Museum-library consolidation likely to address part of city's $776,000 shortfall

By Anne Scheck

Trammart News Service, March 28, 2025 

A plan hatched by the Heritage Museum curator and the Independence Library director to combine the two departments in order to save them both appeared to receive the city council's blessing at a work session this week, though no formal action was taken.

The consensus came as councilors grappled with city finances. The total deficit for the city this fiscal year is predicted to be $776,000, putting city coffers under substantial strain before the first budget committee meeting in a few weeks time. 

City Councilor Marilyn Morton praised Library Director Patrick Bodily and Heritage Museum Curator Amy Christensen for coming up with a workable proposal to move the museum into library space, hopefully on a temporary basis. Mayor Kate Schwarzler agreed that it seemed the most "fiscally responsible" alternative at hand. 

Selling the museum building could net about $300,000, perhaps more, and the sale would put it back on the property tax rolls. "Hopefully we could get that building sold in the fiscal year," said City Manager Kenna West. 

Under the current $85,000-a-year mortgage for the museum building plus other expenses, the annual savings would be substantial, according to the council discussion. 

The concept was consistent with city-wide survey results, which showed low support for the museum. Of the 228 respondents to a survey of Independence residents, the most important departments were the library (53%), parks (42%), trailed by the museum at 6%. A large majority, 66%, favored reducing the museum department to cut costs, over parks and library. 

Another annual saving will be through job attrition – the city's downtown manager has announced a departure this summer, after Independence Days, and her salary and benefits are about $100,000, annually. She won't be replaced by another paid employee taking the spot, West said. 

The central question at the work session appeared to be how to maintain services at the museum, parks, library and planning and building inspections while closing the financial gap? 

West said staff has been cut "to the bone." However, raises have been reported for personnel, no reductions in business travel have been announced, and staff was increased –  a licensed engineer was added to public works, for example. 

Also at the work-session meeting was a proposal to improve and upgrade the event center – with an estimated total ranging from $77,522 to $123,022. The event center, on the lower level of the Independence Civic Center, was reported at a previous city meeting as failing to generate any significant income for the city as a venue. (The proposal received no public discussion but was was printed in a handout at the meeting.)

Requests from Trammart News for clarification on raises, travel and personnel additions were made to Communications Director Emmanuel Goicochea but no response was received. In fact, one survey respondent appeared to identify Goicochea's position as unnecessary, stating that the closed municipal pool and other services are important but "we don't need high-quality videos for marketing on social media." 

The budget sessions arrive as other sources of funding are diminished. Gone are covid "rescue" funds that infused Independence with a significant amount of extra money. Property taxes can no longer pay for city expenses, as personnel and material costs crept higher, and inter-fund transfers have been eliminated. 

Other city revenue, such as charges to developers, has dried up, too. The city council nearly doubled those developer fees, pushing them past $50,000 per home-unit. Three of the builders told Trammart News they are no longer constructing houses in Independence as a result of the hikes, with no plans for returning. 

Since then, City Manager West and City Public Works Director Gerald Fisher pushed forward a proposal for a new water-treatment plant – with an estimated cost of $44 million. 

Two first steps toward the plan appear to be costing more than anticipated: The attempt to secure the land south of town for the plant by eminent domain led to legal wrangling and the sale of the parcel to another party; A $7.5 million loan that was initially announced as being sought from the state on low-interest terms was instead taken out as a line of credit through Umpqua Bank, more than doubling the interest rate typically available under the state's "revolving fund." 

Additionally, sign-ons with other water districts as hoped-for partners across the county, including the nearby Luckiamute Domestic Water Cooperative, never took place – though Monmouth inked an intergovernmental agreement related to the project, according to those familiar with the document. 

Now federal funding for the new treatment plant – once stated as a likely source of significant revenue – seems more questionable under the current presidential administration. ▪

By Anne Scheck

Trammart News Service, March 28, 2025 

A municipal audit by an outside accounting firm is required by the state – and due on the first day of the calendar year to the Oregon Secretary of State. 

So far, there isn't a fiscal 2024 report on file for Independence; and no explanation from the city for the absence.

Why should a missing city audit cause concern? Here's an editorial analysis of the reasons for worry. 

Financial transparency suffers without a timely municipal audit. An outside expert review is needed to confirm the financial status of the city. Depending on city officials to interpret finances may prove less reliable. 

That's the unsurprising conclusion – that politicians aren't always the best assessors of city financial health – from a 2024 study on fiscal monitoring of municipalities across the United States, according to the Journal of the American Accounting Association. 

One example in Independence: City administrators have, at times, been unclear in representing some of the tax-generated funds; A nearly $3.9 million loan of unknown cause was officially approved by the city council without clear explanation for how it was created because, as City Manager Kenna West explained, staff was too overloaded to track it down. 

So the city council was asked to okay what was essentially an expenditure of unknown origin – which they did with two councilors opposing. Who identified the source of the loan last year? The outside auditor. 

It was listed in the city's audit as payable to the city, a $3,867,234 sum. It was for additional costs of construction of the Independence Civic Center, which previously had been listed as costing about $10 million. Trammart News informed the city that, with the additional sums disclosed by the municipal audit, the price of the ICC – the city hall plus the lower-level event center – would be about $14 million. The new figure went unchallenged by the city finance director, Rob Moody. 

Budget lapses may go unreported without a timely municipal audit. Accurate and timely audits are essential, according to the League of Oregon Cities, which weighed in about a decade ago on this finding with an analysis by lawyer Sean O'Day. 

Oversight of what transpires following the budget is one reason city audits are important. There is a $776,000 shortfall this year in Independence, which appears to lack an explanation of precisely why.

Last year, then-city councilor Kate Schwarzler, who is now the mayor of Independence, called for sending an unfinished city budget back to city staff for preparation – taking it out of the hands of the budget committee, which, in addition to city councilors, is half-staffed by citizen volunteers. Her motion passed, with some committee members objecting. 

That city budget committee had a relatively long list of cost-trimming proposals last year, many of which weren't publicly addressed. Observing this low-probing discussions in past years, a city administrator from another town said that perhaps this shouldn't have been surprising – the Independence City Council hasn't been functioning as a watchdog, he said.

This year the challenge to the city councilors is to "really do our  homework so that when we get to the first budget committee meeting we  have some actual ideas," Mayor Kate Schwarzler said at a recent work session on city finances. 

Budget-balancing approaches may go unrecognized without a timely municipal audit. Without the required annual audit, strategies may escape notice or flaws may not be spotted early enough to take corrective action. 

For example, in Monmouth – Independence's nearest city neighbor – the city audit this year included the recommendation for improving grant-tracking by doing it in real time, as grant spending actually occurs. Will that be included in the Monmouth budget, as a special task or for specific allocation of resources? It's a possibility. 

The Monmouth city audit also shows successful use of inter-fund loans – in this case from the Sanitary Sewer Fund and the Power and Light Fund.

The Monmouth Sanitary Sewer Fund loan was for $500,000, signed in 2019, with an annual interest of 2.75% and was paid off in June 2024; The Monmouth Power and Light Fund loan was for $500,000, signed in 2016, with an annual interest of 2.54% and is scheduled to be paid off in July 2025. ▪

By Anne Scheck

Trammart News Service, March 28, 2025 

They're bright yellow flowers and they're blooming all over. But they're not daffodils – and every year when they start appearing a certain minor battle begins. 

They're dandelions and they unfailingly ignite the same springtime debate. They're weeds! No, they're essential pollinator plants! You need to get rid of them! No, you need to enable them to feed those bees! 

This year, the dandelion divide line seems a little different than the last one, when gender seemed to play no role whatsoever. In 2025, it's been men on one side, women on the other.

The recent opinions were drawn from a sample size of about 10 – evenly split male-to-female, five to five – and findings from this random investigation are incredibly, even pathetically, non-scientific. 

However, the viewpoints do provide some insight. Where are dandelions welcome little occupants of the yard versus places where they're yanked out of lawns like alien invaders? As stereotypic as it sounds, males seem more prone to possess that killer instinct.

"I take pride in my yard," explained Independence resident Mike Connor, who believes strongly in eradication. 

No one seems to know why dandelions are appearing in late March when they usually make an appearance later in spring. However, one sign of early spring this year, according to folklore, was a total lunar eclipse around the time of the "worm moon," which occurred in mid-March. 

Worms and grubs started being sighted, sometimes in droves; The Farmer's Almanac considers these wrigglers an indication of seasonal change. 

When the dandelions started popping up, many people start popping into local nurseries. 

That was the case this week at Rocky Mountain Nursery just outside of town on Corvallis Road. Kyle Paratore, who is part of the family that owns and runs the business, said he isn't really worried about the dandelion population for bees. Paratore is the nursery's propagation specialist.

However, he said this could be because the nursery grounds are filled with them buzzing around, he conceded. 

Still, "there's enough pollen providers that dandelions probably don't make a difference," he reasoned.

Customer Marian LaBounty explained that you can, in fact, have it both ways. She "sequesters" a part of her yard for dandelion proliferation and keeps the rest of the grass free of the yellow-headed growth. 

