By Anne Scheck
Ciera Atha It may be necessary to cry. Regular exercise can really help. However, the healthiest way to handle the painful, persistent struggle of the current pandemic is by connecting with other people.
That’s the advice from about a dozen parents at a busy playground in Independence, who last weekend offered tips and remedies for surviving COVID-19 – not for preventing the coronavirus infection but for battling the toll it’s taking
on families. And, in interviews all across Polk County, the same recommendations are being made. The general consensus: It doesn’t just take a whole village to raise a child, it also takes one to sustain an overburdened mother. Many are experiencing what some called “meltdown moments.”
"It can be struggle," said Tonia Hill, who has two children distance- learning at Ash Creek Elementary School in Independence-based Central School District 13J. Internet problems – loss of connectivity, now referred to as “zoom boots” – can prove frustrating for her son, said Hill.
Social support takes the pressure off, she explained. In her case, that ranges from chatting over the back fence with a neighbor in the same situation to "face-timing" with other parents who are experiencing similar challenges. “I would say reach out to teachers and friends if you and your kids are struggling,” she said. In fact, her son’s teacher is a source of “great support,” she said, adding that "I try to give it to her, too – letting her know how great she is."
Hill and her husband Doug constantly tag-team to ensure their children are engaged online. To control the inevitable stress build-up, they stay active, taking walks as often as they can. Hill also makes time for her own workout, which
offers her a break and also provides a boost, she said.
Still, it’s staying in touch with other parents that give needed doses of reassurance. For example, when another mother at her school confessed to having "cry-in-the-closet" times, Hill recalled that hearing about such tension-releasing tears "makes me feel better." Another mom said she sometimes exits her living room to
sit alone in her car, where soft radio music and a short time away can prove quite calming.
Though surveys show the duress of the pandemic affects all family members, working mothers have become a source of targeted study. In what is being called the nation’s first “she-cession” – a female-skewed recession – researchers have been documenting a distressing trend. Many women, like Hill, are doing double duty – meeting the demands of a job and overseeing remotely-delivered education to their children. Overwhelmingly, some of these mothers who work outside the home have opted to cut back on hours or drop out of the workforce completely.
There are two primary reasons why. Lockdown measures wiped out many jobs often occupied by women, from hair salons to food service. And, when schools closed, mothers left the workforce in high numbers to care for kids, according to the London-based Centre for Economic Policy Research, which issued a publication about the new phenomenon in early September.
That’s the advice from about a dozen parents at a busy playground in Independence, who last weekend offered tips and remedies for surviving COVID-19 – not for preventing the coronavirus infection but for battling the toll it’s taking
on families. And, in interviews all across Polk County, the same recommendations are being made. The general consensus: It doesn’t just take a whole village to raise a child, it also takes one to sustain an overburdened mother. Many are experiencing what some called “meltdown moments.”
"It can be struggle," said Tonia Hill, who has two children distance- learning at Ash Creek Elementary School in Independence-based Central School District 13J. Internet problems – loss of connectivity, now referred to as “zoom boots” – can prove frustrating for her son, said Hill.
Social support takes the pressure off, she explained. In her case, that ranges from chatting over the back fence with a neighbor in the same situation to "face-timing" with other parents who are experiencing similar challenges. “I would say reach out to teachers and friends if you and your kids are struggling,” she said. In fact, her son’s teacher is a source of “great support,” she said, adding that "I try to give it to her, too – letting her know how great she is."
Hill and her husband Doug constantly tag-team to ensure their children are engaged online. To control the inevitable stress build-up, they stay active, taking walks as often as they can. Hill also makes time for her own workout, which
offers her a break and also provides a boost, she said.
Still, it’s staying in touch with other parents that give needed doses of reassurance. For example, when another mother at her school confessed to having "cry-in-the-closet" times, Hill recalled that hearing about such tension-releasing tears "makes me feel better." Another mom said she sometimes exits her living room to
sit alone in her car, where soft radio music and a short time away can prove quite calming.
