Tom Brandt and Bear By Anne Scheck
It was one of those days last week when a moist wind blew, occasionally spitting light rain. People and their dogs were in the Independence Dog Park, as they almost always are now during the day. Tom Brandt, who had walked there from his home nearby, sat on a bench watching Bear, his mixed-breed German Shepherd.
Bear put his nose on the grass, then along the fence and then into the air. “He always does that,” said Brandt. “He sniffs everything – that’s pretty much all he does.”
Except when Bear sees other dogs engaged in a scuffle. Then the dog stops what he’s doing and barks a special yipping bark. “It’s like he wants it to stop,” Brandt said. Dog-on-dog conflicts seem to worry Bear, he explained. And Bear’s not alone. Several Independence dog owners say they’re concerned, too – such spats at the dog park have ticked up since last year.
“We did have an increase of dogs biting other dogs at the dog park,” confirmed Sgt. Lyle Gilbert of the Independence Police Department (IPD). After “zero” incidents in 2019, three have occurred so far this year, he said.
“This may be in part due to more people using the dog park, as more people may be working from home and around during the day,” he said, but the reason isn’t certain.
One theory is a growing dog population. A local indicator may be seen in the rising need for grooming care – business has increased by 50% at Jack’s World Pet Grooming and Supplies on C Street, according to Summer Hile, a groomer there. However, neither she nor her colleague, Jennifer Thompson, have noticed any behavioral differences in the dogs, except during the wildfires weeks ago by Salem, when smoky skies seemed to heighten anxiety among both animals and people.
Dogs have been a part of Independence since the trail wagons brought a small band of settlers to the river city in 1845 and, long before that, canines were part of life for the indigenous population, too.
Today, the statue of a dog named “Buddy” can be found on the town’s Main Street, next to one of Dan Weaver, in front of the former antique store they both occupied. And, nearly each morning, a handsome Bouvier des Flandres – which looks like a cross between a labradoodle and a wolfhound – shows up at Ovenbird Bakery, for his daily lemon cookie. Dogs, not just people and places, add character to the downtown, residents say.
In fact, many dog owners – or “guardians” as they sometimes prefer to be called – don’t report physical dustups as a side effect of more dog encounters, according to some who use the pedestrian path in Riverview Park for walking dogs.
However, anecdotes about displays of dog hostility do seem more frequent. One resident had to visit a veterinarian after a bigger dog bit her chihuahua through a chain link fence during a walk. Others said dog “etiquette” – using a leash, giving wide berth to other dogs – seems lower in this time of COVID-19. However, the problems aren’t necessarily limited to Riverview Park or the fenced enclosure there.
When her poodle, Riley, was spending the same kind of leisure time that Bear enjoys – taking in sights and smells, gearing up for a walk – a bull terrier attacked him in the family’s own driveway, recounted Erin Hill of Independence. Riley was on a leash held by Hill’s mother, who was knocked to the ground, then bitten as she attempted to loosen the bull terrier’s grip on her daughter’s dog. “It ultimately took three people to pull the dog off Riley,” Hill said, adding that the injuries to her poodle required hours of surgery.
The attack was reported to the IPD, but Hill found the outcome disheartening. The bull terrier was found to be a dangerous dog, but beyond that not much else seems to have transpired, she noted. “There’s definitely an issue in the town and the local officials need to step up to the plate,” she said.
Though dog bites on citizens are rare, mail delivery has ceased in one Independence neighborhood due to a mail carrier being bitten – and it isn’t the first time that’s happened, according to US postal authorities in the area.
However, findings from police data don’t show an increase in dog-related calls for service, at least not a significant one, according to IPD’s Gilbert. So, there are no immediate plans for substantial changes.
“We will continue to do our best when it comes to educating dog owners on their responsibilities to keep the community safe, and in understanding the local laws and ordinances surrounding dogs,” Gilbert said.
If there really are more canine conflicts, one reason may be the soaring number of dog adoptions during the pandemic. This spring, the Oregon Humane Society reportedly closed its online application process for new dogs temporarily, due to a diminished supply. Then, about two weeks ago, the organization assisted with the transport of nearly 600 shelter dogs and cats from Hawaii to the Pacific Northwest, which was the “largest pet rescue flight in history,” according to the news announcement by the Oregon Humane Society.
