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Teen Aviation Weekend provides students with confidence to soar See A2

World premier concert features Dallas alum See A3

Wednesday March 20, 2024 | Volume 148, Issue 012

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Senator REMARKABLE REPTILES Wyden Expo bring hundreds of their devotees to fairgrounds

brings town hall tour to Polk County

By LANCE MASTERSON For The Itemizer-Observer

Count Victoria Owen among those surprised by how popular Saturday’s Reptopia Reptile Expo at the Polk County Fairgrounds turned out to be. Owen is experienced when it comes to the world of snakes and slithery things. She owns Reptopia in Albany, and has rescued and rehabilitated bearded dragons and other reptiles for 25 years. She also organized the expo, reportedly the first of its kind at the fairgrounds. Early indications are that attendance surpassed expectations. “We were expecting maybe 300 people for the whole show. Well, I think we’ve seen more than 700 (paying customers) go through the door so far,” Owen said, with several hours to go in the show. “We had a great response from the community, and everyone coming through the door says it’s about time something fun happened in this area.” The expo drew hundreds of devotees, some 60 vendors, and filled three of four rooms in the main building. All this with little money spent on advertising. “Give credit to our wonderful customers - and vendors - for spreading the word about our expo for months,” Owen said. “It’s been all word-of-mouth and social media. That’s the only advertising we’ve been doing.” It appears at least one more reptile expo is in Polk County’s future. “We’ve already got our date booked for next year,” Owen said. Those entering the building found themselves surrounded. No vendor space went empty. Reptile lovers and the simply curious packed the aisles. Large reptiles clung to the backs of their vendors, or wrapped themselves around necks and arms. Even Caeser,

By DAVID HAYES Itemizer-Observer

PHOTO BY LANCE MASTERSON

Shanti Cain and Twinkie, an albino red-tailed boa, are both from Creature Teachers, one of 60 vendors at the first-ever Reptopia Reptile Expo held at the Polk County Fairgrounds on Saturday. the No Drama Llama, made an appearance. Creature Teachers was one of the first booths encountered as people entered the building. It was staffed

by owner Shanti Cain and several of I could be right up front at the gate. her reptilian friends. Her prime loca- So when the kids come in, they can tion didn’t happen by chance. see it, and feel it and be close to it,” “I registered for this expo a year and a half ago. I reserved my spot so See EXPO, page A10

State of Dallas is “good” Mayor outlines accomplishments, goals for 2024 By DAVID HAYES Itemizer-Observer

PHOTO BY DAVID HAYES

Mayor Ken Woods Jr., updates the community on Dallas’s well being at the annual state of the city March 14.

During scaled back ceremony March 14, Dallas Mayor Ken Woods Jr. assured his audience at the Civic Center that “the state of the city is good.” Woods read through a quick summary of the city’s accomplishments over the past year and what residents can look forward toward in 2024 and beyond.

Expansion was his first key topic, as Woods first welcomed such new businesses as Dreamies Creamery and Open Road Transportation and the growing facilities at West Valley Hospital and the Dallas Public Library. He pointed toward the acquisition of 791 Main St., calling it a “milestone in eliminating vacant spaces” where it will be incorporated into the city’s economic revitalization plans by the Urban Renewal Agency to construct into a mixed-use building. Woods also touched on the urban renewal project of the city installing See STATE, page A10

Since Oregon’s U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden entered the office in 1996, he’s hosted more than 1,000 town halls across the state. At number 1,073 in Polk County March 15, Wyden turned the microphone over to his constituents to hear what was on their minds in questions ranging from the border and spending to health care and Israel’s war with Hamas. He kicked off the proceedings extolling the importance of these town hall meetOregon’s U.S. Sen. ings when their elected Ron Wyden senator is perceived to be unreachable across the country. “You realize a lot of Oregonians think Washington D.C. for them might as well be Mars, because it doesn’t have any connection to their life. So, the point of these meetings is to make sure everybody can get heard,” Wyden said. The first question touched on a hot-botton topic right out of the gate – how the murder of University of Georgia student Laken Reily allegedly by an illegal alien from Venezuela plays into the problem with the situation at the border. “So, I was wondering, you as a senator, do you have any place to help correct this problem that we’re having?” Wyden was asked. While admitting the system is broken and that there was “plenty of blame to go around,” over why that was, Wyden touted his votes for laws that have provided over $136 billion over the last few years funding officers, technology, equipment, physical barrier at the border. He also highlighted a bill written by Republican James Langford from Oklahoma that appeared to have bi-partisan support to pass “until Donald Trump came in at the end and opposed it.” “The answer to your question is there is no doubt that on these hot button issues – immigration, taxes, couple others – (there’s a) tremendous amount of politics going back and forth. I’m of the mind the best See WYDEN, page A3

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

A7 A7 A6 B2 B2 B5 B9 B4

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