Though surveys show the duress of the pandemic affects all family members, working mothers have become a source of targeted study. In what is being called the nation’s first “she-cession” – a female-skewed recession – researchers have been documenting a distressing trend. Many women, like Hill, are doing double duty – meeting the demands of a job and overseeing remotely-delivered education to their children. Overwhelmingly, some of these mothers who work outside the home have opted to cut back on hours or drop out of the workforce completely.
There are two primary reasons why. Lockdown measures wiped out many jobs often occupied by women, from hair salons to food service. And, when schools closed, mothers left the workforce in high numbers to care for kids, according to the London-based Centre for Economic Policy Research, which issued a publication about the new phenomenon in early September.
“I don’t recommend navigating motherhood alone,” said Justine Netcher, who has three small children. To provide the means for mothers in Monmouth and Independence to linkup, she co-coordinates “Mothers of Preschoolers &
MOMSnext Kids,” which has a strong online presence that allows parents in similar phases of life to meet up, both virtually and in social-distancing ways. She finds the role invigorating. “I’ve fully embraced that I simply cannot pour from an ‘empty cup,’” she explained.
The underlying emotional effects of this pandemic were summed up recently in webinar sponsored by New Scientist magazine. In it, British psychologist Kimberley Wilson, author of “How to Build a Healthy Brain,” identified “three A’s” that have substantially risen: Anxiety, a state of heightened awareness that often causes a spike in stress hormones; Attention demand, the need to be hyper-vigilant, particularly about taking new precautionary steps; Adaptation, the focus of time and energy that’s required to establish different routines.
The triple-A initials represent a good “umbrella” term that seems to reflect “that we all are anxious with changes, uncertainty, new roles, having to multi-task, work from home, juggling other responsibilities at the same time as work, and are socially isolated,” said Lauren Roscoe PhD, professor and department head of the psychological sciences department at Western Oregon University.
This past Saturday and Sunday, as parents sat on benches by the play equipment at Riverview Park in Independence, many said that getting outdoors – pushing their children on the swings or staging mock chases on the surrounding grass – is a terrific way to unwind. Most of the fathers credited their partners or wives with, as one dad
put it, “holding down the fort.”
However, many of the women said they would be unable to face the winter ahead without the support of family members and their religious communities as helping them cope.
MOMSnext Kids,” which has a strong online presence that allows parents in similar phases of life to meet up, both virtually and in social-distancing ways. She finds the role invigorating. “I’ve fully embraced that I simply cannot pour from an ‘empty cup,’” she explained.
The underlying emotional effects of this pandemic were summed up recently in webinar sponsored by New Scientist magazine. In it, British psychologist Kimberley Wilson, author of “How to Build a Healthy Brain,” identified “three A’s” that have substantially risen: Anxiety, a state of heightened awareness that often causes a spike in stress hormones; Attention demand, the need to be hyper-vigilant, particularly about taking new precautionary steps; Adaptation, the focus of time and energy that’s required to establish different routines.
The triple-A initials represent a good “umbrella” term that seems to reflect “that we all are anxious with changes, uncertainty, new roles, having to multi-task, work from home, juggling other responsibilities at the same time as work, and are socially isolated,” said Lauren Roscoe PhD, professor and department head of the psychological sciences department at Western Oregon University.
This past Saturday and Sunday, as parents sat on benches by the play equipment at Riverview Park in Independence, many said that getting outdoors – pushing their children on the swings or staging mock chases on the surrounding grass – is a terrific way to unwind. Most of the fathers credited their partners or wives with, as one dad
put it, “holding down the fort.”
However, many of the women said they would be unable to face the winter ahead without the support of family members and their religious communities as helping them cope.
Tonia and Doug Hill “Something that helped during the pandemic, and especially during the closures, was my faith,” Hill agreed. In fact, some Sundays she’d
tune in for two or three different church services. “It helped me feel connected and gave me that boost I needed to get through the week,” she said.
At a time when most church activities are confined to sermons online, attendance is entirely different. But though “the church buildings may be closed” the church is not, observed the Rev. Paul Doellinger, a former full-time pastor who now fills in for other clergy at pulpits throughout the mid-Willamette Valley.
