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Wednesday January 22, 2025 | Volume 150, Issue 4

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County Trump protesters bring People’s leaders March to Polk County Court House move fair

levy, waste transfer station to next phase

Staff REPORT

A local contingent of about 20 participated in Saturday’s National People’s March by protesting in front of the Polk County Courthouse hoping to keep their concerns alive about the election of President Donald Trump. Debbie McCleery, born and raised in Dallas, helped organize the gathering, where participants held up signs, including “Hate Don’t Make America Great” and “Feminists vs Fascists” while waving to passing motorists. “Mostly we just want change, for women. We want equal rights, we want everyone to be loved, you can love anyone you want,” McCleery said. Her co-organizer, Emily Herbert, just recently moved to the Dallas Retirement Village. She expanded the concerns the protesters had for the incoming president a day before his inauguration. “Equity for everybody so people are not starving. Economic equity, equal rights. We’re concerned about immigrant rights. Concerned about everyone having a say and not being dominated,” Herbert said. “He said he’s going to take away women’s rights to abortion. They’ve already

By DAVID HAYES I-O Editor

PHOTO BY DAVID HAYES

About 20 President Trump protesters gathered Saturday in front of the Polk County Courthouse as part of the national People’s March. indicated they’re going to start turning in their neighbors as undocumented. That’s divisive. Hitler took over similarly in 53 days. We think that’s the intention of the new administration. I think that’s very terrifying.” While not much traffic traverses through Dallas on a Saturday

morning, McCleery was inspired by the turnout to give voice to their message, especially when related to local events. “We’re thrilled by the turnout. People support each other. We’re pleased by the support the Center Market got,” McCleery said, referencing the Jan. 4 incident where

John Marlas was arrested after driving his truck into the Center Market on Fairview Avenue. “We want to make sure hate crimes are not allowed here. Of any sort. “For me, I’m concerned that our president isn’t protecting those things as our newly elected president,” McCleery added.

Luckiamute Valley Charter School teacher receives presidential award

Wilkins said. “She is incredibly dedicated to bringing exemplary instruction into her classroom every One of the final acts President day. She engages students in creJoe Biden performed two weeks ative hands-on learning and generbefore leaving office was to recates so much excitement for her stuognize more than 300 top science and mathematics teachers across the dents. She absolutely loves teaching country. Luckiamute Valley Charter science at Pedee.” For Zaback, Jan. 13 began like School eighth-grade teacher Stacey any other day at the Pedee campus Zaback was one of those honorees where she teaches science, along to receive the Presidential Award with an art elective and a home for Excellence in Mathematics and room period, for the 75 students Science Teaching. enrolled in the charter school. The honor also came with a “I was out in the school getting personal check in the amount of ready for gardening class when I got $10,000, made out to Zaback. an email,” Zaback recalled. “It was “I’ll probably give some to the an ‘Oh wow’ moment, for certain.” kids, take care of bills,” she said. Wilkins added the entire staff and It was an award two years in student body were thrilled by the the making when LVCS Executive Director Christy Wilkins first nomi- news. PHOTO BY DAVID HAYES “We gathered the students and nated Zaback. Stacey Zaback, an eighth-grade science teacher at “Stacy is one of the most brilliant staff, presented her some flowers, Luckiamute Valley Charter School’s Pedee campus received Prices start @ $20 and innovated teachers I’ve ever had the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and See AWARD, page A3 the pleasure to hire and support,” Science Teaching on Jan. 13. By DAVID HAYES I-O Editor

On Jan. 8, the Polk County Commissioners voted to move two projects to their next phase. First, they voted to move forward on designating a hearings officer to receive the administrator’s recommendation to approve a solid waste transfer franchise, hear testimony, review evidence and make a decision. Next, after hosting a morning and evening public hearing to allow any testimony, they approved staff to write up an Operations Levy for the Polk County Fairgrounds. They only received two pieces of testimony during the public hearings, both in favor of the board moving forward. Fair Board Chair Tim Ray told the commissioners the fairgrounds does an amazing job for the county. “It truly is a resource for our county. And we see this as an investment into that resource, to help with the upkeep, maintenance and improvement of that facility for all citizens of all Polk County,” Ray said. He added the fair board has a master plan detailing where the facility can grow over the next few decades, which include expanding the rodeo grounds and replacing old buildings. “A small infusion of dollars from an operating levy like this would be a huge boost for us to get farther down that road and really improve that facility and make it a facility all of Polk County could cherish,” Ray said. Recently, the fair board developed a project list for the next five years which totals $4 million. The required improvements include electrical, asphalt replacement and HVAC upgrades along with other improvements such as to the main building, relocation of the maintenance shed and main office. Also needed was the the development of an amphitheater/stage area in the northwest corner of the Fairgrounds property. See COUNTY, page 3

Prices start @ $20 Prices start @ $20

Theatre Location 324 52 Ave NW Salem OR 97403 West of Salem off Hwy 22

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

A4 A4 A4 B2 B2 B6 B4 A6

www.PentacleTheater.org www.PentacleTheatre.org www.PentacleTheater.org Theatre Location 503-485-4300 Ticket Office www.PentacleTheater.org 324 Location 52 Ave NW Salem OR 97403 Theatre

503-485-4300 - Ticket Office 503-485-4300 - Ticket Office

Salem off Hwy 22 324 52 Ave NW West SalemofOR 97403 West of Salem off Hwy 22

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