Dave and Sharon Cutz, also on a visit to the nursery, were representative of the great dandelion divide. She professed love for pollinators. He confessed to constant weed-pulling. 

They have a solution for those worried about dandelion destruction. By planting some floral sources for bees, they can be nourished, and the yard can remain grassy without interference. Just put in "intentional flowers," Sharon Cutz advised. ▪

Guest editorial by Frank White

For Trammart News Service, March 21, 2025 

EDITORIAL 

Frank White is a former teacher at Central High School, who has described his professional life as one dedicated to teaching and serving students. In 2019, White was selected Oregon’s History Teacher of the Year. 

Before coming to Central in 2014, he taught history and English in Montana and Chicago. He was selected the Outstanding Graduate for English Teaching by the University of Montana. In his career, he held a national board-certified teacher in Adolescence and Young Adulthood Social Studies and holds an Oregon Teacher Leader license. 

White provided public testimony at a recent school board meeting that drew an overflow crowd  – but his time was limited to only a few minutes. In this editorial, he expands on the issues he addressed that night. 

Teaching at Central High School is the most rewarding experience of my professional life. Last year, I chose to leave that calling to better serve the needs of my family. Several factors figured into that decision. Sadly, among those factors was the inability of this district to recognize, develop, and retain effective leadership. 

I was so encouraged, as were so many at the high school, when Roseanna Larson became one of the vice principals at Central. Her brief tenure in that position drew on her deep roots and understanding of the community, her decades of effective teaching at Central, and her uncompromising dedication to the needs of the Central students. Finally, after so many missteps, we had leadership we could depend on to help us improve. Someone who shared our values and worked in partnership to better serve our students. The improvement in morale was tremendous. 

When the opportunity came for Roseanna to become the principal at the high school, the choice was a natural one. The staff gathered themselves for a leap forward in our ability to better serve our students. The hallways and department meetings were abuzz with creative ideas, opportunities to leave Central’s troubled past behind, and finally realize the potential of a talented staff to realize its potential.

That opportunity was inexplicably denied our staff and students when Larson was overlooked, and someone else was selected to lead us. We were confused. Uncertainty replaced hope. That confusion became hurt and then anger. We felt devalued as a staff. We had made our feelings very clear to district leadership. They had sent an equally clear response. 

Our feelings simply did not figure into decisions made by district leadership. In response, teachers at the high school did what they have always done – they retreated into their classrooms, turtled up into a defensive position, where building leadership became something to endure, not a partner in improving the school.

This wasn’t fair to the staff. It created a cynical environment unfair to building leadership, and above all, eroded the educational environment at Central High School. We began to lose talented staff, who had endured enough, and chose to pursue their profession in places more conducive to growth and hope. Isolation is not constructive. Good teachers thrive in a positive learning environment where collaboration and creativity are encouraged. 

District leadership has consistently stifled any attempts to create and maintain such an environment, and the results are evident. 

Last year, after much soul-searching, my family decided that the continual stress and ongoing disappointment at the district’s inability to foster effective building leadership was taking an unsustainable toll on me and my family. We have absorbed the attendant financial challenges presented by my early retirement in exchange for stepping away from the poisonous environment created and fostered by district leadership.

The latest confirmation that this was the best decision comes in the decision by district leadership to, once again, force out an effective leader in Laura Waight. Laura has long served in a variety of leadership roles at the high school. She was an effective union leader. She served as the voice of reason when the environment at Central became too toxic to bear. 

Above all else, she is the uncontested most talented teacher in the building. To watch Laura Waight teach is to observe a master class in education. She loves her students, and she drives herself mercilessly to improve her craft. In twenty years of serving in a vast array of educational environments, I have not seen her equal. She is incredibly smart, unwaveringly focused, and generous to a fault. Laura Waight is the ideal that everyone wishes they could emulate. 

Imagine the force multiplier of someone like that in a leadership position. I don’t have to imagine it. I have experienced it, firsthand. Ms. Waight was my administrative evaluator during the last year I served at Central. By then, the decision to leave was pretty well developed. But Laura’s leadership made me reconsider my choice. 

Laura Waight has that all too rarely encountered trait in education – she is direct, she is honest, again to a fault, and she will not tolerate anything but the best for Central’s students. Her insights into my craft stirred me to action. I wanted to show her that I could be better, that I could build on the strengths she had identified and that I could address the opportunities for growth that she had so clearly presented. She trusted me enough to be honest, and I trusted her enough to accept the advice she had given me.

Laura Waight is an inspiration, and she can teach effectively how to become a better teacher because she can show you how it’s done. She knows what effective teaching looks like, and she is such a talented educator that she can help teachers with a wide range of abilities and challenges how to improve. Her leadership ability is unmatched in my experience. 

Recent events at Central have only emphasized the importance of effective leadership at the high school. On the morning of March 3, the Talmadge Middle School Principal called six people in the Administrative Office to report a student had been seen entering CHS with a potential weapon. 

No one in the district office answered the call. Laura Waight was the 7th call and immediately showed great leadership by getting all kids out of the hall and into their classrooms. During this time Ms. Waight showed great leadership working with police officers to secure the building. 

The student was identified from the building's security cameras and brought in for questioning. It was found that the item that was carried by the student was a toy and not a weapon. Laura's first reaction was getting all students to safety while the person in question could be found. This is an example of many events where communication and availability of administrators in the district office is hit or miss. 

Ms. Waight is frequently called upon to make such decisions because she is always there and always willing and able to make difficult decisions, quickly taking decisive action when others are less able to do so. When staff needs something done, and done right, it’s Ms. Waight’s door with the longest line.

Ms. Waight’s ability to communicate clearly and effectively may be seen as a little abrupt for some. Her impatience with incompetence and her incredible workload means that she has little time for niceties. 

She is not a political figure. She is intent and intense and insists that others keep up with her pace. Has this characteristic worked against her? Has her effectiveness with students, staff, parents, and community members placed others in the shade by comparison? Has her transparent, direct communication style created distance between her and district leadership? 

As one of the few remaining keystones in the Central leadership structure, her presence plays an indispensable role in sustaining an effective educational environment. Her removal threatens the integrity of an already unstable structure. Deep roots, warm relationships, and respect take years to develop. Are these characteristics valued by CSD 13J? 

Is district leadership trying to avoid a reprise of the disastrous experience when Roseanna Larson was being considered for the principal position at the high school? Time will tell. 

Laura Waight has changed the lives of hundreds of struggling students as a teacher and as an administrator to help them cross the finish line of graduation. Her effectiveness, even in her brief tenure as Vice Principal, suggests a bright future in educational leadership. Whether it be intervening to help kids develop a math skills plan for state testing or personalized assistance plan for graduation, Laura's focus has always been to help lift kids up by giving them the tools and confidence to meet the bar – not lower it. Her talented, compassionate instruction makes 

her an effective leader, in the classroom and in the staff room. These are traits desperately needed at Central. 

Can district leadership at Central turn away from prioritizing control in the ongoing pursuit of mediocrity in favor of creating and maintaining a value of working collaboratively with building leadership? If not, perhaps a change needs to be seriously considered.

Laura Waight’s philosophy is grounded in living a life of service. She goes to work every day to make a difference in the lives of students, staff and teachers. She lifts the kids up she is working with. She believes in a restorative approach and not a negative disciplinary approach that would make them feel bad about themselves. Such a positive leader is essential if Central is ever to create the constructive environment students deserve.

Hopefully,

Frank White

(Once a Panther, Always a Panther!) ▪

By Anne Scheck

Trammart News Service, March 21, 2025 

Moving forward to meet the financial challenges facing Independence as it tackles a new budget with a looming shortfall means recognizing “where we’ve been,” said Mayor Kate Schwarzler in her “State of the City” speech on Thursday. 

Decisions made previously, even many years ago, “shape our present – but they do not have to define our future,” Schwarzler told more than 50 audience members, who had braved a stiff wind and spitting rain to attend. “What we do now together is what matters,” she stressed.

The community “was clear” when it voted against a levy in November, Schwarzler acknowledged. 

The city is actively pursuing “beneficial resources,” such as grants to help stretch the budget. There also is continual work with legislators on the financial strain being experienced, she added. 

But without sustainable revenue, funding services at the same level that was done in the past isn’t possible, she affirmed. Independence is facing a budget shortfall of more than three-quarter million dollars, she said. 

Schwarzler’s presentation also included numerous positive highlights, from the appointment of Tino Banuelos as police chief to the announcement of a new business, the Crystal Creek Dairy & Creamery. But some of her presentation seemed to reflect contributions from public services that now seem imperiled. 

The Independence Library received a Spirit Mountain grant to purchase 16 new Chromebooks, which are used in computer coding programs, she pointed out.  The Heritage Museum welcomed over 6,000 visitors and had almost 3,000 volunteer hours, Schwarzler announced.  

Her predecessor, John McArdle, who was mayor for more than 25 years, was contacted via email by Trammart News for a comment on past practices that allegedly contributed, in part, to the current fiscal situation. However, no response had been received from him at the time of this news outlet’s Friday deadline.

