PIO731 by C.M.I.

Lifestyle

Dallas

Battle of the badges delivers food for local families

Family Fun during Dallas Day check out the fun! See B1

See A3

Wednesday July 31, 2024 | Volume 148, Issue 30

www.polkio.com

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Retired Judge William Horner passes It is with great sadness that the judges of the 12th Judicial District announce the passing of the Honorable William Horner on July 20, 2024. Judge Horner served as a District Court Judge, Circuit Judge and Presiding Judge in Polk County for many years and retired from the bench in 2012. His life and career were spent in service to the people

of Polk County and the citizens of Oregon. Born and raised in the bay area of California, Horner graduated from the University of California, Davis. He moved to Oregon and attended Willamette University College of Law where he graduated in 1969. Horner was a fixture in Monmouth and Polk County. He began his career as a lawyer in private practice, but he made his

mark in public service. He served as mayor of the city of Monmouth. He was elected District Attorney for Polk County and went on to spend over two decades as a trial judge in Polk County, first as a district court judge and later as a circuit court judge. Even after he retired, he continued serving the community through membership on local boards and commissions such as the

Monmouth Budget Committee and the Monmouth Planning Committee. As a judge, Bill Horner is best remembered for his work creating and presiding over the Polk County Drug Court. He recognized some criminal defendants needed more than probation and treatment to achieve sobriety and stop committing crimes. In 2005, along See JUDGE, page A7

Dallas Days delights

Judge William Horner

SCOTUS ruling changes little in Dallas

Thousands descend upon annual three-day summer festival

State law must be amended to expand homelessness enforcement By DAVID HAYES Itemizer-Observer

While a recent United States Supreme Court ruling sided with allowing municipalities to toughen their homelessness ordinances, not much is likely to change in Dallas. The City Council discussed the issue at their latest work study session July 15. City Attorney Lane Shetterly explained on June 8 the SCOTUS issued an opinion on the Johnson v. Grants Pass case involving the enforcement of the Oregon city’s anti-camping laws. The primary question before was does the enforcement of generally applicable laws regulating camping on public property constitute “cruel and unusual punishment” prohibited by the eighth amendment of the US Constitution? “Grants Pass’s public-camping PHOTO BY SMY PHOTOGRAPHY ordinances do not criminalize status. Two teams of firefighters participate in a waterball tournament on July 27, hosted by Dallas Fire & EMS during Dallas Days. The public-camping laws prohibit The first team, using firehoses, to force the ball over their opponent’s line wins. For more images from this year’s Dallas actions undertaken by any person, Days, see page B1. regardless of status,” the SCOTUS Syllabus for the case read. “It makes no difference whether the charged defendant is currently a person experiencing homelessness, a backpacker on vacation, or a student who abandons his dorm room to camp out in protest on the lawn of a municipal building.” The result locally? By LANCE MASTERSON “Seeing families in particular For The Itemizer-Observer “We don’t know where we stand, at these concerts, it’s such a thrill actually, for a couple of reasons,” because absorbing live music is life Ties between The Severin Sisters Shetterly told the councilors. changing for some,” Wiegal said. and Music in the Park concert series “One, the court has remanded “Listening to a recording is pretty began years ago. the case to federal circuit court for great, but watching, listening, feeling “We have quite a history playing further development. We know ordia concert in real time is an incrediat the Monmouth summer concerts,” nances Grants Pass stand but don’t bly humbling and grounding experiband member Heidi Wiegal said. know outer limits of. Supreme Court ence because it really does connect “We played back when they had a didn’t announce those. That will be everyone present.” gazebo and no stage lights, at least a developed further litigation of case. Don’t underestimate the power of decade or so ago.” “In the meantime, since the connection. At the time, the sisters act conBoise decision in 2021, the Oregon “Music means connection. It’s sisted of twins Amy Scott and Legislature adopted state law HB the pathway to common ground; Wiegal. Younger sister Haley Duvall 3115 essentially intended to impleunspoken, timeless language that can joined them on stage several years ment by statute the Boise case in improve a mood and give us that ago. Oregon,” Shetterly added. extra boost on a tough day,” Wiegal Their years-long Monmouth He spoke of the Martin vs. Boise said. run of concerts continues tonight case four years ago where the fedThe twins’ musical connection (Wednesday), 6:30 p.m., Main Street PHOTO CONTRIBUTED eral District Court ruling Idaho was to Polk County dates back to their Park amphitheater. Admission is free. The Severin Sisters, seen here at the 2023 Klamath County in violation of Article 8 of U.S. childhood. Atmosphere is one reason why Fair (from left) Sam Wells, Haley Duvall, Amy Scott, Heidi Constitution for cruel and unusual The Severin Sisters make the park Wiegal and Kenneth Herrera, perform tonight (July 31) at a regular stop on their summer 6:30 p.m. at Main Street Park in Monmouth. Admission is See RULING, page A7 See SISTERS, page A7 schedule. free.

Monmouth’s favorite sisters act

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

A4 A4 A6 B2 B2 B3 B6 B7

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