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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 27, 2017)
Polk County Voices Polk County Itemizer-Observer • December 27, 2017 4a How to Contact Officials EDITORIALS Getting to a sales-tax state Oregonians, long proud of having no sales tax, now have two point-of-sales taxes — and one that rides the border of being such a tax. In addition to the 17 percent state sales tax and 3 percent city sales tax on recreational marijuana enacted in 2017, the Legislature has decided that things associated with transportation need to include sales tax. On new bicycles that cost more than $200 — a figure low enough to include the majority of new bikes — a $15 point- of-sales tax will go toward the state’s transportation fund. New cars also get a sales tax, but in some cases the deal- er will have to pay, so this is the new tax that borders on being a true sales tax. The Legislature also has increased income taxes through a transit tax, at one-10th of 1 percent. Polk County cities have long said they need more money for streets. We hope some of these new sales taxes and in- come tax will trickle down to the cities we live in. As the Legislature’s transportation package collects money, we hope our state will make good use of it by widening highways that need to be made wider and repaving roads that need repaving. The bigger picture here is a slippery slope we see coming in the form of these sales taxes. You may not smoke recre- ational marijuana, so that sales tax doesn’t affect you. You won’t be purchasing a new car or bicycle for a while, so you won’t think about that one, either. If Oregon’s elected leaders continue to add sales taxes to items slowly, it won’t be long before all of Oregonians are in the boiling pot of sales taxes — no longer getting a penny back on a 99 cent item. Nearly all the states have a sales tax in one form or an- other, so maybe it isn’t the end of the world. But it is one of those things that Oregonians feel strongly about, and we wonder why no one is complaining as the heat is slowly turned up on these point-of-sales taxes. What will be the next thing the Legislature will add taxes to, and no one will really complain? Fast food? Specialty coffees? We’ll see. 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/ — 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 Dallas wrestling has successful fundraiser Dallas High School. We also have home dual meets on Jan. 18 and Feb. 1. Hope to see you there. The Dallas High School Wrestling team just wrapped up another suc- cessful poinsettia fundrais- er. This annual tradition al- lows us to purchase gear for the team, and this means a lot to us. We would like to thank everyone who supported us by buying poinsettias, espe- cially Dallas Retirement Vil- lage and Capitol Auto Group. We invite you to come and watch us in action this winter. On Jan. 6, we will host the Janet Brunner Invitational at Treve Earhart Dallas High School Wrestling Dallas End of contract means less FCFD response I am writing this letter to inform the rural residents that live around Falls City that Falls City Fire Depart- ment, as of Jan. 1, 2018, is no longer contracted with Southwest Fire District to re- spond to fire or medical calls. This has been a 70-year partnership that we have been able to help you, our neighbors, out in your time of need. We will still respond if Southwest requests our help, but unfortunately the Falls City Fire Department equipment is designed for responding to city infra- structure type calls. We will make every effort to respond and show up to help in your time of need, but until we gear up with new equipment to replace the equipment that South- west pulled, we will not be able to help on some of the calls. It has been my honor helping our neighbors, and we regret that the long part- nership has ended. Chief Bob Young, Falls City Fire Department Falls City EDITORIALS Plan ahead, designate 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). — wEDnESDaY, DEC. 27 • Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk County Courthouse, first floor conference room, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-623-8173. THURSDaY, DEC. 28 • Monmouth-independence networks Board of Direc- tors — 7:30 a.m., Henry Hill Education Support Center, 750 S. Fifth St., Independence. 503-837-0700. • Mid-Valley Behavioral Care network — 3 p.m., 550 Hawthorne Drive SE, Suite 140, Salem. 503-585-4935. TUESDaY, Jan. 2, 2018 • Monmouth City Council — 7 p.m., Volunteer Hall, 144 Warren St. S., Monmouth. 