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Wednesday May 14, 2025 | Volume 150, Issue 20 www.polkio.com

Dallas woman found guilty in retrial of 2011 child abuse case

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Touch-A-Truck

Rick Dormer

Staff REPORT

Tara Leeann Griffin (formerly Davies), of Dallas, has been convicted of assault in the first degree and criminal mistreatment in the first degree involving an infant child under her care. Griffin, 41, was found guilty by Polk County Circuit Judge pro tem Timothy R. Park after a four day trial to the court held in April. Griffin was previously found guilty of these same charges in 2011 by a Polk County jury and sentenced to serve 10 years in prison. However, that conviction was overturned by recent Supreme Court decisions finding that non-unanimous jury verdicts are unconstitutional and granting her a new trial. In her first trial, Griffin was convicted by an 11-1 vote of the jury. Polk County District Attorney Aaron Felton said, the retrial was an important step in the process. “It was important that the integrity and justice of the first trial outcome be maintained, while fully respecting the due process rights of the defendant as our appellate courts envision,” Felton said in a press release. Felton prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Dallas Police Department. The first prosecution was overseen by the Oregon Department of Justice. Griffin will be sentenced on May 13 (after the I-O’s deadline).

Third property tax payment due The Polk County Tax Office reminds taxpayers who pay their property taxes in trimester payments that the third installment is due by Thursday (May 15). Payments may be mailed, paid online, by phone, or in person at the Polk County Tax Office. There is also a secure tax payment drop box in the parking lot on the Jefferson Street side of the Courthouse. It is located on the north end of the parking lot and is the first of two drop boxes. Credit, debit card and e-Check payments may be made online or by phone. Call Toll free 1-866-215-1835 or visit www. co.polk.or.us There is a 2.49% convenience fee on Credit/Debit transactions, or payment by e-Check is $2.00. Payments that are mailed MUST bear the May 15 postmark to avoid interest.

PHOTO BY DAVID HAYES

The city of Independence’s annual Touch a Truck event drew thousands to River View Park May 10 that gave youth a chance to get up close behind the wheel or controls of commercial vehicles, from construction behemoths to emergency service transports. Here’s a look at the images captured during the event. Pictured is Salem toddler Alex Bucynski, 2, behind the controls of an R44 helicopter. See more Touch a Truck photos on page A8

ODOT to block left turns on hazardous Highway 22/51

roundabout design projected out to a 20-year lifespan.” In addition, the project includes Representatives for ODOT gave beefing up access roads north and an update for their progress on south of Highway 22 to help locals the Highway 22 and Highway 51 bypass the busy thoroughfare. intersection project to improve ODOT estimates for the entire safety along the corridor. While project is between $280-$300 the estimated $300 million project million. is still years from being funded, it Anna Hansen, ODOT Area 3 has progressed through planning, Manager, admits that is a “chunk design and environmental study of change.” The best way to fund phases. The biggest development, the overall project will be in several as per a suggestion by the County phases. Commissioners last fall was to “If we can phase these out in install barriers to prevent left hand $50 million increments, I know turns along the corridor, the biggest that’s still a lot of money, those are contributor to the crashes. numbers maybe we could apply for According to ODOT, between grants,” Hanesn said. Rickreall Road and just east of ODOT has studied since the last Doaks Ferry Road, there were 141 crashes reported from 2018 to 2022. public open house in June 2023 four Of those, several occurred in specific different interchange alternatives and different access roads layouts. sections of the project area: During the studies, go through the - 15% of the crashes occured at “value engineering”ODOT goes the intersection of Highway 22 and thorugh the engineering process, 51. - 43% were between Highway 51 picking apart the project plans for oversites of obvious solutions, cost and 50th Avenue, with four fatal or savings and phasings. ODOT has serious injury crashes. gone over the 22 value engineering - 12 % of the crashes were team recommendations over the last between Highway 22 and Doaks nine months. Ferry Road intersection One of the top recommendations - 30% of the crashes occurred to surface was preventing dangerous between Rickreall Road and left-hand turns. Highway 51 turnoff, with fave fatal “In order to get the safety benefit, or serious injury crashes. a median barrier would need to be The current working design to put down the entire length of 22/51 improve safety and traffic through to address key safety problems,” the area is installing roundabouts Rethnasamy said. either side of Highway 22, one on Initially, it was thought the barrier northbound Oak Grove Road and could only be installed at the end of one on southbound Oak Grove Road, with interchange exits leading the project. However, Rethnasamy explained ODOT has been looking to flyover lanes over Highway 22. into how to bring that phase forward Rethnasamy clarified to clear up sooner. rumors circulating the community “There’s a recognition we need that no roundabouts are planned on to do some things sooner rather Highway 22 itself through the area. “Previously we looked at a round- than later. At the suggestion of Commissioner Mordhorst (the about for 22 and 51 as opposed to an interchange. What we found was suggestion was later attributed to Commission Chair Craig Pope) it would break down very quickly.” was to restrict some of the turns said Kumar Rethnasamy, ODOT at 55 and 51,” Rethnasamy said, Project Manager. “Adding the dual David HAYES IO Editor

