Polk County
Voices
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • December 6, 2017 4A
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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.
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).
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WEDNESDAy, DEC. 6
• 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
County Courthouse, first floor conference room, 850 Main St.,
Dallas. 503-623-8173.
MONDAy, DEC. 11
• Dallas School Board — 6:30 p.m., Dallas School District
office, 111 SW Ash St., Dallas. 503-623-5594.
• Independence City Council — 6:30 p.m., Independence
Civic Center, 555 S. Main St., Independence. 503-838-1212.
TUESDAy, DEC. 12
• Monmouth Tree Advisory Board — 7 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.
• WIMPEG Board of Directors — Noon, Volunteer Hall, 144
Warren St. S., Monmouth.
WEDNESDAy, DEC. 13
• 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 S. Warren St., Monmouth. 503-838-0725.
• Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk
County Courthouse, first floor conference room, 850 Main St.,
Dallas. 503-623-8173.
How to
Contact
Officials
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/
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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
View limited at
Parker and Hwy 99
The fatal accident
Thanksgiving evening at the
intersection of Parker Road
and Highway 99W per-
suades me to write about
the limited sight distance at
that intersection due to veg-
etation and embankments.
The situation is most dif-
ficult when approaching the
highway from the west on
Parker Road. The view of
southbound traffic is very
restricted by a thick arborvi-
tae hedge on the adjacent
residential property. My
guess is that the accident
victim stopped at the sign,
looked to the south and saw
distant traffic, then looked
to the north and saw no
traffic, not realizing he was
looking at the side of a
hedge, and pulled out. I
pass through that intersec-
tion almost daily and, to see
around the hedge one al-
most has to nose into the
traffic lane. Solution? A
check by the Oregon De-
partment of Transportation
to make sure the sight dis-
tance is not unduly limited,
perhaps a sign warning of
the situation, and as always,
aware and cautious driving.
Tom Gallagher
Independence
Pedestrians have
accountability too
Be mindful of what you
wear at night as the owner-
ship for safety is not just on
the drivers, but it is also on
the city. The worst place is
the corner of Washington
Street and Jefferson. Even
with white pants and a collie
with a full white collar, I
have to wait to cross until
there are absolutely no cars
for three to four blocks in ei-
ther direction of Washington
Street, regardless of weather.
I have almost been hit three
times and once knocked out
of the sidewalk onto a car
hood. This is a "no stop to
turn" intersection. Ticketing
is not the answer. I am sure
these drivers are not intend-
ing to hit anyone.
There is absolutely no ex-
cuse for the city or county to
make this anything less than
a full 4-way stop. Because of
the nature of this miss-engi-
neering, I refuse to turn in
those drivers simply over a
mistake instigated by bad
road planning. I am aware.
My safety or lack of it be-
comes my responsibility.
Randy Wisnia
Dallas
Resident fine for
Dallas to stay small
When we first moved to
Dallas, it was a nice little
town.
We got a new Safeway,
and that was OK. Then Wal-
mart, that was fine.
Now it’s new houses in a
row and more coming. Every-
where it’s build, build, build.
In my opinion, we don’t need
it. I agree with Louis Stuckey.
Except I love pizza.
Mary Thurman
Dallas
Many hands made
happy holidays
The Dallas Emergency
Food Bank would like to ex-
tend our sincere apprecia-
tion for the tremendous
outpouring of support by
the surrounding community
during the recent Thanks-
giving holiday. Dallas Safe-
way coordinated the local
Turkey Bucks program, pro-
viding 138 meals for the
Food Bank to share.
Thank you Safeway and
all the customers who gen-
erously provided their dona-
tions for purchase of these
dinners. As part of the Dal-
las Downtown Merchants
Turkey Drawing event, mer-
chants donated 54 turkeys
that were received just in
time for the turkey distribu-
tion at the Food Bank on
Tuesday, Nov. 21.
For the past many years,
the Food Bank has received
a substantial financial dona-
tion from a regular donor
that is targeted for Thanks-
giving turkeys. Additionally,
this year several individual
donors delivered in excess
of 25 turkeys directly to the
Food Bank the week of
Thanksgiving, as well as
cash donations.
Numerous food drives
during the month brought
in generous cash donations
and 1,850 pounds of food
items. Among the food
drives were those held by
Home Comfort, Cross Creek
Golf Course, Dallas Cinema,
Dallas Boy Scouts, Grand-
ma’s Attic, Dallas FFA, Dal-
las Lions, and Polk About
Sams. Local churches pro-
vided 1,276 pounds of food
during November along
with cash donations.
Thank you to Walmart
and Safeway for their ongo-
ing support with regular
food deliveries, to individual
donors, to the farmers and
gardeners that graciously
share their produce and
eggs, to the groups that hold
fundraisers throughout the
year, and to the volunteers
who tirelessly give hours of
time and energy.
We live in an exceptional-
ly caring and generous
community. You make such
a difference in so many
lives. We thank you.
Beverlee Linn and
M. Ordonez
Dallas Food Bank volunteers
Dallas
Dallas turf project
nearly halfway
The Dallas High School
Turf Project is well on its
way to reaching its goal of
raising $800,000 to install
artificial turf on Ron August
Field. We have $447,000 in
cash, pledges and in-kind
donations thanks to the ef-
forts of so many people in
this community.
We recently hosted a Ford
Drive 4 UR School event
with Mid-Valley Ford of Dal-
las. It was a huge success
with 125 test drives, earning
$2,500 toward the project.
And a pair of Seahawks tick-
ets donated by Jeff Daven-
port netted over $500 in raf-
fle ticket sales.
We are still collecting cans
and bottles for Bottle Drop.
To date, we have raised
nearly $5,000. The Bottle
Drop Holiday Giving pro-
gram is matching a percent-
age of our earnings through
Dec. 20, so please keep sav-
ing your recycles for us.
We will be hosting Bottle
Drop collections at Les
Schwab on the last Saturday of
every month, as well as indi-
vidual can drives in between.
Check our website for drop
sites located around town.
We have an exciting
matching challenge under-
way: Dallas resident Michael
Eshelby is matching all busi-
ness donations dollar for
dollar. And individual dona-
tions of $10-$300 are being
matched by an another Dal-
las resident. Now is the time
to jump in and help us com-
plete this project.
Please visit our website
www.dhsboosterclub.org for
continual updates on our
progress. We also have some
wonderful biographies au-
thored by Judy Luther that
are very much worth your
time to read. I want to thank
everyone who has been a
part of this effort. Keep up
your hard work and we will
"Get our turf on."
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
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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
Stephanie Earhart
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
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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.49
(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
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