503-838-0725. wEDnESDaY, Jan. 3, 2018 • 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. Driving drunk is never OK. During the holidays, it may get more difficult. You may not think you’re drunk when you are. You may think you only had one or two drinks, not realizing that driving buzzed is the same as driving drunk. Your reactions are dulled, and next thing you know, you could be involved in a fatal collision, one that could have been avoided if you’d handed your keys to a designated driver. Don’t be that person who thinks you are sober enough to drive after a holiday en- gagement. Instead, be the one who offers to abstain from drink- ing so you can make sure everyone else gets home safely. At the very least, go to the party prepared with a few phone numbers of local taxi companies. Arrange other transporta- tion home, or ask to spend the night wherever you are. Driving under the influ- ence will get you hefty fines, possibly get your license re- voked, and you’ll have a lot of hoops to jump through to get it back. But that’s not the main reason to avoid getting be- hind the wheel when you’ve been drinking or smoking marijuana. The real reason can be seen on the faces of those around you, the ones you pass on the street or see at your local market. Your neighbors, family and friends is why it is im- portant to not drive drunk. It’s for their safety — and yours — that it is so impor- tant to make alternate plans when you decide to include alcohol or legal, recreational drugs into your celebra- tions. We’re hoping you all had a very Merry Christmas, and we wish you a Happy New Year, filled with hope and love in all your endeavors. Drive safely and soberly, and remember that no text is so important that you must answer it while you operate a vehicle. 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 — 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 WANT TO WRITE A LETTER? Letters to the editor are lim- ited to 300 words. Longer letters will be edited. Election-related letters of all types are limited to 100 words. Writers are limited to one elec- tion-related letter per election season. Election letters from writers outside of Polk County are not accepted. Each writer is restricted to one letter per 30-day period. Letters that are libelous, ob- scene or in bad taste will not be printed. Attacks by name on businesses or individuals will not be printed. Letters to the editor that are obvious promotions for a busi- ness, products or services will not be printed. The Itemizer-Observer does not guarantee the accuracy of facts presented by letter writers; dissenters are welcome to re- spond. Letter writers who dis- agree with other published letter writers should maintain a civil discourse and address the subject, not the author. Letters, like all editorial mate- rial submitted to the newspaper, are edited for length, grammar and content. Letters must include the au- thor’s name, address and tele- phone number. This includes letters submitted via the I-O’s website. Names and cities of res- idence are published; street ad- dresses and telephone numbers are used for verification pur- poses only. Letters must be submitted from individuals, not organiza- tions, and must be original sub- missions to the I-O, not copies of letters sent to other media. Letters of thanks to busi- nesses, individuals and organi- zations are limited to 10 names. The deadline for letters to the editor is 10 a.m. Monday. Let- ters submitted may not be re- tractable after this deadline. — 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. 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 — 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. 52 (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 Lukas Eggen..................Sports Editor......................................................................leggen@polkio.com Jolene Guzman............Dallas/Falls City/Polk County Reporter ................jguzman@polkio.com DiSPLaY aDVERTiSing Heidi Leppin .................Display Advertising Manager (ext.115).................hleppin@polkio.com SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Polk County — One Year $35 Other Oregon Counties — One Year $40 Outside of Oregon — One Year $45 POSTMaSTER: Send address changes to: Polk County itemizer-Observer, P.O. Box 108, Dallas, Oregon 97338 Karen Sanks...................Client Services (ext. 118)...............................................ksanks@polkio.com CLaSSiFiED LinE aDVERTiSing Dawn Ohren .....................................................................................................................ioads@polkio.com PRODUCTiOn Kathy Huggins ..............................................................................................................iosales@polkio.com Karyn Pressel .................................................................................................................iosales@polkio.com The Polk County Itemizer-Observer assumes no financial responsibility for errors in advertise- ments. It will, however, reprint without charge for the portion of an advertisement which is in error if the Itemizer-Observer is at fault. web: www.polkio.com Phone: 503-623-2373 Fax: 503-623-2395