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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 27, 2017)
Polk County News 2A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • December 27, 2017 Four arrested in POINT operation Itemizer-Observer staff report POLK COUNTY — On Dec. 14, detectives from the Polk Interagency Narcotics Team concluded a five-month long investigation into the illegal distribution of heroin and methamphetamine. The investigation concluded with a traffic stop by the Oregon State Police in Salem, where investigators seized a total of $31,229 in cash, 1,572.1 grams (3.4 pounds) of methamphetamine, 0.9 grams of cocaine and a residue amount of heroin from Felipe Rodriguez and Ronald Selby. The investigation also led to the seizure of five safes in which investiga- Rodriguez tors seized 9 mm, 40 caliber and 44 cal- iber ammunition, drug records, drug use paraphernalia and a shirt for concealed carry of a firearm. No firearms were seized as a result of the investigation. The following subjects were arrested and charged with the fol- lowing crimes: Felipe Rodriguez Jr., 33, possession of methamphetamine — super-substantial Selby quantity; possession of cocaine; delivery of methamphetamine — super-substan- tial quantity; two counts of delivery of heroin — substantial quantity; posses- sion of heroin — substantial quantity; and probation violation. Ronald Selby, 48, possession of methamphetamine — super-substantial quantity; and delivery of methampheta- mine — super-substantial quantity. Somora Monique Somora, 33, hindering pros- ecution and tampering with evidence. Jesse Ayala, 48, possession of heroin. POINT is a cooperative effort between law enforcement agencies within Polk County with a mission to directly im- pact the negative effects of unlawful activities involving controlled substances within all jurisdictions of the Polk County community. POINT member agencies include the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon State Police, Mon- mouth Police Department, Independence Police Depart- ment, Dallas Police Department and the Polk County Dis- trict Attorney’s Office. Other agencies that assisted POINT with this investiga- tion include the Salem Police Street Crimes Unit, Dallas Police Department and Polk County Sheriff’s Office. JOLENE GUZMAN/Itemizer-Observer Three Dallas Fire & EMS firefighters returned home Dec. 20 after more than two weeks battling fires in California. Dallas fire returns from Cali By Jolene Guzman The Itemizer-Observer DALLAS — Dallas fire- fighter Zach Leigh wore a T- shirt emblazoned with the words “SoCal Ablaze.” He should know — he and two other Dallas firefighters returned on Dec. 20 from a 16-day trip fighting the wild- fires in California. Leigh, Jesse Friedow and Austin Champ drove thou- sands of miles in a South- west Polk fire engine to join the Linn County Taskforce assisting with the battle on the Creek and Lilac fires. Then they moved to the Thomas Fire, which is the second largest in California history, burning in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. The Thomas Fire burned 272,800 acres and was 65 percent contained as of Fri- day, according to Cal Fire. The crew left on Dec. 5, after a multi-state conflagra- tion began that pulled fire crews from the across the BANQUET ROOM Offer good Tuesday-Friday 9am - 2pm Always a Favorite 503-837-0394 154 S. Main St, Independence Closed Christmas. Exp. 12/31/17. Offer good for dine-in only. MUSIC FRIDAYS • NEW MENU All Breakfast MENU ITEMS jumped over the top. It ignit- ed and blazed back up the hill toward the fire over the ridge. “That one little spot, once it flared … I bet it burned 40 acres in 20 minutes, just poof, gone,” Leigh said. “It kept doing that throughout the night. It would spot down and then burn up,” Friedow added. Fast moving winds didn’t help matters. Leigh said fighting a fire in Santa Bar- bara was complicated by “sundowners,” an offshore wind that develops in the late afternoon or early evening. “(They’re) similar to Santa Anas, but they called them sundowners,” Leigh said. “There would be nothing and five minutes later, there would be a 30-mph wind.” Friedow said he was ap- prehensive when he got the call to head south. He knew the conditions would be un- familiar. “It was a little bit of disbe- lief in the beginning be- cause, you know, it’s Decem- ber,” he said. “On the way down there, it was kind of nerve-racking because it’s a different place you are going to where they have different fuels, different everything. I spent a lot of time on our way down researching about the fire activity.” Leigh said though the timing around the holiday was inconvenient, he was happy to help the residents and fire crews in California. “I’m glad I got to go on this one because I learned a ton on it,” he said. Back at home, the three- man crew was exhausted and happy to return before Christmas. A welcome party gathered at the Dallas Fire Station to greet them after their long trip home and help them unpack the engine. “Thankfully, I got my Christmas shopping done,” Friedow said. “The joy of technology.” Furniture Upholstery NEW MENU • BOOK YOUR HOLIDAY EVENTS BUY ONE GET ONE FREE West to the aid of California firefighters. Dallas Chief Fred Hertel said the system is similar to what happened during the Chetco and Eagle Creek fires in Oregon this year, but at a multi-state level. “Never thought I’d see one of our trucks down near the Mexico border,” Hertel said. “They were in San Diego.” Friedow said the fires were like nothing they had seen in Oregon, noting the dryness, how easily plants burn, and the winds that push fires to consume acres at an unbelievable pace. “Other than rock, there’s nothing there that’s not going to burn,” Leigh said. “It’s all dry.” Leigh said he was on a fire line at night during one of the crew’s shifts watching the glow of fire burning on the other side of a ridge. Firefighters on the line de- bated whether it would creep over the ridge. He said one ember Stephen All types: for homes, offices, equipment. Also, repairs, RV cushions, slipcovers, High Quality since 1966 Winters Sewing 503-838-4999 or 503-375-9266 Emmy Joseph 440 E. 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I would like to change my written information. ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ Visit our website to see last year’s issue of Who’s Who: www.polkio.com ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ Website___________________________________Email Address ______________________________