Schwarzler’s talk came less than 24 hours after a town hall in which residents visited displays with information about the different public services – museum, library, parks – and were asked to place poker chips representing their top priorities into containers. 

Some of those who attended felt the lack of options left out an important step they hope to see explored during the budget process: Are there places to trim costs or reduce spending on some services, rather than shutting them down entirely? 

For example, a combination of services between the library and museum that was formulated by Museum Curator Amy Christensen and Library Director Patrick Bodily was “missing in action,” as one resident put it. Others asked why property sales of city land – aside from parks – wasn’t on the list of possibilities. 

In fact, in a recent e-newsletter to museum donors, the same observation was made. “The city owns several undeveloped properties, but to our knowledge, there has been no discussion about selling them to address the budget shortfall,” according to the missive from the Heritage Museum Society, the nonprofit arm of the museum. 

Earlier in the week, City Manager Kenna West emphasized two options: Consolidating the Heritage Museum and Independence Library, as well as selling the museum building, and placing park land for sale. The proposals were described during a KMUZ podcast with Schwarzler titled “City Budget,” which was posted this week on the city’s YouTube channel. 

“It can help get us over the hump,” West said of selling the museum building and park property. She noted that insurance costs have increased, there is limited tax revenue, and inflation continues. 

Schwarzler stated during the same broadcast that she’s making transparency a priority in her service as mayor, a point she reiterated in her State of the City address. 

However, in contrast with all other cities in Polk County, no municipal audit from the City of Independence for the past year has been filed, a document due by January 1 and considered important to budget preparation.  “The accounts and fiscal affairs of every municipality must be audited and reviewed at least once each calendar or fiscal year unless specifically exempt,” according to the Oregon Secretary of State. 

West has indicated that the municipal audit will be submitted soon. 

In part of her State of the City address, Schwarzler urged: “Now more than ever, we need to come together to listen and to support one another, to build an understanding and to move forward – not as individuals moving in different directions but as a community that believes in its future.” 

The Thursday morning event, which was co-sponsored with the City of Monmouth and coordinated by the MI Chamber of Commerce, was held in a large meeting room on the lower level of the Independence Civic Center. Mayor Cec Koontz led off the event giving the State of the City report for Monmouth, noting that the "away team" addresses the audience first.▪

By Anne Scheck

Trammart News Service, March 21, 2025 

It’s Women’s History Month. You might think that if you hunt for information on that you’ll find the best repository of reference material in the Heritage Museum, on the shelves of the local library or at Second Chance Books on Main Street. 

But you’d be wrong. 

Because the greatest symbol for what’s widely regarded as the most significant turning point of the women’s movement in modern history lives in a buttercup yellow bungalow in Independence. She’s a “Rosie the Riveter,” and she’s receiving special recognition in New Orleans today, Friday, March 21. 

Clarice Lafreniere, a former wartime ship welder, is being honored on "Rosie the Riveter Day," as a guest of the Gary Sinise Foundation and the National WWII Museum. She's one of 30 other “Rosies” and their companions who are expected to celebrate the event in the town often referred to as “The Big Easy.”  

“I am so looking forward to it,” Lafreniere said a few weeks ago, as she was planning the whirlwind three-day trip with her grand-daughter, Barbara Robertson.  

“Grandma has never been there (New Orleans), so I'm hoping to squeeze in a quick trip to Cafe du Monde for beignets and chicory coffee, and a little stroll in the French Quarter as we're able,” Robertson said. She’s a guest of the event, too – as the assigned guardian of her grandmother. 

The Rosies will also be accompanied by high school students “eager to learn from them, ensuring their stories and sacrifices will live on for generations to come,” according to the Gary Sinise Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded by the actor, which serves America's veterans and first responders, as well as their families. 

Lafreniere, originally from Colorado, became a bride there 75 years ago. After she and her husband had a son, Lafreniere and her spouse decided to move to the Pacific Northwest. Her daughter was born the night Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Japanese.

There were blackout curtains on the hospital windows – an Oregon precaution in case bomber planes flew all the way to the west coast. About a year later, Lafreniere began working at Kaiser Shipyard on Swan Island in Portland. Her mother cared for her two children while she worked the night shift. 

Lafreniere was one of the millions of women who stepped up – and into – what were formerly men’s jobs to support the war effort. 

Last year, she was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, along with dozens of other women who served as riveters, buckers, welders and electricians during World War II. Congresswoman Andrea Salinas has called Lafreniere a “living legend.” 

But this week, along with the 29 others in New Orleans, everyone will be calling her “Rosie.” ▪

By Anne Scheck

Trammart News Service, March 14, 2025 

Members of the Oregon Government Ethics Commission voted to dismiss the case against Independence Mayor Kate Schwarzler, despite a recommendation by OGEC staff to carry it forward as a conflict-of-interest violation.  

The commissioners appeared to agree with Schwarzler’s lawyer, Robert Steringer, who argued that Schwarzler was “simply acting as a businessperson” in her interactions with the city in preparation for a city-hosted conference during a time in which she was a city councilor. 

Some products from Schwarzler’s retail tenants at her business, Indy Commons, were chosen and purchased for baskets given to conference attendees. “At no time was Ms. Schwarzler contacted by the city in her official capacity,” Steringer said. “She was contacted as a businessperson, by a staff person at the city, for the purpose of providing comments on a project that the staff person was managing,” he said. 

The OGEC staff investigation had concluded with a preliminary finding that Schwarzler violated certain conflict-of-interest provisions of Oregon Government ethics law. Her case was recommended for a “contested case proceeding” or “a negotiated settlement.”  

But neither occurred, due to the dismissal, which was approved in a 6-0 vote by the commissioners. Prior to the vote, Commission Chair David Fiskum stated that it didn’t strike him that a “major ethical issue” had happened. Later asked to comment by Trammart News, Schwarzler declined.

Before the decision, Senior Assistant Attorney General Dan Gilbert told commissioners: “The difficulty we had with this one was, you have a city councilor advising a city employee about how to use city money,” he said. “We did not think you could remove your hat and say, ‘I am just acting as a private businessperson’,” said Gilbert, who was there on behalf of the Government Services Section of the Oregon Department of Justice.

Schwarzler received more than $100,000 over several years’ time from the city, including grant money, for services; She has announced that, as a member of the city council, she no longer will engage in city contracts.  

The case began publicly last fall, after OGEC considered a citizen complaint about the money provided by the city to Schwarzler and “found cause to open an investigation” on the gift-bag selections. Schwarzler had recommended some of the gift-bag purchases for attendees of the city conference, including products from vendors at her business, Indy Commons.

Steringer, Schwarzler’s attorney, noted that Shawn Irvine, the city’s economic development director, had informed OGEC that he contacted Schwarzler only as a business owner, not as a city councilor. Steringer, most recently known for an Oregon Supreme Court case this past fall related to the Fifth Amendment, was hired and paid by Schwarzler, she confirmed. 

Though the direct cash benefit to Schwarzler’s business was only $28 – essentially a processing fee – she never disclosed a possible conflict-of-interest on the issue. 

Asked by one of the commissioners how Schwarzler could have done so, OGEC’s executive director, Susan Myers, responded that “she would have needed to do it in public.” Schwarzler could have mentioned it at a city council meeting or posted it on the city’s website, Myers said.

In a written statement for the OGEC investigation, Schwarzler explained why she never referenced her business interest before voting on the 2024 budget. 

“There is no way of knowing by looking at the line items if the city was going to use any of the budget to purchase items from Indy Commons,” she stated. “In addition, potential grant funds that could be used to benefit downtown businesses were also not identified. As such, there was nothing for me to declare, other than potentially making a general blanket statement.” 

Schwarzler went on to say that if she was required to do so, perhaps other councilors should do the same. In that situation, “I would hope that other city councilors that could potentially benefit from any action taken on city council would also make a general blanket statement,” she stated. This would include “a council member whose kids play sports (and who) may benefit from voting in support of a sports park.” ▪

By Lance Masterson

For Trammart News Service, March 14, 2025 

Truman Swartzfager has captured hundreds of thousands of images during his three years as a professional photographer.

Though Swartzfager’s preference is to shoot track and field – the Central High senior is a runner  – he photographs all Panther sports teams, along with events and portraits, with his Canon R6 Mark II digital camera.

He uses the ‘more the merrier approach’ when it comes to accumulating images.

“I’ll finish a game with 1,200 to 2,500 images,” he said. “People say I overshoot. I would say the younger generation of sports photographers just deals with it.”

Most photographers don’t like to ‘deal’ with the time it takes to cull through thousands of images in search of a few images. Picture a needle in a pixelated haystack. That’s why they prefer to shoot fewer images. But Swartzfager is quicker than most in the culling.

“It helps that I have a good process for going through my images. I do it fairly quickly,” he said. “So if I’m at a basketball game, and let’s say I take 2,000 photos, I can get through them in less than half an hour. Which to me, I don’t see as too bad.”

He added he spends more time editing the photos that make his final cut.

In addition to the work he does for his clients, Swartzfager is media coordinator for the school’s Associated Student Body Executive Council. It’s a position that adds to his busy schedule.