“For a few years, Oregon has been importing stray dogs from out-of-state humane societies as well as from a variety of animal rescue groups with varying standards,” observed Robert Archer DVM, whose busy veterinary clinic on a corner in downtown Independence is practically a town landmark. Also, due to the pandemic and a slight nationwide undersupply of veterinarians, many veterinary practices aren’t accepting new clients -- only existing clients with new pets, he added.
One reason there may be more behavioral complications in dogs during COVID-19 probably has far less to with the circumstances of the pandemic than the source of available canine adoptees, agreed Ken Lindsay DVM, who recently retired from full-time veterinary practice in Monmouth.
Oregon has become a destination for other states, even for other countries, trying to place dogs. For example, scores of them have arrived from Asia, he said.
One of these dogs, which went to a local family, "is a street dog behaving like a street dog," Lindsay said. Such dogs can have habits that are very hard to break, including an extreme wariness of people, he added. A shy or timid disposition often isn't a good characteristic in an adult dog, Lindsay said. It's the "friendly" ones that are usually the best candidates for taking home to a family, he said.
"My advice is to get help from a dog trainer," Lindsay advised. How to find the right one? Interviews with former clients are one way to identify a skilled professional, he said.
Dogs who grow up on the street have known the freedom of living entirely on their own and, for those, the adjustment to a home can be very difficult, concurred Catherine Comden, a certified dog trainer who lives in Independence. Rescued dogs have varying degrees of sociability – some simply aren't comfortable being housed with humans, she added.
Choosing a dog who's appealing and cute doesn't guarantee a personality with easygoing traits, she noted. Aggressive tendencies may be the reason the dog is in the shelter. Behavior risks are something you may not really see fully "until about six weeks" after an adoption, Comden said. Genetics and life history play a big role, and most dogs are "who they're going to be by about four months of age," she said.
Occasionally, she has accompanied a client to help them select a dog at a shelter or rescue operation. "We shouldn't be putting marginal dogs into the community," she stressed.
Bear, a dog park “regular” and a rescue animal, did have some bad patterns originally, Brandt recalled. He’d zoom in on birds, terrifying them; He was jumpy, and staged many garbage raids. It took a few years to see a change, Brandt said.
“I think time and patience really helped,” Brandt said. Bear’s earlier life seems in stark contrast to that of Ivan, a little dachshund mix who was rescued by Ashley Rice, owner of the tailoring service “Ashley Sews” in Independence. Ivan’s the very picture of calm.
Rescued when he was only several weeks old, the puppy had a leg injury that took immediate veterinary attention. Rice remembers Ivan being clingy, so she carried him around in the crook of her arm. The day came when Ivan felt secure enough to move to the floor, and he has been a constant, sweet-tempered companion in the years since then, she said.
Are more dogs biting other dogs in Independence? It’s hard to tell. However, many may not come to the attention of police. Take Molly, a mid-sized mixed-breed dog who’s also a dog park “regular.” She was injured in a clash at the dog park a few years ago – and her owner, Don Peerson, paid several hundred dollars in vet bills. One day, after Molly had healed, they returned to the dog park and discovered the same owner with the same dogs.
“I had a copy of the bill, and I gave it to him,” Peerson recalled. Together, they made a trip to a local bank. “This guy came out with the money, and gave it to me, and we got to talking,” Peerson said. “He was a veteran, and he had rescued the dogs after a flood,” Peerson said. “So I told him ‘Here you go’ and I gave him back the money.” Molly, like Bear, remains a “regular” at the Independence Dog Park.
It was one of those days last week when a moist wind blew, occasionally spitting light rain. People and their dogs were in the Independence Dog Park, as they almost always are now during the day. Tom Brandt, who had walked there from his home nearby, sat on a bench watching Bear, his mixed-breed German Shepherd.
Bear put his nose on the grass, then along the fence and then into the air. “He always does that,” said Brandt. “He sniffs everything – that’s pretty much all he does.”
