PIO36 by C.M.I.

Sports

Local archer learns how to get to the Carnegie Hall of national finals See B1

Wednesday March 6, 2024 | Volume 148, Issue 010

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Polk County women’s service club celebrates 110th birthday By DAVID HAYES Itemizer-Observer

DALLAS FIRE & EMS PHOTOS

Dallas Fire & EMS firefighters decide to take a defensive stance against a fire that broke out near the old mill site at the end of Lyle Street at about 12:30 a.m. March 4.

Cause of commercial fire, explosions under investigation Shortly before 12:30 a.m. Monday, neighbors were awoken by the sound of an explosion near the old mill site in Dallas. “We’re on Ash Street and heard it too,” Dallas resident Nathan Myers shared on Facebook. “We can see flames two-stories high from our place.” “I heard at least one big boom and I swear I felt it,” added Fir

Villa neighborhood resident Robert Hensell. Dallas Fire & EMS units were dispatched to a reported structure fire at the end of Lyle Street. Upon arrival, units found a heavily involved commercial structure and immediately called for additional help. According to Dallas Fire & EMS, due to the extent of the fire, explosions and

water supply issues, crews took a defensive approach to the fire. “This fire presented several hurdles, using cooperation and coordination with our mutual aid partners we were able to successfully manage and extinguish this fire,” Dallas Fire & EMS wrote on their Facebook page. There were no firefighter or civilian injuries. The fire remains under

investigation in coordination with the Oregon State Fire Marshal. “We want to thank our partners Polk County Fire District No.1, SW Polk Fire District and Salem Fire Department for assisting us with apparatus and personnel,” Dallas Fire & EMS wrote. “Thank you to Dallas Oregon Police Department for keeping the area clear as well.”

Mayors tout joint successes at state of cities By DAVID HAYES Itemizer-Observer

While the annual, state of the city address is an opportunity for a mayor to tout the accomplishments and road bumps still to overcome from the previous year, the leaders for neighboring Monmouth and Independence had many overlapping successess that impacted both communities. John McArdle spoke first for Independence during the adress to a standing-room only conference room inside the new Monmouth City Hall on Feb. 28. He said the spirit of collaboration was borne out of All Hands Leadership meets that grew in the wake of the COVID pandemic. “Officials representing every public entity in Independence and Monmouth still meet biweekly to exchange ideas and discuss how to support each other’s efforts,”

McArdle said. “This collaboration won a regional award from the MidValley Council of Governments, and I think it has led to other successful partnerships.” One such partnership he highlighted was teaming with Monmouth and Cherriots to roll out the MI Trolley. He thanked Rep. Paul Evans and Sen. Deb Patterson for helping secure the funding that allowed the two communities to test a new form of rural transit. “With over 100,000 rides since its launch in April, the trolley is an incredible success,” McArdle said. “People are better able to access jobs, go grocery shopping, and run errands using the trolley. The school district has even told us that attendance is up at K through 8 levels and parents are telling them it’s because their kids are riding the trolley to and from school. What an amazing and unexpected benefit.”

PHOTOS BY DAVID HAYES

Independence Mayor John McArdle speaks to a roomful of community members at the new Monmouth City Hall during the joint State of the Cities presentation Feb. 28. The MI Trolley recently received a statewide award for innovation in government from the League of

As social services clubs struggle to maintain membership following the years after the COVID pandemic, the General Federation of Women’s Club helped celebrate Polk County Service Club’s longgevity at it’s 110th birthday March 2. After a ribbon cutting by current members, Mayor John McArdle kicked off a cavalcade of guest speakers at the club’s Independence headquarters at 340 S. 3rd St. On behalf of the city of Independence, McArdle wished the organization a happy birthday and thanked them for their contributions to the community. “The things this organization has done, and I will tell you, I was over there (reading the records of minutes from the earliest club meetings), what I didn’t know about this organization that it provided milk during the depression, that it raised money during World War II, it has hosted, more, different kinds of events,” See 110TH, page A3

There’s a lot more to Butter Sugar Coffee than its name By LANCE MASTERSON For The Itemizer-Observer

Monmouth Mayor Celelia Koontz outlines the successes her city accomplished among the city council’s top goals for 2023.

There is more to Butter Sugar Coffee than the name suggests. Sure, you can find traditional coffee house drinks alongside fresh baked goods, like waffle sticks, on the menu. And there is a drive-thru window for those in a hurry. Step inside, however, and you’ll also find herbal remedies and teas alongside oddities and curiosities. “I think people, when they walk in, they’re surprised,” Valerie Ouellette said. “They’re like, wow, what is all this? And they’re like, oh my gosh, I need some incense, or I need some essential oils. They’re surprised to find it on hand.” Ouellette’s business partner is Alex Andrade. They chose to triple down in order to increase clientele. “I think it’s really hard in today’s market, like the post-COVID world. It’s hard to navigate on how you make money, and so you can’t just do one thing,” Andrade said. “You

See CITY, page A8

See COFFEE, page A3

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

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A4 A4 A6 B2 B2 B3 B7 B7

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