Polk County News
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • January 10, 2018 3A
Monmouth OKs Marr zoning
NEWS IN BRIEF
New pastor at Methodist, Presbyterian
By Herb Swett
MONMOUTH — Methodist and Presbyterian United welcomed
a new pastor, Rev. David Pritchard, on Sunday. The church is at 412
Clay St. W., in Monmouth.
Pritchard comes to the Independence-Monmouth community
from Astoria, and most recently pastored a church in Kalama,
Wash.
He brings to the church an interest in violin, working with stu-
dents of all ages and abilities. He also enjoys woodworking projects,
from violin repair to boats and cabinetry. He lists apprenticeship in
a German commercial fixture shop in his earlier life activities.
The Itemizer-Observer
MONMOUTH — A zone
change for a 5.5-acre strip
of land at the south end of
the Marr Bark Dust proper-
ty was approved by the
Monmouth City Council
Jan. 2.
James and Penny Marr
had applied for a change
from low density residential
to industrial to allow use of
the land in connection with
their bark and wood facility.
Approval was on condi-
tion that the land, which is
outside the city limits but
within the urban growth
boundary, be annexed to
the city.
City staff had recom-
mended approval, and the
Monmouth Planning Com-
Livestock association to meet for dinner
POLK COUNTY — The Polk County Livestock Association will
host its annual meeting at 6 p.m. on Jan. 27 at the Polk County
Fairgrounds and Event Center, Arts and Crafts building. RSVP is re-
quested by Saturday.
The association sponsors educational seminars and workshops
and the breed award at the county fair for each specie. The Market
Program is a committee within the PCLA that does the weigh ins
and puts on the Youth Market Auction at the County Fair.
Membership in the association is $20 annually. Dinner at the
annual meeting will be catered for $20 per person.
For more information or to RSVP: Pat Letsch, 503-507-9017.
Indy PD nabs five for driving under influence
INDEPENDENCE — In December 2017, the Independence Police
Department made five arrests for driving under the influence of
intoxicants.
Three of five arrests were for alcohol consumption. A significant
amount of methamphetamine was found during one of the DUII
traffic stops.
Forty-nine DUII arrests were made by the Independence Police
Department in 2017. Independence officers observed an increase
in “Poly” DUIIs, according to a press release from the IPD. A “Poly”
DUII is when a motorist has both alcohol and controlled sub-
stances (usually marijuana) in their bloodstream. While the blood-
alcohol content for alcohol may be below the Oregon legal limit of
.08 percent, if the motorist displays signs of intoxication, he or she
can still be arrested for DUII, the release stated.
The Independence Police Department will continue high visibil-
ity traffic patrol in January to seek motorists under the influence of
alcohol and drugs. This in partnership with funding provided by
Oregon Impact and the National Highway Traffic Safety Adminis-
tration. The goal is to reduce the number DUII-related motor vehi-
cle deaths and injuries.
mission had recommended
approval on condition of
annexation.
Councilor Laurel
Sharmer asked why the ap-
plication was for industrial
rather than light industrial
zoning. City Attorney Lane
Shetterly said the Marrs
were committed to eventu-
ally seeking light industrial
zoning.
Suzanne Dufner, com-
munity development direc-
tor for the city, said that the
application seemed consis-
tent with the comprehen-
sive plan, and that it would
be appropriate for sur-
rounding land use because
it has access to Highway
99W.
In other business, the
council approved reduction
of the speed limit on
Council lowers speed
By Emily Mentzer
The Itemizer-Observer
MONMOUTH — Mon-
mouth City Council unani-
mously approved lowering
the speed limit on Church
Street West between Mon-
mouth Avenue North and
Stadium Drive North, and
on Stadium between Mon-
mouth and Church from 25
mph to 20 mph.
The request to consider
the change came from
Mo n m o u t h C o u n c i l o r
Darin Silbernagel on behalf
of Western Oregon Univer-
sity, who also works as the
director of business servic-
es at WOU. Silbernagel
voted yes on the council
decision.
According to staff notes
provided by City Manager
Scott McClure, the univer-
SALT recruiting adults of all ages
POLK COUNTY — The Sheriff’s Auxiliary and Law Enforcement
program (SALT) is accepting applications for membership.
The SALT team is designed to bring a partnership of shared val-
ues between the community and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
Through the program, interested citizens can become involved
in the various functions of the sheriff’s office. Members do not
carry firearms, nor do they have enforcement authority such as
regular officers do. They may provide support in areas such as: of-
fice, records, fingerprinting, court scanning, county parks patrol,
graffiti monitoring, handicapped parking patrol, traffic control,
serving civil documents, house checks, abandoned vehicle towing,
and highway radar.
The program was initially developed as a program for senior citi-
zens to be involved in their community. Since then, it has been ex-
panded to consider anyone 21 years of age and older with a valid
Oregon driver’s license and the ability to pass a background check.
