-long
battle with liver cancer Fri-
day, Oct. 6, 2017.
On Feb. 10, 1973,
Ruthanne married the love
of her life Marvin Ross.
She spent 35 years work-
ing for the Department of
Human Services.
Ruthanne was a devoted
wife, mom, grandmother
and friend.
She was an avid sewer
and crocheter.
She loved horses and was
actively involved in the Polk
County 4-H Horse program.
Ruthanne was also a devot-
ed grandmother who was all
about spoiling them.
She will be deeply missed
by all who knew her.
She is survived by her
husband Marvin Ross; chil-
dren William (Carrie) Ross,
Timothy (Crystal) Ross, and
Shannon (Adrian) Porter;
seven grandchildren; moth-
er Shirley Gillett; and sib-
lings Bill Gillett, Harry Gillett
and Cyndi Hale.
A graveside service will
begin at 11 a.m. on Monday,
Oct. 16, in the Dallas Ceme-
tery.
In lieu of flowers, the fam-
ily suggests donations to the
American Cancer Society.
The Dallas Mortuary Trib-
ute Center is caring for the
family. www.dallastribute.
com.
A celebration of Eric’s life
will be held at a later date.
Assisting the family is Virgil
T. Golden Funeral Service.
Katherine Overstreet, 84,
of Dallas, died Oct. 7, 2017.
She is survived by her
husband, Stephen H. Over-
street, whom she married on
June 14, 1965, in Abeedeen,
S.D.; son Stephen Harold
Gregory Overstreet, of Se-
quim, Wash.; and daughter
April Ann Overstreet, of
Salem; along with three
grandchildren. Also surviv-
ing is a sister Ree Greewood
of Atchison, Kan.
A memorial service will
begin at 2 p.m. on Saturday,
Oct. 14, in the Salt Creek
Baptist Church in Dallas.
Memorials are suggested to
the University of North
Dakota Noah and Carrie
Gregory Fund in care of the
Dallas Mortuary Tribute
Center, 287 SW Washington
St., Dallas, OR 97338.
www.dallastribute.com.
Jerris Marie Vaslev
Wanda Thiessen
June 21, 1950 - Sept. 23, 2017
Sept. 29, 1936 – Oct. 9, 2017
Jerris Marie Vaslev passed
away on Sept. 23, 2017. She
was born June 21, 1950, to
Gerald and Virginia Parrish
in McMinnville.
Jerris graduated from
Newberg High School in
1968.
She worked as an insur-
ance agent at Steineff Insur-
ance until her passing.
A gentle, compassionate
person, Jerris helped many
people.
She loved her dogs, and
was often seen walking
them.
She touched many lives in
her community, and will be
remembered fondly by
many.
A celebration of life will
be held Friday, Oct. 20, at 3
p.m. at Farnstrom Mortuary,
410 Monmouth St., Inde-
pendence.
Memories and condo-
lences may be shared at
FarnstromMortuary.com.
Jacinto Pachuca-
Cardona
Jacinto Pachuca-Cardona,
69, of Independence, died
Oct. 5, 2017.
Farnstrom Mortuary is
handling arrangements.
Cecelia Elvria
Hutchison
April 3, 1938 – Oct. 5, 2017
No services scheduled at
this time. Arrangements en-
trusted to Weddle Funeral
Services.
Katherine
Overstreet
April 9, 1933 – Oct. 7, 2017
Wanda Thiessen, 81, of
Dallas, died Oct. 9. Services
are pending. Dallas Mortu-
ary Tribute Center is caring
for the family.
Obituary
Information
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Information can be brought
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For more information: Emily
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