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Dallas

Gym manager named leader of the year

Dragons out of playoffs See B1

See A2

Wednesday November 20, 2024 | Volume 148, Issue 47

www.polkio.com

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County Three-alarm fire at JB Wood approves Recyclers causes $1M in damages fairgrounds A

David HAYES Editor

t approximately 12:23 p.m. Nov. 15, Polk County Fire Dist. 1 responded to a three-alarm fire at the JB Wood Recyclers wood product processing plant in the 800 block of S. Pacific Highway W, in Monmouth. According to Polk Fire, the large blaze engulfed the wood kiln of the commercial facility. Firefighters quickly arrived on the scene and successfully contained the blaze to the kiln, preventing it from spreading to surrounding buildings. The facility was safely evacuated, and no injuries were reported. Polk Fire Chief Ben Stange said his crews remained on site for several hours to monitor the situation. Polk Fire worked in close coordination with Southwest Polk Fire District, Corvallis Fire and PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY POLK COUNTY FIRE DISTRICT NO. 1 Chemeketa emergency services Polk County Fire District 1 personnel charge a hose to combat a fire Nov. 15 that broke out during the response. at JB Wood Recyclers in Monmouth. JB Wood Recyclers owner Brandon Marr said the company has He estimates the damage caused at Marr said power has been restored he met with the fire marshal on been operating a kiln for 10 years about $1 million. at the site, allowing the 15 employMonday. The cause of the fire is still and has never had a problem before. ees to return to work. He added under investigation.

Big project launches to feed, help needy students from little suggestion By DAVID HAYES Editor

A kernel of an idea that germinated from the mind of an 11-yearold has blossomed into a schoolwide project to help feed and supply needy students falling through the cracks of established programs. About three weeks ago, Aaliyah Willems, 11, got into a discussion with some of her classmates at La Creole Middle School during free time, talking about life. “Some of the kids said they needed food and clothing and stuff. So, I thought about something and told my mom,” Willems said. Her mom, Annie, said her daughter wanted to take food to school for those kids in her class because they didn’t have enough food at home. Annie initially recommended going shopping for snacks to bring to class, but Aaliyah said that wouldn’t be enough. So, Annie took the idea to her 65,000 followers on TikTok, an account she has talking about family and life. “I just told them I was really proud of an 11-year-old who could

see other people, that I don’t really care what grades she gets, if she simply has the ability to see other people. That’s what matters to me as a parent,” Annie said. It got a lot of views, about 5.4 million to be imprecise. “We told her that’s more people than are in the state of Oregon,” Annie said. Her followers were quick to respond, asking how they could help. “So, we had to figure out what she actually wanted to do, including what was the school open to doing,” Annie explained. “We’re going to put all the stuff we have at home into this room, room 21,” Aaliyah said. “And the teachers will be able to refer the kids to the room. Survey the students more of what is PHOTO CONTRIBUTED needed,” Annie added. Aaliyah Willems, 11, stands before a growing wall of donaThe contributions were so plentions filling her Dallas home’s family room. tiful – at one point filling one end of their downstairs family room “People who said, ‘I was that kid They’ve received contributions - they’ve expanded to taking donagrowing up. I needed somebody like with notes of support from as near tions out to the Falls City School as residents of Dallas and packages District, too, where the Willems used as far as New York. See FEED, page 3 to live.

IN THIS ISSUE Voices Corrections Obituaries Puzzle Solutions Social Public Records Classifieds Puzzles

A4 A4 A6 B2 B2 B6 B8 B8

operation levy By DAVID HAYES Editor

Polk County Commissioners voted unanimously Nov. 13 to send a fairgrounds operating levy to voters next May. The measure will be 5-years at 15 cents per $1,000 valuation. Greg Hansen, county administrator, explained to the commissioners the levy is expected to generate just over $1.2 million over its 5-year period. “The first $300,000 - $350,000 would go to ongoing operations and maintenance. Additional moneys would be used to make improvements to the fairgrounds,” Hansen said. The Polk County Fair Board, which itself unanimously approved sending the proposal to the commissioners on Nov. 12, outlined a fouryear list of projects. Year 1 - Electrical replacement/ upgrades ($650,000) • Asphalt replacement/paving stones and expansion phase ($350,000) Year 2 - Asphalt replacement/ paving stones and expansion phase 2 ($450,000) • Exterior Main building ($450,000) • Interior Main building ($100,000) Year 3 - Re-locate maintenance shed/paint shop (south edge of property ($250,000) • Re-locate main office into a new building where the maintenance shed was located ($600,000) • Main Building HVAC phase 1 ($150,000) Year 4 - Develop amphitheater/ stage northwest corner of property ($700,000) • Upgrade Building B and C ($150,000) • Main Building HVAC ($150,000) “All of these improvements are for facilities that will remain intact if the fairgrounds moved forward with a master plan development,” Hansen said. “In the master plan, all these buildings, the main building and B and C buildings, would remain intact so making improvements would not be a lost investment.” See LEVY, page A3

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