Polk County News
2A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • November 22, 2017
Fire district completes Gordon named new
work on user’s manual mayor of Falls City
By Emily Mentzer
The Itemizer-Observer
INDEPENDENCE — Polk
County Fire District No. 1
has completed work on its
first standards of cover.
“The standard of cover is
the user’s manual,” Chief
Ben Stange said. “Anyone
from the public should be
able to pick it up, know who
the fire district is, how it’s
staffed, all that stuff.”
In the years 2014 through
2016, the district’s response
times to medical calls varied
depending on which vehicle
was used and which station
volunteers responded to.
Stange said he has a goal
for the first medic to be out
the door in 1 minute, 30
seconds, 80 percent of the
time.
For the district’s main am-
bulances, those figures were
met 58 percent of the time in
2016.
The district is close to
meeting its goals of arriving
to medical calls in the city
limits of Monmouth or Inde-
pendence within 8 minutes,
90 percent of the time.
Last year, the first two am-
bulances out arrived within
8 minutes 87 percent of the
time.
The document uses tools
to evaluate how the fire dis-
trict is doing and sets a base-
line to compare future per-
formance.
“It defines the baseline
emergency standards —
where we’re going to be how
fast,” Stange said. “We need
a way to measure ourselves.”
Stange said the statistics
used to create the standards
of cover are from 2016 and
before, so he is excited to see
how 2017 holds up against
those baseline figures.
The document also helps
show how — and where —
the department should grow
through maps illustrating
where the most calls for
service are throughout the
district’s boundaries.
It takes into account pop-
ulation growth estimates
from Portland State Univer-
sity, and how that may affect
the fire service.
According to the popula-
tion forecast, the cities of
Monmouth and Independ-
ence will grow, but not as
quickly as nearby Dallas.
“When we’re talking fu-
ture plans, we know we
aren’t going to need three
more two-story fire sta-
tions,” Stange said. “We
will still be a combination
agency at that population.
We’ll still depend on vol-
unteers. We’ll still need ca-
reer staff.”
The standards of cover
evaluate the response times
for fire and emergency med-
ical services calls, as well as
the number of calls that the
district receives.
While the number of calls
have increased, it is the per-
centage of overlapping calls
that concerns Stange.
“As we’re trying to demon-
strate right now, it’s a bigger
issue for us,” he said. “We
have both ambulances from
Dallas heading over right
now — both of our medics
are out.”
Creating the standards of
cover document was one of
the top goals of Polk No. 1’s
board of directors in 2017.
Other goals include secur-
ing or improving funding,
reducing liabilities, incen-
tivize or require improved
fitness, clarify and track
training, and re-evaluate
mission and vision state-
ments.
By Jolene Guzman
The Itemizer-Observer
FALLS CITY — Jeremy
Gordon quickly fell in love
with Falls City when he and
his wife moved to town a
little more than two years
ago.
Now, he’s the mayor, ap-
pointed by the Falls City
City Council on a 3-2 vote
on Monday night.
When asked why he ap-
plied for the mayor post,
Gordon said he felt driven
to give back to what he be-
lieves is his family’s “forever
home.”
“I really feel compelled to
serve the community that
has been so good to us,”
Gordon said. “I’ve never ex-
perienced community like
this.”
This is the first public of-
fice Gordon has held.
“There will be a learning
curve,” he said. “This is my
first attempt at serving in
local government.”
Gordon was one of three
candidates seeking the job.
City Councilor Jenn Drill
and resident Shane Curry
Jr. were the other two, but
only Gordon and Drill were
present for the council in-
terview Monday.
Gordon is a project man-
ager and state authoriza-
tion administrator at the
University of Wisconsin-
Milwaukee and is on the
Polk Community Develop-
ment Corporation Board.
He works from home in
the full-time job with the
university and consulted
with his boss about
whether he could perform
in both roles.
“She is incredibly open to
adjusting my hours in real
time in any way that needs
to happen,” Gordon said.
