PIO121

Central club advocates for more focus on school maintenance

By DAVID HAYES I-O Editor

Like a dog that won’t give up a favorite bone once it’s in its teeth, a group of students at Central High School have latched onto a problem at the school that they hope will finally see change.

Members of the newly formed Advocacy Club have taken on as their first project the leaky roofs at the 76-yearold building.

“We formed this year to combat very large concerns of students and faculty in our district,” said Junior Aaron Villeneuve, a leader in the Advocacy Club. “We hope that a new and larger student voice representation in our school district will help ease some of these problems or at least the gaps in knowledge of them.”

They have 15 members so far. Villeneuve said the topic of the leaky roofs is not a new one.

“We’ve heard of this being an issue for five or six years now that students started talking about long before the seniors I knew graduated. It’s just gotten worse in a lot of students’ minds as time has gone on,” Villeneuve said.

“Another concern is our maintenance team may not have enough resources to combat this issue. With funds they have, they’re doing what they can. But it’s not enough to stem that problem.”

Central was built in 1950 with several renovations and additions over the years.

A band room and cafeteria were added in 1982, a new gymnasium in 1995 and new classrooms in 1992. Most

DHS expands professional trades program

By DHS STAFF

Dallas High School officially launched its Professional Trades Program last week, marking a significant expansion of career-focused learning opportunities for students. The after-school class meets weekly from 4-6 p.m. and currently serves over 20 students who are earning valuable, industry-recognized certifications alongside their traditional high school coursework.

The Professional Trades Program offers students hands-on training and certification opportunities in high-demand fields, including ODOT Flagging, OSHA 30 Safety, Real Estate Licensure, Insurance Sales, Tax Preparation, QuickBooks Certification and Commercial Drone Pilot Licensing. These credentials are designed to give students a competitive advantage and a direct pathway into the workforce upon graduation.

Under the guidance of CTE Coordinator Bill Masei, the program’s mission is to ensure students graduate with employable skills that supplement their high school diploma.

“We are excited to see this program double from last year,” said Masei. “More seniors are graduating wanting to enter the workforce as soon as possible. My goal is to have them workforce ready when they graduate.”

Polk County Fairgrounds welcomes new kennel

By DAVID HAYES I-O Editor

On the farthest southeast corner of the Polk County Fairgrounds sits a new, unassuming trailer. Forgive the proprietors if they’re happy if it never gets used.

However, Sheriff Mark Garton and Capt. Jeff Isham know regardless how careful or reckless pet owners are, there’s a good chance that a canine escapee will now end up in the county’s new dog kennel.

The kennel opened in the beginning of November and has had 17 guests so far with about eight returned to their owners.

The county recently expanded its outreach collecting strays when it took over animal control from the city of Dallas in 2023

“This is not a money-making business,” Garton said.

“License fees and stuff doesn’t even come close to covering the cost of running the program, so they opted out.”

Dallas was able to opt out because Polk County has an Animal Control District established by the county commissioners decades ago, Garton added.

Salem also doesn’t have a program, so they’ve sent stray dogs out to Polk County as well.

Isham anticipates the cities of Monmouth and Independence may also follow suit.

Before the kennel was built, Polk County either took the stray dogs to the Humane Society or to a tiny pound the city of Dallas had out next to its shooting range that had a dilapidated, two-dog kennel, Isham said.

Salem Symphonic Winds presents Tales the Winds Remember Jan. 25

Salem Symphonic Winds presents Tales the Winds Remember, a concert weaving together legends, literature and cultural landscapes through the power of symphonic sound.

Featuring musicians from Polk and Marion counties and led by Artistic Director John Skelton, the Salem Symphonic Winds performance is at 3 p.m. Jan. 25 at Rose Auditorium, South Salem High School, 700 SE Howard St., Salem.

The musical program includes:

“La Llegenda de Kagsagsuk” by Josep M. Martínez, which brings to life an Inuit legend from Greenland, where a mistreated orphan boy gains supernatural strength through a mystical encounter with the mythical Amarok. This descriptive symphonic poem is a powerful tale of transformation and resilience.

“Capriccio Espagnol” by Nikolai RimskyKorsakov, closes the first half of the show with a dazzling celebration of Spanish dance. From the lively Alborada to the fiery Fandango Asturiano, this orchestral showpiece bursts with color, rhythm, and virtuosity.

“Los Libros Olvidados” by Johan de Meij, which

draws inspiration from Carlos Ruiz Zafón’s acclaimed literary saga, “The Cemetery of Forgotten Books,” set in postwar Barcelona in 1945. This evocative work captures the mystery, melancholy, and magic of lost stories waiting to be rediscovered.

De Meij’s music brings the characters and culture to life, including a Cobla, a traditional Catalan folk band that plays traditional dance music.

“La Mezquita de Córdoba” by Julie Giroux closes the program with a majestic tribute to the

iconic mosque cathedral of Spain. Rich in texture and drama, the piece evokes the architectural splendor and spiritual depth of Andalusia’s historic crossroads of cultures.

Tickets are general admission, and seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis the day of the concert.

For More Information contact John Skelton at (503) 362-0485 or JohnSkelton@ SalemSymphonicWinds. org or go to www. SalemSymphonicWinds. org.

Special Moments: Full Moon’s a natural wonder

By GARY DEROWITSC

The Moon is a mysterious ball of light floating in space. More accurately it is a ball of rocks and minerals orbiting the earth and sun, held in position by gravitational forces.

I’ve always been fascinated by a full moon. In my grade school days I remember often looking up at the moon on a partially cloudy night as the wind orchestrated its celestial theatre, moving clouds in front of it away from its full luminous glow. You could almost hear the ghostly music playing in the background as the moon appeared and then disappeared over and over. Conversely, you could also enjoy it in total silence as nature creates painting after painting of darkness and light before your very eyes all with an eerie punctuation.

The moon has many strange influences over our planet and people alike. There are those who believe a full moon can change a normal man into a wolf-like creature often referred to as a Werewolf. Literature and folklore are full of such stories. Who is to say if such a thing is possible or not. The universe is full of mysteries that can’t be explained and many that can. On a more practical

level, the moon possesses the ability to calm one’s anxieties just by looking at it.

Have you ever laid back on a summer night and just stared at the Moon or listened to the call of an owl, silhouetted against a full moon, his hoots echoing through the dark forest, while a spectral glow illuminates the nearby meadows?

Both examples are very calming to the soul. Such images are found all over the media during the Halloween season. In fact a full moon is probably the most popular display during Halloween other than the Jack-o-lantern.

There is even a rare occurrence of a blue moon which happens on Oct. 31

People from Brittany, the northwestern region of France, known as the Bretons believed that mischievous fairies appearing on the nights of a full moon would dance around ancient stone structures, luring humans to join in, which unfortunately could trap them for centuries by their spells.

The ancient Celtics practiced a festival of Samhain during a full moon, known as hunter’s moon, to prepare for the cold winters soon to come following the harvest season. The moon wasn’t just an object in the sky

Investigating the Bible: Big Decisions

for ancient peoples, it was considered a deity, goddess, or some other mythical entity and to be treated as such.

Scientifically it is true that the moon has a gravitational pull on the earth and tides of the ocean. Some believe it even has an influence over our bodies both physically and mentally.

There are scientists who believe the Moon is hollow. Nov. 20, 1969 Apollo 12 deliberately crashed the Ascent Stage of its Lunar Module onto the moon’s surface. The moon rang like a bell for almost an hour leaving many to believe it was hollow like a bell. This might support some who believe the moon is a spaceship or satellite placed in position by Aliens to observe earth. Regardless of the truth, the moon is certainly a mysterious and romantic placement in space. So the next time there is a full moon on Feb. 1 take a few minutes, step outside your home and gaze up at its remarkable splendor and beauty. Maybe, just maybe, you will have a new born appreciation of this remarkable wonder. Gary Derowitsch retired from the Post Office in Monmouth after 33 years. He still lives in Monmouth.

BY DAVID CARLSON PASTOR

A new year brings new choices and resolutions for change. The gospels include a story about a big decision in the life of a young, rich ruler. It demonstrates three steps needed to follow Jesus. The young man took two, but stumbled on the third. Search.

“And as [Jesus] was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him...”. (Mark 10:17, English Standard Version used throughout).

Phone and Internet Discounts Available to CenturyLink Customers

The Oregon Public Utility Commission designated CenturyLink as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier within its service area for universal service purposes.

CenturyLink’s basic local service rates for residential voice lines are $27.30 per month, and business services are $43.50 per month. Specific rates will be provided upon request.

CenturyLink participates in the Lifeline program, which makes residential telephone or qualifying broadband service more affordable to eligible low-income individuals and families. Eligible customers may qualify for Lifeline discounts of $5.25/month for voice or bundled voice service or $9.25/month for qualifying broadband or broadband bundles. Residents who live on federally recognized Tribal Lands may qualify for additional Tribal benefits if they participate in certain additional federal eligibility programs. The Lifeline discount is available for only one telephone or qualifying broadband service per household, which can be either a wireline or wireless service. Broadband speeds must be at least 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload to qualify.

A household is defined as any individual or group of individuals who live together at the same address and share income and expenses. Services are not transferable, and only eligible consumers may enroll in these programs. Consumers who willfully make false statements to obtain these discounts can be punished by fine or imprisonment and can be barred from these programs.

If you live in a CenturyLink service area, visit https://www.centurylink.com/aboutus/ community/community-development/lifeline. html for additional information about applying for these programs or call 1-800-201-4099 with questions.

Matthew said he was young; Luke wrote that he was also a ruler. So even with power, wealth, and the luxury of youth, this man realized there was more; he ran to Jesus for an answer.

Ask.

Then the young ruler asked Jesus his big question.

“Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10:17).

Jesus listed the commandments against murder, adultery, stealing, lying, defrauding others, and honoring his parents. The young man confidently claimed, “…Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.” (Mark 10:20).

Another rich man in one of Jesus’ parables never bothered to search or ask.

The rich man’s harvests were so plentiful, that he tore down his barns and built larger ones. And then he said to himself, I “… have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required

BY UNIVERSITY MARKETING and COMMUNICATIONS

Michelle Strowbridge has been named as the new Director of the Center for Professional Pathways, which is the career center at Western Oregon University.

Before joining Western, Strowbridge served as the assistant director of the Career Development Center within the College of Liberal Arts at Oregon State University. In that role, she led initiatives to enhance career development services for liberal arts students, with a focus on equity and career

of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’”(Luke 12:19-20).

Actor and comedian Jim Carrey stated, “I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so they can see that it’s not the answer.”

Trust.

Jesus looked lovingly at the man “…and said to him, ‘You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.’ Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.” (Mark 10:21-22).

Jesus warned, “…Truly I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 19:23-24).

Some say Jesus meant a low and narrow entrance to the city, which required camels to be unburdened

efficacy. She has also been instrumental in developing programming tailored specifically for first-generation students and marginalized communities.

Strowbridge’s academic background includes a Ph.D. in Leadership and Academic Advising from Kansas State University, bringing a wealth of experience and a strong commitment to student success. She also holds a master’s degree in academic advising from Kansas State University and a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies from Oregon State University. Her research and training

and kneel to pass through. However, the disciples “… were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, ‘Then who can be saved?’” (Mark 10:26).

They thought this massive animal slipping through the tiny opening of a needle was ludicrous!

“Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.’” (Mark 10:27).

Millard Fuller of Georgia was a little boy, when a shiny Cadillac parked and an impeccably dressed couple exited.

“Who are those people, Daddy?”

His father said, “Millionaires.”

He decided he’d be a millionaire before he was 30. He earned degrees, married, started a business, and became a millionaire at age twenty-nine. To do so, he worked nearly nonstop, ignoring his wife and young son. Two weeks later, his wife Linda barged into his office.

“It’s over, Millard. This isn’t a marriage.”

reflect her dedication to diverse educational practices and the advancement of student development.

As director of the Center for Professional Pathways, Strowbridge will continue to prioritize student engagement and success, drawing on her extensive experience in career services, programming, and budget management.

“Dr. Strowbridge’s dedication to student empowerment and her innovative approach make her an excellent addition to our team,” said Tina Fuchs, Vice President for Student Affairs. “We are excited to see her leadership

She left him, moving to New York. Millard was devastated. They met with a counselor; his wife said, “Money seems to mean everything to you.”

Millard thought, if money was the barrier, he’d get rid of it. He sold half his business to his partner, donated his money to charities, and took a job fund-raising at a Christian college.

In 1983, he met with editors of Guideposts Magazine to be interviewed for an article. He wanted to tell his story about a project he had started in America to help those without homes. They asked, “What do you call your project?”

“Habitat for Humanity,” Millard answered.

The group continues today in 70 countries and provides homes for low-income and disadvantaged families.

[Brief bio: Mr. Pastor (yes, that is his last name, not his profession) lives in Oregon and is a graduate of Bethel Theological Seminary in Minnesota (M.Div., M.Th.).]

shape the future of our Center for Professional Pathways.”

Strowbridge said that she is “thrilled to join Western Oregon University and be a part of this community.”

“I am especially thankful for the opportunity to work with the amazing team in the CPP, but also to get to work with students from such diverse and unique backgrounds,” Strowbridge said.

Strowbridge is a mom to Arlie, 12, and Tate, 10 enjoys coaching youth soccer, and has two dogs, four cats and is a huge bird nerd.

Salem man sentenced to life for murder in the second degree

By THE MARION COUNTY DA’S OFFICE

A murder case that was unraveled after a single-vehicle crash in Polk County in 2025 has led to a Salem man receiving a life sentence for second-degree murder.

On Jan. 14, Marion County Circuit Court Judge Channing Bennett sentenced Tyler Holman, 40, to life in the Oregon Department of Corrections with a 25-year minimum before parole eligibility. On Jan. 5 2025, Holman had pleaded guilty to murder in the second degree with a firearm before Marion County Circuit Court Judge Jodie Bureta pursuant to a settlement negotiation with the state.

