Indy's new council rules unconstitutional, say several attorneys
​
Editorial analysis by Anne Scheck
Trammart News Service, January 31, 2025 

New city council rules that ban “grandstanding” in council meetings and limit expressions of opinion in certain circumstances were presented to the city council by City Manager Kenna West Tuesday night. However, several legal authorities said portions of these rules, if acted on, violate free speech – potentially creating liability for the city. 

The city council – with the exception of City Councilor Dawn Roden – voted to adopt the new rules. In voting no, Roden said she believes such restrictions on council member communications are aimed at silencing a minority view – she often takes a more fiscally conservative stance on the council. 

Attorneys contacted by Trammart News, as well as findings from a legal opinion by Oregon Legislative Counsel Dexter A. Johnson and an Oregon staff attorney, Geoff Briggs, say some of the new rules appear to be unconstitutional. 

Roden apparently sent an inquiry about the proposed rules to State Rep. Shelly Boshart Davis, who represents District 15; Legislative Counsel Johnson responded to Boshart Davis, singling out sections 11.3 and 11.4 of the proposed rules, which cover speech and opinion by council members. 

West said the new rules had been carefully reviewed by the city’s contracted attorney. However, she suggested to the city councilors that they could put those sections aside, for future discussion, when passing the new council rules. 

Councilor Shannon Corr declined to withdraw her motion for adopting the rules so that these two sections could be excluded. Along with Corr, councilors Marilyn Morton, Kathy Martin-Willis and Bill Boisvert voted for the new rules.  

When Roden asked West what the term “grandstanding” meant, conduct that is now prohibited, West consulted her phone to locate a definition – a description was missing from the text that she presented to the council.  

Trammart News had asked several attorneys – including the California-based First Amendment Coalition – about the feasibility of using the term "grandstand" to characterize behavior or speech, following a work session on the new council-conduct rules last summer. 

It’s vague and ambiguous and "an invitation to potential abuse," according to David Loy, legal director of the First Amendment Coalition. The terminology is open to personal interpretation, Loy explained. 

Elected officials, including city council members, retain certain rights to freedom of speech even when there is heavy reliance on Robert's Rules of Order. "They cannot be silenced or censored because of their opinions or viewpoints," Loy said.

This view was affirmed by another state attorney who practices in Oregon, outside of Polk County, who didn’t wish to be identified by name. The move by Independence could leave the city vulnerable to a lawsuit, if challenged, he said.

Several of the attorneys referred to “Article I, section 8,” of the Oregon Constitution, which states: “No law shall be passed restraining the free expression of opinion, or restricting the right to speak, write, or print freely on any subject whatever; but every person shall be responsible for the abuse of this right.”

The move by West to change the rules of conduct arrived only days after the city of Corvallis was found by a federal judge to have violated a city councilor’s free speech by moving to expel her from the council because she pressured the city manager to fill a city job. 

Though the Corvallis city councilor apparently acted outside her authority in making the request, the action taken toward her was ruled as retaliatory – and a clear violation of the First Amendment. 

Residents of Corvallis have posted comments on social media criticizing city officials for the time and cost of the case, Ellis v. City of Corvallis. 

Independence communications director, Emmanuel Goicochea, did not respond to numerous requests from Trammart News about either the allegedly problematic use of the term grandstanding or the outcome of the recent lawsuit in Corvallis. 

City Manager Kenna West had referred to the rules – including the ban on “grandstanding” – as representative of those of other cities. Trammart News notified West at the close of the council meeting that no other city could be found that used the term “grandstand.” 

West explained that the term was used to reflect “intent.”

The city council meeting also seemed to depart from tradition in protocol: Mayor Kate Schwarzler – at her first full meeting as mayor – injected questions and observations in a way not included among the recommendations for carrying out mayoral duties in either the Oregon Revised Statutes or the Oregon Mayors Association handbook, among other references. 

The Independence City Charter spells out duties of the mayor in this way: As the presiding officer of the council and as the authority for preserving order, enforcing the rules of the council, and determining the order of business under the rules of the council.

Those who viewed the meeting seemed affected, as well. One referred to Schwarzler’s inquiry of Roden about why she hadn’t contacted State Rep. Paul Evans, rather than State Rep. Boshart Davis, as out of line. “This was just very disappointing,” said one community member, who didn’t wish to be named. “It was unnecessary – she (the mayor) was more interested in challenging her (Roden) than in the information provided,” he added. 