“I’ll be busy, no doubt, but
in a way that I think I will
find compelling and excit-
ing and as an opportunity
to be creative.”
When asked what his
goal would be if selected to
finish former mayor Terry
Ungricht’s term, he said he
wouldn’t take office expect-
ing to make wholesale
changes.
“Making changes for the
sake of change doesn’t al-
ways benefit everybody,” he
said. “I don’t think I have
that kind of umbrella stamp
that I would bring or want
to change. I think I would
rather want to enhance the
capacity and the positive
things about the city, and
help solve problems that
have been lingering for a
while.”
Among those issues, in
his opinion are: Infrastruc-
ture, affordable housing a
potential levy to support
fire services, and the con-
tract with Southwest Polk
Rural Fire Protection Dis-
trict.
The council asked Gor-
don and Drill questions for
about 35 minutes before
taking a vote.
“I think we got pretty
lucky,” said Council Presi-
dent Tony Meier before ask-
ing for councilors to fill out
their ballots. “I think we got
two excellent candidates.”
Councilors Lori Jean
Sickles, Charlie Flynn and
Dennis Sickles voted for
Gordon. Cliff Lauder and
Tony Meier voted for Drill.
Gordon was sworn in im-
mediately after the vote.
RECYCLE.
A great investment in
the future.
HEALTH DIRECTORY
AUDIOLOGY
GENERAL DENTISTRY
MASSAGE
Trust your hearing to those that specialize in hearing
and hearing related disorders. Evan L. Evans, Ph. D,
and Julie B. Evans, AuD are both doctoral level Audi-
ologists who have the knowledge, experience and
compassion to provide you with the best care for
your hearing health. We offer free hearing screenings;
by our hearing aid specialist. We offer full & complete
diagnostic evaluations, counseling and recommen-
dations by our clinical Audiologists. Other Audiologi-
cal services include testing, management and
treatment options for Tinnitus. We have the knowl-
edge and experience to assist your physician with the
diagnosis of diseases and disorders pertaining to
hearing and the hearing mechanism. We offer wax
removal or cerumen management, Tinnitus testing
and Tinnitus management techniques. An Audiolo-
gist, having the Audiology credentials of the Ameri-
can Academy of Audiology (F-AAA) and the The
American Speech Hearing and Language Associa-
tion’s Certificate of Clinical Competency (CCC-A) is
the professional of choice for anything related to
hearing and or hearing related issues. Serving our
hearing impaired since 1980, with two locations to
serve you.
Audiology Associates
1343-A Monmouth St., Independence • 503-838-3001
2296 NW Kings Blvd, Corvallis • 541-757-2500
• DALLAS FAMILY DENTAL - Benjamin James DDS,
Tom Davis DMD, Les Wheeler DDS. 289 E Ellendale
Ave Ste. 204, Dallas. Dallas Family Dental provides
general and cosmetic dentistry for children and
adults. We are happy to serve as your dental
providers, and are accepting new patients. www.dal-
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• RANDALL C. JONES, DMD - 1004 Monmouth St.,
Independence, OR 503-838-0434. Offering a broad
range of dental services in a relaxed and comfortable
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• WESTON K. MORRILL, DMD - 289 E. Ellendale
Suite #201, Dallas. 503-623-6616. Family, preventive,
and cosmetic dentistry. Complete dentistry for the
entire family. Se habla español.
• DR. MICHELLE HASBROOK, DMD - 120 N. Atwa-
ter, Monmouth, OR 503-838-2998. Providing all
phases of dental care for children and adults. We wel-
come new patients!