In the early morning hours of Jan. 27, 2025, Holman was involved in a single vehicle crash in Polk County. Polk County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the scene, and during their contact with Holman, they concluded that he was intoxicated. Holman was transported to the hospital for medical treatment. A tow truck responded to the

scene to remove the defendant’s overturned vehicle, and the driver of the tow truck discovered a body wrapped in plastic which had been flung from the defendant’s vehicle during the crash.

An investigation by the Oregon State Medical Examiner later identified the body as the defendant’s ex-wife, Ashley Gandalfi, 34, who is also the mother of Holman’s child. The medical examiner determined that the cause of her death was a gunshot wound to the head and not the traffic crash.

The Salem Police Department conducted the investigation, and after securing a search warrant to search the defendant’s home they found plastic wrap, bloody paper towels, and the pistol used by the defendant. Surveillance camera security footage revealed the victim entering the defendant’s house, and early the next morning being carried out, wrapped in plastic, by the defendant and his friend.

Holman’s friend, Logan Wilkens, was charged with one count of abuse

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of a corpse in the second degree and one count of tampering with physical evidence. Wilkens pled guilty to both counts on March 3, 2025, and his sentencing is scheduled on Jan. 22, also before Judge Bennett.

Both cases were prosecuted by Chief Deputy District Attorney Brendan Murphy.

“Thanks to a thorough investigation by the Salem Police Department, we were able to hold a violent offender accountable for an atrocious crime in this community,” Murphy said.

The Marion County District Attorney’s Office also thanked all the investigators in this case, specifically Detective Mike Vega, for their “excellent investigation in this matter.”

New College of Forestry finalizes new management plan for OSU’s McDonald-Dunn Research Forest

STEVE LUNDEBERG

Oregon State University

The Oregon State University College of Forestry has finalized a new management plan for the OSU-owned McDonaldDunn Research Forest in the Coast Range foothills northwest of Corvallis.

Last revised in 2005, the updated plan provides an adaptive framework for sustainable management in a changing climate and sets the stage for the next century of stewardship, said Holly Ober, the college’s associate dean for science outreach and the leader of the planning process.

The plan goes into effect in January 2026, which also marks the 100th anniversary of OSU’s acquisition of the first parcel of the McDonald Forest. Through a series of additional donations and acquisitions since then, the combined McDonald-Dunn Research Forest now spans 11 500 acres. It is the largest of the university’s statewide network of research and demonstration forests.

“Since the first parcel was acquired as a mostly cutover expanse of land in 1926, the McDonald-Dunn Forest has been intentionally shaped by a century of active management, which in turn has informed how we think about sustainable forestry today,” Ober said. “If history has taught us anything, it’s that change is constant –and this plan’s adaptable design helps ensure that, even as conditions shift, the forest can continue advancing its mission.”

The 2025 McDonald-Dunn Forest Plan is the culmination of a three-year process that included collaboration among scientists and educators, community members, Tribal representatives and several organizational partners including the Oregon departments of Forestry and Fish and Wildlife, the Benton County parks department and the nonprofit Greenbelt Land Trust.

The College of Forestry also offered multiple community listening and public input sessions and, following the June release of a draft of the plan, received 130 comments during a 30-day public comment period, representing a diversity of perspectives.

The college incorporated the feedback into additional modeling, using adjusted parameters to confirm the optimal harvest age for stands managed under the even-aged, short-rotation strategy and to validate other underlying assumptions in the draft plan. It also revised the plan to clarify the need for continued active management, refine technical elements, and establish a new advisory group to assess future revenue opportunities.

“The McDonald-Dunn has provided so much to so many over its long history, and

we’re grateful to those who shared their time, expertise and perspectives throughout this process,” Ober said. “Their input helped us shape a plan that balances the forest’s many values and maintains the flexibility needed to steward it for long-term resilience and ensure it fulfills its mission of creating opportunities for education, research and outreach; demonstrating how sustainable forestry fosters prosperity, biodiversity and resilience; and supporting the social and cultural values forests provide to communities in Oregon and beyond.”

By design, OSU’s research forests are financially self-supporting, demonstrating that multiple forest values can coexist through sustainable management. Under the new plan, the McDonald-Dunn Research Forest will continue to serve as an actively managed living laboratory funded by timber harvest revenue, with key management changes including:

Reducing the average annual timber harvest from 6 million board feet under the 2005 plan to about 4 3 million board feet.

More than tripling the acreage stewarded toward older forest conditions, from about 350 acres to more than 1,100

Devoting portions of the forest to experimental restoration in partnership with Tribal nations that will explore a variety of approaches for restoring specific ecosystems of concern.

Increasing the acres managed under the even-aged, long-rotation strategy to support learning opportunities about forest management across longer time spans while providing important wildlife habitat.

Managing additional acreage toward structurally and compositionally complex conditions, enabling research on multispecies, multi-aged stands and

supporting climate resilience.

Improving governance through clearer monitoring and reporting expectations.

Adjusting land allocations among the five management strategies and expanding guidance for late-successional forests, riparian areas and ecosystems of concern.

Strengthening the focus on climate resilience, including wildfire preparedness, drought-resilient reforestation, and restoration of oak woodlands and meadows.

The acreage of forest managed according to even-aged short rotations will decrease but not disappear, Ober said. This management approach allows for experimentation with new species or new genetic sources for existing species on a short time scale in response to changing climatic conditions, she said. It also allows for scientific comparisons between conventional short-rotation forestry and alternative practices.

Among the current research

priorities for the forest are evaluating carbon tradeoffs and long-term carbon storage potential; comparing wood production and environmental outcomes across harvest and retention systems; minimizing climate-driven impacts through fuels reduction and woodland and meadow restoration; and exploring ecocultural stewardship partnerships with Tribes.

Recreational access to the forest will remain in place for the more than 200,000 hikers, birdwatchers, horseback riders, cyclists and hunters who visit the forest each year. As part of the new plan’s implementation, the College of Forestry will work with its Forest Recreation Advisory Committee beginning in the new year to evaluate if existing recreation policies require updates, a process that will include a series of surveys and focus groups to gather input from recreational users.

“Forestry is one of the only large-scale land management strategies compatible with

recreation, and we welcome the community to the forest to experience what a sustainably managed forest landscape that supports both conservation and wood production can look like,” Ober said. “Our work with the advisory committee will help ensure that recreational access stays equitable and aligned with research forest goals.”

The College of Forestry will host a series of activities throughout 2026 to celebrate the centennial of the forest, starting with the 2026 Starker Lecture Series in January.

People interested in learning about the history of the forest and its changing conditions over time are invited to join Bill Robbins, OSU distinguished professor emeritus of history, for the first Starker Lecture on Jan. 21. Learn more at the lecture series webpage Steve Lundeberg is a news and research writer at Oregon State University. He may be reached at Steve.Lundeberg@ oregonstate.edu

JOIN A NEW GROUP AT CORNERSTONE CHURCH

There is something new in Dallas. Perhaps it interests you in this new year.

Do you want to learn from a gifted teacher about the Book of Revelation regarding Jesus and The End Times? Join us at the newly opened Cornerstone Church at 245 SW Church St. (across from Lyle School.) We are a small, friendly group of folks. The coffee pot is on at 9:15 Sunday mornings.

Caroline Buchanan Dallas, Oregon

DON’T LET LAWMAKERS MESS WITH LODGING TAXES

In 2003, Oregon lawmakers realized tourism was an untapped market and decided to make a strategic investment in tourism so Oregon would become a travel destination for business and leisure, not just for out-of-state visitors but also Oregonians looking to enjoy our wineries, coast, mountains or state and national parks.

Lawmakers created Travel

LETTERS POLICY

Letters to the editor should contain at most 350 words. The Polk Itemizer-Observer reserves the right to edit, condense, or reject any letter to the editor. Letters published in The ItemizerObserver will also be published online. Letters to the editor and guest columns must include your first and last name, city or town or residence, and phone number for verification purposes. Letters endorsing candidates or campaign issues must be received no later than ten days before an election. Letters written by candidates will not be accepted. Letters to the editor should be the author’s work. We strongly discourage and will attempt to weed out form letters, letters mailed to other news outlets, or letters written and edited by a third party, including but not limited to political parties. We try to restrict the printing of one submission per author per month. We do not publish anonymous letters, personal attacks, personal complaints, poetry, consumer complaints, or letters written in bad taste. To send a letter: Mail: Editor, Polk County Itemizer-Observer, P.O. Box 108, Dallas, OR 97338. Email: ionews@polkio.com. Office: 147 SE Court St., Dallas.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Oregon and a 1 5% state hotel tax that is 100% devoted to reinvestments in tourism promotion. Many municipalities, including Salem, Marion and Polk counties add their own local lodging tax, the bulk of which is supposed to feed back into tourism (though that’s not always true) because it’s a great return on investment. Travel

Salem’s digital advertising generated more than $3 1 million in hotel revenue in the region in 2023-24 – and that’s just hotel revenue, when we know much more is generated through restaurants and shopping too.

These investments are also in infrastructure projects. Travel

Salem partnered with Resilient Headwaters to sustainably rebuild hundreds of miles of trails in the North Santiam Canyon. And we’re working with Wheel the World, to improve inclusive, accessible travel.

State and local lodging taxes make a huge difference in our communities and it’s a proven

effective economic development tool. Sadly, some state lawmakers are proposing state lodging tax increases for unrelated projects and tinkering with how local lodging taxes are spent. Both of which are bad ideas. I hope state lawmakers representing Polk and Marion counties oppose those bills in the 2026 session.

Kara Kuh Salem

AMERICA HAS A DICTATOR IN CHARGE

The country I used to respect has become a national and international outlaw under our current leadership, a term which I use loosely in this case.

We have a president who says he doesn’t respect international law, and continually stretches national laws beyond all recognition. Whenever he is stopped by the courts, his toadies find a weasel workaround to accomplish whatever his depraved mind desires.

He calls opponents insulting names and terrorists, true to the

bully he has always been. When he says “The only limit on my power is my own morality. My own mind“ you know we have a dictator in charge. It’s especially true when by his actions we can see he has no morals.

Dale

Derouin

Dallas

DR. KING COMBINED LIBERTY AND SPIRITUALITY

Dr. Martin Luther King declared personal liberties as key to personal sovereignty and prosperity by saying, “When the architects of our Republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men- yes black men as well as white men-would be guaranteed unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness…..So we’ve come to cash this check; a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the

security of justice.”

“I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up, live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.’ I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”

“This will be the day when all of God’s children will be able to sing with new meaning, ‘My country, ‘tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing.’”

Americans are individuals whose identity resides in pre-existing, natural, intangible liberties, and only secondarily in ethnicity, gender, or race. Dr. King asserted that the philosophical doctrines engrossed at founding placed all on the same metaphysical plain, made liberty the pathway to spiritual and material prosperity, and made us all brothers and sisters.

Master Woodland Manager

Training returns to Polk, Benton and Linn counties

The Master Woodland Manager (MWM) training is offered by Oregon State University Forestry and Natural Resources Extension as a high-level course for private landowners who are interested in an intensive forest management training and sharing the knowledge gained through this training with people in their local communities. Basic experience or knowledge in entry level forest ecology and/or management required.

Each session will be held every other week from March through May and will be outdoors at various woodland locations throughout Benton, Linn, and Polk Counties. Instructors to include forestry service agencies and organizations, OSU Faculty, and a number of other local professionals.

Advanced registration is required as there is limited capacity. For additional details, and to RSVP go to https://bit.ly/49VVYD0 or contact Crystal Kelso at crystal.kelso@ oregonstate.edu or (541) 730-3539

DHS

From Page A1

6.0 Earthquake recorded off Oregon Coast

JEREMY C. RUARK Country Media, Inc.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported a 6 0 earthquake approximately 183 miles west of Bandon that occurred at 4:24 p.m. Thursday afternoon, Jan. 15

The USGS said there was no tsunami threat generated by the below sea tremor that occurred in a location where frequent smaller quakes have been recorded.

Local and state emergency managers have advised that such events underscore the need for coastal residents and visitors to be prepared in the case of a threatening earthquake and tsunami. The emergency managers encourage everyone to:

• Make an Emergency Plan

• Review NVS Tsunami

The program’s growth reflects a rising interest among students in career pathways that lead directly to employment, entrepreneurship, or further professional training. By focusing on practical certifications aligned with workforce needs, Dallas High School continues to strengthen its commitment to Career and Technical Education (CTE).

Junior Madek Noland, one of many who are taking multiple training

Evacuation Zones

• Learn what tsunami evacuation zones your home, work, school, and other areas you frequent are in.

• Learn the Tsunami Message definitions and appropriate actions.

• Talk with family and friends about what you will do, including if you’re not together during an emergency.

• Practice your plan at different times and on different days. What will you do if you are at home, work, school, or another location?

• Plan to check on your neighbors or vulnerable community members and offer assistance if possible.

• Build an Emergency Kit Create an emergency kit or update your existing one.

classes, values the opportunity to get a jump start on his career:

‘’I’m really excited for these trainings which will help me on my career path as an electrician. I’m grateful this opportunity is offered for us at DHS to get those required industry certifications at no cost.”

BACKGROUND

What Do Tsunami Alerts Mean?

Tsunami messages are issued by the National Tsunami Warning Center to alert local authorities and the public of potential danger. The Weather Service outlines four levels of tsunami alerts used in the United States:

Tsunami Warning – “Take Action”

A tsunami that may cause widespread flooding is expected or occurring.

Dangerous coastal flooding and powerful currents are possible and may continue for several hours or even days after the initial wave arrival.