Parents use many "tools" to deal with the various stressors in their lives, he said – and faith is one. “And so are things like jogging and regular exercising and being part of a self-help group,” he added. However, “my experience, after having been a pastor for the past 51 years, is that people of faith do have spiritual resources that they can and do call upon in times of crisis,’’ he said.
Additionally, some mothers are able to see a silver lining in the lifestyle change. Many reported more valuable family time.
“Remote learning is not an ideal situation and there are definitely subjects that are better taught in person than over Zoom, but I feel like our school and the teachers are doing the best that they can with adapting to this new situation and being responsive when we have a question or concern,” said Suzanne Teller, outreach coordinator for the Luckiamute Watershed Council in Independence. For her two sons, there have been a couple of benefits to online learning, she said.
What are those advantages? “First of all, being more engaged with what the boys are learning, knowing what their classwork is like on a day-to-day basis, and having more opportunities to partner with their teachers in their school experience,” she said. “Another benefit I have seen with their online schedule is that they have a full hour for lunch, rather than 20 minutes,” Teller said. “This gives the boys a real break from the classroom, and time for the brains to ‘turn off’ and rest for a good amount of time.”
That view was echoed by Ciera Atha, the executive assistant for the Polk County Board of Commissioners in Dallas. “I see that my son is getting more organized, learning how to manage himself,” she said.
“When he fell behind on assignments earlier, during this switch-over, he learned how important it is to keep up,” she said.
tune in for two or three different church services. “It helped me feel connected and gave me that boost I needed to get through the week,” she said.
At a time when most church activities are confined to sermons online, attendance is entirely different. But though “the church buildings may be closed” the church is not, observed the Rev. Paul Doellinger, a former full-time pastor who now fills in for other clergy at pulpits throughout the mid-Willamette Valley.
Parents use many "tools" to deal with the various stressors in their lives, he said – and faith is one. “And so are things like jogging and regular exercising and being part of a self-help group,” he added. However, “my experience, after having been a pastor for the past 51 years, is that people of faith do have spiritual resources that they can and do call upon in times of crisis,’’ he said.
Additionally, some mothers are able to see a silver lining in the lifestyle change. Many reported more valuable family time.
“Remote learning is not an ideal situation and there are definitely subjects that are better taught in person than over Zoom, but I feel like our school and the teachers are doing the best that they can with adapting to this new situation and being responsive when we have a question or concern,” said Suzanne Teller, outreach coordinator for the Luckiamute Watershed Council in Independence. For her two sons, there have been a couple of benefits to online learning, she said.
What are those advantages? “First of all, being more engaged with what the boys are learning, knowing what their classwork is like on a day-to-day basis, and having more opportunities to partner with their teachers in their school experience,” she said. “Another benefit I have seen with their online schedule is that they have a full hour for lunch, rather than 20 minutes,” Teller said. “This gives the boys a real break from the classroom, and time for the brains to ‘turn off’ and rest for a good amount of time.”
That view was echoed by Ciera Atha, the executive assistant for the Polk County Board of Commissioners in Dallas. “I see that my son is getting more organized, learning how to manage himself,” she said.
“When he fell behind on assignments earlier, during this switch-over, he learned how important it is to keep up,” she said.
Heather Kovalski & daughter However, business owner Heather Kovalski, of West Salem, worries that one outcome may be a regression in social skills for children. As the mother of two girls, the loss of “that face-to-face connection” with friends has been troubling to her. In fact, she suspects it has been “a little crippling” for her older daughter. There is no way to know how this sudden separation from a social life will affect either of her children, she said.
That’s a fear shared by many parents. “You just don’t know what will happen,” said one mother, who asked that her concerns be reported but not her name. “We are in a whole new world now and can’t help but wonder if our children will fall behind academically and socially from all this,” she said.
That’s a question that should have historic answers, according to Rev. Doellinger. “I do wish that pastors in 1919 had kept diaries and passed them on down to us, so we can see today what resources they developed and used during the Spanish Flu epidemic,” he said.
