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NEWSROOM TAKES ON DEVON HOLIDAY BAKING ALEXANDER Page 10A Volume 142, Issue 50 Page 13A www.Polkio.com $1.00 December 13, 2017 Ellis takes interim manager in Dallas By Jolene Guzman The Itemizer-Observer DALLAS — The Dallas City Council named Greg Ellis its interim city manager during a special meeting on Dec. 6. Ellis took over Friday for Ted Cuno, the acting city manager since Dec. 4, fol- lowing a vote to terminate former city manager Ron Foggin’s contract. “We’ve had Ted as our act- ing city manager for two days and he’s done a really good job,” said Mayor Brian Dalton. “I’ve seen him out there in several meetings al- ready. He’s done a fine job. He stepped right up to that plate after that call.” The council unanimously approved paying Cuno, the city’s building official, an extra $1,500 for taking on the additional duties. Ellis is the former city manager for Independence and, more recently, Canby. Though he retired after serving in Canby, Ellis filled in as the interim city man- ager for Jefferson and worked for the city of Dallas as a part-time economic development consultant for more than a year. When asked about his background during the Dec. 6 meeting, Ellis said he began working in the public sector at the age of 45, after working years in private business. “I had some of the same misconceptions about the public sector that a lot of people do,” he said. Ellis said he learned les- sons about the difference between public and private sectors as city manager in Estacada. “In private business you make a decision; in the pub- lic sector, you go through a process,” he said. “I learned how to work with the process.” Ellis said he grew to love working in local government. “I just really enjoy work- ing with people and being a part of the community and taking nothing and making something out of it. As you all know, there’s limited re- sources,” he said. Ellis said he sees his role with Dallas as making sure nothing is lost in the transi- tion from one city manager to another. He said he will work with city staff to con- tinue current projects and work with the council to proceed with it has in progress. “I think there’s a lot of po- tential and a lot of stuff hap- ping in Dallas right now,” Ellis said. “I just want to make sure that continues.” The vote to appoint Ellis and approve his contract was unanimous. He will be paid $12,000 per month while serving in the interim role. Foggin worked for the city since 2013 and re- ceived positive annual job performance reviews until Dec. 4, when he was dis- missed on a 5-to-4 vote. The city will pay him a sev- erance package of nine month’s salary and the cash value of benefits, amount- ing to $15,400 per month, unless he takes another job before nine months have passed. Healing through helping »Page 7A FAllS CITY Akha Farm owners arrested on assault, mistreatment and sexu- al abuse charges. Central’s girls basket- ball team remains un- beaten. »Page 14A DALLAS — Debbie Mc- Cleery created Kindness Club when she decided the best healing was through helping. Kindness Club began in November 2016 for students whose families struggled to put food on the table. A Dal- las school district employee, McCleery knew many stu- dents were in need — and she decided she needed to help. “About more than a year ago, I found myself in not a very good healthy place, mentally, emotionally, so I reached out to a couple neighbors and some close friends,” McCleery said. “I said ‘I’m calling a meeting.’ I said I need to focus out- ward, and I need help to do that.” At first, the club worked with Christmas programs like Adopt-a-Family and Christmas Cheer, but when the holidays were over, club members had to reconsider how they would continue to assist students. One member suggested “Friday bags,” a program that sent backpacks with snacks home with students over the weekends when moNmoUTH City Council ap- proves two city utility ordinances. »Page 2A SPoRTS Central hires three new coaches for spring sports. »Page 13A Independence police department receives grant Itemizer-observer staff report JOLENE GUZMAN/Itemizer-Observer Debbie mcCleery, fourth from left helped create a food pantry for older students to “shop” at every Friday. they didn’t have access to school-provided meals. “A couple of us had heard about other communities doing it, so we decided to start with the Morrison pop- ulation, which is about 70 to 75 kids,” McCleery said. “A lot of them are having strug- gles anyway in life, dis- placed, homeless. We asked the counselor to identify kids for us and took 11 kids on.” From February to the end of the school year, they filled backpacks, which the stu- dents would return after the weekend. At the time, the club op- erated out of McCleery’s house, but soon it would need more space, so it moved to the district office and created a food pantry for older students