“We do all the content for the school’s social media pages, so that includes the athletic pages,” he said. “Say we got a team … or someone going to state. It’s expected that I’m at the state competition. You know, big meets.”

Swartzfager is also at little meets, i.e., regular season contests, preseason games, as he pursues coverage for all.

“By the end of the season, I will have content of each team that we have posted, and there won’t be a team that was left out,” he said.

Preparation plays its role in his success.

“So I’ve got a list of people who I’m supposed to get photos of, whether they’re paying me, or the school wants me to get photos of them,” Swartzfager said. “So I usually know exactly who I’m shooting, and what to shoot.”

In three years he’s come to know his subjects very well. This knowledge ties in with how he composes his images. Take his knowledge of Jack Holestine’s game, for example.

Holestine is starting guard for the varsity boys basketball team. Swartzfager said he focuses “on Jack making assists, shooting jumpers. Occasionally, I get a good shot at the basket. But mainly I’m looking for, like, big moves outside of the paint, and his big-ticket shots.” 

Another favorite is another guard: Bella Names, varsity girls basketball team.

“So I’ve noticed that (Bella) will be up court, and she’ll be talking, she’ll be pointing, using her hands,” he explained. “I like those kinds of dynamic photos where it’s not just, you know, shooting or going to the baskets.”

It’s a different look for Ryan Burgett, perhaps the best jumper on the boys team. Burgett plays above the rim.

“When Ryan’s in the game, I often change to a different lens with a wider angle. I know he will be close to me in the paint, and the shapes that he makes with his body often look good in a photo,” Swartzfager added. “He’s always up high, and he’s always moving around the defender.”

Coaches are fair game, too. Tyler Allen is a favorite. Allen coaches the varsity boys basketball team.

“(Allen) is an amazing subject to photograph. I love getting bench shots, especially in a close game when he’s getting heated,” he explained. “(Allen) doesn’t usually sit down. He just lets it happen. He’s up, and he’s yelling, and getting into it.”

Photographs of these and other subjects make their way to Swartzfager’s Instagram account for his 1,000-plus followers. It’s one reason why his reputation is growing. It's why he is getting assignments from outside the area.

Examples of such assignments include photographing a recent panel discussion and documentary premiere on homelessness in Salem, major sporting events in Portland and track meets at Hayward Field in Eugene. 

Swartzfager’s high school days are numbered. He graduates in June, but is already networking his next stop: Central Oregon Community College. He's made contact with ski team's there and has photographed their races. It’s all part of his plan.

“I wanted to make connections up on the mountain, so that when I go to college in Bend, I will be able to continue with them,” he said. “That will be the biggest thing that I will be doing, shooting ski competitions on Mount Bachelor and Mount Hood.”

What Swartzfager won’t be doing is majoring in photography.

“The skills that I have, and the skills that I can get better at, won’t be taught through a class,” he said. “So if I want to really get better at educating myself in photography, I will look for an internship, or shadow someone.”

Not that he won’t be willing if the opportunity presented itself.

“It’s my dream to be a sports photographer. I would absolutely love it. I just know it’s difficult to do, that it’s almost impossible,” he said. “So I’m not putting all my chips in one basket.”

(Writer’s note: Truman Swartzfager is on Instagram at @t_swizzle_photos. You can also find him on Facebook. His email address is truman.swartzfager@gmail.com.) ▪

By Anne Scheck

Trammart News Service, March 14, 2025 

Sometime this summer, left-hand turns from Highway 51  onto Highway 22 will vanish. 

A new transportation project will make those left turns a thing of the past, at least temporarily. It just got the green light – and a new normal for commuters is likely only a few months away, according to Polk County Commissioner Lyle Mordhorst, who credits the plan to several key players from Polk County and the Oregon Department of Transportation. Mordhorst is the county liaison to ODOT. 

"Craig Pope actually thought of it," Mordhorst observed, alluding to the current chair of the county commission board. 

The new plan will call for northbound Highway 51 drivers to exit onto S. Oak Grove Road and make the desired left turn onto Highway 22 when that road intersects with Highway 22 a little further to the west of the current intersection.

It's a short-term solution to long-term results – a temporary fix to save lives. That interchange has been a grisly scene at times, mostly from motorists trying to make left-hand turns. "It's a good interim safety step," Mordhorst said. 

A majority of accidents are caused by human error, and the left turns from Highway 51 onto Highway 22 have been particularly mistake-prone: cars making the left turns have collided with oncoming traffic. How? "They gamble," Mordhorst said, becoming impatient and betting on their ability to forecast how fast they can make the turn against oncoming traffic. 

The strategic placement of tube markers – typically bright orange posts with white stripes – will prevent the left-hand turns at the Highway 51 - Highway 22 intersection.

Safety improvements along the corridor of Highway 22 from West Salem to Dallas have been in the planning stages for years, and a bridge at the interchange of Highway 22 and 51 is considered a priority. 

But the proposal -- first listed as the lion's share of a $270 million project – has only been whittled down to $240 million. "That's a lot," Mordhorst said – but still not enough to get a solution soon. In the meantime, the temporary plan would cut costs to a few hundred thousand dollars, Mordhorst said.

Mordhorst credited Todd Whitaker, Polk County engineer, and Austin McGuigan, Polk County community development director, with helping formulate the details. ODOT's Anna Henson the Mid-Willamette Valley Area Manager, and her staff were "amazing" to work with, he said. 

Of course, such safety enhancements wouldn't be such a pressing need if people would leave work, home or other sites sooner, Mordhorst said. Some are in too much of a hurry, increasing risk. "Give yourself time to get places," he said. ▪

By Anne Scheck

Trammart News Service, March 7, 2025 

The school board meeting in Hawk Hall Monday night was so packed that the crowd spilled out into the corridor, spreading in several directions. Yesterday the same space filled with Central High students who had staged a school walkout.  

The goal of both groups was the same – to protest certain actions by the Central School District. Many parents, teachers and students want to keep CHS vice principal Laura Waight, whose contract reportedly wasn’t renewed – and they also want to see new hiring and retention practices put in place at CSD. 

Both demands may be near-future possibilities. Waight is predicted to have a special hearing on her employment status in the next few weeks. Board member Melanie Landon-Hays seemed to clinch consensus from fellow board members when she suggested a review was needed of hiring procedures and exit steps, such as claims of non-disclosure agreements. 

These are “structural issues” that require examination, she asserted. 

Three days after the school board meeting, Superintendent Jennifer Kubista met with about two dozen students who left the high school to walk to the district office, for a discussion of the issue. The students (some shown in upper-right photo), who ranged from sophomores to seniors, said they wanted the superintendent to know how much they valued Waight. 

They also called for “better communication” and inquired whether exit interviews were being done. “We’re not currently doing exit interviews,” Kubista told them, but she added that it’s “something we’ll be looking at” going forward. The meeting with students was friendly in tone and Kubista reminded them she cannot address specific personnel issues. The students congenially complied.

In interviews leading up to the school board meeting, residents expressed frustration with the school district – and with school board members who are “polite but just tune you out,” in the words of one parent. Another called Kubista “highly professional” in many ways but “tone deaf” to the complications caused by being guided too much by those around her and lacking a critical eye.  

District officials have repeatedly said they cannot comment on personnel matters, including other administrators, such as those often attributed as the superintendent's "kitchen cabinet."

In public testimony, some parents were very direct. “In the last years, there have been rising concerns that our district is crumbling,” said Tanna Cable Girod, a graduate of Central High School and an active volunteer in the district. “And I have to say I share that concern,” she said, during the overflow school board meeting at the Henry Hill Building, which serves as district headquarters. 

There’s a pressing need for “solid consistent leadership,” she said. 

Others echoed the same concerns, citing frequent changes in principals and assistant principals in the secondary schools, hard-to-understand administrative departures and a culture in which there’s fear of retaliation for allegedly raising questions. 

CHS Teacher TJ Bailey told board members: “I literally cannot tell you how many vice principals I have had since I have been there.” Bailey, who has been at Central for about nine years, taught at Talmadge Middle School for the same amount of time previously – with no changes in administration. 

While Waight wasn’t mentioned by name, both David Doellinger, a school parent, and Frank White, a former CHS teacher, made a point of describing Waight’s non-renewal as wrong. “This is one of the most competent people,” Doellinger said. 

White, clad in a tee shirt that read “Once a panther, always a panther,” labeled the situation a calamity. “How fortunate this district is to have had her services,” he said. “How disastrous it is to consider losing such an inspiration.” Asked after his testimony by Trammart News whether he was referring to Waight, White responded: “Of course I am.”  

School Board Chair Byron Shinkle had to interrupt speakers several times to point out that no reference to the identity of an individual staff person could be made in the public setting.

Trust has eroded, observed Nathan Muti, president of the Central Education Association, the teachers’ union. “Our community needs to trust this organization,” he stressed. 

Others called for more clarity on hiring practices and for exit interviews of employees who leave. Rob Harriman, a parent, told board members he’d learned that some of those who left the district allegedly were asked to sign non-disclosure agreements. This could be seen as the means to cover “misdeeds,” he said. 

