Polk County News
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • December 13, 2017 7A
Focus groups inconclusive
By Jolene Guzman
The Itemizer-Observer
DALLAS — Focus groups
evaluating plans to build an
all-in-one public safety
building in Dallas didn’t pro-
vide much insight into how
voters would respond if the
Dallas City Council put the
proposal on the ballot.
Campbell DeLong Re-
sources Inc. conducted two
focus groups on Nov. 4 with
23 people participating. The
firm used surveys to recruit
candidates for participation
to ensure a random sample
of residents.
DeLong said the partici-
pants varied in age, how
long they’ve lived in town
and in what part of the city.
They had to be registered
voters who have voted in
presidential elections.
“What we wanted to do is
get those people who are re-
ally like the vast majority of
the voters in any town who
don’t spend a lot of time
working on city politics, but
their support will be key if
you want to pass a bond
measure,” she said.
The city has considered
remodeling and adding onto
the fire station on Shelton
Avenue to accommodate po-
lice and fire and EMS in one
building. The cost estimate
on that is about $14 million.
DeLong said initial sup-
port for the proposal was
“soft,” with about a quarter
of the people in the two
groups responding with a
“definitely yes.” A little more
than a quarter “leaned” to-
ward yes. Another quarter
“leaned no” or gave “defi-
nitely no” responses, and 18
percent gave “don’t know” as
an answer.
“What this tells me is that
in order to pass something
like what we had just de-
scribed, you would need to
get information out there,”
DeLong said.
She said after the initial
explanation of the proposal,
the groups were given more
information about the po-
lice, fire and EMS stations
and why the upgrade is
needed to gauge what res-
onated with participants.
Even after more detailed
overviews of conditions in
the three buildings were
provided, support for put-
ting a $14 million bond on
the ballot was mixed.
DeLong said the majority of
one focus group said no while
the most of the second said yes.
“I would not even have a
projection based on this. It
could pass, it could not” she
said. “It depends on the infor-
mation you get out to people,
whether you are able to reach
them, whether they hear
what it is you are going to do.”
DeLong said the groups
had strong opinions on a
few of the issues the depart-
ments deal with in their cur-
rent facilities.
She said people in the
groups were concerned
when they learned the fire
department didn’t have
sleeping facilities or 24-hour
coverage from the station.
Another of top concerns
was that the fire, police and
ambulance stations don’t
have adequate locker rooms
for women, who make up a
growing part of all three de-
partments. Also of concern
was that the police depart-
ment didn’t have enough
private interview rooms.
Participants weren’t con-
vinced of the benefit of hav-
ing all departments housed
in one building or of provid-
ing space for training.
Cramped conditions for po-
lice — which is spread out in
different floors and sections
of City Hall — didn’t register
high as a concern, either.
DeLong said the cost of
the measure matter most to
those who said they would
vote no on the proposal;
however, people did say they
wanted reassurance that the
city had considered other
solutions and worried about
cost overruns.
The second step in the re-
search process is to conduct
a phone survey with 200 res-
idents to provide a better
sample size and offer insight
into which pitches work
with voters. The cost of the
survey is $18,000. Not all
councilors were convinced
of the usefulness of phone
interviews given the focus
group results.
“What I got from the pres-
entation was we’re wanting a
state-of-the-art facility with
everything combined, and
that wasn’t relevant at all to
the focus groups,” said Coun-
cilor Jennie Rummell. “To
me, it says we need to really
rethink what we are doing for
facilities. People are really
concerned about updating
them and making sure that
everyone has what they need,
but they didn’t think we
needed one big facility.”
POLICE REPORT
Information for the po-
lice report comes from law
enforcement agencies. Not
all calls for service are in-
cluded. The status of inci-
dents reported may change
after further investigation.
Individuals arrested or sus-
pected of crimes are consid-
ered innocent until proven
guilty.
—
DALLAS
Arrests/Citations
• Jonathen M. Rebensdorf,
26, of Dallas, on SE Ash St. on
Dec. 5 on charges of driving
under the influence of intoxi-
cants and reckless driving.
• Darious E. Martin, 20, of
Dallas, in the 400 block of E.
Ellendale Ave. on Dec. 6 on
charges of fourth-degree as-
sault and physical harass-
ment.
INDEPENDENCE
Arrests/Citations
• Fabian Gonzalo Andrade,
18, of Independence, in the
400 block of N. 13th St. on
Dec. 2 for unlawful attempt to
purchase or possess marijua-
na – younger than 21.
• Ramiro Nunez Chavez, 49,
of Independence, at N. Polk
St. and N. Walnut on Dec. 5 for
driving while suspended or
revoked.
• Robert Jake Calvin, 45, of
Independence, in the 900
block of S. Main St. on Dec. 5
for fourth-degree assault,
strangulation and menacing –
use or display of weapons.
• Andrew Thomas Gordon,
28, of Independence, in the
Shell parking lot in Mon-
mouth, on Dec. 7 for driving
while suspended or revoked.
• Dionicio Ramos-Ortiz, 24,
of Independence, in the 1000
block of D St. on Dec. 7 for
driving under the influence of
intoxicants.
• Jordan Quinn Pearson, 20,
of Independence, in the 1200
block of Wildfang Dr. on Dec.
