Polk County
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Polk County Itemizer-Observer • November 22, 2017 4A
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EDITORIALS
Keep safety in mind
as holidays approach
Whether you choose to hit the shops on Thanksgiving,
or Black Friday, or sit in your pajamas and search for deals
online through Cyber Monday, holiday shopping means
opportunities to brighten the day of a loved one.
The holidays are always a great time to connect or re-
connect with neighbors. If you haven’t already, take a plate
of cookies to the family across the street and introduce
yourself. Building community in your neighborhood is a
great present, especially as it makes keeping an eye out for
each other easier.
The holidays present opportunities for thieves, too.
If you see someone suspicious in your neighborhood,
report it to the local law enforcement. It may be someone’s
Uncle Bob home for the holidays, or it may be someone
trying to find a moment to steal packages left on a door
step.
During the holiday season it is more important than
ever to make sure a Grinch doesn’t ruin your plans. Re-
member to follow safety tips now and year-round.
• Don’t keep valuables in sight in vehicles, and lock all
doors to cars and to your home.
• As you prepare to put up those Christmas decorations,
keep safety in mind there, too. Don’t overload sockets with
too many strings of lights. It may feel like it’s not a big deal
to piggy back all those lights — you’ve done it before,
maybe, without anything bad happening, or it’s only for a
few weeks — but losing everything to an electrical fire is
not worth taking a chance. On a similar note, be sure
you’ve had your chimney swept before you start those
roaring, cozy fires, and keep your Christmas tree properly
watered.
• Turn your Christmas lights off when you’re not home
or going to bed to decrease the chances for fire, too.
• Don’t forget to think about your pets this year, and
more than putting his or her favorite chew toy or catnip
under the tree. Remember that a lot of decorations may
pose some risks to animals. New decorations may look like
new chew toys. A tree inside may be too great a temptation
for kitty to resist climbing.
Many traditional holiday plants can cause problems —
even severe poisoning and death — for pets.
• While it has remained rather mild temperature-wise,
as the thermometer drops, it will be important to continue
to look after neighbors and pets. Elderly neighbors may
not use their heaters as often, or may need to be checked
on. Pets should not be left out in the cold without shelter.
Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving. We hope some of
these tips will help make the whole season safer for all.
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. 22
• Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk
County Courthouse, first floor conference room, 850 Main St.,
Dallas. 503-623-8173.
MondAy, nov. 27
• Independence Library Board — 4 p.m., Independence
Public Library, 175 Monmouth St., Independence. 503-838-1212.
TuesdAy, nov. 28
• Independence City Council — 6:30 p.m., Independence
Civic Center, 555 S. Main St., Independence. 503-838-1212.
• Monmouth senior Advisory Board — 1 p.m., Monmouth
Senior Center, 180 Warren 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. 29
• Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk
County 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
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
Call your Congress
about new tax plan
Right now, there is a lot of
confusion surrounding the
Congressional “tax reform”
efforts in Congress. Sadly, we
know the plan about to pass
will eliminate the Qualified
Veterans Mortgage Bond
(QVMB) program across the
nation — including Oregon.
Our program (ORVETS)
was established in 1945. It is
the primary reason more
than 340,000 Oregon Veter-
ans could purchase a home.
Since their origin, these low-
interest loans continue to
make a profound difference
in the lives of military fami-
lies throughout our state.
At a time when we con-
tinue to ask so much of the
men and women we send
into harm’s way, elimination
of this successful program
is, quite simply, theft: Theft
of the dream of home own-
ership for thousands of
struggling veterans.
The irony is rich. Tax poli-
cy experts across the ideo-
logical spectrum admit the
wealthiest 1 percent of
Americans will benefit dis-
proportionately from the
Congressional tax plan.
However, in what universe
is it acceptable — or moral-
ly right — to steal the
dreams of our veterans to
pay for a windfall for rich?
Wealthy Americans bene-
fit disproportionately from
the peace and stability
made possible by the sacri-
fice, selflessness, and serv-
ice of our veterans. Stealing
away the dream of home
ownership from our veter-
ans is dereliction of duty.
We still have time to stop
the madness. Tell Congress
we will not pay for tax cuts
for the rich by stealing from
our veterans. We must stand
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
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
up for all who stood for us.
Call today.
Rep. Paul L. Evans
Monmouth
Trump takes from
those who hurt
On Nov. 2, Trump stated;
“We are giving them (voters)
a big, beautiful Christmas
present in the form of a
tremendous tax cut … .”
There are presents for
everyone in the GOP/Trump
tax sham.
Some gifts and some
lumps of coal. For example,
our children and heirs who
will have the gift of paying
the $1 trillion that the tax,
cut mostly for the rich, will
add to the U.S. deficit.
Merry Christmas.
For folks struggling to pay
off student loan debt, their
gift is that the interest on
that debt is no longer de-
ductible. The cost of the
debt will now include more
taxes. Merry Christmas. For
those people struggling with
dependents with chronic
medical issues; those extra
medical expenses will no
longer be deductible. Merry
Christmas.
Planning to contract a
rare disease? The tax credit
of 50 percent for the cost of
clinical testing for cures will
be eliminated. Merry Christ-
mas.
Thinking about adopting
an orphaned child? Recon-
sider, because the $13,750
tax credit will be eliminated.
Merry Christmas. Are you a
teacher serving America in
the classroom?
Well, those expenses you
incur buying needed class-
room supplies will no
longer be deductible.
Merry Christmas. Had
your home destroyed by a
natural disaster or other
event? Losses from these
events will no longer be de-
ductible.
Merry Christmas. There
are plenty more gifts just
like the above.
If you’re a family with no
special expenses then the
increased personal deduc-
tion seems like a good deal.
It is a “Look at what we're
doing for you” ploy.
Meanwhile if life has
thrown you a curve ball,
then look for the target on
your back. That’s what
Trump and the GOP like to
see.
Their motto appears to
be, “Let’s shaft those who
are already hurting.”
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
Fred Brown
Dallas
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—
Reach us at:
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.
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
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. 47
(USPS) - 437-380)
The official newspaper of Polk County • Serving Polk County families since 1875
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