Tsunami Advisory – “Take Action”

A tsunami with the potential for strong currents or

The Professional Trades Program is made possible through generous donations and educational support from local business and community partners, including Farmers Insurance, H&R Block, Avenue Mortgage, HomeSmart Realty and Chemeketa Community

College. These partnerships provide students with industry insight and mentoring, instructional support, and real-world relevance.

waves dangerous to those in or very near the water is expected or occurring. There may also be flooding in beach and harbor areas.

Tsunami Watch – “Be Prepared”

A distant earthquake has occurred, and a tsunami is possible. People in coastal areas should stay alert and prepare to take action if conditions change.

Tsunami Information Statement – “Relax”

An earthquake has occurred, but there is no threat, or it was very far away, and the potential threat is still being assessed. In most cases, no destructive tsunami is expected. For more information about earthquake and tsunami preparedness, visit Tsunami Safety at www.weather.gov/ safety/tsunami

Looking ahead, DHS Technical Education plans to expand program offerings and create additional opportunities for students interested in professional trades and workforce careers.

Worship Directory

DALLAS

Bahá’í Faith — Building a Better World: “Ye are the fruits of one tree, and the leaves of one branch. Deal ye one with another with the utmost love and harmony, with friendliness and fellowship.” — Bahá’u’lláh. All are warmly invited to an interfaith gathering on the last Sunday of each month at 2:00. You are encouraged to share any quotations, prayers, poems, and songs related to the theme for the month. For details call 971-804-5943 or 503-269-3333. (Please leave a message for call back.) More about the Bahá’í Faith: www.bahai.org or www.bahaisofsalem.org

Dallas Church — PO Box 462, Dallas, OR 97338, 503-623-2711. Worship Gatherings: Sundays 9am & 10:30am. Meeting at 450 SE Washington St., Dallas OR 97338. Atmosphere is relaxed, families and children welcome, come as you are, current music & relevant teaching about Jesus. Pastor: Ben Bauman. www.dallaschurch.org Dallas Church of Christ — 691 NE Kings Valley Hwy, Dallas, 503-623-8791. Sundays: 9:30am Bible Classes for all, 10:30am Worship, 2:00pm Group Bible Talk, Wednesdays: 6:30pm Bible Study. Come to any, come to them all! Individual Bible studies gladly made by appointment. Web:dallaschurchofchrist.com.

Dallas Evangelical Church — A Place of Hope and Healing: 783 SW Church Street, Dallas Oregon, across from the Post Office. Find us on Facebook: on page DallasEC, MyDallasEC Friends and www.dallasec.org. Join us on Sundays in person or on Zoom for weekly Bible Study and Worship Service. We worship in a contemporary, casual format. Sunday Services: Bible Study 9:00 AM; Worship Service 10:00 AM, zoom room 228-034-850. Celebrate Recovery (a Christ Based 12 Step Program) is also on Sundays and starts with Dinner 5:00 PM; Large Group (Worship) 6:00 PM, and small groups at 7PM. We have a Community Clothing Closet: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, & Sat 9 AM - Noon; Thurs Nights 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM. Step Studies are often starting or ending all year and meeting at various times. Message phone 503-623-3778. Find us on Facebook: DallasEC or join MyDallasEC Friends. You can email pastor Dave at pastor.dave@dallasec.org

Dallas Foursquare Church — Located at 976 SW Hayter St., on the corner of Washington and Hayter. Senior Pastor: Darrin Hausler. Worship Gatherings: Sundays at 10:00 a.m., Youth Home Groups: Sunday evenings from 6-8:00 p.m. Please call for locations. We are a multi-generational church with a heart for our community. Our mission is to Love God and Love People to Extend His Kingdom. For more info call us at 503-623-8277 or visit us online at dallasfour.com.

Evangelical Bible Church — 1175 S.E. Howe St., Dallas 503-623-2331. Senior Pastor Troy Bassham, Youth Pastor Andrew Wheeler, Administrative Pastor Mike Fast. Sunday services 9:00am & 10:30am. Awana 6:30pm Wednesday. Weekly Prayer meeting 6:30pm Wednesday. Women’s Bible Study Thursday 9:30 am & 6:30 pm. Men’s Bible Study Thursday 6:30pm. Compass Middle School Youth Group Thursday 6:30pm. Forged High School Youth Group Tuesday 6:30pm. Live Streamed services via facebook and youtube @EBCDallas. Grace Community Church — 598 E. Ellendale Ave. Dallas, 503-623-4961. Lead Pastor- Dave Bertolini, Sunday Worship Gatherings 9:00am, with Nursery-5th Grade programs, Youth Life Groups, and scheduled Sunday School Classes running concurrently & 10:45am, with Nursery-5th Grade programs, and scheduled Sunday School Classes, running concurrently.

Live Stream our 10:45am service at www.graceindallas.online.church Visit our Website at www.graceindallas.org for office hours, sermon downloads, event information, and more!

House of His Presence — House of His Presence, located at 177 SW Oak St. in Dallas, welcomes all who are seeking to know God intimately and live life abundantly. We believe God transforms us into the image of Jesus Christ as we encounter His Holiness, Righteousness and Truth through His manifested presence, worship and the Word of God. Sunday morning service at 10:30 am, visit the website for ongoing ministries during the week. For more information call 503-420-4612 Website www. houseofhispresence.net

Living Word Faith Fellowship — 830 SE Shelton Street, Dallas, 503-623-9062. Pastor Ray Huff. Sunday Prayer 9:30am, Worship 10:00am, Children’s Church (during service, nursery provided). Wednesday Prayer 6:30pm, Worship 7:00pm. Men’s fellowship second Saturday, Pastor Ray Huff is in charge of men’s fellowship. Call for info 503-623-9062. Salt Creek Baptist Church — 15075 Salt Creek Rd, Dallas, 503-623-2976. Interim Pastor John Dotson, Family Pastor Josiah Buhler. Sunday School 9:30am. Sunday morning Worship Gathering 10:50am. Nursery provided for worship services. Classes for all ages. Wednesday Middle and High School youth at 6:30pm. Please call for information about other meetings or visit our website at www.saltcreekchurch.org.

Seventh-Day Adventist Church — 589 SW Birch St PO Box 450 Dallas, Or 97338

503-623-5872 Pastor Ted Perry, Services on Saturday: Sabbath School 9:30 am, Worship Service 11 am Study and Prayer Wednesday 7pm Office hours: Wed, Thurs & Friday 9-12 . Community Services for food and clothing Wednesday 10am to 1pm. St. Philip Catholic Church — Fr. Michael P. Johnston, Pastor Pastor Email: mpjinpdx@yahoo.com | 825 S.W. Mill Street, Dallas, OR 97338 Phone: (503) 623.2440 - www.stphilorg.org.

Liturgical Schedule

Monday- Wednesday - 5:30 p.m. Mass

Thursday - 8:00 a.m. ( No Mass on Friday)

Saturday Vigil Mass - 5:30 p.m.

Sunday Masses - 8:00 a.m. & 10:00 a.m.

Coffee and Donuts will be served after Sunday services

For more information about the Professional Trades Program or Career Technical Education opportunities at Dallas High School, contact Bill Masei at Bill.masei@ dsd2.org.

St. Thomas Episcopal Church — Welcome! Our church is located at 1486 SW Levens St., Dallas. Our phone number is 503-623-5822 . Everyone is welcome to come and be a part of our congregation on Sundays for the 10 a.m. service or find us live on Facebook and updates. Join us for coffee after our service. Our services are as follows: 1st and 3rd Sundays are Morning Prayer. 2nd and 4th Sundays are Holy Eucharist. Blessings!

Trinity Lutheran Church — 320 SE Fir Villa Rd, Dallas. All are welcome! Pastor Jody Becker and Pastor Johathan Thompson, Adult Sunday Bible Study 8:45, Sunday Worship Service 10 am coffee hour with treats after service. Wednesday Worship Service noon. Nursery available for parents to use. Play area for small children in sanctuary during worship service. Youth Group HS/MS 11:30 am Sundays. Weekly Bible Studies. Contact us at 503-623-2233 or at questionsdallastlc@gmail.com. Online at dallatlc.org. Check it out! Office open Mon.-Thur. 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, Fri. 9:00 am to Noon.Because God first loved us, we celebrate the gifts of Christ through worship, service, and community.

United Methodist Church — a church with Open Hearts, Open Minds & Open Doors, 565 SE LaCreole Dr, Dallas, 503-623-2481. Pastor Rev. Ruth Marsh. In-person Sunday morning worship at 10 a.m. Go to the website at: dallasoregonumc.org for additional information.

Valley Life Center (Assemblies of God) — 1795 SE Miller Ave., Dallas. Lead Pastor: Chris Barker; Youth: Jeff Anderson; Children: Crystal Barker; Worship/Media: Jesse Ceballos. Sunday Service is at 10:00 am and online streaming at 10:00 am (www. valleylife.love.) On Wednesdays at 6:30 pm, there is Men’s Bible Study, Ladies Bible Study, Ignite Youth, Rangers Boys Club, Mpact Girls Club, Rainbows, and nursery care. For more information, contact us at www.vallelylife.love, info@valleylifecenter. com or 503-623-4116.

FALLS CITY

Seventh-Day Adventist Church — 205 N. Main, Falls City 97344, 503-7873907. Services on Saturday: Sabbath School 10:00am; Worship Service 11:10am. Community Service Center Food Bank: Second Wednesday, 11am-3pm, Fourth Sunday, 11am-3pm.

INDEPENDENCE

Christ The King Church — Service on Sundays 10 am, 580 S 9 St., (Corner of S 9 St. and F street) Independence OR 97351 . 503-551-9516 or visit us at www. ctkindependence.com. Cornerstone Church of God — 4395 Independence Hwy, Independence, 503-8385119. Sunday Service and Children’s Church 9:30am Nursery available. Wednesday Kids Klubs 6:30pm. Thursday Adult Bible Study 6:30pm

First Baptist Church — A warm friendly church that cares about you! Located at 1505 Monmouth St, Independence (across from Central High School); 503-8381001. Senior Pastor Michael Parks. Sundays: Worship Service 11 am, Wednesdays: AWANA 5:30 pm dinner, 6:00 pm clubs; Youth Group 7:30 pm. Join us for small groups for Men, Women, and Couples throughout the week. Check us out at www. independencefirstbaptist.com

MONMOUTH

Monmouth Christian Church — 969 Church St W, Monmouth 97361. Office hours M-T 9a-4p. Phone: 503-838-1145. Join us for services on Sundays, 9am & 11am. Live ONLINE Service 11am. Please visit our website for more info or on how to join our online service. WWW.MYMCC.CCSt. Hilda’s Episcopal Church — 245 Main St. West, Monmouth. Contact Information: sthildaschurch1@gmail.com. Sunday Worship (Eucharist) 10:00 AM followed by fellowship. Our church services are reverent and relaxed. Our purpose is God’s worship. 7:00 PM Wednesday, Evening Prayer online, contact us thru the email address above for access codes. Walk our labyrinth – behind the parking lot, it’s still in development, but it works. Follow us on our Facebook page; St Hilda’s Episcopal Church, Monmouth Or. St. Hilda’s Episcopal Church — 245 Main St. West, Monmouth. Contact Information: sthildaschurch1@gmail.com. Sunday Worship (Eucharist) 10:00 AM followed by fellowship. Our church services are reverent and relaxed. Our purpose is God’s worship. 7:00 PM Wednesday, Evening Prayer online, contact us thru the email address above for access codes. Walk our labyrinth – behind the parking lot, it’s still in development, but it works. Follow us on our Facebook page; St Hilda’s Episcopal Church, Monmouth OR.

recently in 2009 a major renovation added 225,700 square feet to the facility, including new administrative offices, expansion of two classroom wings and the addition of a new performing arts auditorium.

Now that Central grew to 225,700 square feet, upkeep demand has outpaced the school’s staffing to maintain. The administration sent a $90 million bond request that voters rejected last year. In addition to replacing the roofs at Central High School, bond would also have paid for, among other big ticket projects, a new building for Monmouth Elementary School, created additional classrooms for Talmadge Middle School, upgrade the athletic fields at Central High School/ Talmadge Middle School, Modernize outdated heating and cooling systems at Ash Creek and Independence Elementary Schools.

The leaks within Central’s roof, especially in the south hallway became more and more noticeable, then spread to the auditorium and several classrooms. Villeneuve pointed to many examples where buckets and trashcans were set up to allow the leaks to drain into.

Kennel

From Page A1

“It’s also right next to the sewer plant, (next to) a little berm, and then there’s the shooting range that’s pretty active all day,” he said. “So you had scared dogs anyway hearing gunfire all the day. Not ideal.”

So the Sheriff’s Office used $250 000 remaining of the county’s allocation of its ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) money doled out during the pandemic to order and assemble a pre-fab dog kennel to meet the growing demand for housing lost pups.

Isham said early on they thought they’d be $50,000 under budget, but quickly found out Oregon laws, and zoning and permitting ordinances, were pretty demanding.

Their kennel was designed to sit on a concrete slab. Oregon requires modular homes and buildings need to be lifted off the ground three feet. That required decking to be built around the outside of their kennel. Then they needed to meet septic tank requirements and overcome overflowing problems generated by their location to

“We stayed under budget by a few dollars. We have heat and air, can set those things on during summer to kick on. Humidity levels to vent out.

The 12 kennels also have new fencing that can’t be chewed through and an overhead panel to prevent climbing dogs from escaping.

There’s automatic water feeders that dogs can drink out of on their own.

Before, the county had a deal with the old Oregon Humane Society and, after a state reorganization, the county is building on a new relationship with Oregon Humane.

“The sheriff and I met with them about six months ago and they asked ‘how can we help you?’” Isham said.

“Patching the holes have been met with minimal success,” Villeneuve said the maintenance staff told him.

