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Wednesday March 19, 2025 | Volume 150, Issue 12

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Reptopia slithers back into fairgrounds County filling the gap in bridge projects By DAVID HAYES I-O Editor

Veronica Owens developed a love for bearded dragons 26 years ago. That grew into an obsession rescuing and rehabilitating them. “I’ve only known my husband (Troy) for 14 years. He kind of married into this. So, it’s been my passion for a very long time,” Veronica said. Now, hundreds of reptile enthusiasts join the Owens annually at the Reptopia Reptile Expo at the Polk County Fairgrounds. Named after their store in Albany, Reptopia featured 48 vendors March 22 exhibiting all sorts of exotic reptiles, amphibians, free roaming tortoises, and even some axolotls, Veronica said. “There was not an expo in this area.We just thought it was needed,” she added. “It’s a really good turnout. I think we have surpassed last year.” Because Reptopia has consistently drawn fellow reptile lovers like the Owens, Veronica said next year they’re looking to expand to some rooms within the county fairground’s main building they didn’t use this year to feature some warm blooded exotics, like sugar gliders and sphinx cats. “It makes me feel great that we’re reaching out to the community and the community just loves reptiles, the exotics. The plants! My goodness,” Veronica said. While all the vendors have to be reptile related, not all are selling live animals. She said one vendor is selling earrings and they’re all reptile related. “Everybody attends. From kids to seniors. We have some couple groups of disabled people come through here. It’s amazing. Just the look on their face. They’re just in awe,” Veronica said. Her husband added he’s amazed at the following they have.

By DAVID HAYES I-O Editor

“I see a lot of people who are our customers. And I saw one gentleman we bought a lot of chameleons from out in Lincoln City,” Troy said. “Our network around the reptile community has grown tremendously. We’re going to keep doing this until no one wants us to do it anymore.” Reily’s Reptopia 939 Pacific Blvd SE, Albany (503) 999-9665 Find them on Facebook

PHOTOS BY DAVID HAYES

(Top) Courtney Fox takes a photo of the Franklyn family (from left) Jarrod, Zane, Kinsley and Sophia, getting familiar with a miniature alligator. (Bottom) Bliss Baxter asks visitors to the Reptopia reptile expo if they’d like to pet Candy, an albino Burmese python raised out of Oregon Reptile Views.

Dallas promotes Jerry Mott as next police chief Following an extensive recruitment and selection process, the city of Dallas has promoted Jerry Mott from within the ranks of its police department to be the new chief of police. Mott, the current deputy chief of police for Dallas, brings 26 years of law enforcement experience to the role. Mott will transition into the chief role as current Police Chief Tom Simpson plans to retire at the end of June. Mott will officially assume his new position on July 1.

Mott began his career in law enforcement as a cadet with the Oregon State Police and was a sheriff’s deputy before joining the Dallas Police Department in 2004. Over the years, he has risen through the ranks, earning a reputation as a dedicated leader committed to public safety and community engagement. “Deputy Chief Mott has been a close and active partner in the leadership of the Dallas Police Department for a number of years,”

Simpson said. “He has demonstrated himself to be a dedicated leader who cares for his staff and the community he serves. Many of our successes as an agency are largely due to his contributions and efforts. I’m excited to watch Dallas PD evolve into the future with Chief Mott at the helm of a great team.” City Manager Brian Latta expressed his confidence in Mott’s leadership.

“Jerry is a proven leader. I have full confidence in him and his ability to be an excellent Police Chief for our community,” Latta said. “I further wish to express my gratitude for each of the candidates who dedicated themselves to go through this selection process.” Mott, too, was looking forward to serving in the new role. “I am proud to be a member of a great city team as well as the broader law enforcement community in Polk County,” Mott said.

Todd Whitaker has bridges on his mind. The director of public works for Polk County updated the county commissioners March 11 on the various projects his department has its eyes on for 2025. During his discussion of culvert upkeep projects, Whitaker told the commissioners the state may be demanding too much of Polk County when it comes to a right of way through the Baskett Slough Wildlife Refuge. Public Works already had its sites on the condition of a large diamond culvert on Davis Road that is collapsing and a deep culvert on Corvallis Road in dire need of attention. “That is right at the boundary between the city and the county that is going to be a difficult one,” Whitaker said. “We’ll have to figure out what we’re going to do there.” However, it was the culvert on Coville Road, which traverses east and west through Baskett Slough, that drew the longest discussion. He said the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has asked the county to replace it. But not with another culvert - rather, they want a bridge. “The culvert is in really bad shape so it needs to be replaced anyhow. But they would like us to replace that with a bridge. Because they’re doing a fish passage restoration project on the refuge,” Whitaker said. “So, what will become of that I don’t know. Mostly, if they want to do a bridge, they’ll have to come up with some money. It doesn’t sound like they have any or (that) they can. So, we’ll see where the negotiations lead us on that.” Commissioner Lyle Mordhorst asked if ODFW would allow the county to install a large, oblong-culvert. “They don’t want to do culverts because it doesn’t look good enough,” Whitaker said. Commissioner Jeremy Gordon then wondered how long the county See COUNTY, page A3

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