The problem of administrative staffing impacts district schools in other  ways, as well. Lower-than-allowed levels prompt temporary school  closures, a situation that has occurred several times this year,  according to reports on the district website.  

Abby Fitts, the parent of two CHS alumni and also of a current student there, said she has always been reluctant to speak publicly. “It takes a special set of circumstances for me to get up here. And I believe we have those circumstances now,” she said. 

Fitts stated that she has been told about fears of retaliation by others for speaking out and trying to solve problems. It’s not a situation limited to the potential loss of one beloved administrator. 

“It is about fixing a system that needs to be fixed so we can get back to the most important job – of educating our children and preparing the next generation,” Fitts said. ▪

By Anne Scheck

Trammart News Service, March 7, 2025 

Why there is a public-service fee of $20 now added to city utility bills, why there is no home building being undertaken in Independence and why water and sewer rates continue to increase – these issues were asked and addressed at the city’s town hall last Saturday, which was held by newly-elected Mayor Kate Schwarzler at the Independence Heritage Museum. The town hall was held to help address questions and learn concerns, Schwarzler said. 

"We don't have all the answers," she said.  City Manager Kenna West was also present at the town hall.

 The mayor's town halls are a welcome event in the community, according  to several residents who attended. The intimate space of the Heritage  Museum board room created a relaxed atmosphere for questions, one of them observed. And  plenty were asked on Saturday by the full crowd in attendance.   

Rebecca Jay, a member of the city’s planning commission, asked that city officials provide more clarity on spending – an observation that drew murmurs of agreement across the room. 

Schwarzler said the city is “gearing up” for the budget session and urged participation in the process – an informational session will be held this Tuesday at 5:30 pm at the Independence Civic Center. 

Asked by Trammart News when the municipal audit would be completed – the document is now overdue at the Oregon Secretary of State’s office – West answered that the annual audit would be available in March or April. 

A review of the municipal filings show that Independence is the only city in Polk County that is missing its municipal audit, which is due at the beginning of every calendar year. The Polk County Board of Commissioners confirmed this week that their outside audit was finished, as well. 

City Manager West frequently interjected explanations to resident inquiries. At one point, after questions surfaced about the cost of water-sewer rates, West noted that there are projects that require attention due to maintenance needs, citing the sewage lagoon ponds. There are occasions when the city “smells awful,” she said, explaining that biosolid removal from the ponds is a necessity. 

David Clyne, a former city manager for Independence, told the group that “not one single home had been built” since new fees for builders, called system development charges, had been implemented early in West's tenure as city manager. The cost-per-unit now exceeds $50,000, according to city-permit records. 

Schwarzler replied that the SDCs had been lower than they should have been for years and adjustments had to be made. When Clyne and others wanted to know why a $20 public service fee was added to utility bills for police, both Schwarzler and West described law enforcement as an essential service. Areas threatened to be cut – parks, the library, the museum – are not defined as essential services by law, according to the Oregon Revised Statutes, West said. 

In a brief comment after the meeting, Clyne said he was disappointed the city hadn’t hired a professional pollster to find out why a levy to support other services – the parks, museum and library – went down to such a blistering defeat on the November ballot. “Wouldn’t it make sense to consider additional professional and community sources for advice, given those results?” he asked. 

During the town hall, Clyne pointed out that he and another former city manager who lives in Independence, Greg Ellis, had offered to help with problem-solving ideas from their years of experience in Independence. A letter describing that offer was submitted to the city council this past December. There has been no response to it, Clyne confirmed. 

(NOTE: Trammart News covered only the first two sections of the town hall. 1) Budget: A focus on where to find information and how to get involved in shaping city priorities, and 2)  Public Safety Fee: A clear breakdown of what it covers and why it  matters. The third, which was not included in TN coverage, was on library services, "Debunking the myth that 'libraries are obsolete' and  highlighting all the incredible resources your library card unlocks.")  ▪

Editorial Column: 

Legal analysis shows constitutional lapses in new council rules 

By Anne Scheck

Trammart News Service, March 7, 2025

After the Independence City Council adopted new rules of conduct despite a view by Oregon legislative counsel that portions of it were likely violations of the state constitution, Trammart News commissioned an outside legal analysis of the issue. It arrived as a thorough document with multiple legal citations. So, it has been boiled down in what lawyers now call “plain English.” That interpretation is below.  --Anne Scheck

City Councilor Shannon Corr asked to have a letter included in the upcoming Tuesday’s council agenda packet about a fellow council member, Dawn Roden. She referenced Roden and the term “grandstanding.” Corr mentioned “censure” as a possible future outcome. 

Corr might want to rethink that. 

“Grandstanding” is the word highlighted by several attorneys who have weighed in on the potential constitutional violations included in a new set of rules on council conduct, which was approved by the city council earlier this year in a 4:1 vote, with Roden dissenting. 

In the third legal opinion sought so far, Trammart News received a vetting by a trio of legal experts on whether these new council rules violate the constitution. In a careful analysis, the conclusion seems clear – and it’s the same one reached in the other two. These new rules appear,  in part, to be unconstitutional.

And one reason is the word “grandstanding.” 

This word appears to have been inserted by Independence City Manager Kenna West, who began using it early in her administration. In Corr’s letter, she defines “grandstanding” as speaking in a way “designed to attract attention and impress the audience, often by making dramatic statements or taking extreme positions.” 

As it turns out, this is freedom of speech in the way it is often practiced by lawmakers, according to the recent legal examination of the issue. 

Although this is over-simplification by Trammart News of the case-law citations that went into the compilation, that pretty much sums it up. Elected officials who are passionate about making their points can be colorful, exasperating, tongue-tied or argumentative. Sometimes they can even, allegedly, be frightening. 

Take the case of Brian Boquist who, as an Oregon state legislator, notoriously declared: "Send bachelors and come heavily armed” when he was ordered to return to the Capitol after a Republican walkout. He was then required by a legislative committee to give a 12-hour notice before accessing the building in the future, in case security measures were needed. Boquist then sued. 

The Ninth Circuit recently held that the inflammatory speech made by then-state senator Boquist was protected under the First Amendment – because he was an elected official. Supreme Court precedent has recognized that legislators are to “be given the widest latitude to express their views on issues of policy.”

You might think the City of Independence has a right to place reasonable restrictions on speech occurring in spaces set up by the city for public discussion – called “limited public forums” – if those restrictions don’t discriminate against any particular viewpoint. And you’d be partly right. Generally, city council meetings are considered limited public forums. 

However, the prohibition on “grandstanding” likely infringes on any legislator’s right, including a city councilor. 

Why? Expressing a view is essentially what the public’s representatives are elected to do. And the word “grandstand” in the city council’s new conduct rules “is vague and broad enough that it might prevent city councilors from making speech they otherwise would be allowed to make,” according to the legal analysis. 

This is called a “chilling effect” in First Amendment case law and could, by itself, be sufficient to make the law unconstitutional, according to precedents listed in the report.

Political speech is a central part of an elected official’s duties; Elected officials have an obligation to take positions on controversial political questions, so that their constituents can be fully informed by them, according to the citations. 

Article I, Section 8 of the Oregon Constitution provides that “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.” 

In fact, Oregon established its free-speech framework in a case called State v. Robertson and, surprisingly, it differs from the federal framework. Section 8 generally provides more free speech protection than the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. 

Repeated attempts by Trammart News to determine how the term "grandstand" was selected as part of the language for this change in council rules or whether the city's contracted attorney could address constitutional questions that have arisen all went unanswered by Emmanuel Goicochea, Independence's communication director.  

(Note: Mandatory inclusion of minority opinions is common in governmental reporting requirements when oversight boards are making decisions and some members of such boards voice positions apart from the majority.) ▪

Special Report: 

Outcome of city council work session on raising revenue to meet coming shortfall 

By Anne Scheck

Trammart News Service, February 28, 2025 

A list of possible city-owned land sales that potentially could help Independence meet a nearly $780,000 shortfall was whittled down from six parks to three during a city council work session Tuesday night. 

Though the discussion wasn’t finalizing – no record of a consensus was requested – the councilors voiced tentative approval to consider selling the Sports Park, with an estimated value of $500,000; A stretch of open land known as Boise Park, with an estimated value of $500,000; And a segment of Henry Hill Park labeled “the pool property,” with an estimated value of $450,000. 

The topic of city property sales followed a presentation by Museum Curator Amy Christensen and Library Director Patrick Bodily, in which they proffered a plan to combine both public-service  resources. (See following article: Creative approach to joint library - museum operations.)

City Manager Kenna West had kicked off the meeting by saying options were being examined for the city's financial situation. West said all of the cost-saving that could be done in operations had been accomplished with staff consolidation and by other measures, such as outsourcing certain services, like landscaping. 

Several councilors spoke strongly in favor of the library and museum remaining open. 

 
"So, the next thing to look at is property and asset sales," West said, later cautioning that this would be "onetime" money.  

In the wake of a levy this past November that was defeated by a majority of voters, one alternative suggested at the meeting was for fees to finance the library, park and museum to be added to water-sewer-stormwater bills. The idea generated no apparent support. Water bills should contain bills for water, stressed Councilor Bill Boisvert. 