Except when Bear sees other dogs engaged in a scuffle. Then the dog stops what he’s doing and barks a special yipping bark. “It’s like he wants it to stop,” Brandt said. Dog-on-dog conflicts seem to worry Bear, he explained. And Bear’s not alone. Several Independence dog owners say they’re concerned, too – such spats at the dog park have ticked up since last year.
“We did have an increase of dogs biting other dogs at the dog park,” confirmed Sgt. Lyle Gilbert of the Independence Police Department (IPD). After “zero” incidents in 2019, three have occurred so far this year, he said.
“This may be in part due to more people using the dog park, as more people may be working from home and around during the day,” he said, but the reason isn’t certain.
One theory is a growing dog population. A local indicator may be seen in the rising need for grooming care – business has increased by 50% at Jack’s World Pet Grooming and Supplies on C Street, according to Summer Hile, a groomer there. However, neither she nor her colleague, Jennifer Thompson, have noticed any behavioral differences in the dogs, except during the wildfires weeks ago by Salem, when smoky skies seemed to heighten anxiety among both animals and people.
Dogs have been a part of Independence since the trail wagons brought a small band of settlers to the river city in 1845 and, long before that, canines were part of life for the indigenous population, too.
Today, the statue of a dog named “Buddy” can be found on the town’s Main Street, next to one of Dan Weaver, in front of the former antique store they both occupied. And, nearly each morning, a handsome Bouvier des Flandres – which looks like a cross between a labradoodle and a wolfhound – shows up at Ovenbird Bakery, for his daily lemon cookie. Dogs, not just people and places, add character to the downtown, residents say.
In fact, many dog owners – or “guardians” as they sometimes prefer to be called – don’t report physical dustups as a side effect of more dog encounters, according to some who use the pedestrian path in Riverview Park for walking dogs.
However, anecdotes about displays of dog hostility do seem more frequent. One resident had to visit a veterinarian after a bigger dog bit her chihuahua through a chain link fence during a walk. Others said dog “etiquette” – using a leash, giving wide berth to other dogs – seems lower in this time of COVID-19. However, the problems aren’t necessarily limited to Riverview Park or the fenced enclosure there.
When her poodle, Riley, was spending the same kind of leisure time that Bear enjoys – taking in sights and smells, gearing up for a walk – a bull terrier attacked him in the family’s own driveway, recounted Erin Hill of Independence. Riley was on a leash held by Hill’s mother, who was knocked to the ground, then bitten as she attempted to loosen the bull terrier’s grip on her daughter’s dog. “It ultimately took three people to pull the dog off Riley,” Hill said, adding that the injuries to her poodle required hours of surgery.
The attack was reported to the IPD, but Hill found the outcome disheartening. The bull terrier was found to be a dangerous dog, but beyond that not much else seems to have transpired, she noted. “There’s definitely an issue in the town and the local officials need to step up to the plate,” she said.
Though dog bites on citizens are rare, mail delivery has ceased in one Independence neighborhood due to a mail carrier being bitten – and it isn’t the first time that’s happened, according to US postal authorities in the area.
However, findings from police data don’t show an increase in dog-related calls for service, at least not a significant one, according to IPD’s Gilbert. So, there are no immediate plans for substantial changes.
“We will continue to do our best when it comes to educating dog owners on their responsibilities to keep the community safe, and in understanding the local laws and ordinances surrounding dogs,” Gilbert said.
If there really are more canine conflicts, one reason may be the soaring number of dog adoptions during the pandemic. This spring, the Oregon Humane Society reportedly closed its online application process for new dogs temporarily, due to a diminished supply. Then, about two weeks ago, the organization assisted with the transport of nearly 600 shelter dogs and cats from Hawaii to the Pacific Northwest, which was the “largest pet rescue flight in history,” according to the news announcement by the Oregon Humane Society.
“For a few years, Oregon has been importing stray dogs from out-of-state humane societies as well as from a variety of animal rescue groups with varying standards,” observed Robert Archer DVM, whose busy veterinary clinic on a corner in downtown Independence is practically a town landmark. Also, due to the pandemic and a slight nationwide undersupply of veterinarians, many veterinary practices aren’t accepting new clients -- only existing clients with new pets, he added.