Many of the Advocacy Club members themselves have had to scramble for cover after leaks developed over their heads during activities.

“We were at a theater meeting on the stage eating food and the water droplets kept coming down,” said sophomore Tialani Atagy. She added she’s worried about mold buildup that could affect her fellow students. “Even the teachers are worried about this. We’re just trying to raise awareness.”

Jade Kiersey, also a sophomore, said another leak occurred during a yoga class in the mat room, also used for wrestling practices.

“I just remember there was that one section we could not go into because there was a mop bucket collecting water, or there would be a puddle on the ground,” she recalled.

Villeneuve said the Advocacy Club got together and discussed the problem as described by their fellow students and faculty. They crafted a letter to present to the school board outlining their concerns and how they can help the district to enact positive change.

Principal Rick Dormer,

The Central High School Advocacy Club reads their letter of concern

the School Board Jan. 12.

in his first year helming the school, is impressed the group has taken on such a daunting challenge.

“I love it. We have young adults here. I’ve been at high schools my whole career. I tell staff, students they have more power and authority than they realize,” Dormer said. “Some spend more time here than at home. Central is a big part of their lives.”

Dormer said he meets with his head of maintenance daily to prioritize school upkeep. Over Christmas break, he said the maintenance staff addressed some patching needs, including above the auditorium for the first time. .

“They fix the leaks with tar to slow it down. It’s a band aid fix, which

“Our plan is, when we find a dog, first and foremost we try to find the owner with posts on Facebook,” Isham said.

“It’s crazy. We’ll put a picture on there, and people will say, ‘That’s Rocko.’ People know who these dogs are.”

“We’re good at getting them back to their rightful owner, usually within a week of one getting in,” Garton added.

On the rare occasion dogs are feral or are not reunited with their owner, Oregon Humane steps in to adopt them out.

“Just last week, three of their top guys came out. They were impressed. Man this exceeded our expectations. We’ll take all three of your dogs,” Isham said.

Garton added Oregon Humane also gives the Polk County kennel access to medication to give the dogs before they’re adopted out.

Animal Patrol Deputy Jodi Whiting, who has been with the sheriff’s office for more than a

decade is the only paid staff member running the program and overseeing the new kennel. The rest is handled by volunteers.

When the public found out we were doing this, we had a lot of people who wanted to volunteer,” Isham said. “That pool is now 18 volunteers.”

They build their own schedule of who walks, feeds and cleans up for a dog in the kennel. Garton said they wouldn’t be able to run a successful program without them, as Whiting works just Monday through Thursday.

Garton said they also did a public request for outfitting the kennel, supplying a shopping wish list on Amazon. It sold out like that (snapped his fingers). Everything from bowls to paper towels to shelving, saving them a few thousand dollars in supply costs.

Advice to homeowners to keep dogs from staying at the K-9 kennel?

Keep them on a leash, have proper fencing, that’s

is unfortunately a part of life,” Dormer said.

The Advocacy group presented their letter of concern to the school board on Jan.12, each taking a turn reading from the page.

“We understand that funding, to say the least, is difficult to come by,” their letter read. “However, a wait and see approach is no longer sustainable. Every dollar deferred on our roof repair will lead to compounding costs to repairs and property damage tomorrow.”

Their plea did not just call for action from the board, but also extended an olive branch to help be a part of the solution.

“We want to work with you to increase community awareness and find a way

a big deal. You could have the most controlled dog until he hears a gunshot or some kind of weird sound that freaks them out,” Garton. He added chipping a pet also is invaluable in matching a stray back to its owner.

Garton said he

forward that protects our students, our staff and our community’s resources.

Let’s ensure our facilities are as strong as the education that is happening inside them,” the letter concluded.

Board Chair Byron Shinkle said after their presentation the roof issue is something the district can address as the administration lays out their priorities during the budget process.

“If we can’t attack them all at once with a big chunk of money and we have to nickel and dime them with whatever meager budget items we have, at least we can identify the priorities articulated by facilities (department),” Shinkle said. “That way the budget committee can really have that

appreciates the county giving his office the opportunity to put together the kennel. “Otherwise, we’d have nothing.

understanding as we enter into budget season.”

Superintendent Jennifer Kubista said the administration can provide some projected numbers on the costs toward those repairs and provide the budget committee with they discussions that went into drafting up the failed bond. However, she said, the hard part is the other top priorities that need addressing at other buildings, including the lack of air conditioning at three hot buildings.

“To be honest, the high school is millions of dollars to fix that roof. It was $4 5 million. And that was two years ago. So now it’s probably closer to $5-5 5 million,” Kubista said. She said part of the problem stems from poorly executed construction during the renovations that has left the current administration holding the bag for repairing past mistakes.

“That (roof) should have lasted 30-40 years before we saw any issues,” Kubista added.

Villeneuve said afterwards they’re happy the discussion has led to other possible solutions.

“We were told, however, that donations to the district for repairs to the roof would be possible, in a similar way The Gate has created a campaign for developments on their site,” he said.

And the support of the public has been huge,” Isham added. “Volunteers, supplies, with our budget being pretty lean anyway, every little bit helps. Garton said they could always use more volunteers. To find out more information on how to get involved, call (503) 623-9251 during business hours or email sheriff. records@polkcountyor. gov.

The process is quite simple, he added.

Central’s Tyler Olafson drives to the hoop in the Panthers’ 69-42 win against Silverton Jan. 16 to remain undefeated in the Mid-Willamette Conference.

Holestine, Panthers blitz Foxes, 69-42

By LANCE MASTERSON For The Itemizer-Observer

There are fast starts, and then there’s Jack Holestine’s start against visiting Silverton on Friday.

The Panthers’ senior guard connected on all five 3-point attempts, and scored 16 of his team’s 19 points, in the first quarter alone.

Holestine knew early he was on fire.

“I just saw it go in once and I knew everything else was going

in. Once I got in that rhythm, it was like, ‘Give me the ball,’” he said. “But that comes from trust. My teammates trusting me and me trusting them.”

The team’s other points in the opening frame came on a sixth trey, this one by Lucas Haines.

Once Holestine cooled down he turned to his teammates. The result was an easy 69-42 win over the Foxes (2-3, 4-6 overall).

“I started missing a

little, so I told them to pick it up, and they did,” he said of his teammates’ effort. “They came in ready to play and did their job.”

This fast-start mentality is by design. Central finished with 19 points in the first quarter against Silverton, and 29 against Dallas on Jan. 13. The aim is to seize control, setting the tone on both ends of the court.

“We came in thinking

See BOYS, page B8

Panthers hold off Dragons’ late rally for 52-51 win

By LANCE MASTERSON

For The Itemizer-Observer

It just wasn’t meant to be for the Dragons’ girls varsity basketball team, which came up short against Central, 52-51, on Jan. 13

“I thought we dug ourselves an early hole. One that we had to fight out of,” Dragons coach Drew Richman said.

Dallas led by two points in the fourth.

Harlow Nelson, who finished with 15 points and seven rebounds, sparked the Dragons’ comeback.

“Harlow is a heck of a player, and she’s continuing to blossom every game,” Richman said. “Her offensive game is starting to match her defensive game.”

Peyton Bready added

10 points.

Dallas committed 28 turnovers to the visitors

26

“We gave ourselves a chance to win. But we made just one too many mental errors,” Richman said. “One too many turnovers.”

Throughout the season, Richman has implored his players to shoot more.

Against Central, they did just that, to the tune of 50 shots.

“We took the right shots tonight,” Richman said. “We get to the spots we want a lot of the time, and it ends up in a turnover too often. Those are correctable errors, and it’s gotten better as the season has gone on.”

Bella Names and Emery Lushenko

combined for 26 points to power the Panthers. Names’s line also included six rebounds, five assists and four steals. Natalie Ball and Ava Sanchez were tough inside, adding five boards each for Central. Central coach Marc Burleson said his team hung tough at the end, even with key players Molly Henderson, Anna Cole and Names on the bench, having fouled out. The win was Central’s third consecutive, all in conference.

Central was up 16-12 after one quarter, 30-25 at half, and 44-37 after three quarters. But the Dragons netted 14 of the

Panther Kids split mini dual matches, shut out at The Classic

The Panther Kids opened up the night for the high school program on Jan. 14. Winning matches over Lebanon were Issac Vidal, and Arik and Elyse Trujillo.

Fast forward to the Oregon Wrestling Classic on Jan. 18, PKW had trouble even before the whistle blew.

“Two of our kids were sick and couldn’t wrestle. One more just couldn’t make it. The others had close matches but simple mistakes cost the matches,” said head coach Vidal Peña. “A couple others put up a great fight but lost in the final seconds, but we are very proud and excited to take what we learned and have something to work on in the next couple weeks to prepare for the State Championships.”

There were no placers at the Classic for the first time in two years.

40 YEARS AGO

Wednesday, Jan. 15, 1986

Care urged in hepatitis epidemic

No new cases of hepatitis were reported in Polk County last week, but authorities advised caution is necessary after the announcement of a statewide epidemic.

County health director

Marti Sohn said Monday that people should avoid uncooked foods while eating in restaurants and exercise special care in cleaning fruits and vegetables bought in grocery stores.

School board approves tax notes

The Dallas School Board unanimously approved a money management plan Monday that is projected to save the district about $26 000 between July and November of this year.

That’s the good news.

The not-so-good news, which was a matter of concern to all board members, is that voters will be asked to approve a levy this spring showing an $81,725 increase to get the district into the program.

Tigers cage Dragons wrestlers Dallas High’s boys wrestling team started off a busy month with a good showing against Newberg and a second-place effort at the Sunset Tournament.

A tough Tiger squad defeated the Dragons 37-26 on Thursday. Dallas scored 31 points to finish behind host Sunset during a four-team tournament on Saturday.

50 YEARS AGO

Wednesday, Jan. 21, 1976

Polk defeats transit system Formation of a Marion

and Polk county mass transit district went down to a 14 562 to 5 619 defeat last Tuesday.

About 20 percent of the roughly 101 000 registered voters in the two counties voted, according to unofficial returns.

The measure carried in only 27 of the two counties’ 150 precincts and carried in only one

Community Achievement

Western Oregon University announces the undergraduate students named to the Honor Roll and President’s list for their academic honors for the fall 2025 term. In recognition of academic achievement, the university makes public at the close of each term an honor roll of undergraduate students who earn 12 or more credits that are not of a pass/ no pass nature and earn a grade point average of 3 50 or higher.

POLK COUNTY STUDENTS HONORED WERE: Dallas Braden Bollman, Danielle Bosse, Ben Brehm, Fatima Burger, Taiden Burns, Maria Camacho, Wyatt Connolly, Brian Cooper, Ainsley Cornman, DreSean Eagleton, Cristian Ekstrand, Jennifer Fleming, Sierra Freeman, Hanrison Garrison, Joey Guerra, Jeremy Guill, Daria Harris, Autumn Harrison, Jake Hendrickson, Ivy Janesofsky, Clara Johnson, Kolby Johnson-Sallee, Callista Kiner, Savannah King, Joseph Kinnaman, Elizabeth Kroeker, Noah Kroeker, Cadence Kumnick, Morgan Kumnick, Brooke Lamb, Jazmin Lopez Solis, Rachael Lund,

Kaiza Lutz, Quentin McCormick, Nicole McKinney, Justus Mikkelsen, Ryan Miller, Molly Moore, Annika Morrow, Audrey Mortensen, Colby Mullins, Alex Neely, Bella Noah, Justin Parnell, Krystal Pearson, Katie Reimer, Angie Rodriguez, Rylee Rutan, Stella Schmitke, Heather Seals, Wyatt Sonday, Kameron Spicer, Tamara Stariwat, Jessica Stoddard, Spencer Thiel, Tymberlynn Thompson, Daniel Toma, Brenden Traywick, Kason Utz, Matthew Vang, Preston Waite, Brandon Williams, Jacob Worley, Seyna Wynn and Savanna Young Falls City

Ariel Dvorak, Keaton Iker, Sarah Morlan-Sarver and Kassidi Thompson

Independence Melani Betancourt, Katherine Blackman, Sage Butler, Gwyneth Couey, Wyatt Flow, Amy Fouch, Faith Grohs, Cameron Gruenfelder, Anahi Guerrero-Astorga, Brenda Herrera Salas, Sophia Hoover, Sunair Iqbal, Calista Jones, Angel Larios, Jesus Ledezma, Isaiah Limu, Vanya Martinez, Julissa Mateo-Huapeo, Lily McCormick, Juan Mendoza, Halina Nunez Herrera, Sebaztian Nunez Herrera, Fabian Prado,

Polk forms department The Polk County Commissioners ordered the formation of a County Department of Public Services Tuesday. The new department will coordinate the present divisions of Mental Health, Public Health, Sanitation and Emergency under one

director.

In the same order, the board appointed James Panter, presently the supervisor of the Emergency Division, as the director of the newly formed Polk County Department of Public Services. Panter will receive an increase of $1,920 a year in salary upon assuming the new

position.

Girls blaze to home victories

The Dallas High girls basketball team romped to two consecutive victories last week as they outplayed Molalla, 58-17, Monday night and blazed by Forest Grove 66-24 Thursday night. Both games were played on the Dallas court.

