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Wednesday December 4, 2024 | Volume 148, Issue 49

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Collectors, gamers search ends at new Mythic Finds

County treasurer clashes with commissioners

By DAVID HAYES Editor

Surrounded by dozens of shoppers at their grand opening, David and Serenity Clay are the unlikely youthful proprietors of what they hope is Dallas’s newest hot gathering spot, Mythic Finds. Located at 643 SE Jefferson St., the collectibles and game shop had a soft opening and been getting the curious trickle in over the past month. But when their doors officially opened Nov. 29 after a ribbon cutting ceremony and the curious became serious buyers, the Clays knew they were on to something. “We knew Dallas really needed a spot for younger people, but older people, too, to come hang out, especially during winter when there’s not a lot to do,” said David, 22. “I remember I used to go to the park every summer. Then winter would hit, and I didn’t really want to go to the park anymore. It’s cold!” David and Serenity met and would later marry, as graduates of the Kings Valley Charter School system. David went on to college to pursue a business degree. Although he graduated with associates degree, he decided he couldn’t wait to complete, nor needed, a four-year degree to pursue his real dream. “I just wanted to get started,” he said. Mythic Finds becomes the third collectibles shop to open in Polk County, including Rockin’ Rad Relics in Independence and Everything Blaine Likes in Dallas. David said their business has a little bit of everything to set itself apart from the others. Most of their inventory is newer collectibles from various vendors, as opposed to the older keepsakes that can be found at Everything Blaine Likes.

By DAVID HAYES Editor

PHOTO BY DAVID HAYES

Serenity Clay sells four packs of Pokémon cards to Ike Bodily, 10, of Dallas, during Mythic Finds grand opening Nov. 29. “We work with Blaine’s really closely. They’re really great people,” David said. “They’re more geared toward older collectibles, like G.I. Joe’s, stuff that’s been out for a while. We specialize in newer things, generally. But we have some older things. It’s sorta Ying-Yang, so it works out really well.” He added they bolster their inventory through Alliance, which supplies many of the card shops in the Pacific Northwest, to get all their own card game related things.

Of all the collectibles on their shelves, David admits he most covets their light saber collection. “I love Star Wars. So, we have light sabers that range from beginner grade, full metal, durable, can bang them around and have fun,” he explained. “Then we go all the way up to replica grade where you display them if you have a little more money to spend. Such as one-to-one recreation of Darth Vader’s light saber from the movie.” Serenity, 21, who is co-owner but defers to David’s more extensive

business experience, never-the-less said opening a store like Mythic Finds “is something I’ve always wanted to do for a long time.” Her in-store favorite? “I’m more into the anime figures, things that you can’t normally find here in Dallas. We try to be unique with our anime,” she said. In addition to their inventory, Mythic Finds has space to play the popular tabletop card and board See SEARCH PAGE A3

Seniors serve seniors Thanksgiving meal By DAVID HAYES Editor

A Thanksgiving tradition has been revitalized in the Central High School Cafeteria. The seniors of the Associated Student Body Executive Council annually served a traditional Thanksgiving meal, with all the trimmings, to senior citizens the day before the holiday. But the pandemic had interrupted the community event. On Nov. 27, two years out since it was declared safe to return to public gatherings, Central is also seeing a resurgence to their community dinner. Student Activities Director Ian Imamura said this year’s meal service had one of the largest turnouts since COVID. He said since last year, they’ve been averaging about 100 diners. “It’s all student led, student government coordinated. They plan it, coordinate it with cafeteria folks that cater food,” Imamura said. “The community donations come from businesses for some of the prizes for bingo and raffles (after the meal).”

PHOTO BY DAVID HAYES

Central High School senior Truman Swestzfager serves up dessert of pumpkin pie to diners at the Associated Student Body Executive Council’s annual (pre) Thanksgiving seniors meal Nov. 27 at the school cafeteria. Imamura said the traditional meal is open to anyone in the community, though the ASBEC reaches out to all

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

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the senior centers in town to ensure everyone gets an invitation.

“It’s a great place to converse with See SENIORS, page A3

The first in-person conversation between Polk County treasurer and the county commissioners ended abruptly with no progress made toward bridging the gap caused by a legal judgement against the county. Yamhill County Judge Ladd Wiles ruled in September in favor of County Treasurer Steve Milligan the county unlawfully changed his duties and reassigned them to an unelected financial director’s position. The commissions scheduled Milligan on their Nov. 26 agenda to outline what he needed from them so he could fulfill his duties as the duly elected county treasurer. Milligan first tried to outline contradictions and inconsistencies in the county’s correspondence detailing his duties in the past. Milligan first read from Wiles’ Oct. 31 general judgement and monetary award that instructed the county to pay Milligan $42,500 in attorneys’ fees and $517 in other court costs. However, Wiles also ruled Milligan was not entitled to an additional $300,000 in back pay. Milligan said Wiles found as the duly elected county treasurer, the state Constitution clearly entitled Milligan “to fulfill the statutory authority, responsibilities, or functions of the office.” And absent his authority, any attempt to reassign those responsibilities to an unelected employee “who is not hired by and does not report to the treasurer, are unlawful.” Milligan tried to go further into how the county did reassign the treasurer’s duties via an inter-office memo from 2015. Milligan said memo outlined alternatives detailing hiring a finance position and electing a full-time treasurer, while keeping the treasurer’s salary the same at approximately $72,000. “What I want to point out is that (County Administrator Greg) Hansen continually tries to tell me the treasurer is a part-time job. But in this document, he contradicts that where he writes the treasurer is a full-time position,” Milligan argued. County chair Craig Pope interjected with their first disagreement of the facts. “No, he did not. That was an alternative of three alternatives that were posted before the board of commissioners made a decision,” Pope said. “In the four years I’ve been here, I’ve never had any cooperation from Mr. Hansen,” Milligan countered. He then read from a Chief Treasurer Clerk (that has since been changed to a financial analyst) specification that detailing the job’s primary duties. The analyst is supposed to work under the direction of the treasurer who in return See CLASHES, page A3

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