That’s a fear shared by many parents. “You just don’t know what will happen,” said one mother, who asked that her concerns be reported but not her name. “We are in a whole new world now and can’t help but wonder if our children will fall behind academically and socially from all this,” she said.
That’s a question that should have historic answers, according to Rev. Doellinger. “I do wish that pastors in 1919 had kept diaries and passed them on down to us, so we can see today what resources they developed and used during the Spanish Flu epidemic,” he said.
Special section The Independent
Special Water District: The People Who Help Ash Creek Stay Healthy
By Anne Scheck
Special Water District: The People Who Help Ash Creek Stay Healthy
By Anne Scheck
Demolition of Ash Creek trestle An old-fashioned expression says that most worthwhile work doesn’t ever get the recognition it deserves. If that’s true, then there’s probably no better example in Polk County than the Ash Creek Water Control District. For nearly 70 years, this agency has toiled to improve the channel of Ash Creek – but you’d never know it from a recent Independence Planning Commission meeting.
Worries over Ash Creek, the city’s signature stream, surfaced as new floodplain standards were discussed by the city’s planning commissioners – none seemed to know about the Ash Creek Water Control District (ACWCD), which provides oversight of the waterway. Rebecca Jay, a newcomer to the commission, voiced concern about old train trestles, which can trap trees and cause flooding. “Who does that kind of checking to make sure that stuff is cleaned up?” she asked. Answers popped up, ranging from the Oregon Department of Transportation to the Oregon Department of State Lands.
In fact, only weeks earlier, the ACWCD had removed an old train trestle by the creek near 9th Street – a trestle taller than many of the city’s downtown buildings. And, on the very day the planning commission met, one ACWCD board member had clambered down to the Ash Creek site where the trestle once stood, to check on new plantings there.
Asked why the ACWCD’s efforts seem to flourish in such surprising obscurity, the board chair, Dan Farnworth, has a theory: “It occurred to me that one of the reasons the board is not more recognized is because the board has no regulatory power, no rule-making power, no enforcement authority,” he said. Also, there’s nothing glamorous at all about the work. "It's cleaning out the creek," he explained.
The district’s nine-member board is comprised of residents known colloquially as "stewards of the creek." Longtime board member Andrea Melendy, who lives on property the creek runs through, has known Ash Creek all of her life. She grew up in Independence when Gun Club Road was nothing but gravel, with so little traffic that she could lie down on it at night to stargaze, and not a single car would drive by.
But, as the population grew, she began to see more debris appear in Ash Creek. She and fellow board member Donna Schuyler came up with a solution – to place garbage barrels at public points along the nearly three-mile waterway. It's worked well in many areas, particularly the bridge crossing at Riverview Park. Passers-by now plop snack wrappings and soft-drink containers into the conveniently placed trash cans, instead of tossing them into the creek as they walk by on the concrete path, she noted.
Despite the fact that the ACWCD wasn't mentioned at the recent meeting of the Independence Planning Commission, the City of Independence has been a frequent partner. City staff assisted on several projects with the ACWCD over the past few years, including the placement of the refuse containers and, also, on the trestle project, said Kie Cottam, Independence’s director of public works.
Over the years, the district board members, who are elected to their unpaid positions, have tackled invasive plants like Japanese knotweed and reed canary grass that threaten to choke out other plants; protected creek banks from destruction by rodents like nutria; and tried to impart the importance of this waterway to a whole new generation, by giving grants to local teachers.
One of those grant recipients is Dave Beatley, a sixth-grade science teacher at Talmadge Middle School. Under his supervision, students have explored the meandering creek, which passes by school grounds. Last year, the youth – protected by waders and armed with special nets – collected samples and then viewed them under microscopes. Numerous tiny creatures, called macro-invertebrates, could be seen – some looked like tiny dragons, others like curved worms. It’s the kind of hands-on education that Beatley likes to provide and that the students seem to love, he said.