Krushell Rowland, Perla San Miguel Morales, Molly Siefarth, Nic Smith, Anthony Smith, Sofie Stonebrink, Lexus Walk, Joshua Wall, Miryam Waterman Cervantes, Maddie Webber and Michael Young Monmouth Miranda Amaral Rosales, Surayah Baggia, Isaac Bordadora. Lillian Boyack, Sam Bray, Jack Burgett, Anna Button, Neve Callens, Sarah Castillo, Dalia Corrales Pena, Atlas DiSalvo, Emma Diehm, Madelyn Dowen, Christopher Emerson, Hannah Gilbert, Carolina Glazner, Kameryn Gressett, Angelica Guzman Hill, Gentry Hagedorn, Kaylee Hatch, Oliver Hays, Emily Heisinger, Kaitlyn Hibbard, Berean Jones, Phoebe Jones, Kayla Lara, Colton Larson, Alex Lofton, Becca Lofton, Richard Loos, Yesenia Lopez, Kyleah Medel, Jane Montgomery, Loish Neth, Emily Newbeck, Kailey Newbeck, Brianna Plumb, Easton Pomrankey, Elijah Priddy, Eli Sass, Kallie Schoenbachler, Andres Somilleda, Gabriel Sosa, Victoria Statsenko, Emma Swartzfager, Malia Taufa’asau, Chloe Thomas, Martin Trujillo, Manuel Vela andLynnea Ward

Willamina Madison Diehl

Community Calendar Jan. 21-28

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 21

8 a.m. - Yoga, Monmouth Senior Community Center

9 a.m. - Stretch Exercise, Monmouth Senior Community Center

10 a.m. - 4-Handed Pinochle/ Card/Table Games, Dallas Area Senior Center

10 a.m. - Tai Chi with John/ Stretch Exercise, Monmouth Senior Community Center

10:30 a.m. - Little Bitty Storytime, for babies and toddlers, Dallas Public Library, 950 Main St.

11 a.m. - Lunch w/Meals on Wheels, Monmouth Senior Community Center

11 a.m. - Mah-Jongg, Dallas Area Senior Center

11:45 a.m. - Better Together, Monmouth Senior Community Center

12 p.m. - Watch Repair & Knife Sharpening, Monmouth Senior Community Center

1 p.m. - Walking Group, Dallas Area Senior Center

1 p.m. - Ten Minute Writing, Monmouth Senior Community Center

4 p.m - Connecting Loose Threads for Charity, Monmouth Senior Community Center

4 p.m. - Dallas Transportation System Plan Update Open House, Dallas Civic Center, 945 Jefferson St.

6 p.m. - Ukulele Jam, Monmouth Senior Community Center

7 p.m. - Monmouth Planning Commission meeting, City Hall, 151 Main St. W.

7:10 p.m. - Alcoholics Anonymous Newcomers Meeting, Trinity Lutheran Church, 320 SE Fir Villa Road, Dallas

THURSDAY, JAN. 22

8 a.m. - Yoga, Monmouth Senior Community Center

9 a.m. - Chari Yoga, Monmouth Senior Community Center

10 a.m. - Cards/Table Games, Dallas Area Senior Center

10:15 a.m. - Low Impact Exercise, Dallas Area Senior Center

10:30 a.m. - Children’s Storytime, for ages 0-5, Dallas Public Library, 950 Main St.

MERKLEY RESCHEDULES

POLK COUNTY TOWN

HALL TO JAN. 22

Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley has rescheduled his Polk County town hall to 1 p.m. Jan. 22 at the Colonel Nesmith Readiness Center, located at 12830 Westview Dr., in Dallas.

BRANDON HEATH TO PERFORM BAMBINOS

BENEFIT CONCERT FEB. 20

Bambinos Oregon is hosting a benefit concert featuring Christian recording artist Brandon Heath, with opening guest John August, on Feb. 20 at Valley Life Center, located at 1795 SE Miller Ave., in Dallas. Proceeds from the event will support Bambinos Oregon’s mission of helping families with young children in rural Oregon communities by providing essential baby supplies and support. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for VIP guests and 6:30 p.m. for General Admission. The concert begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $30 for general admission and $45 for VIPs and are available for purchase online at www.bambinosoregon.org.

ODOT HOSTS DALLAS

10:30 a.m. - Bounces and Rhymes: Winter Series, for ages 0-2, Monmouth Public Library, 168 Ecols St. S.

11:10 a.m. - Low Impact Exercise, Dallas Area Senior Center

11:30 a.m. - Lunch Bunch, Dallas Area Senior Center

12 p.m. - Pinochle, Monmouth Senior Community Center

12 p.m. - Bridge, Dallas Area Senior Center

6 p.m. - Free Movie: “The Philadelphia Story”, starring Cary Grant, Kathrine Hepburn and James Stuart, Dallas Public Library, 950 Main St.

6:30 p.m. - Connecting Loose Threads, Monmouth Senior Community Center

7 p.m. - Alcoholics

Anonymous Back to Basics, Grace Baptist Church, 1855 E. Ellendale Ave., Dallas FRIDAY, JAN. 23

8 a.m. - Yoga, Monmouth Senior Community Center

9 a.m. - Stretch exercise 1, Monmouth Senior Community Center

10 a.m. - Art Workshop/ CardsTable Games/ 6 Handed Pinochle, Dallas Area Senior Center

10 a.m. - Stretch Exercise 2/Drawing for Fun/Writer’s Workshop, Monmouth Senior Community Center

10 a.m. - Gardening Class, Dallas Area Senior Center

12 p.m. - Watch repair clinic, Dallas Area Senior Center

1 p.m. - Tai Chi with Chery/ Art Afternoon & Sunshine Club, Monmouth Senior Community Center

1 p.m. - Medicare Plans, Dallas Area Senior Center

1 p.m. - Tai Chi with Cheryl/ Birthday party, Monmouth Senior Community Center

1 p.m. - Ice Cream Social & Bingo Special, Monmouth Senior Community Center

1:30 p.m. - 10-Minute Writing, Dallas Area Senior Center

2 p.m. - Free English Second Language classes at the Dallas Public Library, 950 Main St.

4 p.m. - Youth Coding League, Independence Public

Library, 175 Monmouth St.

4 p.m. - Teen Charades and Chococuterie, Dallas Public Library, 950 Main St.

5 p.m. - Bingo Dinner, Dallas Area Senior Center

6 p.m. - Live Music: Rewind Band, Elysium Botanicals Wines and Vineyard, 8175 Buena Vista Road, Independence

6 p.m. - Bingo, Dallas Area

Senior Center

6:30 p.m. - Alcoholics

Anonymous Friday Night Meeting, Salt Creek Baptist Church, Dallas

6:30 p.m. - Acoustic Music Jam, Guthrie Park, 4320 Kings Valley Highway S.

7:30 p.m. - Alcoholics Anonymous Speaker Meeting, Dallas Church, 450 SE Washington St.

SATURDAY, JAN. 24

7 p.m. - Alcoholics

Anonymous Saturday Night Live, Faith Lutheran Church, 200 Monmouth-Independence Highway, Monmouth

SUNDAY, JAN. 25

7 p.m. - Alcoholics

Anonymous Monmouth Big Book Study, Faith Lutheran Church, 200 MonmouthIndependence Highway, Monmouth

MONDAY, JAN. 26

7 a.m. - Alcoholics Anonymous Serenity at 7, Life Center Foursquare Church, 437 D St., Independence

8 a.m. - Yoga, Monmouth Senior Community Center

9 a.m. - Stretch Exercise, Monmouth Senior Community Center

10 a.m. - Rotating Pinochle/5-Crowns Game/ Cards/Table Games, Dallas Area Senior Center

10 a.m. - Stretch Exercise/ Hand & Foot/Cribbage/ASL Class, Monmouth Senior Community Center

11 a.m. - Lunch w/Meals On Wheels, Monmouth Senior Community Center

12 p.m. - Bridge, Dallas Area Senior Center

12 p.m. - Alcoholics

Anonymous Noon Step Study, Grace Baptist Church, 1855 E

Ellendale Ave., Dallas

12 p.m. - Movie Matinee, Monmouth Senior Community Center

1 p.m. - Walking Group, Dallas Area Senior Center

1 p.m. - Tai Chi with Cheryl/ Technology Help with Ian, Monmouth Senior Community Center

4 p.m. - Youth Coding League, Independence Public Library, 175 Monmouth St.

4 p.m. - Dallas Buildings and Grounds Committee meeting, City Hall, 187 SE Court St.

4 pm - Karaoke, Dallas Area Senior Center

4 p.m. - Dallas Public Administration Committee, City Hall, 187 SE Court St.

5 p.m. - Independence Library Board meeting, City Hall, 555 S Main St.

6:30 p.m. - New Horizons Orchestra, Monmouth Senior Community Center

7:30 p.m.- Alcoholics Anonymous Old Guthrie Park, Guthrie Park Community Center

TUESDAY, JAN. 27

8 a.m. - Yoga, Monmouth Senior Community Center

9 a.m. - Chair Yoga/Wii Bowling, Monmouth Senior Community Center

10 a.m. - Cards/Table Games, Dallas Area Senior Center

10:15 a.m. - Low Impact Exercise, Dallas Area Senior Center

10:30 a.m. - Children’s Storytime, for ages 5 and under, Dallas Public Library, 950 Main St.

10:30 a.m. - Circle of Friends, Dallas Area Senior Center

10:30 a.m. - Family Storytime Winter Series, for ages 3-5, Monmouth Public Library, 168 Ecols St. S.

11:10 a.m. - Low Impact Exercise, Dallas Area Senior Center

12 p.m. - Pinochle, Monmouth Senior Community Center

12 p.m. - Senior Advisory Board meeting, Monmouth Senior Community Center

1 p.m. - Bunko, Dallas Area Senior Center

Community Briefs

TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM OPEN HOUSE JAN. 21

ODOT hosts an open house on the Dallas Transportation System Plan Jan. 21 at the Dallas Civic Center, 945 Jefferson St. ODOT is working with the city of Dallas to update its Transportation System Plan (TSP). This is a longrange plan that guides transportation investments and policies for the next 20 years. Join in person to learn about the progress and to share your thoughts. Doors open at 4 p.m. Presentations are at 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. For more information, visit the Dallas TSP Update website https://bit. ly/3Z8ZF1S.

DALLAS LIBRARY HOSTS FREE MOVIE NIGHT FOR ADULTS JAN. 22

The Dallas Library invites adults to enjoy a free movie night at 6 p.m. Jan. 22. “The Philadelphia Story,” a beloved 1940 romantic comedy, stars Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, James Stewart, and Ruth Hussey. The film follows a glamorous socialite whose wedding plans are turned upside down when her ex-husband and a persistent

tabloid reporter arrive just days before the big event. With three men in her life and the wedding fast approaching, sparks fly and choices must be made — because the wedding must go on. Nominated for six Academy Awards, the film earned Stewart an Oscar for best actor. This event is free, and popcorn will be provided. For more information, go to facebook.com/dallaslibraryoregon, stop by the library, or call (503) 623-2633

DALLAS EVENT CENTER HOSTS BIG BAND JAZZ PARTY JAN. 24

The Dallas Event Center and Lora Michele Dance Studio present a Big Band Party with Big Band Jazz Party, from 7-10 p.m. Jan. 24 at 939 Main St., Dallas. Enjoy a fun evening of dancing, live jazz music, delicious food, and 1920s-inspired costumes. To purchase tickets, go to https://bit.ly/48wFfpb.

PAJAMA PARTY FUNDRAISER RETURNS JAN. 24

Benedetto Vineyards, Sable House and New Morning Bakery Dallas host a Pajama Party Fundraiser from 4-7 p.m. Jan. 24 at 14020 Orchard Knob Road, Dallas. Grab your slippers and head

to Benedetto Vineyards in support of this local, vital resource for domestic and sexual violence victims. Bring donations of new pajamas and personal hygiene items to be entered into the raffle. Fun games and activities await at this Slumber Partythemed event.

4-H OFFERS INTRO TO BLACKSMITHING CLASS JAN. 27 Oregon 4-H Polk County and OSU Extension present an Introduction to Blacksmithing Class from 9-11 a.m. Jan. 27 at Vonhelmick Knife Company in Falls City. For ages 10-18, create your own letter opener to take home. Registration fee is $10 for enrolled 4-H members and $15 for non-members. Go to https://beav.es/ smithletteropener.

MONMOUTH LIBRARY HOSTS

LEGO PARTY JAN. 28

The Friends of the Monmouth Library present a Lego party and contest from 3-4:30 p.m. at the Monmouth Public Library, 168 Ecols St. S., in Monmouth. Celebrate Lego’s birthday, build with our Legos, and create

3:30 p.m. - Senior Advisory Board meeting, Monmouth Senior Community Center, 180 S. Warren St.

6 p.m. - Independence City Council meeting, City Hall, 555 S Main St.

6 p.m. - Monmouth Historic Commission meeting, City Hall, 151 Main St. W.

6:30 p.m. - Community Dance Class, Monmouth Senior Community Center

7 p.m. - Alcoholics Anonymous Tuesday Grace, Grace Baptist Church, 1855 E Ellendale Ave., Dallas

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 28

8 a.m. - Yoga, Monmouth Senior Community Center

9 a.m. - Stretch Exercise, Monmouth Senior Community Center

10 a.m. - 4-Handed Pinochle/ Card/Table Games, Dallas Area Senior Center

10 a.m. - Tai Chi with John/ Stretch Exercise, Monmouth Senior Community Center

10:30 a.m. - Little Bitty Storytime, for babies and toddlers, Dallas Public Library, 950 Main St.

11 a.m. - Lunch w/Meals on Wheels, Monmouth Senior Community Center

11 a.m. - Mah-Jongg, Dallas Area Senior Center

11:45 a.m. - Better Together, Monmouth Senior Community Center

12 p.m. - Watch Repair & Knife Sharpening, Monmouth Senior Community Center

1 p.m. - Walking Group, Dallas Area Senior Center

1 p.m. - Ten Minute Writing, Monmouth Senior Community Center

1 p.m. - Birthday Celebration, Dallas Area Senior Center

3 p.m. - Lego Party and Contest, for ages 5-18 Monmouth Public Library, 168 Ecols St. S.

