Polk County News
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • November 22, 2017 5A
Parents file lawsuit
Fire displaces four
against school district
the nonprofit group Parents
Rights in Education.
The suit names Dallas
School District; Oregon De-
partment of Education;
Gov. Kate Brown; the Unit-
ed States Department of
Education; U.S. Secretary of
Education Betsy Devos; the
United States Department
of Justice; and U.S. Attorney
General Jeff Session.
The case was filed in the
U.S. District Court in Port-
land on Nov. 13 and alleges
that the district’s Student
Safety Plan, a policy allow-
ing Eilliot Yoder, 16, to use
the facilities matching his
gender identity, violates the
rights of other students.
The plaintiffs are repre-
sented by Beaverton attor-
ney Herbert G. Grey and
Canby attorney Ryan Adams.
The American Civil Lib-
erties Union said it may in-
tervene in the case.
SCHOOL NOTES
Rope Busters coach Jim Dent honored
DALLAS —Jim Dent, the longtime coach of Dallas Rope Busters, was recognized by the Ameri-
can Heart Association at an assembly at Lyle Elementary School on Nov. 3.
He received the award for his support of the “Jump Rope for Heart” campaign.
Rope Busters is an after-school jump rope club in which students learn to do jump rope tricks
on their own or in teams. The club practices regularly and performs at school functions and sport-
ing events.
The AHA presented him an appreciation award for the “Rope Busters 35 year of continuous and
outstanding support of the American Heart Association’s Youth Programs.”
Hughes named Distinguished Educator
DALLAS — LaCreole Middle School math teacher Brian Hughes is October’s Distinguished Edu-
cator. Hughes received the award on Nov. 15.
His students listed his best traits as a teacher, “He motivates us to do our best in math” and “He
likes to make the classroom joyful.” Another student said he “inspires students to do their best,”
while another added “I like how he always makes me happy when I am sad.”
The Distinguished Educator Program recognizes “excellence in teaching and learning” in Dallas
School District schools.
Morrison receives grant for internships
DALLAS — Morrison Campus Alternative School received a $28,000 Polk County Business Devel-
opment G Grant to establish a new internship program with local businesses.
“It’s going to be strictly for working on developing internships and help our kids go from
schools to careers. We’re really excited for the opportunity,” said Morrison Principal Brian Green.
“We will have the opportunity for 38 different placements throughout the year.”
The Polk County Board of Commissioner approved the grant in late October.
Green said the money will provide a stipend for each student who completes the eight-week
program and assistance if student require special shoes or clothing for their internship.
“This is a pilot program and we are looking to grow this,” Green said.
Dallas Education Foundation issues grants
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for local news, sports and community events.
Frink’s General Store is
collecting cash donations to
help the victims of the fire.
Sykes said the local commu-
nity is assisting them with
donations of clothes, furni-
ture and other necessities.
Twenty-one firefighters
responded to the blaze. No
one was injured in the fire.
The cause of the fire is un-
known at this time, and is
under investigation by the
Oregon Office of State Fire
Marshal, Sykes said.
Homeless
Continued from Page 1A
Statewide, the homeless
count reached an all-time
high at 22,541 students out
of 578,381 enrolled, a 5.6
percent increase from the
previous year. Oregon’s
homeless student popula-
tion has increased 19.4 per-
cent since 2014.
Dona Bolt, the state McK-
inney-Vento coordinator,
said some upward trend is
due to better accounting.
“There is no doubt that
some of the increase
comes from raising aware-
ness of the importance of
reporting homeless stu-
dent data and the federal
programs available under
the Every Student Suc-
OSBA honors Wahl, Williamson
Itemizer-Observer staff report
SALEM — Donn Wahl, a
member of the Central
School Board, was among 10
locally elected board mem-
bers recognized with a silver
award for completing
coursework through the
Oregon School Board Asso-
ciation’s leadership institute.
Holly Williamson, Dallas
School Board member, was
presented a bronze award,
along with 30 other board
members.
The awards, presented
Nov. 11 at the OSBA’s 71st
annual convention in Port-
land, recognize board mem-
bers for significant levels of
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147 SE Court St., Dallas
503-623-2373
achievement in leadership
and development, according
to a press release from the
OSBA.
ceeds Act,” Bolt said. “But
other factors such as a lack
of affordable housing and
not enough family-wage
jobs are contributing to
the problem.”
The McKinney-Vento Act
provides the federal defini-
tion of homelessness and a
grant program to help
homeless students.
RECYCLE
A little effort.
A big difference.
West Valley Housing Authority will hold their Work
Session Meeting on Wednesday, November 29,
2017 beginning at 11:30 a.m. at 204 SW Walnut
in Dallas, Oregon. The Regular Meeting will be
held on Wednesday, November 29, 2017 at 1:00
p.m. at 204 SW Walnut in Dallas, Oregon. An
Executive Session pursuant to ORS 192.660 will
be held immediately following the Regular
Meeting, if required.