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

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Dormer named new Central High School principal Staff REPORT

“specifically the left turnout as you’re coming out of Highway 51 going west toward the coast.” He added this will look similar to the Doaks Ferry Road Northwest intersection. ODOT will be rerouting traffic via South Oak Road and work with Polk County partners to make that happen. Other safety improvements include: - Install new signs where needed on Highways 51 and 22. - Install a barricade restricting left turns toward the coast will also prevent crossing the highway north to 55th Avenue. - Define the Highway 22 turn lane with tubular markers and shoulder rumble strips. - Reapply striping and reflective markers. The planning, NEPA environmental study and preliminary design phases have already been funded and completed. The next phases after 2025 that still need to be funded are right-of-way property acquisition and final design, followed by the final construction phase. Rethnasamy said they’re still working out the details, but the phases could be broken down into classifications. - Clear the entire project under Environmental assessment that takes about one year, which allows ODOT to do environmental and design portions concurrently. - Or potentially looking at different phases and clear them one at a time as they become funded. Commissioner Kyle Mordhorst, the board liaison to ODOT, said he thinks this project is going to really help this region. “At the same time, all these accidents we’ve been facing have been created by people making poor decisions. It’s human error that are causing them,” he said.

Rick Dormer has accepted the role as principal at Central High School. He will begin serving in the 2025-26 school year. Dormer brings a sense of stability after a string of interim leaders. Dale Pedersen started last year on an interim basis, and decided to stay on for another year. However, he had to take leave this spring. Greg English stepped in as current interim principal. Dormer said in a Central School District press release that he is excited to start building relationships with the staff and to get to know the students. “I want to get involved in student leadership and check out all of the activities – athletics, band, drama, etc – see what the students put their extra energy into,” Dormer said. Dormer previously served as principal at Ketchikan High School in Ketchikan, Alaska. He also serves as the president of the Alaska Association of Secondary School Principals. “I believe Rick’s knowledge of teaching and learning, along with his experience as a building leader, will give Central exactly what is needed,” said Monmouth Elementary School Principal Kim Seidel, who facilitated the search process for the new high school principal. “He understands what it’s like to be a teacher, and is really dedicated to building a school that is focused on rigor, relevance, and relationships,” Seidel said. “He is dedicated to Central, and plans to spend many years at CHS.” When applying for the position, Dormer said what stood out to him was the way students help each other. “They already have a pantry and clothes closet. The students are finding out how to serve their own student population. That’s so great, how they’re thinking of others, Dormer said, adding he’s also eager to help students achieve their next steps through the college and career center. Dormer was raised in Philomath, Oregon, and coached soccer in the

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