4 p.m - Connecting Loose Threads for Charity, Monmouth Senior Community Center

7:10 p.m. - Alcoholics Anonymous Newcomers Meeting, Trinity Lutheran Church, 320 SE Fir Villa Road, Dallas

a spaceship to enter our Lego contest! For ages 5-18

SIGNUPS OPEN FOR ANNUAL BROCKWAY MEMORIAL GOLF TOURNEY The 23rd Annual Brockway Memorial (Open) Golf Tournament is Feb. 7 at Cross Creek Golf Course. The event will be a two-person scramble format over 18 holes with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. Registration is $80 and includes green fees, hole prizes, gross/net prizes and snacks. A player does not need a handicap in order to compete in this tournament and the field is open to both men and women and mixed teams.

The tournament is dedicated to the memory of Marius “Brock” Brockway who passed away in 2013

A portion of the entry fees and pay ball will be donated to an organization or foundation that is researching cures and cares for cancer patients.

The deadline for sign up is Jan. 30 and is limited to the first 120 paid players. For more information and/ or an application visit or call the pro-shop at (503) 623-6666, go to the Cross Creek Facebook or website www.crosscreekgc.

COMMUNITY INVITED TO JANUARY NIGHT OF WORSHIP JAN. 31 Night of Worship, Zeb Udell and Kim-Tom Udell present January Night of Worship, from 7-9 p.m., Jan. 31 at the Guthrie Park Community Center, 4320 Kings Valley Highway, Dallas. Join an evening of worship, prayer and prophetic encouragement. Everyone is welcome, there is no childcare, but children are more than welcome.

TICKETS ON SALE NOW FOR WILLAMETTE VALLEY SYMPHONY CONCERTS The Willamette Valley Symphony, featuring musicians from Polk and Marion Counties, presents Brahms’ Double Concerto and a Reflection on Nature at 7 p.m., Feb. 7 at the Albany Performing Arts Center at West Albany High School and at 4 p.m. Feb. 8 at Ashbrook Private School in Corvallis. Tickets are $22 for adults ages 18-65, $20 for seniors 65 and older and free for youth 17 and under. To purchase tickets, go to www.ticketleap.events/ events/wvsymphony.

PUBLIC RECORD

Information for the report comes from law enforcement agencies. Not all calls for service are included. The status of arrests reported may change after further investigation. Individuals arrested or suspected of crimes are considered innocent until proven guilty.

DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT

Thursday, Jan. 8

At 2 a.m., officers responded to a verbal disturbance on La Creole Drive regarding a girlfriend taking her boyfriend’s keys to keep him from driving away while intoxicated.

At 8:20 a.m., a motorist from Salem was cited for speeding on Miller Avenue 44 mph in a 20-mph zone.

At 8:34 a.m., a motorist from Dallas was cited for speeding on Miller Avenue 40 mph in a 20-mph zone.

At 9:06 a.m., a motorist from Falls City was cited for speeding on Jefferson Street 35 mph in a 20-mph zone.

At 11:07 a.m., a report of a rear-end collision at the Orchard Drive intersection coming into town.

At 2:24 p.m., a motorist from Woodburn was cited for speeding on Miller Avenue 38 mph in a 20-mph zone.

At 2:35 p.m., a motorist from Salem was cited for speeding on Miller Avenue 38 mph in a 20-mph zone.

At 3 p.m., a motorist from Portland was cited on Miller Avenue driving while suspended - violation.

At 5:09 p.m., a report of a Subaru on Maple Street with its license plates swapped for stolen ones out of Portland.

Friday, Jan. 9

At 8:23 a.m., a motorist on Jefferson Street was cited for driving while suspended - violation and for driving uninsured.

At 8:34 a.m., Melissa Diego was arrested on Academy Street and charged with driving while suspended - misdemeanor.

At 8:56 a.m. a report of the attempted theft of a scooter on Clay Street.

At 12:37 p.m., a report of the theft of one beer on Ellendale Avenue.

At 1:48 p.m., the Police Department received a box of misc ammo for destruction.

At 2:15 p.m., a report of a small dog running into traffic on Ellendale Avenue.

At 2:36 p.m., a report of various juveniles speeding through the neighborhood on Jasper Street and yelling racial slurs at the complainant.

At 4:39 p.m., a motorist on Ellendale Avenue was cited

for driving while suspended and for driving uninsured.

At 7:30 p.m., Jayden Duely was arrested on Howe Street and charged with assault 1, assault 2 two counts of assault 4, and harassment.

At 11:26 p.m., a report of shots heard coming from south of Clow Corner Road. The report was forwarded to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

Saturday, Jan. 10

At 3:16 a.m., a complaint of a vehicle doing cookies on Ellendale Avenue.

At 4:15 p.m., an officer issued a parking citation to a Ford EcoSport, bearing a Washington license plate, for blocking a private driveway on Ash Street.

At 4:59 p.m., after officers responded to a verbal domestic disturbance on Church Street, Jodi Turner was arrested and charged with contempt (violation of a no contact order).

At 5:33 p.m., a report of a vehicle vs building where a motorist side swiped the side of Taco Bell drive through when he received his order.

At 5:58 p.m., officers investigated a report of a vehicle vs pedestrian crash on Fairview Avenue. They were unable to locate any victim associated with this incident.

Sunday, Jan. 11

At 1:08 a.m., Jennifer Pangburn was arrested on Ellendale Avenue and charged with driving under the influence of an intoxicant - alcohol, and reckless driving.

At 2:06 a.m., officers stopped a motorist from Salem on Ellendale Avenue for failing to obey a police officer (at a crash scene). The driver was cited for driving while suspended - violation and for driving uninsured, and received a verbal warning for failing to obey a police officer.

At 3:29 a.m., Jacob Steele Jr., of Portland, was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of an intoxicant and was lodged at Polk County Jail.

At 9:36 a.m. a subject was formally trespassed from a location on Southwest Court Street.

At 1:57 p.m., an officer investigated a report of kids riding quads in the street on Osoberry Street. The officer spoke with the father who advised they would stop.

At 4:42 p.m., a report of the theft of a purse from Walmart.

Monday, Jan. 12

At 3 a.m., a Subaru

Impreza was impounded on Levens Street.

At 8:30 a.m., a motorist on Miller Avenue was cited and released for failing to carry an operator’s license.

At 9:09 a.m., a Monmouth motorist on Ellendale Avenue received a written warning for driving while using a mobile electronic device.

At 9:28 a.m., a motorist on Gerlinger Place was cited for speeding 47 mph in a 25-mph zone.

At 12:19 p.m., a male subject was trespassed for all Dallas Center Markets per the store manager’s request. An officer notified and informed the subject of the consequences of trespassing on private property without permission will lead to his arrest.

At 1:27 p.m., a report of possible human bones found at a park on Brandvold Drive. Upon further inspection they were determined to be animal.

At 2:12 p.m., Michael Stroud was arrested on Miller Avenue on a parole and probation detainer.

At 2:36 p.m., a community member stopped and provided an officer on Miller Avenue with a Challenge Coin as a thank you. The officer thanked him and told him he appreciated it.

At 2:40 p.m., a motorist on Miller Avenue was cited for failing to stop for a school bus.

At 2:58 p.m., Dakota Coronado, of Salem, was cited and released on Miller Avenue on outstanding failure to appear warrant out of Marion County. She was also cited for failing to carry an operator’s license.

At 3:10 p.m., a report of a single vehicle crash at a parking lot behind the aquatic center off Walnut.

A vehicle struck a stop sign when attempting to park.

At 3:35 p.m., a subject on Washington Street was transported to Salem Hospital.

At 7:02 p.m., a report of a possible burglary in progress at a vacant rental house on Academy Street due to lights being on inside. The complainant unlocked the door and officers cleared the house. No one was located inside, and no damage or other indications of criminal activity were found.

At 9:11 p.m., a female subject received a trespass warning for the Walmart in Dallas and was told she would be arrested if she ever returned to the property.

Tuesday, Jan. 13

At 1:48 p.m., a subject was formally trespassed from

a location on Jefferson Street.

At 5:16 p.m., a report of the theft of more than $100 in items from a location on Kings Valley Highway.

At 8:20 p.m., a subject reported finding his stolen vehicle at City Park. When he confronted the suspect, she fled.

At 10:45 p.m., Independence Police responded to a report of a vehicle crashing into a parked car on Airport Way and the driver fleeing on foot. Officers found the driver who was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of an intoxicant, hit and run, reckless driving, and criminal mischief 2. The driver was also cited for no insurance.

Wednesday, Jan. 14

At 11:47 a.m., Meals on Wheels called to check on a client who was not home on Clay Street. Officers confirmed the client was in the hospital.

At 1:44 p.m., Elijah Hendersen was arrested on Kings Valley Highway and was charged with theft 3. He was lodged at Polk County Jail.

At 2:24 p.m., Anthony Cox, of Salem, was arrested on Miller Avenue on an outstanding on a Marion County Circuit Court (SI) Felony Warrant and was lodged at Polk County Jail.

At 2:52 p.m., a Sheridan motorist Orchard Drive was cited for driving while suspended - violation, driving uninsured, and failing to install an ignition interlock device. The motorist also received a written warning for speeding 40 mph in a 25-mph zone.

At 6:16 p.m., a report of a possible hit and run on Fairview Avenue.

INDEPENDENCE POLICE DEPARTMENT

Wednesday, Jan. 7

At 10:50 a.m., a resident on D Street nails and screws have been showing up randomly in and near their driveway. There is no suspect information.

At 11:14 p.m., officers responded to a report of a fight at a bar on Monmouth Street. It turned out to be a possible prank call.

Thursday, Jan. 8

While an officer was trying to contact an individual with a warrant in the 700 block of 11th Street, an unidentified male was unloading his dog from a vehicle. The dog escaped (but eventually returned). The male, Matthew Haynes, was arrested on an outstanding

warrant for failure to report as a sex offender. Upon being searched, a baggie of suspected fentanyl was located in Haynes’ pocket. Haynes was also cited and booked into jail on providing false information to a police officer and possession of an unlawful controlled substance.

At 10 a.m., Jesus Trujillo was spotted riding a bicycle on F Street at South 4th Street and was known to have a parole violation warrant. Trujillo was taken into custody peacefully. While being patted down, a pipe with presumptive methamphetamine residue was located. He was additionally charged with unlawful possession of methamphetamine.

At 12:16 p.m., a late report of a two-vehicle crash on Polk Street. There were no injuries to report other than $2,500 in damage.

Friday, Jan. 9

Several months earlier, posts at Riverview Park were damaged by a vehicle totaling over $1,800 in materials and labor. Video footage captured the incident and the vehicle was identified. The driver of the vehicle, Andrea Kadell, received a criminal citation for driving under the influence of intoxicants.

At 3:38 p.m., a homeless person was formally trespassed after lighting a fire behind Grocery Outlet on Monmouth Street. At 7:47 p.m., officers conducting a follow-up to a hitand-run accident contacted an involved subject on Main Street. The subject admitted to being involved and was arrested and charged with hit and run.

Saturday, Jan. 10

At 12:28 p.m., reports of a man being chased and then two men fighting in the 300 block of South Main Street. Officers separated the men and found that the victim did not know Abraham Vela who had approached him while he was out for a walk and made nonsensical statements. The victim ran to City Hall, then down the street where Vela cornered him at a shop and demanded his phone. Vela jumped onto the victim and took his phone. The victim escaped outside, and the scuffle ensued until officers arrived. Vela was charged with robbery 3, harassment - physical, theft 3 and disorderly conduct 2

An officer conducting a traffic stop in the 1000 block of Monmouth Street for speeding noticed multiple alcoholic containers and marijuana inside the vehicle.

The 18-year-old driver was warned for traffic and vehicle infractions but was cited for being in possession of marijuana and alcohol.

Sunday, Jan. 11

A witness reported seeing a vehicle crash into a parked car in the 600 block of Airport Way. When they approached the driver the smell of alcohol was detected as the driver walked away from the crash scene. Neighbors recognized the driver as Brittney Bettles and when officers contacted her she invoked her right to an attorney. Bettles was taken into custody, a search warrant was written for a blood draw but upon seeing the needle at the hospital Bettles decided upon a breath sample. The blood alcohol content showed .16%. Bettles was charged with criminal mischief 2, driving under the influence - misdemeanor, reckless driving and failing to perform duties of a driver in an accident with property damage.

At 6:28 p.m., a report of two dogs loose on 17th Street. Officers were unable to locate the dogs.

Monday, Jan. 12 At 3:54 p.m., an officer came upon two apparent disabled cars on Polk Street. It turned out one vehicle was giving a jump to the other.

Tuesday, Jan. 13 At 10:45 p.m., a report of a motorist that drove into a parked car on Airport Way and fled the scene on foot. Officers located the driver at her nearby residence, arresting her and charging her with driving under the influence of an intoxicant, hit and run, reckless driving, and criminal mischief 2

MONMOUTH POLICE DEPARTMENT

Thursday, Jan. 8

Driving Complaint: A pedestrian reported that while crossing a street being nearly hit by a newer blue pickup driving recklessly. The driver was a male, and the vehicle’s windows were fogged. Officers were unable to locate the vehicle.

Hit-and-Run: A bicyclist was struck in the bike lane by a southbound black 4-door vehicle at an intersection. The driver, a female, left the scene. The bicyclist sustained minor injuries but declined to press charges. A crash report was filed. Arrest: A male suspect was arrested at a convenience store after admitting to multiple recent theft incidents and See POLICE, page B7

criminal trespass violations. The individual was taken to the county jail.

Driving Violation: A complaint about a red sedan speeding and failing to maintain its lane. The vehicle was stopped and the driver was found not to be impaired, receiving warnings for several violations.

Driving Under the Influence: Officers conducted a welfare check on a male who had fallen asleep at a drive-thru window. The individual showed signs of impairment and was transported to a regional hospital for a possible medical emergency. A warrant was executed for a blood draw, which confirmed a very high blood alcohol content. The person was cited for driving under the influence of an intoxicant and reckless driving and was released at the hospital.