Agenda for the meeting is posted on the Housing
Authority website at www.wvpha.org. The location
for the meeting is handicapped accessible. Please
advise the West Valley Housing Authority if you need
any special accommodations to attend the meeting.
For information, please call 503-623-8387, TDD
1-800-735-2900.
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An Open Letter to the Families of our Volunteer Firefighters
Dear Families of Polk County
Fire District No.1 Volunteers,
Thank you for your sacrifice.
Your loved ones had a rough summer. Many re-
sponded on a number of tragic calls where the skills
they have spent so much time mastering could not
make the difference that we all want. They witnessed
unspeakable scenes but stayed strong, putting the fam-
ilies of the victims ahead of themselves. After each call
they returned home to you and tried hard to continue
family life uninterrupted. It was a challenging and
painful summer for all of us—and by “us”, I mean you,
too. Some of you heard more than you wanted to, but
listened supportively. Some of you heard less than you
perhaps needed to, but sat supportively in silence.
Your sacrifice was tested most recently on a Saturday
afternoon when your loved ones were suddenly called
away once again for a structure fire. You heard your hus-
band, wife, mom, or dad say, “got to go,” and in under a
minute, they left your weekend plans. With no warning
you were left incomplete, without knowing if this would
be a 10 minute absence, or if there would be another
meal missed and more bed time stories untold. During
their six-hour absence that night, there was an empty
plate at your dinner table, your children fell asleep with-
out a bedtime kiss, and you fell asleep alone.
What I want you to know is that YOUR sacrifice has
made a difference. In the last couple weeks alone your
loved ones saved at least two lives and successfully pro-
tected and salvaged not only property, but irreplaceable
memories and heirlooms. None of the victims are for-
tunate to be in the situations they find themselves in,
but all are in better situations than they might have
been because of YOUR sacrifice – because you under-
stood that someone else in our community, in that mo-
ment needed your husband, wife, mom, or dad more
than you did.
Unfortunately, you do not receive the same thank
you as the men and women who go out on these calls.
You do not get equal recognition. Yours is a unique sac-
rifice, one you carry silently on behalf of your neighbors
and for our larger community.
I want to say, not only as the Fire Chief who gets to
witness the incredible work your loved ones perform,
but even more as a member of this community –
thank you. Thank you because we could not do what
we do as an agency, nor would we receive what we re-
ceive as a community, without our volunteers or
YOU—their families.
Sincerely,
Ben Stange
Paid for by Ben Stange
503-837-0394
154 S. Main St, Independence
Closed Thanksgiving
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DALLAS — Twelve teachers in Dallas school were awarded grants for classroom supplies or proj-
ects in Dallas Education Foundation fall grant distribution. This year, the foundation raised it max-
imum grant from $500 to $1,000.
This year’s grants total $9,003, with $4,000 of that donated by the Dallas Community Fund.
Grant were awarded to: DHS Brandi Dickerson, DHS, microscopes for biology department;
Barb Buchan, Lyle third-grade math power points; Melissa Glazner, Morrison, science lab supplies;
Kelleigh Ratzlaff, DHS, blenders for Culinary Arts; Brian Rebischke, Lyle and Oakdale, contra bass
bars G and F, and mallets; Jacob Gradek, LaCreole, circuits and electric motor materials; Amy Mor-
rison, LaCreole, tools and materials for STEAM, STEM; Amy McFarland, LaCreole, learning aids for
students; Robert Mahoney, DHS, 4K TV for visual media class; Jacob Gradek LaCreole, genetics and
embryonic lab supplies; Brandy Dickerson, DHS, Buzzers for Hi-Q Science Team; Malynda Shook,
LaCreole, watercolor and paper cutting supplies.
For more information or to make a donation to Dallas Education Foundation, go to:
https://www.dallaseducationfoundation.com/. Donation can be mailed to Dallas Education Foun-
dation, P.O. Box 392, Dallas, OR 97338.
ted the fire and called 911.
Additional crews from
Southwest Polk Rural Fire
Protection District and Polk
County Fire No. 1 were re-
quested to help put out the
fire.
“The house was damaged
75 to 80 percent,” said
Megan Sykes, the Falls City
Fire spokeswoman. “All four
occupants have had to find
other places to stay. They
will not be able to return to
the home.”
BANQUET ROOM
Itemizer-Observer staff report
DALLAS — Parents of
current and former students
of the Dallas School District
are suing the district for its
policy allowing a transgen-
der boy to use the boys’
locker rooms and restrooms
at Dallas High School.
Those suing the district
include the group Parent
for Privacy; Kris and Jon
Golly; Lindsey Golly; Nicole
Lillie; Melissa Gregory; and
Itemizer-Observer staff report
FALLS CITY — Four peo-
ple are displaced following a
house fire in Falls City on
Nov. 14.
Falls City Fire was dis-
patched to the blaze on
North Main Street just after
noon, according to a Falls
City Fire Department press
release.
The occupants of the
house were not home at the
time of the fire. People driv-
ing by on North Main spot-