This year, with mandatory distance-learning underway, grant money from ACWCD is enabling Beatley to put cameras at places along the creek. The waterway is vital to local animal life, from black-tailed deer to great blue herons – even otters have been spotted playing in the creek at Riverview Park. Beatley plans to share the wildlife videos with his classes.
The history of Ash Creek goes back thousands of years, stretching into a past that includes Native Americans, who once lit campfires along the banks. In fact, there are still remnants from a tribal encampment in a field near Ash Creek. In 1951, farmers frustrated with recurrent flooding along the creek formed the ACWCD. With this rich history, why does the district have such a low profile?
Worries over Ash Creek, the city’s signature stream, surfaced as new floodplain standards were discussed by the city’s planning commissioners – none seemed to know about the Ash Creek Water Control District (ACWCD), which provides oversight of the waterway. Rebecca Jay, a newcomer to the commission, voiced concern about old train trestles, which can trap trees and cause flooding. “Who does that kind of checking to make sure that stuff is cleaned up?” she asked. Answers popped up, ranging from the Oregon Department of Transportation to the Oregon Department of State Lands.
In fact, only weeks earlier, the ACWCD had removed an old train trestle by the creek near 9th Street – a trestle taller than many of the city’s downtown buildings. And, on the very day the planning commission met, one ACWCD board member had clambered down to the Ash Creek site where the trestle once stood, to check on new plantings there.
Asked why the ACWCD’s efforts seem to flourish in such surprising obscurity, the board chair, Dan Farnworth, has a theory: “It occurred to me that one of the reasons the board is not more recognized is because the board has no regulatory power, no rule-making power, no enforcement authority,” he said. Also, there’s nothing glamorous at all about the work. "It's cleaning out the creek," he explained.
The district’s nine-member board is comprised of residents known colloquially as "stewards of the creek." Longtime board member Andrea Melendy, who lives on property the creek runs through, has known Ash Creek all of her life. She grew up in Independence when Gun Club Road was nothing but gravel, with so little traffic that she could lie down on it at night to stargaze, and not a single car would drive by.
But, as the population grew, she began to see more debris appear in Ash Creek. She and fellow board member Donna Schuyler came up with a solution – to place garbage barrels at public points along the nearly three-mile waterway. It's worked well in many areas, particularly the bridge crossing at Riverview Park. Passers-by now plop snack wrappings and soft-drink containers into the conveniently placed trash cans, instead of tossing them into the creek as they walk by on the concrete path, she noted.
Despite the fact that the ACWCD wasn't mentioned at the recent meeting of the Independence Planning Commission, the City of Independence has been a frequent partner. City staff assisted on several projects with the ACWCD over the past few years, including the placement of the refuse containers and, also, on the trestle project, said Kie Cottam, Independence’s director of public works.
Over the years, the district board members, who are elected to their unpaid positions, have tackled invasive plants like Japanese knotweed and reed canary grass that threaten to choke out other plants; protected creek banks from destruction by rodents like nutria; and tried to impart the importance of this waterway to a whole new generation, by giving grants to local teachers.
One of those grant recipients is Dave Beatley, a sixth-grade science teacher at Talmadge Middle School. Under his supervision, students have explored the meandering creek, which passes by school grounds. Last year, the youth – protected by waders and armed with special nets – collected samples and then viewed them under microscopes. Numerous tiny creatures, called macro-invertebrates, could be seen – some looked like tiny dragons, others like curved worms. It’s the kind of hands-on education that Beatley likes to provide and that the students seem to love, he said.
This year, with mandatory distance-learning underway, grant money from ACWCD is enabling Beatley to put cameras at places along the creek. The waterway is vital to local animal life, from black-tailed deer to great blue herons – even otters have been spotted playing in the creek at Riverview Park. Beatley plans to share the wildlife videos with his classes.
The history of Ash Creek goes back thousands of years, stretching into a past that includes Native Americans, who once lit campfires along the banks. In fact, there are still remnants from a tribal encampment in a field near Ash Creek. In 1951, farmers frustrated with recurrent flooding along the creek formed the ACWCD. With this rich history, why does the district have such a low profile?