Animal Abuse: A caller at a park reported a male slapping and punching a small dog before leaving in a small white SUV. Officers were unable to locate the vehicle.

Overdose Attempt: A university reported a student who intentionally took pills. The individual was conscious but refused to go to the hospital. A crisis team was involved, and a safety plan was created. The person agreed to surrender old prescribed medication.

Driving Complaint: A small grey truck was reported doing “donuts” in a business parking lot, but officers were unable to locate the vehicle.

Friday, Jan. 9

Found Property: An individual brought a found credit card to the police department, which was entered into evidence.

Restraining Order Violation: A person reported receiving a phone call from their ex, which violated a confirmed restraining order. A pre-text call confirmed the violation, and the ex was later arrested by a neighboring agency and lodged at the county jail.

Citizen Contact: A person contacted the police to verify if an active arrest warrant existed after being contacted by a scammer claiming to be law enforcement. The person was confirmed to be clear of warrants.

Arrest: A person was cited and released on a municipal warrant at a residential location.

Suspicious Activity: An employee reported seeing on surveillance video a male potentially attempting to break into a building. The footage showed the male approaching a door and then leaving in a small blue SUV. Officers were unable to locate the vehicle.

Hangup: A 911 hangup was received from a residential location. Responding officers found no disturbance, and the caller could not be reached. A neighboring department was notified.

Suspicious Person: A person was found looking into and trying to open car doors at a motel, claiming to be searching for a relative. The individual was subsequently trespassed from the property and given a courtesy ride home.

Saturday, Jan. 10

Arrest: An individual was contacted in a vehicle and arrested on warrants for a weapons offense from one county and a traffic offense from another. The person was transported and lodged at the county jail.

Disturbance: A physical dispute between a female and a male occurred. The female admitted to slapping the male and taking his phone during an argument. The male declined to pursue charges, and both were advised to separate. The

male was advised on eviction procedures.

Unconscious Subject: Emergency medical services were dispatched for an unconscious person at a facility. The patient was found to be coming out of a seizure and was not combative. No transport was necessary.

Driving Complaint: A pedestrian being nearly hit by a white pickup truck in a crosswalk after it failed to stop for a stop sign. A follow-up with the driver, located through a corrected license plate, confirmed the incident. The driver apologized, admitting to not see the pedestrian due to the pedestrian’s dark clothing and the driver’s age affecting their driving.

Animal Complaint: Two separate calls reported a loose dog in the area with conflicting descriptions. Officers searched for the animal but were unable to locate it.

Menacing: A road rage incident started on the highway and continued into the city. One driver claimed being threatened by the driver with a handgun. A follow-up investigation and contact with the second driver provided a different account, suggesting the initial reporter was the aggressor. The second driver admitted to having their firearm out but not waving it.

Unconscious Subject: Emergency medical services were dispatched for a threemonth-old infant who was in and out of consciousness after rolling off a bed. The infant was conscious and breathing upon arrival. Medics found no concerns.

Assist Other Agency: Officers assisted a neighboring law enforcement agency with an in-progress assault, resulting in the arrest of a suspect who was charged with multiple crimes including robbery and harassment.

Suspicious Activity: Residents reported three crab pots had mysteriously appeared in their yard. The information was documented and forwarded to an appropriate party.

Alarm: A commercial burglary alarm was activated at a business. Officers arrived to find authorized roofers working. The alarm was deactivated after the manager was contacted.

Arrest: A female was arrested on an outstanding failure to appear warrant related to fraud and was lodged at the county jail.

Driving Complaint: A vehicle with a possibly intoxicated driver was reported. The vehicle was located and followed to a police department, where a contact was made. The driver did not show signs of intoxication.

Disturbance: Officers responded to a physical fight at a large, noisy party. An extremely intoxicated male was detained after attempting to enter an incorrect vehicle. He was transported by emergency medical services for evaluation. Illegal substances were later found on his person at the hospital.

Sunday, Jan. 11

Alarm: A commercial burglary alarm at a market was accidentally triggered by an employee entering the wrong code. A manager was called and the alarm company was contacted to shut it off.

Found Property: A person found a benefits card at a park and turned it in to police It was entered into evidence.

Animal Complaint: A complaint was received about a thin great dane without food or water tied up outside a residence. Officers contacted the resident, and while the dog was thin, it appeared healthy. The resident was informed of the complaint.

Driving Complaint: A caller reported two males who appeared intoxicated got gas and then drove away in a

red sedan.

Crime: A female reported a male ex-partner came to her home and tried to force his way inside, pushing her with the door and then ripping a camera off the wall. The male had an active warrant but was not located by officers.

Crash: A collision occurred where a 16-year-old driver rear-ended another vehicle after admitting to using a cell phone to change music. The minor driver received a citation for cell phone use. The minor’s vehicle required a tow, and no injuries were reported.

Assist Other Agency: Officers located an employee for a state agency following a report that later appeared to be fabricated.

Citizen Contact: A 14-year-old child called an emergency line pretending to be their father to report a small fire. An officer responded and spoke with the child and parent about fire safety.

Citizen Contact: A business owner reported ongoing issues with clients from a nearby establishment, including a customer repeatedly urinating on the side of their building. Officers discussed relevant laws and encouraged the owner to call the police if the issues continued.

Overdose: A report of an overdose was received, with the person needing emergency drug reversal medication. Officers arrived to find the patient conscious and alert but panicking, and stood by until emergency medical services arrived.

Monday, Jan. 12

Citizen Contact: An individual, who appeared to be intoxicated, came to the police department to report a missing grey bag containing personal items, including a travel document and alcohol, that had disappeared a few days earlier. The person was unable to provide a detailed description of the bag.

Lost Property: A concerned party contacted the police on behalf of a minor whose distinctive black wallet, containing a driver’s license and banking cards, was lost near the post office. The caller was advised to have the minor freeze their banking cards, as the wallet had not been turned in to the police department.

Civil Matter: An individual on felony probation requested police presence for a civil standby to collect personal property that an ex-partner had placed outside. The individual was advised to follow their release conditions, which prohibited contact and trespassing, and to contact their probation officer or the county sheriff’s office for assistance.

Fraud: A person reported being scammed after attempting to sell an item online. The buyer requested the use of a new payment app, which led to a fraudulent email instructing the person to download additional applications. The victim’s bank was working to stop approximately $5,500 in pending fraudulent charges, and a case number was issued.

Disturbance: Officers came across a street disturbance where one male was aggressively pursuing another male with the intent to physically assault them. The aggressor alleged the other male was providing an illegal substance to his minor son. The other male admitted to giving the minor the substance, and an investigation into potential charges was initiated.

Assist Other Agency: A cross-report detailing a physical altercation between a minor and their parent was investigated. The minor claimed the parent used a belt to strike them, while the parent stated they physically restrained the minor after the minor became combative following a dispute.

Tuesday, Jan. 13

Crash: A serious head-on collision between a white sedan and a large commercial truck occurred at an intersection. Both drivers were uninjured but shaken. County and state law enforcement agencies took over the scene.

Theft: A business owner reported that an intruder had entered their office through a hidden door, stolen a camera, and possibly attempted to open a safe overnight. Video footage showed the lower half of the suspect’s body, appearing to be female. The owner declined to press charges against an apartment renter who knew about the hidden door, and the renter denied involvement.

Welfare Check: A state human services agency requested a welfare check for an employee who had not returned from an extended vacation and was unresponsive to contact. Officers spoke with a relative at the residence, who confirmed the employee was in the process of traveling back and would contact work the next day. The reporting agency was updated.

Suspicious Person: A business owner reported the same male from a nearby pub was again seen on video, after previously being reported for urinating on the side of the building. The new video showed the male adjusting his trousers and apologizing but did not confirm the act. Bar staff were advised to instruct the male to use the indoor facilities.

Arrest: A vehicle was stopped for a driving violation. The driver was warned, but the passenger was found to have an active failure to appear warrant from an outof-county jurisdiction. The passenger was arrested and transported to the county jail.

Wednesday, Jan. 14

Open Door: Officers investigated a silver vehicle matching the description of a wanted person’s car. They found the front door of a nearby residence open and the doorknob broken. After attempting contact, a female resident confirmed everyone inside was safe, and no further action was required.

Suspicious Activity: A report was made of two males taking a plastic trash can full of items from a university campus. The broken trash can, which contained homework, was later found in a townhome area. Campus security requested the individuals be banned from the property if identified.

Welfare Check: Emergency services requested a check on an elderly male who had fallen and had a forehead cut but had refused medical aid and walked away. An officer located the male, who was highly intoxicated and disoriented, and provided him with a courtesy ride home to prevent further issues.

Suspicious Person: A resident reported a truck and a group of people outside her house, knocking on the door. The individuals were identified as utility workers attempting to access an easement, which the resident stated she had previously denied them permission to use. She asked them to stop the unwelcome contact.

Crash: A two-vehicle T-bone collision occurred. A passenger in the struck vehicle sustained a head injury and was transported by medics for a possible concussion. The driver of the striking vehicle was cited for a traffic violation, and their vehicle was towed.

Traffic Assist: An officer provided traffic control to assist a passerby who was towing a broken-down pickup truck out of a left turn lane.

Warrant Arrest: A male was located at a local laundromat and arrested on an outstanding warrant for a parole violation related to

trespassing.

Driving Under the Influence: A driver failed field sobriety tests with a BAC of 0 13%. The individual was lodged at the county jail, and their vehicle was parked at a nearby street address.

POLK COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

Wednesday, Jan. 7

At 2:03 a.m., a resident on Ash Street reported a female subject had a knife to her wrist. The female subject advised she did not know why the other person called.

At 7:01 a.m., a resident on Perrydale Road reported a late burglary. The resident found a side door open.

Deputies cleared the house and surrounding buildings and didn’t find anyone inside. They noticed the window next to the front door had been broken in and a safe was tipped over in the hallway. They found a hand print on the safe and lifted fingerprints from it. They also found and took into evidence a small K-Bar knife found outside the front door on the ground. The resident could not identify anything missing after walking through the house.

At 7:09 a.m., a report of a suspicious vehicle parked on Perrydale Road. It turns out to be a caregiver who got to work early and was eating her breakfast before starting her shift.

At 10:49 a.m., a male subject on Pacific Highway was arrested and charged with harassment after admitting to grabbing another subject by his shirt during a heated argument and that resulted in the victim falling to the ground.

At 12:33 p.m., two cell phones that had been found and left two months ago at the American Market on Grand Ronde Road were turned over to deputies.

At 11:11 a.m., a resident on Orchard Knobb Road reported two fraudulent charges were made to her bank account, one for Apple. com ($1 103 90) and one for Meta.com ($548 75). Wells Fargo declined the charges, canceled the card the charges were made to and will be shipping Sharon a new card. Meta.com showed the item had shipped and provided a tracking number. No money was deducted from the resident’s account.

At 4:41 p.m., Bryce Branson was arrested on Wyatt Street and charged with violating his restraining order.

Thursday, Jan. 8

At 1:24 a.m., a report of an unverified alarm on Fort Hill Road that had been going off repeatedly due to delivery truck drivers. A check of the property and building found it to be secure.

At 2:52 a.m., Independence Police contacted the occupants of a vehicle on 11th Street. The passenger lied about his name and date of birth, but later provided his true information. The passenger was found to have a felony warrant, drugs were found on his person, and he was an out of compliant sex offender. The passenger was arrested and lodged at Polk County Jail.

At 3:08 a.m., a deputy located a stolen green 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee on Greenwood Road. The owner was notified and the steering wheel was bode swabbed.

The vehicle was towed.

At 6:53 a.m., a deputy responded to a report of a possible crash near Liberty and Barnhart on Falls City Highway. The complainant stated a dark blue truck had its lights off and did not see anyone around the vehicle.

The deputy made two passes by the area and was unable to locate anything.

At 7:09 a.m., a deputy came across a rollover crash

on Liberty Road. The driver stated he hit black ice on the road and was traveling eastbound at approximately 38 mph. The only damage was to a T-post from the property in the 17500 block of Falls City Road.

At 7:19 a.m., a deputy drove up on what was first believed was a crash on Ellendale Avenue but turned out to be two vehicles that spun out in the ice but did not collide. The deputy assisted both drivers in getting on their way.

At 7:24 a.m., a deputy came upon a vehicle in a ditch on Highway 223 at milepost 6. The vehicle was occupied by a single female who was uninjured. The deputy assisted with traffic control.

At 7:43 a.m., a report of a vehicle that went in a ditch about one mile west of Wallace and Zena road intersection. There were no injuries.

At 7:42 a.m., a deputy came upon a five- to six-vehicle crash with a couple vehicles rolled over. The crash was due to heavy ice in the area. The deputy located a female who needed medical attention and advised dispatch of the need for medics. Oregon State Police arrived on scene and began investigating the crashes.

At 7:50 a.m., a report of a crash on an on ramp where a motorist was negotiating the curve and lost traction on the ice and then rolled the vehicle.

At 8:17 a.m., a deputy arrived on scene to a vehicle that slid off the road due to ice. The vehicle went through an ODOT owned fence and caused damage.

At 8:15 a.m., a motorist going eastbound on Falls City Road hit black ice and spun into a ditch. The final resting place of the vehicle was in the middle of the westbound lane. The driver was able to move the vehicle off of the road.

At 8:59 a.m., a deputy came upon a log truck in the road on Kings Valley Highway. He had gone in the ditch and bent his bumper against his tire. The deputy was able to get him off the road in a driveway and open the road back up.

At 11:07 a.m., a deputy came upon a read-end crash at Orchard and Reed roads. The deputy advised Dallas police and medics to come out for the crash.