At one point, Schwarzler also suggested that Roden’s questions might have resulted from the fact that she was the only councilor to miss a training session about laws on ethics and public meetings, which was held the previous weekend at the Independence Civic Center. However, Trammart News has attended OGEC training sessions on the same topics in past months – they seemed to have little to do with the constitutional questions raised at the recent city council meeting. Rather, Schwarzler’s statement appeared to imply a reprimand for Roden’s absence.

As a result, Trammart News approached Schwarzler to ask about her commentary, noting that it could be seen as inappropriate, given her position as official meeting presider. Schwarzler declined to comment and referred all questions to City Manager West. 

Also included in the newly-adopted council rules is a reduction in time allotted for individual public comments at council meetings from 5 min to 3 min, which is a more common allotment time found among Willamette Valley cities.

The last time the city council rules were revised was in 2017. ▪

 (Trammart News has contacted a legal scholar to fully research free-speech implications of the new council rules. TN editorials on this issue or  others are encouraged and accepted by this news outlet.)  

Meet Marc Miller, who's seeking the newly-vacated city council seatMarc Miller, a former Monmouth city councilor, legislative aide & Independence businessman is seeking the vacant seat on Indy’s City Council

By Anne Scheck
Trammart News Service, January 31, 2025 

A familiar expression says if you want something done, ask a busy person. From the content of his resume to a visit to his thriving business, Marc Miller looks like someone who perfectly fits that time-honored quote. 

Miller has applied to fill the vacant Independence City Council seat, with a resume of political experience and community volunteerism over the past two decades that ranges from special assistant to the Oregon Secretary of State Executive Office to a member of the Monmouth City Council. Currently, he is a member of the Independence MINET budget committee and has served on several boards, including formally on the Monmouth-Independence YMCA board.  

He and his wife, Jessica, own Financial Peace Bookkeeping in the Little Mall on Main and they live near John Pfaff Park. Park access and availability is important to Miller. He is anxious to find a way to fund the parks and library, which currently seem imperiled by an anticipated budget shortfall. 

He is a graduate of Western Oregon University and, despite a career that included years of serving as a legislative staffer in the statehouse, never left the area to reside closer to the state capital. In fact, the only time he lived elsewhere was in Bend, from 2009 to 2016.  

Miller shared his love of public service – calling his time on the Monmouth City Council “the best job I ever had” – and his vision for the future with Trammart News. The questions below indicate his priorities, his commitment and the reasons he very much wants to become an Independence city councilor. 

TN. From your time on the Monmouth City Council, you know how much time it takes to be a member of a city council, which I would estimate is about 30 hours a week during some of the time for dedicated councilors. Would you agree? 

 Miller. Yes. When I served as a City Councilor in Monmouth the time commitment was nearly equivalent to a full-time job. 

TN. What would your priorities be for Independence?

Miller. I believe my vision is the same as any other citizen: a small, safe community where there is ample affordable housing, low office space rent to help attract and retain business and where essential services such as a library and parks are provided. 

TN. For someone with such a calm demeanor – the term “laid-back” springs to mind, you seem like a person in a hurry, at least when it comes to city government. Have I got that right? 

Miller. Yes. The City cannot adequately fund essential services such as public safety, library and parks and recreation. The time to implement decisions that will alter this course is short. Difficult decisions will need to be made between now and June to either fund these essential services or create a plan to limit or discontinue them.

TN. Are there ways to address that? We are now in the second month of 2025 and I haven’t heard it mentioned at length in any of the city council meetings so far this year. What are your thoughts?  

Miller. I think that rather than waiting for the city staff to provide options I think the city council should prioritize which services they believe are essential to the viability of the community. I would argue that the museum is not essential.

TN. Is there anything else you consider to be of pressing importance?

Miller. The City of Independence is in critical condition. Residential development has all but stopped because of exceedingly high system development charges. 

TN. That’s true. This week the Independence Planning Commission is expected to approve a year-long extension for Dalke Construction on Brandy Meadows, a subdivision in Southwest Independence that stopped after system development charges of more than $50,000 per housing unit were approved. So, you want to tackle problems like that right away? 

Miller. Absolutely. This should be the second priority for the city behind the water treatment plant.

The city council needs its next councilor to be someone who has prior local government experience so that they can hit the ground running with out-of-the-box ideas to create solutions for these issues. 