8 for first-degree rape.
• Seth Jordon Hoy, 22, of In-
dependence, in the 1600
block of Monmouth St. on
Dec. 8 for possession of
methamphetamine and DUII.
MONMOUTH
Arrests/Citations
None available
CASA toy drive ongoing
DALLAS —- CASA of Polk County is holding a toy drive at the
tree lot located at the corner of Main and Washington streets in
Dallas.
The drive will go through Dec. 20 and items will be donated
to the Department of Human Services. and benefit children in
foster care.
OBITUARIES
Nevaeh Honey
Applegate
Nov. 18, 2008 – Nov. 14, 2017
Nevaeh passed away Nov.
14, 2017, along with her
Mother, Honey.
She went to school in Dal-
las for three years starting in
preschool,
also first
grade and
second
grade.
She is
survived
by her fa-
ther Bruce
Applegate
and Mama Boni; also four
siblings, Alexis, Isis, Ayla,
and Domonic; her great-
grandma Gigi Applegate;
and grandparents Patricia
and papa Ron; her papa Jim
Tucker and Granny Shirley;
also survived by many
Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins.
We will miss her dearly and
long for the day to see her in
Heaven again.
passed away on Dec. 8,
2017, in Salem, after a brief
illness from cancer at age 54.
Mike was born at Salem
General hospital on March
18, 1963.
He was a lifetime resident
of Dallas. Graduated from
Dallas high School. Michael
spent his career in the
woodworking industry. His
great love was NASCAR.
He is survived by his par-
ents Orval and Velma Step-
per; sister, Shelly Carlton;
three nieces plus their chil-
dren; and several aunties
and uncles.
A graveside service will be
held at the Dallas Cemetery
on Thursday, Dec. 14 at 11
a.m. In lieu of flowers, dona-
tions can be made to the
American Cancer Society.
The Dallas Mortuary Tribute
Center is caring for the fam-
ily. To leave an online trib-
ute: www.dallastribute.com.
Ted Ralph South
Sept. 15, 1939 – Dec. 2, 2017
Michael
Edward Braun
March 18, 1963 – Dec. 8, 2017
Michael Edward Braun
Ted Ralph South, 78, of
Salem and formerly of
Pedee/Dallas, died Dec. 2 in
the Salem Hospital.
He is survived by his sons
Obituary Information
Obituaries cost $8 per column inch (25 words) and include
photos and flags for veterans.
Obituary information must be submitted by 4 p.m. on the
Monday before publication to be included in the newspaper.
Most funeral homes handle obituary information and provide
it to the newspaper. However, information can also be submitted
directly from family members.
Color and black-and-white photos can be submitted, but pho-
tos will only be published in black and white. The Itemizer-Ob-
server uses a flag logo in the obituaries of people who served in
the armed forces.
Death and service notices — like all information submitted to
the news department — are subject to editing for style, content
and length.
Information can be brought or mailed to the Itemizer-Observer,
147 SE Cour t St., Dallas, OR 97338, or emailed to
ionews@polkio.com.
For more information: Emily Mentzer, 503-623-2373.
Steve (Tina) South, of Salem,
and Jeremy (Shelly) South,
of Bend; along with four
grandchildren; two great-
grandchildren; and brother
Tim South, of Salem.
He was preceded in death
by sister Carla Burbank.
Viewing will be from 2 to
5 p.m. on Dec. 15 and from 9
a.m. to noon, with funeral
services beginning at 1 p.m.
on Dec. 16, all in the Dallas
Mortuary Tribute Center. In-
terment will follow in the
Dallas Cemetery.
To leave an online tribute:
www.dallastribute.com.
Virginia Lee
Boehler
Dec. 6, 2017
Virginia Lee Boehler, 89,
longtime resident of Mis-
souri Valley, Iowa, and re-
cent Monmouth resident,
died on Dec. 6.
She was preceded in
death by her husband,
Harold J. Boehler, and son-
in-law Steven L. Gore.
She is survived by daugh-
ters, Terry (Don) Rowe, of
Pennsylvania, Scherrie Gore,
of Monmouth, and Vickie
(Bob) Iverson, of Sioux City,
Iowa; seven grandchildren;
24 great-grandchildren; and
six great-great-grandchil-
dren; and longtime friend
Betty Hammer, of Missouri
Valley, whom she always felt
of as a sister.
A private celebration of
life is being planned. Dallas
Mortuary Tribute Center
handled arrangements. To
leave an online tribute:
www.Dallastribute.com.
Sharon Kay Martin
Sept. 19, 1949 – Nov. 21, 2017
Sharon Kay Martin, 68,
died on Nov. 21 in Sublimity.
Sharon was born in Atchi-
son, Kan.
Private services will be
held.
Farnstrom Mortuary is
handling arrangements.
Memories and condolences
at FarnstromMortuary.com.
Salem
Jerry Kelton Givens
March 28, 1941 – Nov. 26, 2017
Jerry Kelton Givens, 76, of
Dallas, died on Nov. 26 in
Salem Hospital. He was born
in Lebanon, Tenn.
“Do you hear what I hear?”
Merry Christmas and
a Happy New Year!
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