Members of SALT are strictly volunteers and receive no financial
compensation from Polk County for their service. A SALT Academy
is run in the spring. The academy runs mostly in the evenings for
two weeks.
For more information: Sgt. Todd Fenk, 503-623-9251, or email at
fenk.todd@co.polk.or.us. Applications can be picked up at the
sheriff’s office or a request can be sent via email. Applications will
close on Feb. 1.
sity cites increased safety
and consistency with the
posted speed on Mon-
m o u t h Av e n u e No r t h
through campus as impor-
tant considerations for the
request.
Monmouth Police De-
partment records show no
accidents or speeding tick-
ets issued in the last five
years in the affected areas,
Chief Darrell Tallan said.
Cities are allowed to
lower a statutory speed by 5
mph under certain circum-
stances, said Dorothy
Upton, regional traffic di-
rector at the Oregon De-
partment of Transporta-
tion.
Local road authorities
may lower the speed limit
if the road is in a resi-
dence district, has an av-
erage volume of fewer
than 2,000 cars per day,
more than 85 percent of
which are traveling less
than 30 mph; and there is
a traffic control device on
the highway that indicates
the presence of pedestri-
ans or bicyclists.
McClure said the area is
a mix of campus uses, in-
cluding “stadium fea-
tures, ball fields and vari-
ous forms of student
housing.”
The city has not con-
ducted a recent traffic
study, McClure said, noting
the last transportation plan
for the figures for how
many vehicles travel those
areas.
The roads have multiple
cross walks and a bike lane
to indicate pedestrian and
bicycle traffic, McClure
said.
The Polk County Itemizer-Observer — YOUR community news source.
NEWS DEADLINES
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WEATHER
RECORDED
HIGH LOW
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RAIN
.T
.00
.03
.51
.05
.01
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Rainfall during Jan. — 0.66 in.
Rain through Jan. 8 — 0.66 in.
Matinees are all shows
before 6pm. New pricing for
matinees are: Adult $8.00
Children $7.00 • Senior $7.25
Pricing does not reflect
3D showings.
Friday - Sunday • January 12 - 14
THE COMMUTER (Digital) PG13
(11:55 2:25 4:55)
THE POST (Digital) PG13
(1:40 4:20)
JUMANJI (Digital) PG13
(11:30 2:05 4:40)
DOWNSIZING (Digital) R
STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI (Digital) PG13 (12:20 3:35)
PADDINGTON 2 (Digital) PG
(11:45 2:10 4:35)
THE GREATEST SHOWMAN (Digital) PG (12:00 2:30 5:00)
INSIDIOUS: THE LAST KEY (Digital) PG13 (11:25 1:55 4:25)
FERDINAND (Digital) PG
(11:30 1:50 4:25)
ICE
V
R
SE
I
TAX
• 24 Hour Service
• Pick up Drop Off
Church Street West be-
tween Monmouth Avenue
North and Stadium Drive
North, and on Stadium be-
tween Monmouth and
Church, from 25 mph to 20
mph.
The council voted 3-2 to
establish a health care re-
imbursement account for
non-represented city em-
ployees to ensure that new
medical plans through the
state system are close to
equivalent in value with
previous benefits.
Sharmer, who cast one of
the negative votes, said
there were “too many un-
knowns” in the plan.
Councilor Royal Johnson
agreed.
Mayor Steve Milligan ap-
pointed Bob Edgar to the
Historic Commission.
DEADLINES
7:25 9:55
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7:15 9:50
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6:50 10:05
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Monday • January 15
Get home safe, call your D.D.
THE COMMUTER (Digital) PG13
(11:55 2:25 4:55)
THE POST (Digital) PG13
(1:40 4:20)
JUMANJI (Digital) PG13
(11:30 2:05 4:40)
DOWNSIZING (Digital) R
STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI (Digital) PG13 (12:20 3:35)
PADDINGTON 2 (Digital) PG
(11:45 2:10 4:35)
THE GREATEST SHOWMAN (Digital) PG (12:00 2:30 5:00)
INSIDIOUS: THE LAST KEY (Digital) PG13 (11:25 1:55 4:25)
FERDINAND (Digital) PG
(11:30 1:50 4:25)
Merlin D. Berkey
7:25
7:05
7:15
7:00
6:50
7:00
7:30
6:55
Tuesday - Thursday • January 16 - 18
THE COMMUTER (Digital) PG13
(11:55 2:25 4:55)
THE POST (Digital) PG13
(1:40 4:20)
JUMANJI (Digital) PG13
(11:30 2:05 4:40)
DOWNSIZING (Digital) R
STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI (Digital) PG13 (12:20 3:35)
PADDINGTON 2 (Digital) PG
(11:45 2:10 4:35)
THE GREATEST SHOWMAN (Digital) PG (12:00 2:30 5:00)
INSIDIOUS: THE LAST KEY (Digital) PG13 (11:25 1:55 4:25)
FERDINAND (Digital) PG
(11:30 1:50 4:25)
7:25
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Jan. 24
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