Polk County News
Polk County Itemizer-observer • october 11, 2017 5A
NEWS IN BRIEF
Human rights topic of presentation
monmouTH/InDePenDenCe — Roberto mendoza Perez,
from mexico’s national network for the Defense of Human
Rights, will speak about “Human Rights in mexico: How u.S.
Policies affect State Violence, militarization, and Displace-
ment.”
mendoza Perez will speak at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday at the
Werner university Center, Western oregon university, Colum-
bia Room.
He will present again at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday at Central
High School in the library.
mendoza Perez is on a speaking tour with Witness for Peace
in oregon, Washington, Idaho and montana.
a professional translator will be provided at both presenta-
tions.
For more information: emily Plec, 503-838-8819, or Carol
Christ, 503-551-6495.
Tax refunds harder to claim after Friday
Jolene Guzman/Itemizer-observer
Children from Uganda take a look at firefighting equipment in the United States during a tour on Oct. 4.
Ugandan choir tours Dallas fire
Group visits United States to raise awareness, plight of orphans
By Jolene Guzman
The Itemizer-observer
DALLAS — Dallas Fire &
EMS volunteer Sean Con-
don, dressed in full firefight-
er’s gear, dared the group of
children surrounding him to
poke him in the eye.
The children, all members
of the Imani Milele Chil-
dren’s Choir, hesitated for a
few seconds, not sure if he
meant it.
“Come on, try to poke me
in the eye,” Condon said
from behind the safety of his
mask.
That was all the encour-
agement they needed to
converge on the kneeling
firefighter, giggling at their
unsuccessful attempts to
poke him in the eye.
The choir, from Uganda,
has been on tour for almost
eight months in support of
Imani Milele Children, a
nonprofit that rescues and
educates orphaned children
in their home country.
The tour of the fire station
on Oct. 4 was part of a break
between performances in
Salem that morning and at
Dallas First Christian
Church that night.
Dallas Fire & EMS Com-
munity Service Officer April
Welsh led the tour, showing
the children and choir chap-
erone the department’s fire
engines and other fire and
rescue vehicles. They saw
firefighters go out on a call
and an ambulance return
from a call.
Welsh turned the tour
over to Condon to show
them all the safety gear and
turnouts firefighters must
wear when battling blazes.
He told them about the ma-
terial of the pants and coat,
and passed around the air
tank that allows firefighters
to breathe in a fire.
“How much do you think
all of that gear weighs?”
Welsh asked.
The children guessed 25,
50 pounds?
All the equipment weighs
about 65 pounds, Welsh
said.
“Oh, my goodness. How
much do you weigh?” choir
chaperone Olivia Nabulime
asked Condon, laughing.
“Depending on what day
it is, I’m going to say 185, I
put an extra 65 pounds on,”
Condon responded, grin-
ning at the question.
“Do you have to workout
to carry that?” she asked.
“I do as much as I can,”
Condon said.
The same could be said of
the choir, which books sev-
eral performances each
week, bringing music and
the story of Uganda’s chil-
dren with it.
“What we do is raise
awareness of the plight of
orphaned and vulnerable
children in Uganda,” said
Brian Mjuba, another choir
chaperone. “The total of or-
phaned children in Uganda
is over 3 million.”
He said the crisis began
decades ago during the rule
of dictator Edi Amin in the
1970s and persists today.
Imani Milele, a Swahili
Saturday, Oct. 14 • 9 AM to 3 PM
Soup & Pie Lunch will be served.
Items for sale: garden produce, baked goods,
white elephant items, and arts & crafts.
Also several items will be raffled.
Proceeds go to the purchase of items used on the altar.
CORRECTION ON POLK PROPERTIES PHOTOS
The Itemizer-Observer apologizes for any inconvenience.
MONMOUTH—GREAT OPPORTUNITY.
5 BR, 3 full baths. Larger than most kitchen & dining
room w/incredible storage. Living room & family
room. Efficient furnace & A/C w/filter system. Upgraded
windows & systems. Oversized garage plus 2
car carport & RV pad. Fenced yard. Owner has given
this home fantastic care. $349,000. #717151
NEW ON THE MARKET! MONMOUTH-
WONDERFUL OPEN FLOOR PLAN.
Oversize garage, covered patio, quality storage shed.
All on corner lot. Nice appliances included.
$280,000. #724296
43 years of Quality Service
Since 1974
503-838-1912
1697 Monmouth St.,
Independence
Cathy McLean
Broker
503-580-0571
Tanna Cable Girod
Broker
503-931-6800
Solution on Page 11A
Timm Cable
Broker
503-551-5357
phrase meaning “always be-
lieve,” helps about 3,000 or-
phans. Members of the choir
are children the organiza-
tion rescued.
The group has performed
in schools, churches and
other venues across the
country. They will return to
Uganda on Nov. 22.
The group’s stop in Dallas
was a chance for the choir’s
children to view fire engines
and ambulances up close.
“This is the first time our
children have seen what you
guys have and what you can
do,” Nabulime said.
Nabulime said they have
felt welcomed on their visit
to the U.S.
“The hospitality is awe-
some,” Nabulime said.
View our listings at www.wvmls.com
Salem — anyone who has not claimed tax refund money
may find it more difficult to do so after Friday.
according to the oregon Department of Revenue, thou-
sands of oregon taxpayers have money waiting for them.
after checks expire — two years from their issuance date —
there’s a limited window of time to get them reissued before
more requirements apply.
That window is Friday.
each october, the department sends any expired checks to
the unclaimed property program at the Department of State
lands.
To claim property from DSl, taxpayers need a notarized
claim and copies of identity-verifying documents.
Visit www.oregon.gov/dor to get forms, check the status of
a refund, or make payments.
For more information: 503-378-4988, or 800-356-4222,
email questions.dor@oregon.gov.
Video contest asks students to be safe
Salem — High school students across oregon are invited
to create a video increasing awareness about safety on the job
for young workers.
The annual, “Speak up. Work safe.” video contest is open for
submissions. The deadline is Feb. 1, 2018. Videos can be
mailed in or submitted online.
Students may create a 90-second or less video that inspires
young workers to do at least one thing differently to stay safe
on the job.
Videos must educate young workers about the importance
of speaking up in the workplace.
Participants are encouraged to develop a key message or
slogan, use humor, and get creative while emphasizing ways
to protect themselves and others from getting hurt on the
job.
The top three entries will earn cash prizes ranging from
$300 to $500.
For more information, including judging criteria: youngem-
ployeesafety.org/contest.