No public testimony was allowed, but a survey of residents is being undertaken to help set priorities – for both the city council and for this year’s budget committee, which is scheduled to begin this spring. 

All three parks that remained on the list received attention as possible sites for different commercial uses. 

The Sports Park, fields by the boat ramp, was suggested for development of sports competitions, with possible installations of more amenities to promote tournament use. 

The defunct pool property, along 5th and I streets, was proposed as a place of interest for YMCA construction of new facilities. Boise Park, lots across Hoffman Road by the industrial area that includes former Marquis Spa offices, would likely appeal to builders due to the flat topography, said Shawn Irvine, the city’s economic development director. 

To view the meeting in its entirety go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXh5VSd4JiQ&t=140s

 (Note:  Trammart News has submitted a public records request to the City  Recorder to affirm that the land referred to as "Boise Park" isn't restricted for open green space. Previous City Manager Tom Pessemier, an  engineer, had reported that a deed restriction required the lots remain open area.) ▪

By Anne Scheck

Trammart News Service, February 28, 2025 

The city’s library director and museum curator presented a plan Tuesday night that would place the Heritage Museum within the Independence Library, potentially providing a way to save both as the city faces a $776,000 shortfall. 

The proposal, though temporary until finances improve, “would allow us to still meet our mission and serve the community,” said Amy Christensen, the museum curator. The solution is “painful but doable,” affirmed Library Director Patrick Bodily. 

The two appeared together to describe the concept during a work session of the City Council, which was held in the Independence Event Center and drew several residents, including members of the Museum Advisory Board and the Historic Preservation Commission.

The idea of shared space between the library and museum surfaced during a time when other community members have contacted Trammart News with funding ideas seemingly unexplored so far – and to reference a term that Bodily and Christensen didn’t use but seem to illustrate, GLAM. 

A decade ago, the GLAM combination – Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museums – was cited as a trend. In fact, the title of a 2017 publication about it – “The future looks GLAMorous: from resource sharing to collaboration and convergence” – forecast a growing opportunity for such cooperation. The article was by Kenn Bicknell, a digital resources scholar and librarian based in Los Angeles. He appears to have helped coin the phrase “GLAM partner.” 

Such partnering is being done at Western Oregon University, for example. “Libraries and museums are very aligned in our missions, so it is a pairing that has happened before,” explained Camila Gabaldon when asked about GLAM. The pairing isn't always perfect, she noted. 

“Many collections require slightly different care,” she observed – some collections can be handled, others cannot. “But the intent behind the services is ultimately the same,” to provide access to information and knowledge, to educate, and to create a space for discovery, said Gabaldon, systems/collection development librarian at WOU. In fact, the Oregon State Library at the Capitol currently features a gallery in the foyer that combines poetry, calligraphy and block prints (see sidebar below, GLAM at WOU, a lesson for other libraries?). 

By using available space at the Independence Library – the front area, the back meeting room – exhibits could continue, along with the literary offerings at the site. “So, the history of Independence is still on display and people can still learn,” Bodily said. And, in this way, historical collections can be preserved until other circumstances, such as a planned library expansion, can be undertaken, Christensen suggested. 

The building that now houses the museum, at the corner of C and 2nd streets, has an $85,000-a-year mortgage and a remaining debt of about $430,000, according to Independence Finance Director Rob Moody. However, the estimated sale price of $700,000 to $800,000 could mean several hundred thousand dollars in profit. 

Additionally, if a commercial buyer is found, it would put the building back on the tax rolls, City Manager Kenna West pointed out. 

Combining the library and museum would avoid “slashing completely” one or the other of these two, Bodily said – a feared outcome as a fiscal cliff looms. 

No official action was taken at the session Tuesday night, but the proposal appeared to be met with general approval, as several council-member heads nodded during the presentation. A final decision is expected to be made over the next few months, after one or more town forums on the issue and completion of a city-wide survey. 

If the plan goes forward, rotating exhibits and visiting collections could also be displayed at spaces in the Independence Civic Center, including the foyer of the second-floor reception area and in areas on the third floor above it, Christensen said. The event center, below those floors, also was suggested as a possible venue. 

The move would keep the many displays and artifacts that have been assembled over the years intact, safe and as part of Independence – many could be placed in storage, Christensen added.

The museum is seen as essential by supporters ranging from retirees to parents, with different reasons for their advocacy; They vary from being able to offer  “knowledge encounters” to showcasing projects by local artists. 

From funding alternatives to artistic recognition, community feedback has cropped up along with this week’s national “Museums Advocacy Days.” So far, it appears to fall into three main categories. 

Investigate unexplored funds. The city receives lodging-tax dollars – budgeted to be about $200,000 but falling short of that – from the Independence Hotel and local bed-and-breakfast operations, among other sources – dollars that often are used for tourism but aren’t restricted for that purpose. “We’re not under any statutory requirement as to where that money can go,” said Finance Director Moody. 

There is also a provision in System Development Charges, which are fees charged to builders for construction in the city, that allows their use for recreation – and Oregon’s definition of recreation includes “viewing or enjoying historical, archaeological, scenic or scientific sites” (ORS 105.672-105.696). Would a recent radiant rocks exhibit qualify? Or celebrating the history of hops at the annual festival? Some cities seem to access those funds for similar purposes. The Tualatin Hills Park and Recreation District receives SDCs and offers both historic and art programming, according to the district website. 

Utilize local creators. That is just what the current special exhibit at the Heritage Museum does – there’s a gallery of vibrant animal portraits by local artist Torin Widhammer (see photo, upper right). The paintings are placed above panels of colorful knob-like buttons that, when pressed, make the same noises humans use to mimic the mammal or bird – including the way these sounds are made in languages beside English. 

For example, bees in America may buzz with a bzzz, but in Germany they are said to go summ. The exhibit is titled “What Does the Fox Say: Exploring International Onomatopoeias.” 

The work was done by Widhammer, with the panels of buttons accomplished – with a little mechanical engineering – by Christensen, and former Museum Director Natascha Adams.

The portraits also feature plants that reflect the animal depicted – a horse chestnut with the horse, a pussy willow with the cat. 

Widhammer was so conscious of blending all the elements into an eye-pleasing configuration that she decided to mute a few of the backgrounds in the paintings with more neutral tones. “I wanted the colors to stand out,” she said. The exhibit runs until the end of May. 

Promote Historic Perspectives. Of all the comments about important factors of the museum, several residents said it is the repository of the town’s history – and history is emphasized in almost every aspect of city promotion. “Independence has a distinct sense of place that is grounded in its history,” according to a city statement posted on the city's website. 

Several residents have called for entrance fees or membership fees to help fund the museum, an idea that has been met with low enthusiasm due to the possible exclusion of families that couldn’t afford the price. 

However, one out-of-town visitor urged the Heritage Museum to look into joining – and accepting – the “Museums for All” program, which guarantees low or no entry fees for some users. 

In late April, the Oregon Museums Association annual conference will be hosted by the Heritage Museum, and held in downtown Independence. The new fiscal year will begin two months later. 

As that date approaches, “we are doing what we can to keep the museum from closing,” said Jim Humphreys, president of the non-profit Heritage Museum Society. “We are hoping that we can keep it viable.” 

––––––SIDEBAR––––––

GLAM at WOU, a lesson for other libraries? That’s what Trammart News wondered after an eloquent explanation was provided by Christopher Mansayon, assistant professor reference services & exhibits librarian at Western Oregon University. 

Information from him is provided below, along with several valuable references. 

There are a lot of benefits to GLAM as a concept. For example, centralizing data/information and leveraging existing data infrastructure to enhance digital visibility and access, such as integrating museum records into an online library catalog. The same can be said with regard to physical visibility, where those who visit the library may also be exposed to and interact with museum/archival/art exhibits that they typically wouldn't see, and vice versa.

Many university libraries espouse some of the benefits of the GLAM concept to end users, such as mixed gallery spaces and museum/archival exhibits (both in-house and travelling) and were purposefully designed for such mixed use. 

There are students who come through our doors (and the other gallery extensions across campus) and see art that they otherwise wouldn't because they don't know about the Campbell Hall building/gallery. When there are community gallery openings, we get to meet and talk to local community members—some who sign up for community library cards—who may not have even thought about the university library as a space. The GLAM model espouses the strengths of each component toward enhanced access to collections and services as a motivator for convergence. 

Here are links to two relatively new articles on the topic:

Hvenegaard Rasmussen, Casper and Birger Hjørland. 2022. “Libraries, archives and museums (LAMs): conceptual issues with focus on their convergence”. Knowledge Organization 49, no. 8: 577-621. Also available in ISKO Encyclopedia of Knowledge Organization, eds. Birger Hjørland and Claudio Gnoli, https://www.isko.org/cyclo/lam

Association of Research Libraries (2020). Research Library Issues, (300). https://publications.arl.org/rli300/

(NOTE: Other contributors to the special museum exhibit "What Does The Fox  Say?" include Jo Hill and Sandeep Creek, who provided the American Sign  Language for the accompanying video; Roxanne Beltz, who donated time and expertise mounting the vinyl required for the exhibit.) ▪

By Anne Scheck

Trammart News Service, February 28, 2025 

As he opened his report to the Polk County Board of Commissioners Tuesday, District Attorney Aaron Felton, who has served in that role for the past dozen years, said he didn’t simply wish to put out “a bunch of statistics.” 