One reason there may be more behavioral complications in dogs during COVID-19 probably has far less to with the circumstances of the pandemic than the source of available canine adoptees, agreed Ken Lindsay DVM, who recently retired from full-time veterinary practice in Monmouth.
Oregon has become a destination for other states, even for other countries, trying to place dogs. For example, scores of them have arrived from Asia, he said.
One of these dogs, which went to a local family, "is a street dog behaving like a street dog," Lindsay said. Such dogs can have habits that are very hard to break, including an extreme wariness of people, he added. A shy or timid disposition often isn't a good characteristic in an adult dog, Lindsay said. It's the "friendly" ones that are usually the best candidates for taking home to a family, he said.
"My advice is to get help from a dog trainer," Lindsay advised. How to find the right one? Interviews with former clients are one way to identify a skilled professional, he said.
Dogs who grow up on the street have known the freedom of living entirely on their own and, for those, the adjustment to a home can be very difficult, concurred Catherine Comden, a certified dog trainer who lives in Independence. Rescued dogs have varying degrees of sociability – some simply aren't comfortable being housed with humans, she added.
Choosing a dog who's appealing and cute doesn't guarantee a personality with easygoing traits, she noted. Aggressive tendencies may be the reason the dog is in the shelter. Behavior risks are something you may not really see fully "until about six weeks" after an adoption, Comden said. Genetics and life history play a big role, and most dogs are "who they're going to be by about four months of age," she said.
Occasionally, she has accompanied a client to help them select a dog at a shelter or rescue operation. "We shouldn't be putting marginal dogs into the community," she stressed.
Bear, a dog park “regular” and a rescue animal, did have some bad patterns originally, Brandt recalled. He’d zoom in on birds, terrifying them; He was jumpy, and staged many garbage raids. It took a few years to see a change, Brandt said.
“I think time and patience really helped,” Brandt said. Bear’s earlier life seems in stark contrast to that of Ivan, a little dachshund mix who was rescued by Ashley Rice, owner of the tailoring service “Ashley Sews” in Independence. Ivan’s the very picture of calm.
Rescued when he was only several weeks old, the puppy had a leg injury that took immediate veterinary attention. Rice remembers Ivan being clingy, so she carried him around in the crook of her arm. The day came when Ivan felt secure enough to move to the floor, and he has been a constant, sweet-tempered companion in the years since then, she said.
Are more dogs biting other dogs in Independence? It’s hard to tell. However, many may not come to the attention of police. Take Molly, a mid-sized mixed-breed dog who’s also a dog park “regular.” She was injured in a clash at the dog park a few years ago – and her owner, Don Peerson, paid several hundred dollars in vet bills. One day, after Molly had healed, they returned to the dog park and discovered the same owner with the same dogs.
“I had a copy of the bill, and I gave it to him,” Peerson recalled. Together, they made a trip to a local bank. “This guy came out with the money, and gave it to me, and we got to talking,” Peerson said. “He was a veteran, and he had rescued the dogs after a flood,” Peerson said. “So I told him ‘Here you go’ and I gave him back the money.” Molly, like Bear, remains a “regular” at the Independence Dog Park.
Main and Monmouth Streets Independence Transportation Plan Possibilities Range from Roundabouts to a New Crosstown Street
By Anne Scheck
A proposed transportation plan to help ease traffic as Highway 51 enters Independence to become the city’s Main Street includes several alternatives, from roundabouts to traffic lights. However, Mayor John McArdle made it clear at a recent city council meeting that he favors an option that would put a new roadway through the Southwest section of town.
“I know we’d have to fight with ODOT and the rail folks for overpass on the rail lines and getting through some wetlands,” McArdle said. But the other measures, including the suggestion of turn lanes at Monmouth and Main streets, likely will mean losing the historic and hometown character of the downtown area, he pointed out. So, despite the barriers to a new thoroughfare, “it seems like we are going to have to climb that mountain,” he said.