TN. Trammart News has been covering the city since 2016 and out-of-the-box ideas seem to have contributed to the development of some of the city’s prized assets – like the riverfront development – but also may be part of the reason there are budget shortfalls …. 

Miller. The key (issue) is can the city afford the out-of-the-box ideas? The city is over $1.5 million of its debt limit. The councilors have a hard time saying no. My motto always is, “yes, if, you increase income or decrease expenses.” 

I have both the experience and the track record of providing out-of-the-box ideas to create solutions. For example, I served as an intern for City Manager Greg Ellis to create an Urban Renewal District for the City of Independence. I then took that idea and, as a city councilor, championed the effort to create an Urban Renewal District in Monmouth. 

TN. That sounds impressive. Independence has a presentation on Urban Renewal Districts coming up, and my understanding is that it will be given by County Assessor Valerie Patoine, who is going to try to boil down the complexity  into a simple PowerPoint – a good way to take such concepts to the public. Do you have any similar ideas for helping residents understand issues? 

Miller. As I stated in my application, I continued the “Coffee and Community” idea that former Monmouth Mayor Paul Evans had. I plan to implement that avenue of communication again, if accepted on the council. 

TN. Anything else? 

Miller. Another thing I plan to do is be very present on social media (Facebook). There will be videos where I try to summarize a complex issue or a controversial one. Most importantly, I will ask for citizens’ feedback. I will then present that feedback to the council. 

When I was a city councilor in Monmouth, I hustled. I will be present at as many community gatherings as possible. I already participate in the Chamber’s Greeters Program. Financial Peace Bookkeeping is a member. 

Average folks don’t often have time to attend council meetings or office hours. That’s why I will be where the people are so as to offer as much interaction as possible. ▪

Ethics: City councilor accusation; city councilor apology

By Anne Scheck
Trammart News Service, January 31, 2025 
  
At the Independence City Council meeting Tuesday night, Councilor Dawn Roden issued a public apology for filing a financial statement – required by Oregon of all elected officials – that didn’t include her veteran disability benefits or child support payments as earned income. 

She explained that a complaint – filed by Shannon Corr, a fellow city council member – alleged she hadn’t included them on her annual “Statement of Economic Interest.”  Roden misunderstood that they should have been listed; Since she didn’t need to include either form of compensation on her personal taxes, she hadn’t done so on the state document, she acknowledged.

“I made an error and I have since rectified it,” Roden confirmed, asking to be forgiven for the mistake. “I felt terrible and promptly amended my filing.” 

And she added that, throughout the process, “I learned a great deal.” Those who were involved in handling the complaint against her at the state level “were kind, patient, and effective,” Roden said. 

Councilor Corr made no comment on the matter at the meeting following Roden’s apology, nor in a follow-up inquiry from Trammart News seeking a response.

Earlier in the week, at a hearing by the Oregon Government Ethics Commission, commissioners had voted 6-0 to pursue resolving Roden’s case. The commission chair, David Fiskum, said the likely result would be “a letter of education.” 

Prior to the vote, OGEC Director Susan Myers observed that Roden was “perfectly willing to correct it and get educated on it.” 

The statement-of-economic-interest filings are a monetary declaration, a public listing that can be used to assess sources of potential conflicts of interest in voting on government actions. 

The complaint regarding Roden isn’t the only one against a member of the Independence City Council that’s moving toward resolution by OGEC. The investigation of Mayor Kate Schwarzler is pending, with a decision expected in March. 

The complaint against Schwarzler was filed by a resident who alleged money her business received from the city for goods or services she provided to it over the years was a violation of her elected office. OGEC is specifically examining whether the city’s purchase of gift baskets constitutes such an infraction. 

Trammart News first reported on the contractual arrangements between the city and Schwarzler’s company a few years ago. In 2019, Schwarzler agreed to provide “entrepreneurship development services” for the city through her firm, Creo Solutions, with payment not to exceed $37,200. Later, on behalf of her non-profit, Indy Idea Hub, she signed an agreement with the city titled “transit planning services” for fees not to exceed $45,000. 

Schwarzler has declined to comment on the OGEC complaint to Trammart News. ▪

CSD 13J internet shutdown causes loss of learning in January, and a big worry to parents

By Anne Scheck
Trammart News Service, January 24, 2025 
  
After three days of sudden shutdown this month due to an internet failure, students at Central School District 13J now are destined to spend just as much time out of their classrooms in January as they do in them. 