to “shop” on Fridays. See mCCleeRY, Page 15A Polk Connect zeroes in on homeless Event switches focus from ‘at risk’ to aiding people who are unsheltered now By Jolene Guzman The Itemizer-Observer DALLAS — The Polk County Homeless Connect is sharpening its focus for the event in 2018. Previously, the event brought to- gether resources to help individuals and families who were homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Heather Wright, the Living Hope City Church pastor with the Dallas Ministerial Association, an event sponsor, said the emphasis at the Jan. 31, 2018, event will be helping unsheltered adults. “We’re taking it back to what we had originally dreamt it for, which is to help homeless people with re- sources and give them a vacation day,” Wright said. “We have been DAYS PLANNING FOR YOUR WEEK Focus group testing about a public safety building doesn’t pro- vide much insight. INDePeNDeNCe The Itemizer-Observer 7 DAllAS »Page 3A By Jolene Guzman THE NEXT IN YOUR TOWN serving a large amount of guests who have not been homeless.” Wright said the connect coincides each year with the annual “point-in- time count,” which attempts to ac- count for all people who are home- less in Polk County and the U.S. That count contributes to secur- ing grants and resources to help homeless people. Wright said most of the people participating in the connect event did not qualify as homeless under the count’s definition. “Our statistics from last year and previous years have not been good on actually surveying people that (are homeless),” Wright said. “We have reason to believe that some- times, when you open it up and make it a family environment, it isn’t wed Holiday stress got your blood pressure up? Get it checked out free at Salem Health West Valley, surgery admitting area. 2-3 p.m. Free. Partly sunny Hi: 46 Lo: 32 thu Curious about downtown Inde- pendence? Meet with like-minded people at the IDA meeting. 8 a.m. Free. Partly sunny Hi: 47 Lo: 36 as friendly for the unsheltered homeless.” In 2018, event organizers want to change that. The connect will be held at Valley Life Center from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and will offer a free meal, cloth- ing, and resources to help get people off the streets. Wright said all those who com- plete the point-in-time count survey will receive either a tent or a sleeping bag, even those who are surveyed in homeless camps and don’t attend. Event sponsors so far, are: City Vibe West Salem, Polk County, Dal- las Ministerial Association, Ace Hardware in West Salem, Polk Coun- ty Free Clinic, Salem Leadership Foundation, Salt Creek Baptist Church and Marion-Polk Foodshare. Wright said organizers are seeking donations of tents and sleeping bags, as well as volunteers to be part of mobile teams completing surveys in Falls City, Grand Ronde, Mon- mouth, Independence and West Salem. Volunteers are needed for the event, as well. Polk Connect will still offer bike repair, pet care, haircuts, medical care, dental care and connections with a yet-to-be determined list of agencies offering assistance. “We anticipate fewer guests but, service on a grander scale for the in- dividual,” Wright said. She said no one will be turned away, but services and clothing do- nations are suited toward homeless adults. See HomeleSS, Page 6A INDEPENDENCE — Oregon Impact, in part- nership with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, awarded the Independence Police Department funding for 1 0 0 o f f i ce r ove r t i m e hours for the next calen- dar year. The grant is for officers to patrol the streets look- ing for and arresting driv- ers under the influence of intoxicants. Two DUII arrests were made in November where suspects refused to sub- mit a blood alcohol con- tent test. Online Want the latest updates on breaking news, more content, including sports stories, photos and more? Then, head to www.polkio.com. It’s free for subscribers. Not a subscriber? Plans for print or online-only are available. Social media Follow and like the Itemizer-Observer on so- cial media on Twitter (@PolkIONews and @PolkIOSports), Instagram and Facebook. fri sat sun mon tue The annual “Sounds of Christmas” pro- gram will be at Guthrie Park Com- munity Center. Santa will be there. 7 p.m. Donations. The Oregon Old Time Fiddlers will perform in Dallas City Hall annex tonight. Ex- pect fiddlers from around the state. 1-3 p.m. Free. Western Oregon University’s men’s basketball team hosts Alaska An- chorage in a confer- ence battle. 5 p.m. $7/adults Polk County Battle Buddies meets the third Monday of each month at the Veterans Service Of- fice in Dallas. 6-8 p.m. Free. The Cloverbuds will host a “Holiday Swag” class twice, whether you’re a 4- H’er or not. Register by Thursday. 4 and 6 p.m. $2-$3. Cloudy Hi: 50 Lo: 37 Mostly cloudy Hi: 48 Lo: 39 Mostly cloudy Hi: 50 Lo: 40 Cloudy Hi: 49 Lo: 37 Cloudy Hi: 48 Lo: 35