The pronouncement came after a presentation by Matt Bell of Kittelson & Associates, the Portland-based consulting firm the city hired to conduct the traffic analysis and to offer solutions for the traffic increases on Main Street – increases expected to persist in the near future. More than 100 new apartments at Independence Landing are nearing completion on the riverfront and construction is continuing at Brandy Meadows, a subdivision in southwestern Independence.
There already are “failing intersections” along Main Street, noted Bell, who explained that this term refers to heavily trafficked areas in need of better management. The last Transportation System Plan (TSP) for Independence was completed 13 years ago.
Ideas for improving the flow of cars include the possibility of establishing turn lanes at the intersection of Main and Monmouth streets and also at Main and Polk streets. Traffic lights and roundabouts might be considered there, as well, Bell suggested. The Independence Bridge is another spot where traffic-control improvements appear to be warranted, he added.
Roundabouts would require an effort in public education, observed City Councilor Shannon Corr, noting that in places where she’s previously lived many drivers found them confusing, with “fender-benders” as a result. As for putting one at Polk and Main, “I cannot even imagine that,” she said, adding that “many 18-wheelers go through that area.”
“There is a learning curve about roundabouts,” agreed City Manager Tom Pessemier. He described the consultant’s report as a way of “really throwing everything out there as an alternative.”
A TSP is a way for cities to meet their transportation needs for the future, by adopting the “three P’s” – projects, programs and policies – to help with the expected change and growth. And, in Independence, that growth comes from outside the community, as well, Bell pointed out.
During morning hours, commuters from Monmouth and other areas west of Independence take Monmouth Street to cross the Independence Bridge or to reach Highway 51 to head to West Salem or to the Salem Bridge. A reversal occurs in the early evening, as residents return from their jobs elsewhere, according to pass-through studies conducted by the consulting firm. Motorists from south Salem also travel through town, taking the Independence Bridge to reach Polk County destinations, and driving back the same way.
Some of the proposed concepts for dealing with traffic along Monmouth Street seem to be a “cookie cutter” approach, Mayor McArdle said, explaining that he lives on Monmouth Street near downtown and sees on a basis daily how many cars drive past. He voiced support for the new “southern arterial,” as it is called, which is part of the Southwest Independence Concept Plan.
“The alignment does have costs associated with a railroad overpass and a bridge over the South Fork of Ash Creek that have made the road expensive,” confirmed City Planner Fred Evander. “We are looking at potential options for the roadway, including an at-grade crossing of the railroad, rather than an overpass,” he said.
Both the mayor and city staff have been working with the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the railroad to determine the feasibility of that concept, Evander said.
In fact, both the mayor’s and the city council’s perspective are critical to the success of a TSP update, according to Michael Duncan, the senior region planner for ODOT who has been assisting Independence. “Elected leadership brings strong understanding of the story of the community, and that’s something that data and analysis don’t always capture,” he said. “It really takes both to illustrate the transportation needs and solutions for the next 20 years,” he said.
The consultant’s analysis suggests the proposed “southern arterial” may alleviate much of the traffic on Monmouth and Main, Duncan noted. However, one other potential barrier to the “southern arterial” is the wetland component of the area – a topic that surfaced at the Independence Planning Commission meeting in October, when the city’s floodplain was discussed. Planning Commissioner Rebecca Jay observed there is a lack of definitive flood-prone mapping in that part of town. “It seems like we ought to have that information if you are going to have building and development there,” she said.
By Anne Scheck
A proposed transportation plan to help ease traffic as Highway 51 enters Independence to become the city’s Main Street includes several alternatives, from roundabouts to traffic lights. However, Mayor John McArdle made it clear at a recent city council meeting that he favors an option that would put a new roadway through the Southwest section of town.
“I know we’d have to fight with ODOT and the rail folks for overpass on the rail lines and getting through some wetlands,” McArdle said. But the other measures, including the suggestion of turn lanes at Monmouth and Main streets, likely will mean losing the historic and hometown character of the downtown area, he pointed out. So, despite the barriers to a new thoroughfare, “it seems like we are going to have to climb that mountain,” he said.
