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Falls City

WOU

Falls City schools to start seismic upgrade of high school gym See A2

WOU’s Aquarium Science program showcases new aquarium See A5

Wednesday March 27, 2024 | Volume 148, Issue 013

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Dallas fights ongoing battle to keep aging schools in good repair By DAVID HAYES Itemizer-Observer

PHOTO BY DAVID HAYES

Salem Health Hospitals and Clinics’ Lane Shetterly, past-chairman of the Board of Trustees, and President and CEO Cheryl Nester Wolfe, cut the ribbon March 20 officially opening the new specialty clinic on West Valley Hospital’s campus in Dallas.

New specialty clinic opens on West Valley Hospital Campus By DAVID HAYES Itemizer-Observer

Expanded outpatient services are soon to be available at Salem Health’s West Valley Hospital in Dallas with the opening of its new

specialty clinic on the hospital campus. As part of its continued Polk County investment, Salem Health has renovated the building at 1050 SE Uglow Ave., across the street from the hospital, to house West Valley Hospital’s outpatient services

for wound care, anticoagulation, infusion, medication management and outpatient rehabilitation. Salem Health Hospitals and Clinics marked the grand opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony on March 20. This new clinic builds on the expansion at West Valley

Hospital, beginning with the opening of 25 swing beds at the hospital last year. During the ceremony, guest speaker Lane Shetterly, past-chairman of the Board of Trustees for See NEW, page A10

Central student becomes family’s second sibling appointed to West Point Faith Fitts joins brother John at military academy By DAVID HAYES Itemizer-Observer

Faith Fitts was really happy for her brother John when he received an appointment to West Point last year. Two months removed from receiving her own appointment, looking back, she also feels a little like he stole her thunder. “When he found out, I didn’t want people to think I was following in his footsteps,” Faith admitted. It was, after all, her idea to apply to the U.S. Military Academy. The siblings come from a long line of family members with military experience. “My dad was in the military, my uncle. Lots of family. Before I could

walk, I always had it in my head to join. It’s a free, guaranteed career. West Point is just a way to get there faster,” Faith said. “I admire people in the military. To be a servant leader, somehow pay it back to my country. The values, I just look up to people in the miliary whole life.” It just took Faith a year later than John to earn her appointment to West Point. A senior at Central High School, Faith said she learned the good news directly from the source who nominated her. “I got an unexpected call from Sen. (Ron) Merkley. He said he was so proud that I was getting a full appointment, that (afterwards) I ran inside crying, and told my mom,” Faith said. “I was overwhelmed with PHOTO CONTRIBUTED joy.” Faith Fitts, a senior at Central High School, will be joining her brother John at the West Point Military Academy in the See FITTS, page A9 fall.

While Bob Archer has been the Dallas School District’s director of facilities for just the last five years, he’s actually been in facilities maintenance going on 2 ½ decades. He loves his job overseeing the upkeep of large organizations. “It’s never a dull moment. I never look at that (pointing at the clock on the wall of his office). It’s very fast paced. Very, very busy and lots of challenges,” Archer said. Keeping him busy these days is managing the projects approved within the last school bond. The voters approved a $28 million general obligation bond on May 17, 2022. And the state of Oregon threw in another $4 million capital improvement matching grant. Archer said the school district designated $12.765 million for the first issuance of the bond and expects the second half, $15.235 million, to be issued in June. He shared what projects have been completed so far and what still lies ahead for the school district. In 2020, the DSD established a long-range facilities planning committee to develop priorities for the district. The emphasis so far has been roofing, building envelopes (exterior), HVAC, heating, safety/security in all district buildings in all projects through the summer. The largest project started last August at La Creole Middle School. “That was fun starting a project right when school starts,” Archer said sarcastically. The front entrance was rerouted as it was converted to a construction zone. Contractors are installing a safety vestibule and modernizing the old administration and reception space. “They’re making it a controlled entry,” Archer said. “The security/ vestibule upgrades were a part of the bond scope.” He said crews are adding card access controls, new fire alarm system, intercom system and video system campus wide. HVAC and roofing upgrades were completed last year. Sealing up the building envelope, sealing the rock and masonry. Looking ahead to summer projects when students are out of the buildings, Archer has scheduled work on Dallas High School’s interior security See DALLAS, page A9

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

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