Polk County
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Polk County Itemizer-Observer • November 1, 2017 4A
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EDITORIALS
Spread the joy this
holiday season
Today officially starts our run to the holidays and the
end of 2017, with Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas and
New Year’s.
A letter-writer reminds us today that Dallas Adopt A
Family has started seeking donations and volunteers.
Other organizations also are gearing up to brighten the
holidays for families in need, including Toys for Tots, Dallas
Christmas Cheer, and the Independence Santa Train —
which is back this year thanks to the efforts of Traci Cath-
cart, of Famous Footwear, and the Portland & Western Rail-
road.
At the same time, teams in Monmouth and Independ-
ence have formed up to have a friendly competition to see
who can get the most food donated for the Ella Curran
Food Bank.
The winner will be announced at a MI Chamber event
on Nov. 16, but the true winners are those who find them-
selves in need of the food bank’s services.
It feels good to help, and this time of year there is no
shortage of opportunities to get involved in the communi-
ty.
No time? That’s OK, too. With fundraisers and dinner
auctions to benefit our Dallas Dragons, Central Panthers,
and Monmouth-Independence YMCA coming up in the
next few months, open your pocketbook to ensure these
nonprofits can reach as many community members as
possible. Every penny counts.
Remember the Dallas Booster Club is hard at work rais-
ing money for a new turf field for the high school, and will
accept your cans for recycling — double bonus: giving to a
great cause and clearing clutter before holiday guests ar-
rive.
Speaking of volunteers, each year at the Itemizer we cel-
ebrate community champions. This year, we invite you,
our readers, to nominate someone from your community
who gives much without thought of return or reward. Help
us celebrate our local heroes and volunteers.
The holiday season can bring lots of stress as we hustle
to buy gifts, make travel plans, and wonder where the year
went. Let us not forget to take moments to help and recog-
nize those groups who make the season a little more festive
for those less fortunate than us.
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, NOV. 1
• Monmouth Historic Commission — 6 p.m., Volunteer Hall,
144 Warren St. S., Monmouth. 503-838-0725.
• Monmouth Planning Commission — 7 p.m., Volunteer
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.
MONDAy, NOV. 6
• 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, NOV. 7
• 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, NOV. 8
• Independence Heritage Museum Commission — 4 p.m.,
Independence Heritage Museum, 112 S. Third St., Independ-
ence. 503-838-1212.
• Monmouth Library Advisory Board — 7 a.m., Monmouth
Public Library, 168 Ecols St. S., Monmouth. 503-838-0725.
• Monmouth Parks and Recreation Board — 7 p.m., Volun-
teer 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.
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
Adopt A Family
prepares for holiday
Many of us feel rushed
when we see the Christmas
decorations in the malls and
stores in mid-October.
One indicator of the sea-
son for us is beginning our
Dallas Adopt A Family proj-
ect.
We don’t want to rush
you into the holiday season,
but we do hope you will feel
the meaning of Christmas,
starting with a spirit of gen-
erous giving extending all
the way to gratitude.
For many years, the Dal-
las Adopt A Family project,
participating with The Sal-
vation Army, has bright-
ened Christmas with a box
of food and supplies for
many families, as well as
gifts for children in those
homes.
It has warmed our hearts
to participate in this won-
derful opportunity.
We would love to have
many others in our commu-
nity join us and be blessed
by giving as well.
To adopt a family or to
discover how you may give,
please call Dallas Adopt A
Family at 503-559-5373, or
email dallasadopt1
@gmail.com by Nov. 15, or
you may follow us on Face-
book.
Gift boxes from adopters
will be dropped off at the
Dallas Evangelical Bible
Church on Dec. 19 and will
be picked up by the
adoptees on Dec. 20.
Merry Christmas. Thank
you for giving.
James and Candace Fowler
Dallas
Condolences much
appreciated
The family of Dorothea
Ames wish to thank all who
sent condolences upon her
passing Oct. 19, 2017.
As a Dallas resident for
67 years, Dot touched the
lives of many with her
quilting, attendance at
Trinity Lutheran Church
and cooking at the Blue
Gardens in Dallas and in
Monmouth, up to the day
it closed.
The outpouring of sup-
port for her family is greatly
appreciated. Again, thank
you.
Keith Ames
Dallas
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
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
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
WANT TO WRITE A LETTER?
Letters to the editor are
limited to 300 words. Longer
letters will be edited.
Election-related letters of
all types are limited to 100
words. Writers are limited to
one election-related letter
per election season. Election
letters from writers outside
of Polk County are not ac-
cepted.
Each writer is restricted to
one letter per 30-day period.
Letters that are libelous,
obscene or in bad taste will
not be printed. Attacks by
name on businesses or indi-
viduals will not be printed.
Letters to the editor that
are obvious promotions for a
business, products or serv-
ices will not be printed.
The Itemizer-Observer does
not guarantee the accuracy
of facts presented by letter
writers; dissenters are wel-
come to respond. Letter writ-
ers who disagree with other
published letter writers
should maintain a civil dis-
course and address the sub-
ject, not the author.
Letters, like all editorial ma-
terial submitted to the news-
paper, are edited for length,
grammar and content.
Letters must include the
author’s name, address and
telephone number. This in-
cludes letters submitted via
the I-O’s website. Names and
cities of residence are pub-
lished; street addresses and
telephone numbers are used
for verification purposes only.
Letters must be submitted
from individuals, not organi-
zations, and must be original
submissions to the I-O, not
copies of letters sent to other
media.
Letters of thanks to busi-
nesses, individuals and or-
ganizations are limited to 10
names.
The deadline for letters to
the editor is 10 a.m. Monday.
Letters submitted may not
be retractable after this
deadline.
—
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.
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
NEwSROOM
Emily Mentzer ..............Editor/Monmouth/Independence Reporter ....ementzer@polkio.com
Vol. 142, No. 44
(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
Lukas Eggen..................Sports Editor......................................................................leggen@polkio.com
Jolene Guzman............Dallas/Falls City/Polk County Reporter ................jguzman@polkio.com
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Heidi Leppin .................Display Advertising Manager (ext.115).................hleppin@polkio.com
Rachel Best ....................Display Advertising (ext. 110) .........................................rbest@polkio.com
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web: www.polkio.com
Phone: 503-623-2373
Fax: 503-623-2395
which is in error if the Itemizer-Observer is at fault.