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Wednesday July 9, 2025 | Volume 150, Issue 28

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4th kicks off with community pancake feed Cairns, interprtive signs celebrated at wetland ceremony By DAVID HAYES I-O Editor

Armed with a radio and cell phone, Allison Wells was running ragged behind the scenes of the Polk County Fire District’s annual Pancake Feed. This is just the second year the engineer/EMT for the fire district has been in charge. But she has attended the community event long before joining the force. “I have been coming to this since I was born,” Wells said. “I’ve never missed a year. So, it’s pretty cool to now be planning and organizing it. I love seeing the community. All the people I used to see as a little kid, watching them now coming back is pretty cool.” The pancake feed has been going since at least 1972, started by the Volunteer Firefighters Association as a fundraiser. Last year, the pancake breakfast fed over 1,100 people, minus kids under age 6, Wells explained, who are not counted because they don’t eat as much as an adult. The feed also brought in about $10,000 that goes into funding the Fire District’s community projects, Christmas projects and toward families in need. The remainder goes into funding the next pancake feed. Even while running around, making sure the small army of volunteers, both staff and civilians, were getting what they needed to serve the masses, Wells took time to eyeball how well it was going a couple hours into the service. “I would say, it was a slow start. But the line soon wrapped the building, making it pretty busy,” Wells said.

By LANCE MASTERSON For The Itemizer-Observer

the perfect space to open that shop and grow with more contributing artists as her business grows. “I love it. I absolutely love it. It was everything I wanted to hopefully get more artists in here so we can get it booming,” Apple said. So far, Apple has one employee, Hanna Martin, who also offers custom tattoos. Apple said what she loves about tattooing is each and every one she gives is creative and unique. “That’s what’s really fun about this job. I don’t ever do the same one, ever,” Apple said. When “newbies” seek out their first tattoo, Apple has some simple advice. “Make sure you like the environment, that you feel you can trust your artist, feel safe. And the artist is listening to you,” Apple said. “I tell people just go somewhere else if you’re not getting the full treatment you deserve.” She said the popularity in tattoos have regained momentum after a lull due to the pandemic. State regulations during the lockdowns created

Community members came together to honor the late Michael Cairns and his legacy, the wetland restoration project at North Riverside Park in Independence. Ribbon cuttings formally unveiled two new interpretive panels at the wetland. The signs, located north and south of Deann Drive, will educate others about wetlands and their importance. Last week’s ceremony featured speeches from Cairns’ family and from those who worked with him on the project, an undertaking that began some 15 years ago. “Michael is a great example of what one person can do,” former Mayor of Independence John McArdle said during the ceremony. Cairns’ approach to the project was marked by cooperation and respect for others. “Michael built strong relationships and found common ground to move work forward,” McArdle said, noting that Cairns never forgot that city leaders and staff “are people, too.” Cairns was praised for his volunteer spirit, tireless effort and a commitment to seeing the project through from conception. Speakers emphasized restoration projects often rely on community partnerships. “This is the kind of project that shows others what wetlands can be and why they matter,” said Gail Oberst, his widow. Oberst grew up in the area and played in what were then undeveloped marshy fields. She remembers the area as a place of adventure and fond family memories. “I love this place,” Oberst said. “And I’m so grateful Michael took it upon himself to help develop it into what it is today.” Ray Fiori worked with Cairns when Fiori was with Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife and Luckiamute Watershed Council (LWC). Fiori provided historical context. He noted restoration of the two-plus acre site began in 2010 with help from the Army National Guard, which provided equipment and support to refigure parts of the wetland to enhance its natural flow, he added. “The project focused on creating a sustainable, forested wetland that would thrive over the long term,” Fiori said. Extensive planting of native trees, shrubs and wildflowers took place in 2010-11. Fiori estimated that 2,200 stems were planted per acre, with Cairns providing on-site monitoring of the work and coordinating with city crews to ensure proper maintenance.

See INK PAGE A3

See CERMONY, page A2

PHOTOS BY DAVID HAYES

(Top) Lt. Matt Connery volunteers behind the flapjack grill, passing them off to Christi Emerling and Jackson, 4, to bring to the serving line during Polk County Fire District No 1’s annual pancake feed July 4. (Bottom) A row of youths, sporting souvenir helmets, dig into their pancakes during the annual feed July 4.

See FEED, page A3

Magnificent Ink offers custom tattoos now in Independence By DAVID HAYES I-O Editor

Lanea Apple, 32, opened her second location on C Street in Independence on July 3, three years after opening her first in Depoe Bay. She has been tattooing for 17 years. “It has been my passion since I was little, about second grade. I’ve drawn my whole life. It was in second grade when I realized I could do this as a job. After that realization, Apple took every apprenticeship she could, once she was of legal age to wield a tattoo pen. She went to tattoo school in Portland and soon was certified to open her own business. Apple’s own first tattoo was a little cliche - a heart on her thigh. These days, her back is covered in a leopard print that is still ongoing. “I’ve been working on that one since I was 18,” she said. “I just wanted to be covered. And I’m a Leo, too.” Apple doesn’t specialize in a particular school of tattooing; rather, she offers all custom work. “It’s whatever you want done. I just let people know if it’s not my

PHOTOS BY DAVID HAYES

Lanea Apple, owner of Magnificent Ink, cuts the ribbon, held by staff members Hanna Martin and Kenneth Brown, to open her new location in Independence July 3. forte, but I do almost everything,” Apple said. Apple is also a single mom who homeschools her kids. Having a tattoo shop in the town where she now lives was the right combination for this stage of her family life. “I moved here for more opportunities, more homeschooling stuff, more community stuff. I just love

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this community and how everyone supports each other,” she said. She thought this was a great sport to open a second location because the one in Depoe Bay is a tiny, private studio. “This is where I wanted to open a full, tattoo shop,” she added. The location on C Street, a former dog grooming salon, proved to be

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