The count includes a nine-day total of “forced absenteeism” – as one parent put it – stemming from a computer-server failure, days off due to winter break, time allotted for teacher development and the Martin Luther King holiday. 

Parents contacted Trammart News with concern over what they suspect may be a trend. The district approach is “we have to do what we have to do, so just accept it,” said one, who didn’t want to be named. Asked why families weren’t calling or emailing district officials with questions about how such closures could be avoided in the future, several said such challenges could be seen as airing “gripes” rather than sharing worries. 

Some parents wondered about why classes couldn’t continue – personal cell phone usage for staying connected was one line of inquiry, a temporary return to pencil-and-paper instruction was another. “The network is important to the safety and security of our students because, without internet, our phone system doesn’t work,” according to Emily Mentzer, communications coordinator for the district. “We need to ensure we can call families or emergency services in the case of an emergency,” she added.

A grant application is underway for money to fix the fragile system – switches and servers have been found to be “antiquated” – but the incident happened before the grant-proposal process was completed, Mentzer said. 

The three-day closure, which also was reported by The Oregonian, comes at a time when CSD 13J is battling relatively high absenteeism, in part by using an approach called “Every Day Matters.” 

Every day does matter, according to a Canadian team that has studied the concept of “mattering.” In-person learning seems to help convey to students that they matter – and “mattering” is now being recognized as a possible key indicator for student success, according to the researchers at the University of Ottawa. 

"For me, it wouldn’t have been very much trouble to shift to running our classroom without the internet,” said Nathan Muti, who teaches at Ash Creek Elementary School. “All of the really good learning is done offline anyway,” he said.

“I mostly use internet resources to help track student’s progress, and to help with diversifying our accommodations for students,” Muti said.  

Several other teachers echoed that sentiment, including one at Central High School who noted that, when the internet went out in the afternoon, the jump was made to a short lecture followed by a question-and-answer session that led to a fairly long discussion. ▪

These Panthers aren't just horsin' around

By Lance Masterson
For Trammart News Service, January 24, 2025


Abigail Steckel has been riding horses for five years. But a passion for the animal has been with her even longer.

“I liked horses since I was little. Always been my favorite animal. Always been intrigued by them,” she said. “I just finally got the opportunity to ride. I took it, and this is where it’s gotten me.”

Where it’s gotten Steckel this night is the 9D Ranch. She is practicing with the other four members of the Central High School equestrian team. This is the senior captain’s second year in the program. She joined the team because she wanted to get better.

“I was really looking forward to being coached.… I’ve learned so many things,” she said of the experience. “You learn so much from the other riders. You also learn to rely on them.”

This partnership between Steckel and steed (Truman) was all of two days old when interviewed. With the first meet a few weeks away, the immediate goal is to concentrate on basics.

“I just hope to ride him and get him used to doing patterns,” she said. Steckel plans to attend Oregon State University and major in veterinary sciences. Truman is a part of those plans.

“He’s my college horse,” she said.

A second captain, Rebecca Duluk, and her horse Pixie have known each other a bit longer. They’ve been a couple since August.

“She’s still pretty new … there’s still a long way to go,” Duluk said in providing a status report. “A lot of it has just been going slow and getting to know her.” Pixie is 11 years old and comfortable in her former routine. But unlike dogs, as the saying goes, you can apparently teach an older horse new tricks.

“She wasn’t trained in the type of stuff I do, so I’ve been slowly introducing her to that. I don’t overwhelm her,” Duluk said. “She’s pretty stubborn and she’s pretty smart. If I ask her to do something she doesn’t want to do, she’ll try to find a way out of it.”

Jacque Dodson knows her way around an arena as well.

“I grew up with horses,” she said. “But they were mainly pasture ponies.” Her relationship with the four-legged wonders grew stronger over the years. This bond strengthened even more after she married Dave Dodson, an avid rider, and the couple ventured beyond arenas and other urban venues. According to Jacque, “We did trail riding. We did back country horsemen. Packing horses into the wilderness,” she said. “We did the Polk County Mounted Sheriff’s Posse. Search and Rescue. That kind of stuff.”

There was less time for horse-related activities while the Dodsons raised their family. “Our kids were not horse kids. They just weren’t interested,” Dodson said. “Our kids all went different directions.”