• KENNETH WINOKUR, DMD - 329 South Main
Street Independence, OR 97351. 503-838-1633. High
quality service with your comfort in mind. Nitrous
oxide gas sedation available. www.independence-
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• OUT OF GRAVITY MASSAGE - Julianne Klingberg
DeForest, LMT - 503.510.2256 - NOW IN INDEPEND-
ENCE Enter Stressed, Leave Blessed - Out of Gravity
Massage offers massage sessions to suit a variety of
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bodywork are blended with extensive and varied edu-
cation, creating a caring and knowledgeable environ-
ment of healing. Also, with a prescription and a claim
number, up to a year's therapeutic massage sessions
will help in your rehabilitation from a motor vehicle
accident. Relaxation, well care, geriatric and pediatric
massage is available, as well as motor vehicle acci-
dent rehabilitation. Infant massage instructional ses-
sions available. Call today for an appointment.
503-510-2256 OR # 7627/ National #295187-00
GYNECOLOGY SERVICES
CHIROPRACTIC
Gynecological care is available in Dallas at the Salem
Health West Valley Specialty Clinic. Gynecologist
Keita Sakon, MD, specializes in gynecology exams
and procedures, including hysteroscopy and la-
paroscopy, as well as family planning, abnormal Pap
evaluation, treatment of pelvic pain, symptom con-
trol for menopause and abnormal periods. Dr. Sakon
works in Dallas on Friday afternoons from 12:30 to
4:30 p.m. seeing patients at the clinic and performing
gynecological procedures in the Salem Health West
Valley surgical suites. New patients are welcome!
Salem Health West Valley Specialty Clinic is located
at 591 SE Clay St., Dallas. Call 503-831-0784 for an
appointment. Visit salemhealth.org/westvalley.
• PINNACLE PHYSICAL THERAPY is an orthopedic
physical therapy facility committed to getting great
results for each patient. We focus on advanced spine
care, women's health issues, sport rehab, vehicle ac-
cidents, and work injuries. We offer highly special-
ized care including manual therapy, aquatic therapy,
specific deep tissue mobilization techniques, Pos-
tural Restoration Institute (PRI) techniques and ther-
apeutic exercise. We have a warm, caring and
friendly staff and accept most private health insur-
ance, auto insurance, and workers' compensation in-
surance. We offer both male and female physical
therapists. Often no physician referral is needed to
start care. Call us today and ask how to get therapy
for your condition or talk to your physician to see if
physical therapy is right for you. Call us: 503-623-
2433. We are conveniently located at 210 W. Ellen-
dale Avenue Dallas, Oregon 97338; (next to Taco
Bell) Check us out on the web: www.pinnacle-physi-
caltherapy.com
• SALEM HEALTH WEST VALLEY offers a wide range
of rehabilitation services. Our hospital in Dallas, lo-
cated at 525 SE Washington St. in Dallas, offers physi-
cal therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy
and aquatic therapy (at Dallas Aquatic Center). 503-
623-7305. Our clinic in Monmouth offers physical
therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy.
Located at 512 Main St. 503-838-1388. Visit
www.salemhealth.org/westvalley.
• JOYNT FAMILY CHIROPRACTIC - Dr. Brian Joynt,
DC - 629 Clay Street East, Monmouth, OR 97361
Family-oriented chiropractic clinic, dedicated to cre-
ating an unparalleled experience of service, quality
and care by teaching the true principles of chiroprac-
tic. We look forward to empowering each of you to
help your family participate more fully in life. New
patients welcome. Accept most insurance. Auto/per-
sonal injury and work comp. Massage therapist on
site. Complimentary consultations. Call us today to
make your appointment (503) 837-0550.
• THORNTON CHIROPRACTIC - Drs. Sharon and
Marty Thornton - Palmer Graduates - We care, God
cures. 1650 Monmouth St., Independence, OR 97351
• 503-838-3346. Office hours: Mon, Tues & Fri 8-
noon & 2-6 pm; Wed 8 -noon & 2-4 pm; Thurs 2-6
pm. Proudly serving Polk County for over 17 years.
Offering Thompson Drop and other hands-on tech-
niques, as well as Advanced Activator Methods and
Functional Neurology. We provide gentle and effec-
tive full-spine and extremity adjusting for all ages in
a loving and caring environment. We are accepting
new patients for Family Wellness Care, Medicare,
Auto or personal injury & Workers Comp. Licensed
Massage Therapy available on site.