Instead, he wanted to provide answers to three questions he considered essential issues for the public – issues that relate to the performance of the DA’s Office. Do I feel safe in my community? Is the DA's Office spending my tax dollars wisely? Is the DA's Office prepared to handle complex public safety issues when they arise? 

The answers appear to be a trio of yes responses. Prosecutions are up, county needs for public defenders largely are being met, and both challenges are being accomplished with an office of eight attorneys and a support staff of 18 non-attorneys, he said. 

Prosecutions have increased significantly since the beginning of the post-pandemic period. An overwhelming majority – about 75% – of the cases referred from combined law enforcement agencies are being prosecuted, Felton said. 

And a push to retain public defenders has paid off – his office has been able to avoid the ongoing "public defender crisis" of other counties, by building relationships and making them a priority. 

“The ability to be fully staffed has allowed us to not exist in a ‘triage’ mode – and to eliminate case backlogs and work with our public safety partners, and the courts, to develop systems that have allowed Polk County thus far not to encounter the same public defender shortages being seen in other Oregon counties,” Felton explained.  

One adjustment has been the change with drug-related crimes due to abolishing key parts of Measure 110, the Drug Addiction Treatment and Recovery Act, which was passed in 2020. The state’s drug decriminalization act aimed to make police encounters a pathway to rehabilitation programs rather than jail. 

But Measure 110 proved so unsuccessful that it essentially was repealed. Now, “we are seeing a significant uptick in drug crimes coming in," Felton confirmed. 

Typically, individual misdemeanor prosecutors carry an average of 100 cases at any one time.

One continuing burden is cost. Expenses keep going up, with no real end in sight due to heavy reliance on technology. For example, discovery costs are increasing in terms of digital licensing fees for electronic case management system, he noted. ▪

By Anne Scheck

Trammart News Service, February 21, 2025 

Frequent turnover of principals and losses of other administrators at Central School District is raising concern among some parents that local public education is on a downward spiral – and they want it stopped.

Upheaval caused by departing school leaders over the past 18 months – including swift changes of principals at Central High and Talmadge Middle schools – are evidence of a troubling trend, according to some.  A “reaching out” is needed to discover why, including exit interviews, said Shannon Ball, a parent volunteer who has spoken to the school board on several occasions. 

Reiterating what several other families have said in recent weeks, Ball asserted that school board members need to address this exodus, rather than relying solely on “what they’re told by the superintendent.” 

The recent departures include two vice principals, one at Central High School, Laura Waight, and another at Ash Creek Elementary School, Jessie Padilla. Several parents praised Padilla and called Waight a pillar of her school. 

“She (Waight) has been a pillar," affirmed CHS parent Maren Anderson, an author who’s a visible member of the Independence-Monmouth community. Anderson is worried that the administrative churn reflects “instability.” 

So is Barbara Harriman, the mother of two recent CHS graduates. Vice Principal Waight, who taught math for a decade at CHS, had acquired the additional education needed to move into an administrative role, and had been a vice principal for about three years, Harriman noted. She leaves a huge void, Harriman said. 

"I loved that she was a teacher and then an administrator," Harriman said. "If you look at our district, this isn't the case for the top leadership," Harriman added.

In a little less than two years, a half dozen administrators are now gone, including Ashley Wildfang, who was promoted to oversee elementary education at CSD 13J after serving as principal at Ash Creek Elementary. Asked for a response from the district over these losses, communications coordinator Emily Mentzer pointed out that there is turnover in any workplace, and education is no exception. 

“This time of year, some staff look for new positions and some retire,” Mentzer said. “This is something we work through each spring.”

“It's always sad to see someone leave, but we wish them well on their new adventures,” she added. The quest by the district to fill vacant spots is currently being advertised, Mentzer said. 

Interviews with numerous parents appear to show a consensus on the starting point of what they see as management declines: the unexpected fallout of bypassing the opportunity three years ago to elevate Roseanna Larson to CHS principal  (photo upper right). 

She is widely known in the community. She was part of the teaching faculty for years at CHS and then became a popular vice  principal. The decision against promoting her to the top job  currently has resurfaced in community discussions.  

Larson, who has remained with the district, is now coordinator of career and technical education programs, as well as alternative education and attendance programs. Asked how she felt about what some have called a “revolving door” at the CHS principal’s office, she had no comment. 

However, Larson observed that she remains committed to her new role. “I continue to feel the love and support of the community,” she said. 

When Larson,  one of the two finalists for the top job at CHS, wasn’t chosen, students staged a walkout in protest and former Polk County Planning Commissioner Mike Ainsworth called for a vote of no confidence at the school board meeting. It failed but apparently left a lasting impression on some. 

“It wasn’t just the drama,” explained one parent, who recalled the board meeting that night. “Sure, that all died down. But the skepticism with the district? It stayed.” Neither Larson nor the other final candidate was selected for the CHS principal spot. 

After a new search, Brent “Mac” McConaghy, an assistant principal at North Medford High School, was subsequently hired as CHS principal. However, he returned to the Southern Oregon town that he’d left about a year later, leaving Central to find another new principal. 

Other administrators left, too. Jared Tesch had been announced as the new principal at Talmadge Middle School after longtime Principal Perry LaBounty’s retirement – but he was soon replaced. Alisha Resseman stepped in, taking the job on an interim basis. She was officially appointed Talmadge principal in early 2025, according to a CSD news release. 

"My  roots run deep, as I have been here for 20 years now," Resseman said in  the statement that was released. "I deeply appreciate the trust and  faith the community has placed in me, and I am honored to lead with such a dedicated team of students, educators, and families." 

Ball, a parent leader, sees a possible silver lining to the recent disruption. “I am hopeful that with several contacts occurring now that the school board may be realizing this is a bigger problem than they were aware of,” she said.

Nathan Muti, who heads the teachers’ union at the district, said administrator vacancies and changes has surfaced significantly and "having a plan now seems prudent."

A cross-section of parents, along with a few teachers, suggests that four administrative-staff practice areas may have contributed to the current situation at Central School District.

Hiring practices. It isn’t clear how interviews are conducted, according to Harriman. The panel that assesses the candidates excludes teachers, Harriman stressed "The (teachers) are needed to help with reviewing candidates and being included on the interview panels," she said.

“Why wasn't there an official competitive recruitment carried out for the current principal at CHS,” Harriman asked. “He (Dale Pedersen) was hired as an interim, with an abridged interview process,” she said. The new principal of Talmadge was announced the same way – an appointment after serving on an interim basis.  

The need for periodic reliance of administrators on consultants to meet the needs of the district was a concern expressed by Harriman and other parents.

Though it's understandable that there are occasions in which outside expertise is sought, "I would hope that when the (top administrators) are hired, they wouldn't need much help" in doing their duties as leaders and experts in their field, Harriman said.  

Retention practices. Donna Servignat, a former Central High School principal, accepted a district-level position. But four months later, the new position came with a 16% pay cut. “As a single wage earner with a child entering college, I was unable to accept that very unanticipated pay reduction,” she said. 

Some parents identified Servignat as the best Central High principal in recent history. “It was a heartbreaking decision to leave a school and district where I had worked so hard to build relationships and trust,” Servignat said. “But ultimately I had to do what was best for my family financially.”

Follow-up on the management flux hasn't occurred, according to  several former teachers. For example, a former CSD supervisor who was contacted about leaving a  district-level job confirmed that there was no opportunity for an exit interview, even though one was requested by that individual. 

A look at administrative staffing two years ago by Education Week showed that retention of good administrators is key for teacher reinforcement. “Without robust administrative support, teachers had to interrupt instruction to handle these (behavior and other problems) on their own,” according to the report.

HR practices. Criticism of human resource approaches at CSD 13J has included the charge that the HR director is supervising the principals of the school district. This, in the view of some, constitutes a conflict of interest because there is fear that seeking help for problems and challenges could influence periodic performance evaluations.  

But throwing down the gauntlet on outside consultants or HR methods is unlikely to succeed, according to one of those familiar with the superintendent and her cabinet. Keeping the lines of communication open is best – keep talking, continue conversing, they said.

That’s the method recommended by Baruti Kafele, an educator who hosts the popular podcast, “Principal Matters,” which is aimed at school administrators. He advises focusing on goals. Frustration over issues occurs, but acting on it in drastic ways can be counterproductive, he confirmed in a follow-up inquiry about making that comment during a broadcast. 

Remember that “you are there to get the job done,” he said. And, when tensions surface, seek to keep them compartmentalized, to help keep negativity from seeping into an overall attitude, which can then invade aspects of personal life, too. 

Support practices. The importance of networking cannot be overstated, according to Maggie Howard, director of College, Career, and Military Readiness and career technical education at Elgin Independent School District in Texas. 