Donna Byrne picking blackberries One reason may be that the ACWCD has no staff, no office and, until recently, not even a physical address, explained Board Chair Farnworth. After the state mandated that ACWCD had to have an actual location, "we got one at Indy Commons” on Main Street in Independence, Farnworth noted.
The trestle removal was a big project for the ACWCD – with a cost that came in just under $70,000 – and it took years to complete, Farnworth said. All that's left where the structure once stood is a grass patch, the likely place for wild blackberries to grow, Farnworth observed, adding that blackberries are another invasive plant species targeted for abatement by the district.
But these succulent berry-bearing bushes are one reason attorney Donna Byrne values the creek. In fact, she named her business after it: Ash Creek Tax Counseling and Legal Services. She considers the blackberries “delicious eating” during her creekside walks.
She plucks the fruit from the part of the plant high enough to escape territory-marking dogs and checks foliage for tell-tale signs of pesticide residue. However, it’s essential to replace invading plants with ones that naturally occur in this area of Oregon, according to Kristen Larson, executive director of the Independence-based Luckiamute Watershed Council. Native plants along Ash Creek are important in multiple ways, such as enriching and stabilizing the soil, which helps to prevent erosion of the banks. These native plants also offer important water-cooling shade for the creek, while providing a habitat for pollinators, like bees, which enable new generations of plants to grow and flourish along the corridor. Additionally, streamside plants buffer out pollutants from surface run-off, reducing sediment and toxins that end up in Ash Creek and the Willamette River, she said.
As Independence continues to grow – with a new and soon-to-be-unveiled transportation system – the creek seems likely to get renewed respect for its ability to receive and handle run-off; Traffic increases and road deterioration are associated with a higher risk of water-carried contaminants.
And streets, particularly highways, can affect the water quality in creeks, through downstream run-off with composites from paved roadways, according to a report this past year by the US Geological Survey (USGS). The USGS report advises that, by implementing features like swales and detention basins, effective protection can be established against potential stream pollution originating from stormwater.
The trestle removal was a big project for the ACWCD – with a cost that came in just under $70,000 – and it took years to complete, Farnworth said. All that's left where the structure once stood is a grass patch, the likely place for wild blackberries to grow, Farnworth observed, adding that blackberries are another invasive plant species targeted for abatement by the district.
But these succulent berry-bearing bushes are one reason attorney Donna Byrne values the creek. In fact, she named her business after it: Ash Creek Tax Counseling and Legal Services. She considers the blackberries “delicious eating” during her creekside walks.
She plucks the fruit from the part of the plant high enough to escape territory-marking dogs and checks foliage for tell-tale signs of pesticide residue. However, it’s essential to replace invading plants with ones that naturally occur in this area of Oregon, according to Kristen Larson, executive director of the Independence-based Luckiamute Watershed Council. Native plants along Ash Creek are important in multiple ways, such as enriching and stabilizing the soil, which helps to prevent erosion of the banks. These native plants also offer important water-cooling shade for the creek, while providing a habitat for pollinators, like bees, which enable new generations of plants to grow and flourish along the corridor. Additionally, streamside plants buffer out pollutants from surface run-off, reducing sediment and toxins that end up in Ash Creek and the Willamette River, she said.
As Independence continues to grow – with a new and soon-to-be-unveiled transportation system – the creek seems likely to get renewed respect for its ability to receive and handle run-off; Traffic increases and road deterioration are associated with a higher risk of water-carried contaminants.
And streets, particularly highways, can affect the water quality in creeks, through downstream run-off with composites from paved roadways, according to a report this past year by the US Geological Survey (USGS). The USGS report advises that, by implementing features like swales and detention basins, effective protection can be established against potential stream pollution originating from stormwater.
Ash Creek restoration sign In fact, a predictive tool by the USGS, which goes by the acronym SELDM,” shows promise for forecasting the possible impact on nearby waterways from new transportation construction, as shown by the results of the study, which involved Mill Creek near Salem.