At 12:27 p.m., a deputy investigated a report of a crash on Monmouth Highway at Fishback Road. A vehicle was about 20 feet from the roadway in blackberry bushes. The deputy contacted the registered owners, who advised they hit ice earlier in the morning and were working on a tow. Friday, Jan. 9

At 4:52 a.m., deputies contacted a vehicle parked off Highway 22. They observed signs of impairment on the driver, who failed a field sobriety test. He was arrested, charged with driving under the influence of an intoxicant and lodged at Polk County Jail, where he blew a BAC of .08%.

At 9:04 a.m., deputies located Kamron Morgan on Zumwalt Road, who was a suspect in a burglary case. Kamron was arrested without incident.

At 9:15 a.m., a deputy witnessed a motorist fail to come to a complete stop leaving the 7 Star convenience store in Falls City. The driver was cited and released on an outstanding failure to appear warrant out of Marion County.

At 11:32 a.m., a subject found an abandoned, female basset hound on the side of the road on Highway 22 near the Highway 99 exit. The dog was taken to the county dog kennel lodged with food, See POLICE, page B8

From Page B7

water, and a blanket.

At 12:41 p.m., a deputy eating lunch on Edgewater Street was approached by a civilian stating his wife’s vehicle was hit in the parking lot and the driver was not being compliant. The deputy requested Salem Police to come and take over.

At 2:06 p.m., a resident on Gooseneck Road reported mail theft.

At 9:17 p.m., Lloyd Holladay was arrested on Parry Road in Falls City.

At 10:42 p.m., a deputy stood by while tribal police arrested a motorist for driving under the influence of an intoxicant.

At 11:26 p.m., a deputy investigated a report of shots fired in the Greening Driver area but was unable to locate anything.

Saturday, Jan. 10

At 7:56 a.m., a motorist was stopped on Main Street in Independence for failing to maintain a lane. The driver was cited for no operator’s license and expired registration tags.

At 4:09 p.m., a deputy stopped to help a motorist who was stopped at the intersection of Southeast Uglow and Monmouth Cutoff Road that appeared they were

Boys

From Page B1

we’ve gotta get up on teams early,” Holestine said. “We want to put them away early so we can get some of the bench guys in and get them (involved).”

Holestine finished with a game-high 25 points. Ryan Burgett added 15 more while seven other players scored for the Panthers.

For head coach Tyler Allen, success is the payoff for the hard work done away from center stage.

“It’s a testament to two things: practice – perfect practice – and preparation,” Allen said. “We’re not getting ready for games the day of; we’ve been getting ready for them days in advance.”

A tough preseason factored helped shape the Panthers’ skills and mindset, the coach added.

Allen was quick to credit his staff, singling out assistant coach Devin Zinzer.

“He’s in the weight room with these guys an hour to an hour and a half before every game and practice,” Allen said. “Strength, conditioning, injury prevention, mobility … everything. Our bodies are warmed up to a professional level. At that point, we’re just playing basketball.”

The Panthers attacked the paint beginning in the second quarter.

having car troubles. Their engine had blown and it was recently on fire. The driver was able to put it out with some water he had in the car. The deputy and other good Samaritans assisted with getting it off of the road. The good Samaritans helped tow his vehicle back to his house.

At 5:13 p.m., a motorist on Ellendale Avenue was cited for driving while suspended - violation and was warned for no insurance and expired tags.

At 6 p.m., a juvenile was arrested on La Creole Drive and was charged with domestic assault 4 - felony.

At 10:18 p.m., a motorist on Wallace Road was stopped for reasonable suspicion of DUII and a related violation.

The driver was not impaired but did have a felony warrant for parole violation.

The driver was arrested and lodged at Marion County Correctional Facility.

Sunday, Jan. 11

At 1:08 a.m., Jennifer Pangburn, after she crashed her car into a curb near East Ellendale and La Creole Drive, was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of an intoxicant - alcohol and reckless driving, and was cited for refusal to take a breath test. At 2:06 a.m., a deputy came upon a vehicle driving slowly on Highway 22 with

a male walking alongside it. The occupants had been having a verbal argument. They told the deputy it was verbal only with nothing physical. The male agreed to get back in the car and ride home with the driver.

At 3:29 a.m., Jacob Steele Jr., of Portland, was arrested on Highway 223 and was charged with driving under the influence of an intoxicant.

At 3:48 a.m., a motorist on Wallace Road was stopped for no front license plate.

The driver Daryl Spence had a long history of driving while suspended and driving uninsured convictions. He was cited for the violations again in addition for failure to carry/present. After his car was impounded, Spence ran out into traffic and struck the tow truck with a bag he was carrying. Spence was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct.

At 12 p.m., deputies investigated a report of a domestic disturbance on Shetterly Drive. A male subject had tracked a female subject who was escaping a domestic situation in Texas. The male subject was formally trespassed from the location.

At 3:13 p.m., a resident reported a series of burglaries that occurred at his residence on Elkins road, where he has not lived since 2022, but plans to move back. He

reported numerous items stolen and was pretty sure his social security card was stolen as well.

At 5:10 p.m., while on scene of a possible sex offense in progress on Buena Vista Road, a deputy got consent to search one of the potentially involved males’ car. The deputy located 10 7 grams of meth, a scale, and a pipe. Mario Gonzales was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance and was lodged at Polk County Jail.

At 9:18 p.m., a motorist on Bethel Road was cited for speeding 80 mph in a 55-mph zone.

Monday, Jan. 12

At 12:12 a.m., a report of an elk that had been struck and was partially blocking the eastbound lane of travel of Highway 22. A deputy stopped and removed the elk from the roadway, pulling it completely to the shoulder.

Oregon State Police later arrived and dispatch the elk.

At 8:03 a.m., a motorist on Highway 22 was stopped for expired tags. The driver was cited for driving while suspended and driving uninsured. The car was impounded.

At 12:31 p.m., a report of a recent burglary into a Connex and a box truck on Wallace Road. The complainant reported numerous

Central’s Asher Baker (22) is surrounded by Dallas defenders

Porter and Georg Hartwig-Schmidt while driving

all night.”

tools were stolen that valued at least $1,000 and reported batteries to a vehicle were also stolen.

At 8:09 p.m., a motorist on Highway 22 was stopped for illegally changing lanes. The driver was cited for failure to renew his registration.

At 10:26 p.m., a report of a single-vehicle crash into a ditch on Suver Road. The driver was uninjured and showed no signs of impairment.

At 11:20 p.m., a motorist on Highway 223 was eastbound and left the roadway, clipping a power pole, and then crashed into the ditch.

Oregon State Police conducted a field sobriety test on the driver. She was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of an intoxicant.

Tuesday, Jan. 13

At 3:14 p.m., a resident on 55th Avenue reported being a victim of a scam. A caller told her he was Sergeant Clark with PCSO. “Sgt. Clark” told the victim she had missed grand jury and now had a failure to appear warrant. “Sgt. Clark” told her she could pay a fine and be done with it. The scammer sent her a few documents appearing to be a jury summons and a warrant. She withdrew $2 000 from a US bank and used a bitcoin kiosk to transfer the funds. After

This was the team’s fifth win in a row to open league play. Central is tied for first with West Albany, who they will meet this week.

Panthers pull away in fourth to beat rival Dallas, 85-54

On Jan. 13, the Panthers’ scored 29 points in the fourth quarter to win easily at Dallas, 85-54

Central got out of the chutes quickly in the opening quarter as well, netting 26 points.

“This definitely was our best start this year, and strongest fourth quarter defensively and offensively,” Central coach Tyler Allen said.

While the Panthers were hitting on all gears, the Dragons were not. And it was noticeable from the beginning.

the funds we transferred the scammer hung up on her. The real PCSO tried to look up the phone number the scammer used but it was a spoofed number.

At 4:36 p.m., a report of a single vehicle crash involving a dump truck with a load full of wood that took the corner near Corvallis / Oak Hill a little too fast, resulting in a non-injury, but over $2 500 crash. The driver and his friends were able to flip it back over and tow it out of the ditch.

At 6:53 p.m., a report of a single vehicle crash where a motorist on Corvallis Road in heavy fog and mistook a telephone pole for her cue to turn onto Stapleton Road. The car went into a ditch. Dallas Towing was called and they winched the vehicle out. At 7:27 p.m., a report of a stolen credit card that was later used at the Plaid Pantry. A deputy gathered video footage of the suspect, developing a probable cause for theft 2 and other crimes. At 9:09 p.m., a report of a single-vehicle crash on Red Prairie Road. A juvenile driver in heavy fog missed a turn and drove into a field. His parents already had retrieved the car and driven it home and taken the youth to West Valley Hospital to get checked out.

controlling the game and finding his opportunities to score or distribute,” Allen said.

Holestine led all scorers with 21 points. Ryan Burgett added 17 points while three other players – Ty Cirino, Ezra Wells and Baker – reached double-figures.

Dallas rebounded midgame, cutting the deficit to seven points.

“We fought hard, fought back into it, and got it down to single digits,” King said. “The team didn’t give up.”

The Panthers outscored the hosts 55 to 16 in the first and fourth quarters.

Dallas held a 38 to 30 scoring advantage over the middle quarters.

“I told the guys we’ve got to show teams both sides of the coin,” Allen said. “It’s fun when we carry the three-point game, but we’ve got to show we have an inside presence, too.”

Girls

From Page B1

game’s final 22 points.

“Losses sting more when it’s a one-point game,” Richman acknowledged. “But I’m really proud of the girls. There’s no quit in us. We just play. That’s something I appreciate.” It was a different story in the Dragons’ 73-21 non-conference win over Gladstone on Thursday. Defensive pressure fueled the offense.

“We ran our zone against Gladstone, and it really enabled us to get

Balance will ultimately define Central’s season.

“If we want to make a deeper run into the season, we have to show we can play two styles of basketball,” Allen said. “Inside and outside, rebounding, contested balls. That’s what makes us complete.”

Defense remains the team’s foundation, however. Silverton never really figured out

out and run,” Richman said.

This time not only did the girls take their shots, they went in. Especially from beyond the arc.

“We shot the ball with a lot of confidence,” Richman added, “and we hit eight 3-point field goals as a team.”

Going for the trifecta were Lilly Sizemore and Alivia Webster, with three treys and 13 points each. While Nelson and Bready added 10 points each.

A busy week - as in three games in four days - came to an end Friday, with a 52-26 loss to

Central’s pressure – their 42 points was their third lowest point total this season.

“I was so proud of these guys,” the Panthers coach said. “Defense has been our focus for the week or week and a half. The small details that go a long way.”

Holestine agreed.

“Our goal was actually zero points in the first quarter,” Holestine said. “That didn’t happen. But the next best thing was holding them to around 40. The effort was there

visiting Crescent Valley.

The Dragons began play this week 0-5 in league, 3-9 overall.

McKay is in town on Jan. 23. The girls then travel to Woodburn on Jan. 27. Both games begin at 5:30 p.m.

SLOW START DOOMS

PANTHERS AGAINST FOXES

Visiting Silverton got off to a fast start. And never slowed down.

The Foxes outscored Central 15-7 in the first quarter, en route to their 56-38 victory on Friday.

“We just came out slow, so we’ve got to figure that out,” Panthers

Unbeaten in league, the win was special because it came against an elite program.

“It was huge,” Holestine said. “It solidifies us as tied for first in the league and shows that we’re something to reckon with this year.”

The victory confirmed players are also on the same wavelength.

“We’re brothers off the court,” Holestine said. “But on the court, we’re going at each other. Just making each other better.”

coach Marc Burleson said after the game.

Indicators suggested that wouldn’t be the case.

“We had a really good practice this week and a good game (against Dallas),” Burleson said.

“So we’ve got to put that together. The girls have to understand that every game is important.”

The girls have to figure that out quickly, especially against the MidWillamette Conference’s elite teams. Central is 2-2 in league, 3-8 overall.

The Panthers’ wins have come against Woodburn, Dallas and non-conference McKay.

“It was a lack of energy to start, a lack of effort. Central just came out at 100 percent in the first quarter,” Dallas coach Alex King said.

Defensive pressure fueled the late run for the Panthers.

“The fourth quarter was all defense, and so we were able to get the easy score in transition,” Allen said. “Our energy was increasing with each steal or strong rebound. Always great to see at the end of the game.”

Asher Baker and Cooper Larson led Allen’s defense, while Jack Holestine was praised for his all-around play.

“Jack did a great job

None of these teams are ahead of them in the standings.

“To make the playoffs and get our ranking up, we’re going to have to beat teams like Silverton,” he said.

“So we’ll come back to practice, figure it out on Monday and go from there.”

Karlee Matirano led the visitors with 10 points. Silverton cleared its bench early and often, and had 10 players scoring points.

Names had 11 points and five rebounds for the Panthers. While Ava Sanchez added eight

“It was belief, flying around on defense, and getting the shots we needed on offense,” King said of the improved play. “We did a better job of running what we wanted, getting our looks, and not forcing anything. That stretch was good.” Lukas Lawless sparkled for the Dragons, scoring a team-high 21 points, while Nick Walker had 11 There is another silver lining to this loss, King noted.

“We fought hard, fought back into it, and got it down to single digits. They didn’t give up,” he said. “We’re learning. We’re learning a lot.” As of Friday, the Panthers were 8-3 overall. They’re in Lebanon on Jan. 23 and West Albany on Jan. 27. Both games are at 7 p.m.

more and six rebounds. One positive note is that Central was on target from the free-throw line, connecting on 13-of-16 attempts. Burleson wants his team at the line more often.

“We drive to the basket just as much as other teams do, but we don’t get to the line very often. So when we do get there, it’s important that we make them,” he said.

“Every opportunity is a good opportunity.”

The Panthers now take their act on the road, as they’re in Lebanon on Jan. 23, and South Albany on Jan. 27