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Wednesday June 18, 2025 | Volume 150, Issue 25 www.polkio.com

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Local protest adopts No Kings message From

homeless to business owner

By DAVID HAYES I-O Editor

A group of protesters have been gathering weekly at the intersection of Ellendale and Main streets in Dallas for nearly two months. Saturday, their protest against Trump administration policies and actions coincided with the national No Kings demonstrations, ballooning the Dallas turnout to one of their biggest yet. Jen Jackson, one of the protests organizers, said local members joined with the national organization Indivisible to create a Polk County chapter. Afterwards, they estimated about 280 protesters attended, about three times their normal turnout. “The word is just spreading. The people who have driven by us join us the next week,” said Jackson. Due to instigators who transform peaceful protests at other locations to outright riots, Jackson said Polk County Indivisible has coordinated with the Dallas Police to keep an eye out for ne’er do wells and keep things peaceful. She said they’ve adapted their ongoing message against the Trump administration to coincide with the national movement. At past demonstrations, Jackson said Polk County Indivisible listed among their grievances against the Trump administration: - A lack of due process for deportations - People who are law abiding and productive citizens being seized by ICE and living in fear if they haven’t been seized yet - A lack of collaboration with (and actual insults for) Democratic allies around the world - The president promoting cryptocurrency for personal gain as he uses tariffs to manipulate the markets - A threat to shut down peaceful protesters and treat them the same as unlawful agitators/people conducting vandalism “Today, it’s about No Kings,” Jackson said. “This is a democracy. And it’s everybody’s flag. We feel like the right has really tried to grab the flag as theirs. It’s everybody’s.

A Little TLC opens as dream comes true By DAVID HAYES I-O Editor

PHOTOS BY DAVID HAYES

(Top) Nearly 300 protesters joined the Polk County Indivisible weekly Saturday in Dallas to protest against the Trump administration as it coincided with the more than 2,000 No Kings rallies across the nation. (Bottom) One counter protester scrawled a simple message on the side of their vehicle as they passed the No Kings rally in Dallas.

We’re all fighting for the same flag. This is a Democracy. And we feel there are things going on that are not very democratic.” The rally Saturday drew mostly honks of passing motorist in support of Polk County Invisible’s message. A few who disagreed drove by, loudly revving their engines. Jackson said while there have not been any acts of violence during any of their protests, their group has been targeted online with hateful comments and disinformation. “That’s scary. It’s been very frightening that some people have been tagging people associated with our group and trying to point us out in right-leaning groups to encourage animus. And I don’t like that,” Jackson said.

She added there’s even been online lies about the organization, that it invites sexual and predatorial deviants and the organization busses in outside participants to the protests. Keiara Halcom, who used to live in Dallas, was happy to return to add her voice to the protest. “I’m here because what’s happening now is setting the standard for what presidents in the future can also do,” Halcom said. “So, if our current president is allowed to ignore the judicial branch, and not have to answer to congress and to the other equal branches of government, then that sets us up for an authoritarian rule, where the executive branch doesn’t have to answer to anyone.” Genny Bond, a Dallas resident, was attending her second rally and

carried the same sign from the first - “I’m not a protester. I’m just mad as hell.” “I don’t usually like protests, but it seems like it is important to let people know in my community that there are a lot of people who did not vote for Trump and do not like what is going on,” Bond said. Her list of concerns over Trumps’ actions was extensive, but included everything from abusing environmental regulations to rounding up hard working people who have committed no crimes. Jackson invites everyone to join their protests every Saturday from noon to 1 p.m. For more information about Polk County Indivisible, go to their Facebook page https:// www.facebook.com/groups/ PolkCountyIndivisible.

Monmouth shelter almost ready for first residents “We’re learning the building ourselves. Safety, security and a chance at a That’s why we’re ramping up slowly. more stable life. All this, and more, await 20 res- To give our team idents who will call the Monmouth and our guests time to settle in and build Adult Shelter home, at least until community,” said they’re ready to transition into Matt Smucker, shelter more permanent housing of their chaplain. “We’ll be own. learning the building Salem-based Church at the Park right alongside the invited community members to residents.” tour its new shelter last week. The Staff members are completely remodeled building, the former English Language & Culture identifying possible residents from a list Institute, is across the street from Western Oregon’s stadium parking of unsheltered people PHOTO CONTRIBUTED living in the area, lot. Polk County Commissioner Jeremy Gordon and Monmouth Mayor some of whom don’t Permits from the city of Cecilia Koontz cut the ribbon to open the new Monmouth Adult Shelter have phones, thus Monmouth are needed before the run by Church at the Park. first 10 residents, already identified, making sustained contact more difficult. In addition, residents must have “Vulnerable adults with ties can move in. Capacity is 20, and Outreach teams help facilitate verified ties to Polk County, be to rural Polk County are eligible the other 10 residents will move in move-ins. Priority is given to those it through family, employment or later. people deemed the most vulnerable. having attended local schools. See SHELTER A2 By LANCE MASTERSON For The Itemizer-Observer

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

A4 A4 A4 B2 B2 B6 B4 A6

In celebrating the opening of her solo business venture, A Little TLC, Estrella Allred shared that she had to first overcome many personal demons to achieve this level of success. She literally transitioned from being homeless to finding a home in Independence and Monmouth in a community that welcomed her with open arms. Originally from Utah, Allred moved to Oregon in 2021, bouncing around from Newport to Stayton to Dallas, trying to figure out where it was she wanted to be. “I ended up in Independence for a bit. I branched out for a little bit before figuring out this was the place to be,” Allred said. Before she decided this was theplace for her and her kids’ future, Allred had to make peace with her past. Her message is simple - if you do try hard enough and have the motivation, you can achieve the things you’ve always dream of. “I’ve struggled with addiction. Before I decided to get clean, I was homeless and didn’t have anybody,” Allred recalled. “I was sick and tired of being sick and tired. I hit a level of desperation I never knew I could experience.” So, she checked into a 12-step treatment program, wanting everything to change. “So I changed everything,” she said. She got cleaned up, reunited with her kids, daughter Ixion, 10, and son Hazen, 7, and set about rebuilding her life. “I’ve put forth every single amount of strength that I could. It hasn’t been easy, but it’s worth it,” Allred said. “The struggles I experienced now are nothing like what it was before. I can now see the light in my life being positive. The effects of putting in good work not only for myself but also for my kids.” She then put her skill set to work at her first job in the community at C Street Salon in April of 2023. Then in December of 2024, she was ready to branch out on her own. First opening her own beauty business in January this year right next door to C Street Salon. “I love those ladies, but I wanted to grow a little bit more for myself,” she said. Realizing the space was too small for her growing clientele, Allred found a new home for A Little TLC at 362 Main St. in Monmouth. Taking these leap out on her own has her “super excited, but also super scared.” See TLC, page A3

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