COUNSELING
• CROSS AND CROWN COUNSELING ~ KATE
KOENS, NCCA Licensed Clinical Christian Counselor
and Certified Temperament Therapist. Cross and
Crown Counseling offers counseling services to indi-
viduals, couples and families as well as identity semi-
nars and grief recovery workshops. Our office is
located at 1156 SE Holman Ave. Dallas. Some spe-
cific areas of counsel are adolescent, premarital,
marriage, trauma, crisis, grief, depression, anxiety,
anger, divorce, and identity crisis. We help our clients
find healing, learn communication skills, and appro-
priate responses to individual and family needs and
how to obtain overall health, mentally, emotionally,
and spiritually. We provide a safe and caring envi-
ronment to face life situations, address interpersonal
and intrapersonal conflict and help individuals real-
ize their full potential in order to live decisively with
truth, relevance, perspective, and purpose. For more
information or to schedule an appointment please
call (503) 917-1625 or visit our website at
www.crossandcrowncounseling.com
HEARING HEALTH
• JOYFUL SOUND HEARING SERVICES, INC. Mark
Sturtevant, 312 Main Street, Dallas OR, 503-623-0290.
Providing Polk County with hearing solutions for 30
years. Services include: Hearing evaluations, Diag-
nosing hearing loss; Impedance; Fitting all types of
hearing devices, Servicing all makes and models of
hearing aids; Ear inspections; Wax removal; Hearing
protection. Hours: Monday - Thursday 9-4pm. (Fri-
days by appointment only)
IMAGING SERVICES
• SALEM HEALTH WEST VALLEY offers state-of-the-
art all-digital diagnostic imaging services. With your
physician's referral, we provide bone densitometry,
CT scan, fluoroscopy, mammography, ultrasound, X-
ray and MRI services. Check out our comfortable and
spacious mammography suite. We are located at 525
SE Washington St., Dallas, 503-623-7302.
LABORATORY SERVICES
• SALEM HEALTH WEST VALLEY provides lab serv-
ices at two convenient locations in Dallas and Mon-
mouth. Both labs are fully accredited, providing
collections and testing with healthcare provider re-
ferral. Employment and self-referral drug testing is
offered. The West Valley Hospital lab in Dallas is open
24 hours, seven days a week, at 525 SE Washington
St., 503-623-7303. The Monmouth lab is located in
the Monmouth Medical Center, 512 Main St., Suite
300, 503-838-1388. It is open Monday to Friday, 8:30
a.m.-4:30 p.m., closed between noon and 1 p.m. Ap-
pointments are not required.
ORTHODONTICS
• YENNE & SCHOFIELD - SPECIALISTS IN ORTHO-
DONTICS - 580 Main Street, Suite E, Dallas, 503-623-
5002. Providing Polk County with orthodontic care
for children and adults for functions and cosmetics.
Open Tuesdays & Thursdays.
PHYSICAL THERAPY/
REHABILITATION SERVICES
PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS
• DR. CHARLES ESSEX, family medicine, is accepting
new patients at Salem Health West Valley Medical
Clinic, located at 512 Main St., Suite 300, Monmouth,
503-838-1182. With a proactive healthcare approach,
Dr. Essex provides care for the entire family and will
work with you to build a healthy lifestyle with annual
exams, immunizations, lifestyle counseling, sports
physicals, skin care, cancer screenings and more.
New patients are welcome.
• DR. JOHN HADLEY, family medicine, is accepting
new patients at the Salem Health West Valley Medical
Clinic at 555 SE Washington St., Dallas, 503-623-
7301. With a proactive healthcare approach, Dr.
Hadley provides offers family medicine for your en-
tire family from newborns to adults with annual
exams, immunizations, lifestyle counseling, sports
physicals, skin care, cancer screenings and more.
New patients are welcome.
Call the Itemizer-Observer at 503-623-2373
to have your business listed in this directory.