“I do see SELDM as tool that can help with street planning,” said Adam Stonewall, a hydrologist at the Oregon Water Science Center in Portland. “It can also be used to estimate the quantity of stormwater pollutants being delivered from roads and other impervious surfaces into streams, and it can be used to plan mitigation efforts for those same pollutants,” he said.
In the meantime, thanks to the ACWCD, Ash Creek seems to be doing just what it is supposed to do. “It takes care of storm runoff, and it does it very well," Farnworth said.
“I do see SELDM as tool that can help with street planning,” said Adam Stonewall, a hydrologist at the Oregon Water Science Center in Portland. “It can also be used to estimate the quantity of stormwater pollutants being delivered from roads and other impervious surfaces into streams, and it can be used to plan mitigation efforts for those same pollutants,” he said.
In the meantime, thanks to the ACWCD, Ash Creek seems to be doing just what it is supposed to do. “It takes care of storm runoff, and it does it very well," Farnworth said.
CIVICS LESSON: Old Time Sheriffs Show Modern Grit
November is election month, but it won't make one iota of difference to the sheriff's office. Sheriff Mark Garton ran unopposed, just like many of his predecessors dating back to pioneer days. However, some of these early lawmen apparently had more colorful times in office. For example, early in the last century, Polk County had a sheriff who was wounded on the job – by dropping his gun on the wooden sidewalk in Dallas, where it discharged, sending a bullet into his ankle and causing him to miss days of work. A few years later, Sheriff John Orr made a monumentally easy arrest when he went skulking around back alleys to try to find producers of moonshine – and one purveyor of the home-made brew spotted him, mistook him for a customer, and sold him a bottle. But nothing tops the experience of Sheriff Hiram Plummer, who in 1898 had to deal with a case of suspected arson that burned down the county courthouse. He detected kerosene odors when he made his fateful visit to the torched building. The sheriff reportedly believed the foul play was related to records that literally went up in smoke, specifically taxes – obligations that proved hard to untangle. Thanks to author Dennis Johnson, the history of these sheriffs and many others live on in a three-ring binder at a waiting area in the Polk County Courthouse. But, like those tax records that perished, the accounts are printed on plain notebook paper. Some things never change ...
November is election month, but it won't make one iota of difference to the sheriff's office. Sheriff Mark Garton ran unopposed, just like many of his predecessors dating back to pioneer days. However, some of these early lawmen apparently had more colorful times in office. For example, early in the last century, Polk County had a sheriff who was wounded on the job – by dropping his gun on the wooden sidewalk in Dallas, where it discharged, sending a bullet into his ankle and causing him to miss days of work. A few years later, Sheriff John Orr made a monumentally easy arrest when he went skulking around back alleys to try to find producers of moonshine – and one purveyor of the home-made brew spotted him, mistook him for a customer, and sold him a bottle. But nothing tops the experience of Sheriff Hiram Plummer, who in 1898 had to deal with a case of suspected arson that burned down the county courthouse. He detected kerosene odors when he made his fateful visit to the torched building. The sheriff reportedly believed the foul play was related to records that literally went up in smoke, specifically taxes – obligations that proved hard to untangle. Thanks to author Dennis Johnson, the history of these sheriffs and many others live on in a three-ring binder at a waiting area in the Polk County Courthouse. But, like those tax records that perished, the accounts are printed on plain notebook paper. Some things never change ...
Candy corn INDY HOP: Candy Corn Has Long Sweet Halloween Legacy
It's more than 100 years old, filled with sugar in three colors and a landmark Halloween treat. It's candy corn, and it spells nostalgia for Baby Boomers (but the Gen X group reportedly likes it the most.) Each year, some TV news outlets broadcast results of the "great candy corn debate," done in fun and mockery. Supposedly, there are those who prefer to eat the tiny part of the triangle first (the white tip) or conversely, the wide section (yellow). However, it turns out most people just like to go all crunchy on one whole piece at a time, according to a very scientific survey by the website alwaysatreat.com.
