PIO1030 by C.M.I.

Dallas

Sports

Concil candidates Q&A

Dallas streak ends

See A8

See B1

Wednesday October 30, 2024 | Volume 148, Issue 44

www.polkio.com

$2.00

Dallas mayoral candidates weigh city’s top issues Staff

On Oct. 9, the Dallas Chamber of Commerce hosted a candidate Q&A for both city council positions and the mayor’s position. The ItemizerObserver separated the responses to first the Mayoral candidates, Nancy Adams and Rich Slack, The second section features the seven candidates running for five open council seats. Nancy Adams Experience: City Council incumbent, chair of the Economic Development Committee for 25 years; Chair of the Dallas Budget Committee for three years; member of 2030 committee Current employment: Not employed Rich Slack

Rich Slack

Nancy Adams

Experience: Dallas City Councilor seven years and previously served on the Parks and Rec Board and the Budget Committee.

Current employment: Technology Specialist at Dallas School District

As Mayor, what is the first step you would take in the economic development of Dallas? Adams - We have an excellent Economic and Community Development department led by Charlie Mitchell. I feel we have made giant steps in working with our Downtown Urban Renewal committee in providing funding for our downtown businesses for improvements and upgrades. Slack - Future thinking: It’s time to work on the 2050 Vision Plan for Dallas. We need to start visualizing what we want our community to look like 15-25 years from now, and do some real brainstorming and perhaps out of the box thinking. (Our current vision plan is for 2030)

How would you address limited budget and revenue shortfall? Slack - Continue to seek out and access external funding resources. Have the vision to see when it is necessary to delay or cancel projects. Adamas - Our city manager and council review and check the finances on a regular basis. We will and have needed to take a hard look at all departments in letting us know about unexpected costs and issues. We have addressed shortfall issues by reviewing and having to make the cuts necessary including cutting employees. No one wants this to happen.

See MAYORAL, page A3

County secures funds for Falls City road project

DHS debuts murder mystery comedy ‘Clue’

For THE OBSERVER

Polk County has initiated a major infrastructure improvement project made possible through the Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP). By DAVID HAYES This project, which focuses on the News Editor PHOTO BY SMY PHOTOGRAPHY Mitchell Street and Black Rock With their fall production debutRoad corridor outside Falls City, is a The cast rehearses a scene in Dallas High School Theatre’s production of “Clue: The High ing on Halloween, the Dallas critical investment in the safety and School Edition.” High School Theatre department accessibility of a key transportation decided to scare up an audience for on the era of McCarthyism and the after their host is killed, they must whodunit classic, murder mystery. route. Thanks to the FLAP grant their debut of “Clue: High School Red Scare. cooperate with the staff to identify There’s a stylized nature to it,” funding of $9.8 million and Polk Edition.” “It’s a great backdrop for no one the murderer. The production’s Fawcett said. “Because there’s such County’s matching share of $1.1 Based on the 1985 movie “Clue” trusting each other,” Fawcett said. actual twist with that setup is its a notable reference point, a lot of million and easement donations from (which itself was based on the “It’s used as a framing device for rapid-fire humor. Fawcett said luck- kids have already watched it before the city of Falls City, this project Hasbro board game), the tale has them to be invited here to a dinner ily the relatively young cast has a even auditioning.” demonstrates the impactful use of since gone on to reach cult classic party.” famous film to reference. federal tax dollars to improve local status. Set in the 1950s, director The plot centers on six guests “What has been tricky is we infrastructure. Hannah Fawcett said “Clue” riffs See DHS, page A3 who are anonymously invited to don’t do this style of show very Mitchell Street and Black Rock a strange mansion for dinner, but often. Because it’s a very campy, Road form a vital transportation link for the city of Falls City and the surrounding areas, serving both local residents and significant logging and recreation traffic. Currently, the road is a narrow, two-lane gravel route By LANCE MASTERSON comedies would have stared it down with varying width. It crosses the For The Itemizer-Observer in envy. Little Luckiamute River via a strucBut it’s Grimley’s voice. His There’s a new spirit haunting old turally deficient, single-lane bridge, frantic, obnoxious, rambling that town Independence. creating safety concerns and ongoing The new spirit in town, though not is memorable. And, it’s this voice maintenance challenges, especially nearly as spooky or as traditional as Brianna Plumb heard while working as traffic volume increases in the at the coffee house. say Lenora’s Ghost, is nonetheless coming years. “One morning, while I was capable of conjuring up an occaThe project spans approximately opening by myself, there was no sional moment of his own. 0.95 miles, beginning at the intermusic on. And what is his name, It’s the spirit of Ed Grimley, and section of Mitchell Street and Park he’s residing quite comfortably in his Ed Grimley? He started talking and Street, and extends west past an doing his voice. And I was, like, box at Brew Coffee & Tap House. unnamed logging road near Lower Those of a certain age might remem- what is going on?” Plumb recalled. Berry Quarry. Planned improvements “So I thought Mitch was messing ber Grimley from appearances on will transform this gravel road into a with me. But it turns out he wasn’t. SCTV and Saturday Night Live in durable, all-weather two-lane roadIt was just Ed Grimley talking on his way, ensuring safer, more reliable the 1980s. own. It was the scariest thing ever.” access for both local, visiting, and Grimley, as portrayed by comePlumb’s nerves weren’t calmed by commercial vehicles. The upgrade dian Martin Short, was a sweet, what Grimley reportedly said: “I’m talkative simpleton. He was also will include the replacement of the going completely mental.” a Wheel of Fortune fanatic with Little Luckiamute River bridge to Mitch and Cathy Teal own the an intense devotion to its host, Pat meet current safety standards, as business. Grimley is part of a colSajak. well as essential culvert replacelection displayed there. One that is This simpleness extended to his ments at Dutch Creek to protect a modern-day Island of Misfit Toys, water and habitat. nerdish fashion sense. Grimley’s only more sinister than the original PHOTO BY LANCE MASTERSON pants were black and high-waisted, created by Rankin/Bass for their his shirt plaid and buttoned to his Brianna Plumb was working alone when she was startled neck, and he had a cowlick so severe by the voice of Ed Grimley. The doll is in its original box and See PROJECT, page A2 See HAUNTS, page A2 that even Alfalfa from the Our Gang displayed at Brew House & Tap House in Independence.

Spirit of Ed Grimley haunts Brew Coffee, Independence

IN THIS ISSUE Voices Corrections Obituaries Social Public Records Classifieds Puzzles

A4 A4 A6 B2 B7 B6 B5

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