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Polk County

CHS, DHS Battle for Playoff spot

Vintage Bike Photos

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Wednesday May 21, 2025 | Volume 150, Issue 21 www.polkio.com

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Vintage motorcycle club finds County okays new home in Polk County

garbage rate hike

By DAVID HAYES I-O Editor

When the Oregon Vintage Motorcyclists club went in search of a new location for their annual Ride, Show and Swap Meet after more than 40 years in Linn County, organizers think they’ve found their new home here in Polk County. The open field playground area in the northwest corner of the fairgrounds proved to be just the right size for the club’s members to set up their booths and display their vintage rides on May 18 for their 45th annual get together. Club Treasurer John Blumthal said the show was originally held at Benton County Fairgrounds. Then things “kind of went south.” “We decided we needed to move on. We held it out at the state fairgrounds in Salem last year. But some of our folks who came to camp out for the weekend weren’t very happy with the state fairgrounds,” said Blumthal, who considers himself still a “short timer” with the club after being a member for 10 years. “So we looked around again and found the Polk County Fairgrounds. It looks so far like it is going to work out real well here. The campers here are real happy. Blumthal said OVW has about 300 active members, most from the Pacific Northwest, with many crossing over from Washington to their Portland base of operations and other stragglers from as far as Alaska, Idaho and California. Blumthal said the show attracts owners of all types of vintage bikes, including European, Asian and American. Which is perfect for Blumthal himself, as he owns one of each type - a 1968 BSA Lightning, 1971 Triumph Bonneville, 1973 BMW 75/5 and a 1976 Honda TL250 Trials bike.

I-O STAFF REPORT

PHOTOS BY DAVID HAYES

A 1953 Jordan Roadmaster draws some admiring eyes during the Oregon Vintage Motorcyclists club 45th Annual Ride, Show and Swap Meet, held for the first time ever May 18 at the Polk County Fairgrounds. See more event photos on page A8. “I’m a variety pack. Some of the guys one mark specialists and have a half a dozen of those. But I have one of each,” he said, Samuel Justice, who’s been club president for about 15 years and a member for over 20, defined a vintage bike as anything 20 years or older.

Justice said weather conditions (it threatened to rain all weekend) and the venue change two years in a row contributed to reduce their turnout this year. “We do get most people who renew or join here at the show. Typically our gate is about 700

people. We’d like to increase that, said Justice who owns three old Nortons. Justice said the venue at the Polk County fairgrounds has proven popular so far with participants. The only drawbacks was for RV campers See CLUB, page A3

Independence team wins Youth Coding League national title By DAVID HAYES I-O Editor

Team Operation D.O.N.U.T. assembled just the right members to complement each other’s talents to win the Independence Public Library’s first ever national championship in the Youth Coding League. Marshall Martell, 12, was the wiz at graphics, Jake Burbank, 11, was the “pick up the slack guy,” and David Barron, 12, was “the glue who held them together.” The Talmadge Middle School sixth graders have been working together for so many weeks that culminated in the championship April 18, that they were finishing each other’s sentences when they recounted their journey to the top. Jake and Marshall have competed all four four seasons the library has been a part of the league, which is geared toward fifth through eighth grades. David joined them in the second season.

PHOTO BY DAVID HAYES

National Youth Coding League Champions for 5-6 graders are (from left) Marshall Martell, David Barron and Jake Burbank. What attracted them to a virtual battlefield against hundreds of other teams around the country?

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

A4 A4 A4 B2 B2 B6 B4 A6

“I just really like making games, forgetting about them then starting a new project like every five minutes,” Marshall said.

“I just really enjoy it and like to see my projects come to life. And the games,” Jake said. “The comedy,” David added. Patrick Bodily, Independence Library Director, said the league has grown in popularity each year he’s coached it, with 12 this year who stayed this whole season. “As long as they could get to the library, they could be on the team. This year we had kids from Kings Valley, in the past we’ve had kids drive over from Salem. And we’ve had homeschooled students participate all four years,” Bodily said. More importantly, he added, Independence is the first public library in the country to compete in the league, and the only place in Oregon doing it right now. “Having a national championship team is big, for the kids,” Bodily said. “I am secure enough to know it had nothing to do with me. The See CODING, page A3

Following in the wake of the city municipalities, Polk County has approved rate hikes proposed by Brandt’s Sanitary Service Inc. for garbage and recycling services. The rate was approved in the County Commissioner’s consent agenda portion of their May 14 meeting without any discussion. Brandt’s had proposed a residential rate adjustment increase of 3.5% to all collection services to offset rising operating costs and declining revenue. Brandt’s will impact approximately 686 customers by increasing their solid waste collection service rates by 3.5%. Rates are proposed to be effective June 1. According to the county staff report, residential customers account for about 89 percent of operations of service while commercial customers account for 11 percent of the county’s customer base. The last rate increase by Brandt’s was approved on June 5, 2024, when a 4.6 percent increase in collection rates was approved. Brandt’s applied for the current annual rate adjustment on March 1. Brandt’s proposed calculated rate adjustment is a flat increase of 3.5 percent for all collection services while it is expanding their miscellaneous service fees to include a stop service fee. Polk County’s Code of Ordinances allows a Solid Waste Collection Franchisee io apply for an annual rate increase. Brandt had not raised its rates at a pace with the rest of the industry. Rather, they have spread the increase over the past two years. Estle Harlan, Solid Waste Management Consultant, had explained during presentations to city councils that the rate increase was requested to keep Brandt’s operating margin at 7.8%, just below the preferred 8-12 percent. The county hosted a public hearing on April 29, presided over by Leslie Howell, Polk County Hearings Officer. There was no one in attendance who wished to speak for or against the application. Howell found that the rate increase request “to be just, fair, reasonable, and sufficient to provide service to the public.” For the latest pricing index with Brandt, go to https:// brandtssanitary.com/pricing/.

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