The pronouncement came after a presentation by Matt Bell of Kittelson & Associates, the Portland-based consulting firm the city hired to conduct the traffic analysis and to offer solutions for the traffic increases on Main Street – increases expected to persist in the near future. More than 100 new apartments at Independence Landing are nearing completion on the riverfront and construction is continuing at Brandy Meadows, a subdivision in southwestern Independence.
There already are “failing intersections” along Main Street, noted Bell, who explained that this term refers to heavily trafficked areas in need of better management. The last Transportation System Plan (TSP) for Independence was completed 13 years ago.
Ideas for improving the flow of cars include the possibility of establishing turn lanes at the intersection of Main and Monmouth streets and also at Main and Polk streets. Traffic lights and roundabouts might be considered there, as well, Bell suggested. The Independence Bridge is another spot where traffic-control improvements appear to be warranted, he added.
Roundabouts would require an effort in public education, observed City Councilor Shannon Corr, noting that in places where she’s previously lived many drivers found them confusing, with “fender-benders” as a result. As for putting one at Polk and Main, “I cannot even imagine that,” she said, adding that “many 18-wheelers go through that area.”
“There is a learning curve about roundabouts,” agreed City Manager Tom Pessemier. He described the consultant’s report as a way of “really throwing everything out there as an alternative.”
A TSP is a way for cities to meet their transportation needs for the future, by adopting the “three P’s” – projects, programs and policies – to help with the expected change and growth. And, in Independence, that growth comes from outside the community, as well, Bell pointed out.
During morning hours, commuters from Monmouth and other areas west of Independence take Monmouth Street to cross the Independence Bridge or to reach Highway 51 to head to West Salem or to the Salem Bridge. A reversal occurs in the early evening, as residents return from their jobs elsewhere, according to pass-through studies conducted by the consulting firm. Motorists from south Salem also travel through town, taking the Independence Bridge to reach Polk County destinations, and driving back the same way.
Some of the proposed concepts for dealing with traffic along Monmouth Street seem to be a “cookie cutter” approach, Mayor McArdle said, explaining that he lives on Monmouth Street near downtown and sees on a basis daily how many cars drive past. He voiced support for the new “southern arterial,” as it is called, which is part of the Southwest Independence Concept Plan.
“The alignment does have costs associated with a railroad overpass and a bridge over the South Fork of Ash Creek that have made the road expensive,” confirmed City Planner Fred Evander. “We are looking at potential options for the roadway, including an at-grade crossing of the railroad, rather than an overpass,” he said.
Both the mayor and city staff have been working with the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the railroad to determine the feasibility of that concept, Evander said.
In fact, both the mayor’s and the city council’s perspective are critical to the success of a TSP update, according to Michael Duncan, the senior region planner for ODOT who has been assisting Independence. “Elected leadership brings strong understanding of the story of the community, and that’s something that data and analysis don’t always capture,” he said. “It really takes both to illustrate the transportation needs and solutions for the next 20 years,” he said.
The consultant’s analysis suggests the proposed “southern arterial” may alleviate much of the traffic on Monmouth and Main, Duncan noted. However, one other potential barrier to the “southern arterial” is the wetland component of the area – a topic that surfaced at the Independence Planning Commission meeting in October, when the city’s floodplain was discussed. Planning Commissioner Rebecca Jay observed there is a lack of definitive flood-prone mapping in that part of town. “It seems like we ought to have that information if you are going to have building and development there,” she said.
Looking south on Main Street Others, including City Councilor Tom Takacs, have asked for a cost-benefit ratio on the different traffic improvements. Asked about the price tag of the various TSP alternatives, Evander acknowledged that “we do not have a scope of the cost of any improvements at this point.”
“We are attempting to whittle down concepts to financially feasible alternatives,” he said.
Online open houses have been held to get public input for the TSP. However, Evander said the outreach fell short of what was desired. Another open house, this time on the city's YouTube channel with two-way interactions, is scheduled for early December.
“There are another seven months or so before the city adopts the plan,” said ODOT’s Duncan. “I imagine that between now and then this project will land on a set of alternatives, which strike a balance,” he said.
“We are attempting to whittle down concepts to financially feasible alternatives,” he said.