So Jacque found other kids; kids headed in her direction. Which helps explain why she is in her sixth year as coach of the Central High School equestrian team.

“Well, the other coach decided to resign (after two years), and the kids… asked if I would consider being the coach. So I talked to the athletic director and took all the training that was necessary, and I became a coach for the first time ever,” she said of her recruitment. “To have a group of kids who want to learn, it’s been a big blessing to Dave and me.”

The Panthers squad competes at meets sanctioned by Oregon High School Equestrian Teams. Captains Duluk and Steckel head a roster that includes Madelyn Nieves, Madalyn Chase and Audrey Pelky.

Tabatha Bielemeier is in her third year as co-coach. Dave helps as needed, as do parents.

Equestrian is a club sport at Central. Though it has to be approved by high school administration and its coaches certified by the Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA), it receives no funding from the school, Jacque said.

“The first couple years parents had to pay for everything. And the last couple years, we’ve started collecting scholarships, where the kids go out into the community and ask for donations and things,” Dodson said. “But if the kids don’t go out and gather funding, parents have to pay for it themselves.” Central is one of 13 schools in the Willamette District. Statewide, there are eight districts and 800 riders.

Practice begins in November, with district meets set for February, March and April at the Linn County Fairgrounds in Albany. Riders compete in up to five individual events and as many team events as can be fielded.

“They can compete in cow events, like daubing and sorting. Then there’s the gaming events, which are barrels, poles, figure eights, flags and several others,” Jacque said. “There’s English events and Western events that they can compete in. So, it caters to (everyone).”

This year’s state finals are Thursday through Sunday, May 8-11.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to Jacque’s coaching style.

“I think the most important thing is realizing that everybody rides at a different level, and that everybody’s goals are a little different,” she said. “You can’t teach all kids the same way. You have to teach them as individuals.”

Riders determine what success means to them.

“What makes for a successful season is our kids competing at the level that their goals are set,” Jacque added. “We have them set goals before each meet of what they’d like to accomplish. Some of these kids have been riding for a long period of time. Some of them … just got their horse the day before yesterday.”

Together, coach and rider assess whether a goal was achieved. “If they accomplished their goal, then we’re satisfied,” Jacque said.

The Dodsons have owned the 9D Ranch for 35 years. It’s the property north of Independence with the large red barn on Rogers Road.

The ranch is a landmark for members of the saddle set, as 4-Hers, team ropers and Polk County Posse members practice there. Something they’ve been doing for years.

Jacque has lived in Polk County for some 50 years, and is a former resident of Valsetz, the former timber town. Dave is a CHS alumni and worked for the school district for 30 years. ▪

Sen. Deb Patterson practices proactive ethics to push for an environmental bill

By Anne Scheck
Trammart News Service, January 24, 2025 
  
This feature, “IN ACTUALITY,” appears periodically  – to inform residents about matters that may impact them at some point, but which are part of a developing story. Microfibers in public water are beginning to undergo scientific scrutiny. State Sen Deb Patterson, who has been a member of the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators, has advocated for more studies. Independence is one of the few systems in Oregon where they’ve been reported as detected. Sen. Patterson has called for an addition to home filtration where microfibers are likely to turn up -- in wastewater from the laundry, specifically washing machines. A few facts about her bill regarding the proposed filter system. 

IN ACTUALITY
An editorial column to assist public knowledge & discourse on recent events. 

WHO: State Sen. Deb Patterson, who represents Independence, Monmouth and South Salem and who began the 2025 state legislative session this week. 

WHAT: A bill sponsored by Patterson, SB 526, calls for a new law to require equipping laundry-washing appliances with a special system that would catch and retain “microfibers,” tiny particles of plastic and other materials that are shed from some clothing, blankets and other items during laundering with water and detergent. The law wouldn’t go into enforcement effect until 2030. 

WHERE: The filter unit, made by Filtrol, was proposed to assist Sen. Patterson as a visual aid to demonstrate how the device works. The company requested that, in return for donating the special filter, it would receive a “shout-out” on social media. 

WHEN: The Filtrol filter is planned for use during the process of introducing the bill. 

WHY: Current scientific research suggests that exposure to certain micro-contaminants, including those known as PFAs, may lead to adverse health effects. However, levels of risk are largely unknown, and research is ongoing. The filtering helps keep them out of wastewater discharges from household washing, which could reduce these tiny fibers from entering local water supplies. 

