PIO42 by C.M.I.

Sports

Polk County Readers share ‘Fun in the Sun’ Photos

Cobras Season Opener See B1

See A8

Wednesday April 2, 2025 | Volume 150, Issue 14 www.polkio.com

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DAR honors legacy of Brunk Farmstead

Fun in the Sun

By DAVID HAYES I-O Editor

Lane Shetterly

Dallas city attorney retires after nearly 20 years By DAVID HAYES I-O Editor

For 46 of the last 64 years, the city of Dallas has had a Shetterly as its city attorney. Kenneth Shetterly served the city for 28 years, starting in 1960. After helping in his father’s office, then after a stint in the Oregon Legislature and another heading the state Department of Land Conservation and Development, Lane Shetterly returned to Dallas to serve in the position in 2007. His last day on the job was March 28 and city staff bid their official farewell during the March 17 City Council meeting. City Manager Brian Latta shared the tale of how Shetterly’s reputation preceded his own hiring six years ago. “I had a great city attorney (at Harrisburg), but when I took this job, he said I’m getting the best city attorney in the state,” Latta recalled. “I found that hard to believe, because I loved the city attorney I had before and I couldn’t imagine him being better.” Latta said it didn’t take him very long to determine his former city attorney was right. “Lane is the best city attorney in the state. He is dedicated and committed to making sure the city is run effectively, efficiently and within the bounds of the law,” Latta See ATTORNEY, page A3

one that took proportionately the largest hit is our police department.” To prevent further cutbacks in the department being fully staffed, Monmouth adopted a public safety fee that maintains positions, including a full-time Community Service Officer and two sworn officer positions. “We ultimately made the difficult decision to implement a fee with a commitment to review it each year, as part of our overall revenue picture. We also added a small additional charge to create a hardship fund for those struggling to pay the fee,” Koontz said. Despite economic challenges and slowing growth, Koontz said Monmouth continues to experience some exciting developments, including Olsen Design & Development

Commuters on Highway 22 probably pass daily by a stately twostory home without knowing the historical nature of the 168-year-old farmstead. The Anna Maria Pittman Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution knows the history and significance of the Brunk Farmstead. Their members gathered March 19 to dedicate a plaque by the front door in honor of Thomas Earl Brunk. He, upon his death, donated the Brunk Farmstead - the house, the outbuildings and the land - to the Polk County Historical Society, so that they could continue the preservation of the history of the early pioneers, and of the Brunk family. The local chapter of DAR regularly looks to honor significant historical locals. Christy Short, both a DAR member and the site manager at the Brunk House, knew just a location. “The DAR organization was having a scavenger hunt for historical markers. The chapter gets credit in some way for placing plaques at various places,” Short said. “They place plaques regularly at cemeteries for revolutionary war patriots, and at historical buildings, because it is all about preservation.” DAR member Karen Binder, dressed as Claretta Maria Brunk Sunboard, sister to Thomas Earl Brunk, read a history of the farm. Located at 5705 Highway 22, the Brunk Farmstead was built in 1861 for Oregon pioneers, Harrison and Emily Brunk, and remains one of the oldest two-story homes still standing in Polk County. The farm’s original granary and privy remain on the property. It was recognized as a Century Farm in 1958 and in 1978, was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Over the past three years, Brunk Farmstead underwent interior renovations and the rebuilding of the decorative front porch. Short said last year, the Brunk House had 350 people take part in the public tours on Fridays and Saturdays, of the historic grounds and home, still furnished with

See MAYORS, page A3

See BRUNK PAGE A3

PHOTO BY CHERL ORTIZ-BUCKLEY

For a couple of days last week, it actually felt like a Spring Break worth getting out and celebrating with some fun in the sun. Dallas’s Michael and Cheryl Buckley took the kids Michael and Sophie to the beach. For more fun in the sun photos, see page A8.

Mayors navigate difficult times toward hopeful futures By DAVID HAYES I-O Editor

The mayors of Independence and Monmouth gave their annual joint state of the cities address March 20, sharing the common challenge of maintaining their small-town charm while addressing the needs for a growing population under tightening budgetary means. Indy Mayor Kate Schwarzler Mayor Cecilia Koontz went first, revolving her presentation which added sidewalks between the around a thematic ode to Star Trek. highway and Monmouth Elementary. She recapped the “new frontiers” In one of those too-good-to-be-true Monmouth experienced, includsagas, the bid for that project actuing moving into the new city ally came in under the amount of hall, welcoming the new, such as the grant and we got permission to City Manager Rochelle Roaden, finally put in proper sidewalks on new businesses like Luna’s Café Main Street from Heffley to the S and Bakery, Habebah Coffee & Mediterranean Cuisine, and the new Curves.” However, like most journeys, Monmouth Alley – a former driveway, turned “game spot/picnic stop/ Koontz said the path through 2024 exercise yard/people watching perch/ was not always an easy one. She explained that like most cities in whatever you want to make of it.” Oregon, Monmouth found itself Koontz outlined completed projlooking at a tight budget. ects that seemingly were “light “That meant cutting back years” in the making. employee hours, not filling vacant “We now have safe pedestrian positions and laying off staff in crossings on Highway 99. The departments that comprise the Madrona Street crossing has been General Fund – the services that a huge improvement and we are are intended to be covered by the eagerly awaiting the lights to blink property taxes collected for the city,” on at Church St near the Police Station,” Koontz said. “This was part Koontz said. “The largest of those General Fund departments, and the of a Safe Routes to School grant,

Monmouth Mayor Cecilia Koontz

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