It's more than 100 years old, filled with sugar in three colors and a landmark Halloween treat. It's candy corn, and it spells nostalgia for Baby Boomers (but the Gen X group reportedly likes it the most.) Each year, some TV news outlets broadcast results of the "great candy corn debate," done in fun and mockery. Supposedly, there are those who prefer to eat the tiny part of the triangle first (the white tip) or conversely, the wide section (yellow). However, it turns out most people just like to go all crunchy on one whole piece at a time, according to a very scientific survey by the website alwaysatreat.com.
Antique double-pan balance Introduction to guest editorial
by Anne Scheck, Trammart News
They say all politics is local. I now know how accurate that statement can be. Several weeks ago, I received an email from a long-time resident, Ingrid Cooper. She was dismayed, during this election to see that it seemed to be divided between a progressive slate and one labeled as conservative.
As Ms. Cooper so presciently observed, non-partisan positions on the council are designed to represent all citizenry.
I asked Ms. Cooper to write an editorial, and she did so – succinctly and skillfully, and far better than I could.
-----Guest Editorial-----
This November, I am very glad to see a full slate of citizens willing step up and run for mayor and for council positions in our local town of Independence, where my husband and I have lived for over 40 years, as well as in Monmouth, and Independence. Why?
A competitive race is healthy. It brings in fresh perspectives. It challenges the status quo. It gives us a choice to vote for who can best serve our community:
To strengthen who we are,
To make sure we have a solid foundation for our essential services,
To make sure each and every person is respected, heard, welcomed, and treated equally at city halls and with all city services.
To broaden outreach to all citizens and community members and all neighborhoods,
To use our funds wisely and responsibly,
To encourage and support our local businesses,
To move forward responsibly.
Local city elections are non-partisan and non-paid. Too often, over the years, the same people are elected year after year, simply because no one else is willing to run. In this climate, those serving for a long time, often end up with tunnel vision, thinking they know what’s best for the town.
I celebrate the interest of many talented, qualitied people who are willing to step up and serve and ask questions and listen and dig into the issues and bring fresh ideas. This makes our towns stronger to welcome competition and to bring in new voices to serve our community.
And, most importantly, vote during this election and every election. Remember to vote for mayor and council members. You can make a difference with your vote. It is an important right.
Sincerely, Ingrid S. Cooper,
Independence, Oregon
by Anne Scheck, Trammart News
They say all politics is local. I now know how accurate that statement can be. Several weeks ago, I received an email from a long-time resident, Ingrid Cooper. She was dismayed, during this election to see that it seemed to be divided between a progressive slate and one labeled as conservative.
As Ms. Cooper so presciently observed, non-partisan positions on the council are designed to represent all citizenry.
I asked Ms. Cooper to write an editorial, and she did so – succinctly and skillfully, and far better than I could.
-----Guest Editorial-----
This November, I am very glad to see a full slate of citizens willing step up and run for mayor and for council positions in our local town of Independence, where my husband and I have lived for over 40 years, as well as in Monmouth, and Independence. Why?
A competitive race is healthy. It brings in fresh perspectives. It challenges the status quo. It gives us a choice to vote for who can best serve our community:
To strengthen who we are,
To make sure we have a solid foundation for our essential services,
To make sure each and every person is respected, heard, welcomed, and treated equally at city halls and with all city services.
To broaden outreach to all citizens and community members and all neighborhoods,
To use our funds wisely and responsibly,
To encourage and support our local businesses,
To move forward responsibly.
Local city elections are non-partisan and non-paid. Too often, over the years, the same people are elected year after year, simply because no one else is willing to run. In this climate, those serving for a long time, often end up with tunnel vision, thinking they know what’s best for the town.
I celebrate the interest of many talented, qualitied people who are willing to step up and serve and ask questions and listen and dig into the issues and bring fresh ideas. This makes our towns stronger to welcome competition and to bring in new voices to serve our community.
And, most importantly, vote during this election and every election. Remember to vote for mayor and council members. You can make a difference with your vote. It is an important right.
Sincerely, Ingrid S. Cooper,
Independence, Oregon
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