HOW: When a public official like Patterson is offered something of value – the Filtrol unit is estimated to cost $159 – a state agency, the Oregon Government Ethics Commission, can help interpret whether an infraction is likely to occur under the Oregon Revised Statutes, which define what constitutes a gift to a public official. “In this situation, it appears that Filtriol’s Filer Unit is a gift to Senator Patterson’s Office rather than a gift to Patterson herself,” wrote OGEC director Susan Myers, who added that the gift clause only applies to gifts given to public officials and not public bodies. 
. 
OUTCOME: It remains to be seen whether the bill will pass into law. However, Patterson’s proactive inquiry – by her chief of staff, Megan Wai – is expected to allow use of the filter unit to proceed for demonstration purposes without any ethics challenge. ▪

Editorial: Vidal Pena belongs on the Independence City Council

An Editorial by publisher Anne Scheck
Trammart News Service, January 10, 2025 

I don’t know about you, but with the Independence City Council facing a vacancy that needs to be filled, one name springs to mind with the force of a mighty roar and the comfort of a plush coverlet: Vidal Pena. 

Let me count the ways in which this guy is needed to help guide the city, which is entering a period I believe deserves to be called a crisis. For starters, this is a town where even the city announcement about the vacant council seat is a reason for head-scratching. In this week’s agenda packet, the timeline that’s provided for the appointment process lists February 15 as the date for beginning the recruitment of applicants and Feb. 11 for the special meeting to appoint one. 

You may wonder why this all-too-human mistake grabbed my attention. After all, it’s easily correctable. But it appears on the same document where a proposed resolution asks the city council to approve a $7.5 million loan from Umpqua Bank for the design of the new treatment plant. So, numbers and dates are important – and nobody is better at them than Vidal Pena, in my personal view. 

And a personal view is just what I’ve had of this man for the past several years. How could I help it? He is everywhere. It isn’t just his visibility, which ranges from an endlessly enthusiastic kids coach to a tireless talent show emcee during Independence Days. It is because I got to see him perform so well in what arguably is the closest thing to a city council seat outside of the city council – a school board member. 

It is no exaggeration for me to say I thought he was the best one on that board during his service. Journalists are supposed to remain neutral, so my apologies if I sound biased. I am. I favor what I call the resident voice … try to hear it, consider it, take it seriously whenever that is possible. It’s often the engine that drives me to cover stories.

And no one ever reflected that resident voice on the school board like Pena. One of his most often-used phrases was “I am asking on behalf of my constituents.” The constituents included children, parents, neighbors, teachers – anyone who had brought a concern to him for further exploration. I confess I loved hearing the term, even though I had never actually considered youths and teens “constituents.” Well, now I do. 

Pena is a rare combination of fearless question-hurler coupled with the kind of personal warmth that caused one of his colleagues to call him the most likable person in town. I hope he will forgive me for singling out some aspects – a partially missing limb, his Latino heritage – as characteristics that have made him the most special kind of role model to so many. 

Months ago, I told Pena I could no longer quote him in features – that he had crossed the invisible but inviolable line into what I call unavoidably favorable prejudice on my part, which for many people is when friendship occurs. No longer can you look at someone objectively – you simply like them, regarding them in a positive light. 

There is a city council in place that, though it may surprise some, I have always defended to outsiders that I think go too far in their criticism. These are people who are volunteers, asked to read reams of sometime hard-to-interpret materials, make hard financial decisions and put themselves in a place where criticism is likely. 

Is this why some of them form such a tight-knit group that it is increasingly called an echo chamber? If so, there are some reasons for that. All have had links to local government, some monetary, that seem to bundle them together. Councilor Shannon Corr previously worked for the city’s museum; Incoming Mayor Kate Schwarzler’s non-profit and other businesses received a combined tens of thousands of dollars from the city; Councilor Marilyn Morton worked for years at the city’s co-founded municipal fiberoptic, MINET. Councilor Kathy Martin-Willis is chief of staff for Rep. Paul Evans – a position in which she succeeded Evan Sorce, who also has sought a seat on the council and now is expected to try for the vacant spot.

There is nothing inherently worrisome about affiliations with city or government operations. In fact, they may provide good preparation. But someone like Pena can step up with a different perspective – as a parent of a school-aged young person and as a member of an extended family with such deep roots in the community that their name is practically synonymous with community involvement. 

