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Wednesday September 17, 2025 | Volume 150, Issue 38

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Local supporters host Dallas rally to honor slain Charlie Kirk

COMMISSIONER RACE

By DAVID HAYES I-O Editor

Last week, while on his Prove Me Wrong campus debate tour in Utah, an assassin’s bullet extinguished the life of Charlie Kirk, who at the age of 31, some are calling his generation’s Martin Luther King, Jr. “Charlie was the emissary of good spirited, kindly Christian, open-aired argument of warmth and peace,” said Benny Johnson, fellow Christian and conservative pundit on YouTube. By his producer’s count, more than 20 countries around the world held vigils in honor of Kirk. That love for Kirk was on full display in Dallas Saturday where nearly 200 demonstrators of all ages carried U.S. flags and messages of support for the slain husband and father of two. Kody Remingon, 17, has been a supporter most of Kirk’s career, getting into his messages in 2020 during the pandemic. He was in class in Amity on Sept. 10 when he heard the terrible news from a teacher that Kirk had been shot. “It was horrible. I was praying all day. Then when I heard he died, it was heartbreaking. Because he was a big role model for me for many, many years,” Remington said. “He spoke the truth to everybody. He didn’t back down from his faith and was a big supporter of Jesus,” Kody said. Just 33 hours after the shooting, the alleged shooter, Tyler Robinson, turned himself into authorities with the help of a family friend and his own father. Investigators are still trying to piece together a motive that some are speculating is related to

Jeremy Gordon

Jeremy Gordon announces reelection campaign I-O STAFF REPORT

PHOTOS BY DAVID HAYES

(Top) Darren and Brenda Stephenson, of Dallas, were among supporters of all ages at the Charlie Kirk rally. (Bottom)Supporters of slain conservative icon Charlie Kirk attend a rally in Dallas on Saturday with messages of love and patriotism.

See RALLY, page A2

Gabby Walton announces run for Mrs. Oregon By DAVID HAYES I-O Editor

Apparently, Gabby Walton doesn’t think she has enough to do on her plate. Walton is the interim President and CEO of the MonmouthIndependence Chamber of Commerce (MICC), founder of the non-profit Project Gear Box that provides sporting equipment for needy students, and owner of Waltons Collective - a resource development company. Now, Walton wants to run for Mrs. Oregon 2026. In applying for the Mrs. Oregon America Pageant, Walton was named Mrs. Independence. She said, on top of being required to be married, the pageant also focuses on contestants’ community involvement, volunteerism and service. Walton said to win the pageant, like most others, Mrs. Oregon contestants are judged on three criteria COURTESY PHOTO - an interview, a beauty pageant, and Gabby Walton has announced her inclusion in the 2026 community involvement. She added Mrs. Oregon Pageant with a platform promoting body contestants also come armed with positivity. a platform they argue for support during the process. For Walton, she into that I think is not healthy to “Being honest, I’m in this for wants the audience and judges to raise our next generation of females two reasons. I think when you hear rethink their standard for beauty. ‘beauty pageant’ society has a beauty to aspire to,” Walton said. “We’re conscious on how to raise boys, standard they think contestants fall

IN THIS ISSUE

based on physical appearance. I want to help the next generation of females that society says have to be a certain size. I want to really show women that they can be any size that paints a beautiful image on stage.” Walton was “sashed” as Mrs. Independence on Aug. 7, going through several interviews to be named the local delegate. The Mrs. Oregon pageant is in May, 2026, at the Elsinore in Salem. She expects to be up against 20 to 30 other delegates from around the state. “I definitely represent somebody not typically represented up on stage. So I expect to have a normal amount of nerves,” Walton admitted. “However, I’ve learned to fuel fire that inspires me, and stop others to get them to think. I plan to focus on my mission that night.” In the meantime between now and the pageant, Walton said the organization encourages participants to continue their volunteerism, do several workshops and practice workshops, mock interviews and participate in monthly work sessions to prepare. As the mother of five boys - ages 10, 9, 5 and three-year-old twins See WALTON, page A2

Incumbent Polk County Commissioner Jeremy Gordon has announced that he will seek reelection in the May 2026 primary. Having previously served as the Mayor of Falls City, Gordon was appointed to the Board of Commissioners in 202. He was subsequently elected to a full fouryear term in 2022. Prior to entering full-time public service, he worked in higher education workforce development and administration. “I am fully invested in the work and people of Polk County and am seeking the public’s support to serve another term,” Gordon said. “Together we have made progress on rural broadband expansion, public safety, homelessness prevention, infrastructure, mental health services, and economic development. I’m fully committed to continuing this critical work, in collaboration with fellow Commissioners, staff, and community partners.” In addition to co-managing county government, Gordon represents Polk County at the state and federal levels. He serves as Co-Chair of the Public Safety and Veterans Steering Committee with the Association of Oregon Counties, Vice Chair of the Oregon Broadband Advisory Council, and Chair of the Mid-Willamette Valley Homeless Alliance and Partners Aligned Toward Housing Solutions. Nationally, he is a member of the Human Services and Education Policy Steering Committee with the National Association of Counties. “Spending time with the people of Polk County and advocating for counties like ours is my favorite part of the position,” Gordon said. “As someone raising a family here, I want to be sure the residents of Polk County have the high quality of life we all deserve.”

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