Online open houses have been held to get public input for the TSP. However, Evander said the outreach fell short of what was desired. Another open house, this time on the city's YouTube channel with two-way interactions, is scheduled for early December.
“There are another seven months or so before the city adopts the plan,” said ODOT’s Duncan. “I imagine that between now and then this project will land on a set of alternatives, which strike a balance,” he said.
CIVICS LESSON: Time to Rate the City Manager
Independence City Manager Tom Pessemier is coming up for an annual evaluation. How will it take place? He's planning to write a self-examining critique, which city councilors will go over together, seated around a table with him. Since the city manager himself announced that Independence is doing well enough to give other employees cost-of-living raises when 2021 rolls in, it is likely that Pessemier will get one, too. In many ways, the Independence city manager is like many others across the state, according to a profile published by the International City/County Management Association (ICMA). Most are middle aged or older, most work in small cities, most are responsible for a wide range of duties, such as addressing public-safety concerns -- from potholes to crime control -- to managing services, including drinking-water maintenance and playground refurbishment. City managers are able do this far-flung job by overseeing different departments, like public works and law enforcement. So they have to be able to get along well with multiple individuals and to work well with groups of people -- the city council, for example. City managers are getting harder to come by, as their numbers shrink due to the continual retirement of their ranks, according to the ICMA. – AS
Independence City Manager Tom Pessemier is coming up for an annual evaluation. How will it take place? He's planning to write a self-examining critique, which city councilors will go over together, seated around a table with him. Since the city manager himself announced that Independence is doing well enough to give other employees cost-of-living raises when 2021 rolls in, it is likely that Pessemier will get one, too. In many ways, the Independence city manager is like many others across the state, according to a profile published by the International City/County Management Association (ICMA). Most are middle aged or older, most work in small cities, most are responsible for a wide range of duties, such as addressing public-safety concerns -- from potholes to crime control -- to managing services, including drinking-water maintenance and playground refurbishment. City managers are able do this far-flung job by overseeing different departments, like public works and law enforcement. So they have to be able to get along well with multiple individuals and to work well with groups of people -- the city council, for example. City managers are getting harder to come by, as their numbers shrink due to the continual retirement of their ranks, according to the ICMA. – AS
Photo credit: USPS INDY HOP: And The Name Might As Well Have Been Mary Jane
Sooooo ... how did this happen? A mysterious mailed package of marijuana landed at the Independence Library, marked “return to sender.” There's a simple if troubling explanation for the unexpected content. The postage was insufficient to reach the true recipient, a destination in Virginia. A downtown address in Independence was used as a return address. Fake return addresses on parcels can be a tip-off that there's a reason for plant odor in packaging, according to an online guide for marijuana shipping (yes, this actually exists on the internet). Crossing state lines by mailing cannabis is illegal, of course. So mail inspectors are always on the lookout for phony return addresses. Using government agencies, like our own local library, in the "return address" spot on packages sometimes apparently succeeds in throwing postal investigators off the (pungent) scent. – AS
Sooooo ... how did this happen? A mysterious mailed package of marijuana landed at the Independence Library, marked “return to sender.” There's a simple if troubling explanation for the unexpected content. The postage was insufficient to reach the true recipient, a destination in Virginia. A downtown address in Independence was used as a return address. Fake return addresses on parcels can be a tip-off that there's a reason for plant odor in packaging, according to an online guide for marijuana shipping (yes, this actually exists on the internet). Crossing state lines by mailing cannabis is illegal, of course. So mail inspectors are always on the lookout for phony return addresses. Using government agencies, like our own local library, in the "return address" spot on packages sometimes apparently succeeds in throwing postal investigators off the (pungent) scent. – AS
Dog world; the four-legged companions that served as examples, role models, participants and inspirations for the article “It's A Dog's Life: The Ups and Downs of Canine Interaction in Independence,” the main feature of this month’s issue of The Independent.
Photos: Top row (L-R): Jennifer Thompson and Summer Hile at Jack's World Pet Grooming and Supplies with Deb; Zeus; Ivan. Bottom row (L-R): Rooster; Daisy; Duke.
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