When Pena was profiled in Trammart News recently – by writer Lance Masterson because I had deemed myself too biased to engage in coverage – I was astounded to read in the piece how candidly Pena addressed his past battle with alcohol. 

This is someone who has faced adversity and didn’t succumb to it. I’ve never been able to understand where and how admirable character is forged, but Pena’s got it in droves, the kind of individual you may read about but hardly ever get to meet. 

So, I have taken this stand, controversial though it may be for me to do so. You get to know a remarkable person and you see an opportunity for them that could benefit others and, if you are as old as I am, perhaps you seize the chance to advocate in a way that surprises even you. 

Vidal Pena should be on the Independence City Council. He represents so many touchpoints in the community, with such energy.

What will happen if he is chosen? A whole lot of people would be happy, I confidently predict. And I would be one of them, of course. But then I would be faced with reporting on someone for whom I had a self-imposed ban against covering. It’s just the kind of problem I would like to have, and I hope I do. ▪

Olive trees may offer a way to expand Polk County's agricultural future

​By Anne Scheck
Trammart News Service, January 10, 2025 

Does Polk County have an agricultural future that includes substantial harvest of “liquid gold”? That question was answered, in part, by Neil Bell, community horticulturist for Oregon State University’s Extension Service, during a presentation to the Polk County Board of Commissioners Wednesday.

The liquid gold nickname was given to olive oil during the days of the Roman Empire but it’s also currently in use – a reference to the exploding market for the popular oil obtained from the pulp of olives. 

Although Spain is by far the biggest producer of olive oil, the oil has the potential for a bigger boutique market in Oregon; Olive oil is being produced and sold in Oregon, but the demand for it has been increasing. The largest number of growers are in the Willamette Valley, though olive trees constitute a negligible part of agricultural production in the state – so far. 

The demand for olive oil, in general, has been relentless, Bell pointed out in a presentation that was part of a special agenda item at the commissioners' meeting. 

He observed that grapes at one time – now covering the hillsides of numerous vineyards – were once regarded the same way. Olive tree groves "show promise," he stated. 

In 2017, Bell began a project to determine the relative hardiness to Pacific Northwest winters of 116 different cultivars, which are trees that represent different varieties often achieved by selective breeding. The cultivars were planted four years ago in 12 rows with 35 trees to a row at OSU's North Willamette Research and Extension Center near Aurora. 

The results show considerable success. Some of the cultivars seem poised for life in the beaver state. 

An assessment in spring 2024 of injury to the trees from cold weather in January 2024 – there were two consecutive nights in which temperatures dropped to 15 F – showed the cold caused significant damage to only about 19 cultivars. Many showed no or very minimal damage, Bell said.   

The most comprehensive harvest yet occurred in November 2024, with 60% of the young trees producing fruit. Significant differences in yield, the size of olives and the degree of fruit maturation were recorded.  "It is starting to get interesting," Bell said. 

To literally see the fruits of success for olives, Oregonians need look no further than Dayton, Bell said. There, Durant Olive Mill has 15 acres of olive trees and one of the relatively few state-of-the-art mills on the west coast. Each year, the harvest and milling there culminate in an annual autumn celebration for the public. “It is really something,” said Commissioner Lyle Mordhorst, who called the entire operation impressive. 

Olive trees have been prized for thousands of years in other parts of the world – an ancient diet staple. Greek mythology venerates the olive tree as a symbol of peace and prosperity, that confers good luck and offers healing powers. According to the myth, Zeus favored its creation by Athena, the goddess of wisdom, over the first battle-ready horse, which was presented to him by Poseidon, ruler of the sea. 

Olive oil became a popular food choice for many Americans following solid scientific evidence in the past decade showing health benefits. Studies have shown that, with routine use, it appears to show value in preventing cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's disease and other health issues compared to people who never or rarely consumed olive oil, according to the American Heart Association. 

Though the research effort might sound unusual since Polk County is far from the Mediterranean, where so much of the world’s olive crop is grown, Western Oregon has a similar climate of hot and dry summers with mild, wet winters.

