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Lure of big trucks bring young, old to Public Works Day

Dragons Blank Bulldogs 1-0 to reach state Semis See B1

See A2

Wednesday May 29, 2024 | Volume 148, Issue 21

www.polkio.com

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Beltz concedes commissioner’s race to Mordhorst By DAVID HAYES Itemizer-Observer

Even though the May 21 primary won’t be certified by the Oregon Secretary of State until June 27, the Polk County Commissioner’s race has already been conceded after the first round of initial ballot counts. The initial count after 8 p.m. election day by the Polk County Clerk’s

Church at the Park alters plans to house the homeless

Office showed with 16,689 votes counted, incumbent Lyle Mordhorst held a 7,546 to 6,418 lead over challenger Roxanne Beltz. Beltz explained that although the County Clerk’s Office said there are still more 1,000 ballots left to count,

Families and vulnerable senior citizens now targeted

See BELTS, page A7

Roxanne Beltz

By DAVID HAYES Itemizer-Observer

Lyle Mordhorst

Avenue of Flags honors the fallen

PHOTO BY DAVID HAYES

Volunteers from the Dallas Fire & EMS help the American Legion Post 20 erect 837 individual Old Glories to form the Avenue of Flags at the Dallas Cemetery on May 23. The tradition, which started in 1991 with just 65 flags, has grown to be the largest, unconfirmed, display outside national cemeteries such as Arlington and Gettysburg.

New owners envision big events at The Majestic I know the potential it has. He never advertised. I advertised and it blew up.” The Majestic Event Center in Open dates for weekend rental Dallas has changed ownership for quickly filled up through the summer just the fifth time in the last four months at this hidden gem, Laura decades. Laura Venegas, and husband Jose, said. At 6,200 square feet, The Majestic came equipped with the have long eyed the facility since, tables and chairs to comfortably seat well, forever. Having lived and 300. Previous owners – from Gene grown up in Dallas her whole life, and Carolyn Hall in 2008 to Merl Laura said she regularly pestered Bitkofer in 1984 – have envisioned Ray Stratton, who has owned The the space for multiple uses, including Majestic since he purchased it from silent movie theater, church school, Kurt and Victoria Brees in 2014. “We asked him several times, ‘Are mini mall, dance studio, performing arts studio, recording studio and conyou going to sell? Are you going cert venue. to sell? And he finally did,” Laura PHOTOS BY DAVID HAYES said, adding they closed the deal on See MAJESTIC, page A8 Laura and Jose Venegas have big plans to host events as March 1 this year. “I love planning, the new owners of The Majestic Event Center in Dallas. By DAVID HAYES Itemizer-Observer

Church at the Park has altered course in its plans to accommodate the homeless community within Polk County. After community push back to their plans to develop a micro shelter facility in first Monmouth then in Dallas that would have accommodated up to 40 people experiencing homelessness, organizers have refocused on housing families and vulnerable adults. The church acquired property at 1876 SE Holman Ave. in Dallas with an original plan to move micro shelter trailers to the site. “We’ve decided serving families and utilizing the existing house is the best path moving forward,” said Josh Erickson, Church at the Park Chief Operations Director. “The goal is to renovate the house to accommodate 4-6 families at a time.” In addition, in Monmouth, Church at the Park has leased space in the former English Language & Culture Institue on Stadium Drive across from the Western Oregon University football field. Erickson said they are working with city of Monmouth to convert that facility to serve up to 14 older adults who are medically vulnerable. “We might get close to that number of 40 we originally had, but again trying to adapt to smaller communities, spread out the need, be able to serve both families and vulnerable adults,” he said. John Marshal, Church at the Park Pastor, said Polk County is the fastest growing county in the state. As such, it is experiencing an increase in homelessness that follows that rate. As of March 29 Polk County’s Family Community Outreach Organization has identified 108 unique individuals experiencing homelessness in Polk County. “That’s including those living in a vehicle as well as those couch surfing between friends’ houses. They could also be folks living in tents, under trees and behind bushes,” Marshal said. The tally includes 45 single individuals, 63 within family units, See ALTER, page A8

P E N TA C L E T H E AT R E P R O U D LY P R E S E N T S

JUNE 7-29, 2024 WRITTEN BY

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Prices start at $19

www.PentacleTheatre.org

Produced by special arrangement with THE DRAMATIC PUBLISHING COMPANY of Woodstock, Illinois. Poster by Isaac Mitchell

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

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