Also, the summers in Polk County have been getting warmer, Bell pointed out. If there are olive trees that can withstand the cold, a future larger market is reasonable to consider, he affirmed. ▪

Trammart News & Publishing: 2025 brings planned changes for the news outlet

By Anne Scheck
Trammart News Service, January 10, 2025 
   
As Trammart News & Publishing begins 2025, plans for the news outlet aim to grow connections to you, the people who inhabit Independence, and who fill this small town with great spirit, familiar faces and a strong, friendly identity. It’s been nine years since a group of neighbors asked for periodic email reports on city hall from a retired journalist, prompting the first issue of The Independent in 2016.

The time seems right for updating and refinement. What lies ahead?  A few changes and several goals.

1)  The Linking Letter is making a comeback. For those of you who remember the early days of Trammart News, a small telegraph-styled newsletter was the first actual method of communication. It was dropped during the pandemic but is making a return. 

Note: Trammart News will continue to use AOL to send The Linking Letter. Though evidence is scant, this seems to confer privacy protections that are appealing. 

2)  A new feature will debut: “The Rest of the Story.” Trammart News applauds the city for its 60-second YouTube video report following city council meetings, but sometimes there is more information that can be provided in this brief time slot. For example, grants that were mentioned in the last one frequently have need of city matching funds – funds that often are a much smaller percentage of the total grant amount but are tax-funded and worth reporting. No mention was made about grant-matching funds in the last 60-seond broadcast.

Note: The format for these 60-second video reports is newsy and conveyed by the city manager. There's an intro showing the image of a timepiece –  accompanied by a ticking sound – that's somewhat reminiscent of “60 Minutes." And Trammart News's founding watch-words – providing news for residents to become "informed and engaged” – are used, as well.

3)  More coverage of environmental issues will be provided. As the city’s new water treatment plant moves closer to reality, water chemistry – from contaminants to purification techniques – will be reported on. For instance, after Trammart News cited the fact that PFAs had been detected in city water, a scientist contacted the news outlet to urge more in-depth look at this and other emerging issues. 

Note: It is important not to be alarmist about these matters, just as Trammart News was in reporting detection of PFAs as being far below health-advisory levels. But it seems essential to make such topics a priority during a period in which tax dollars may help finance water-treatment technology. 

4)  Taxes will continue to be followed, with even more vigor. In speaking with residents over the failed ballot levy for museum-library-parks, one subject repeatedly was raised. Where do tax dollars go and how is spending decided. This prompts renewed interest by Trammart News. 

Note: Voters impressed Trammart News with their questions – a significant number of them wanted levy funding to be placed in a special category outside the general fund, expressing concern that there could be spending of money earmarked for these three public services on other city functions.

5)  The Independent, a small tab publication, will be published monthly, with no home delivery unless requested. It will be distributed at participating businesses and a listing will appear to advise readers when a new issue comes out. The Quarterly Report – a bigger, newspaper-style publication – will be home-delivered to 1,350 homes at intervals of every three months. 

Note:  The quickest way to see stories published by Trammart News is at the site where you currently are reading this story – IndyNewsOnline.com.  A link to three new articles will appear on the Trammart News Facebook page, every Friday, just as they have been during the past year. 

6)  Guest editorials will continue to be encouraged. Anyone and everyone who has an opinion will be welcomed to the news site, IndyNewsOnline.com, with very little editing except for those revisions mentioned in Trammart News’ policy statements on guest editorials. 

Note: Articles written by residents are always valued, as well – these essays don’t have to be anything but an extended thank-you note to be included. 

7)  Corrections and clarifications will continue to be sought. The pledge from Trammart News has always been to fix mistakes as soon as possible, and this will continue to be the policy. The difference this year: Trammart News would like questions and concerns to be posted on the Trammart News Facebook Page or by direct email ([email protected]). 

Note: Public online commentary that is critical of a TN news story is part of freedom of speech, but such comments may represent an assertion and not constitute a request for a factual correction. TN is happy to correct errors, and it is good practice to do so. 

8)  Donations by Trammart News will continue to be made, a move that has been considered controversial in traditional journalism. The publisher-writer-reporter and owner of Trammart News considers herself a part of the community, and from youth sports needs to the Inspiration Garden, good causes that are non-political will be supported via the Trammart Inc. checkbook, when feasible and fiscally possible. 

Note: This community more than deserves it. 

Thank you everyone. It has been nine years of ups and downs without any real doubt that serving you with community coverage is one of the best decisions I ever made. – Anne Scheck ▪