Howard has appeared on videos and educational channels to share the philosophy that being “able to sit in a room with leaders who are doing the same work as you, experience the same struggles as you” is essential. “They're living it too, and can pour into you good things that ultimately make you a better leader.”

Having a strong and supportive team of colleagues at work is necessary for the success of your organization, she said. Being able to create a group with others in similar circumstances is very helpful “when you are the only administrator in your building or in your district who is doing the specific work that you do.” 

“The start of this could be as simple as sending out an invitation to neighboring districts for a time of collaboration and resource sharing on a particular topic for one specific group of leaders," she said. In this way, a rotation of hosting can begin, leading to a group that provides a sense of ownership and belonging. ▪

By Anne Scheck

Trammart News Service, February 21, 2025 

EDITORIAL 

Announcement: New rules recently adopted by a majority of the Independence City Council, which ban “grandstanding” in council meetings and appear to place limits on certain expressions of opinion, have been found likely violations of some constitutional rights – if used as a way to silence or censure resident or council member testimony. As a result, Trammart News has established a fund for those who may be affected by this restriction and wish to challenge it. 

A fund for upholding First Amendment rights and protection from government censure of expression of opinion has been set up by Trammart News & Publishing after several legal opinions advised that parts of recent conduct rules passed by the Independence City Council are unconstitutional. 

A sum of $15,000 has been set up as a fund that may be accessed for attorney consultation, initially for up to 10% of the fund value ($1,500.) Receipt of consultation expenses will be required for reimbursement. 

Should the consultation indicate that the complaint is likely to prevail in an allegation of abridgement of the First Amendment in challenging the city council conduct rules, an allocation beyond the original limit of 10% will be strongly considered, in order to help defray litigation costs. 

The fund has been set up in honor of the late Edwin A. Scheck, a military veteran who supported freedom of speech and who encouraged the establishment of Trammart News as a journalism outlet. (The publication was originally begun in 2016 as a neighborhood newsletter.) – Anne Scheck ▪

By Anne Scheck

Trammart News Service, February 21, 2025 

Some residents have said they are afraid to testify at city council meetings because they fear online backlash in the form of postings by viewers and, in some cases, by city councilors. Some call such reactions a "dog pile" of negative commentary; others refer to it as "getting clobbered" online. However, to Trammart News, which researched the issue two years ago, they're "snark attacks."  A revisit of an editorial about them seemed appropriate as city budget time begins.  

Whether you are rich, poor, young, old, occupy a high-level profession or clean closets for a living, I can guarantee you that a snark attack starts the very same way for anyone on the receiving end of one. It may be the common equalizer of our time.

You see words, the words are about you, they say hurtful things and they are posted for others to see, too. I know whereof I speak, since snark attacks are part of my life, and something to which I unfailingly respond, “thank you for the comment.” 

After all, cyberbullying, as it is called, is part of that great and glorious right we all enjoy, freedom of speech. And in my work, I seem to invite it. So, I try to never show anything but appreciation for these online outbursts or internet posts about coverage I’ve provided. But the swirl of controversy about micro-shelters in Monmouth has caused me to rethink that unyielding viewpoint. 

A resident with thoughts on the matter doesn’t have the rhino skin of a reporter. So, when I heard from a snark-attacked member of the community, sympathy was my only reaction. 

“I have been kicked out of this chat room,” came a voice on the phone. Why the boot? Simple. It was a difference of opinion on the homeless issue – a difference that several others, allegedly including at least one elected official, saw as a cause for verbal action. 

I wasn’t surprised. I’ve been hearing complaints for the past couple of years that vitriol is regularly delivered via the internet. It’s now so prevalent – even by public figures – that many forums and Facebook groups have rules against it. Unfortunately, as a public records request of the city I cover shows, there’s no policy or guide for online behavior by city councilors or commissioners. 

So, I told this caller I wasn’t sure how I could help, but I’d look into it, which is pretty much what I say to anyone who contacts me.

Once I established that there isn’t a recommended social media code of conduct down at city hall for public officeholders, I decided to simply be the nerd I am. So, I researched this topic with the fervor of a duck on a June bug. 

For any of you who are like this resident, who was involuntarily removed from a chat room for expressing an opinion contrary to the group, I’ve turned up a few science-based observations on cyberbullying. They’re straight from OHSU’s biomedical library which, on the day I recently visited, was chock full of helpful staff and database tools. In fact, if you would like some references, I now have $15 worth of copies from publications ranging from the surprisingly readable “Psychological Bulletin” to a journal with a lot more jargon, “Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology.” 

Here are several reasons for snark attacks, and they apply to people you might think wouldn’t engage in such tactics but do. Bear in mind these are so boiled-down that I expect many scholars would take umbrage at the way my 1-4 statements have been framed. 

Covid made us meaner. To be fair, the pandemic affected some of us a whole lot more that way than others. Experts don’t know why. But the loss of civility is rampant. Some say the coronavirus accelerated this trend and didn’t create it. This much is known: it can be far worse online, where de-escalation is not at all the norm and avatar names may be used. One researcher found that snarky tweets directed at state leaders went way up, showing that now “people evaluate government’s performance through actions other than voting.” You may think we don’t need a study to prove that, but now there is one. 

Adults can be as bad as kids. Intuitively, you know this, right? The reason we don’t have anti-bullying programs for grown-ups is because few middle-aged cyberbullies see it as a problem. They really don’t. Instead, they tend to see it as a visible means for demonstrating their righteous indignation. “Ordinary people can, under the right circumstances, behave like trolls,” confirmed one article, a rather unsurprising conclusion.

Echo chambers create know-it-alls. Got a cause you want to rally around? Whether you are saving the tuna fish or fighting for more study on the boson particle, you are very likely to be surrounded by a group of people who agree with you, egg you on, and deny that snarky remarks are anything but justifiably impassioned declarations. This really is not the path upon which critical thinking skills are prone to kick in. Authorities say this can lead to “deficits in processing information” that could then lead to even more emotion-packed responses – an online vicious circle. 

The hurt that is caused is unseen -- but it has consequences. These are called “negative outcomes” in the scientific literature, and one of them is “online disinhibition.” This basically means that, without seeing the damage that is done, the social media behavior is likely to continue. There is less “cognitive empathy,” which in plain English means low levels of a very endearing human emotion known as compassion. 

For anyone who thinks fighting the I-5 traffic and searching like a prowling tiger for a parking space at the top of OHSU’s medical campus is a small price to pay for getting some answers for a snark-attack victim, you are correct! But, as it turns out, the individual who prompted my journey to the medical library didn’t really need this from me. 

In one of the nicest surprises of recent small-town life, I actually met him, face-to-face, at none other than a city council meeting. He’d decided to do the hard thing, show up and tell the city councilors about his own online snark-bite injury. Unfortunately, after his testimony, he left too soon for me to be able to share with him another lesson I learned during my dive into the etiology of snark attacks. 

It sounds so basic, but there are protections, and they are the stuff of a full life. A loving family, good friends, and other personal bonds; These provide a bulwark when bad things happen to good people online. And keep in mind that adults who launch these snark attacks may be lacking these fundamentals, with perhaps chat groups as their outlet. 

So, there you have it. A man who once seemed so wounded on a phone call to me several weeks ago took his complaint directly to a city council. And even though I know him hardly at all, I saw his courage. He stepped to a public microphone, spoke in a heartfelt way and, when he faltered a bit, I saw his wife rise and reach out to him. 

Every so often an everyday hero who inhabits our locality comes forward, just like this man did – seemingly uncomfortable giving testimony but using the public podium anyway, to address those on the dais. Afterward, people like this resident often say to me, in the foyer outside the council chambers, that they don’t know if their words did any good. Who am I to tell them that they did? I lack a crystal ball. 

But for anyone who is badly snark-bitten, let me fearlessly predict that indeed you can make a difference, by taking on cyberbullies with certainty and self-belief. ▪

By Anne Scheck

Trammart News Service, February 14, 2025 

Evan Sorce, who has served on the Independence Planning Commission (photo at right) and is a former chief of staff for Rep. Paul Evans, was selected to fill the vacant seat on the Independence City Council this past Tuesday night, becoming the town’s newest city councilor.

However, his appointment raised questions about the process – by some who tried to view the meeting remotely – that remain unanswered along with other inquiries.

Though two candidates were selected as finalists to be interviewed by the city councilors, only one – Sorce – was able to be heard by outside viewers at the special meeting. The other, Bradley Karkanen, answered the same series of questions that councilors presented to Sorce, but Karkanen comments were inaudible. 

No explanation appears to have been given for this transmission difference on either the city’s website or Facebook page, but the video seems to show a scramble to deal with a “red light” before Sorce began answering questions from the council.

Trammart News approached the city’s communication director, Emmanuel Goicochea, at the meeting to ask if he was going to answer an email about the process; He had been sent an email inquiry early Monday.

“I haven’t seen it,” Goicochea said. Pressed by Trammart News to reply to the email, he said: “I will take a look.” The same email was then re-sent, followed by a voice mail as a reminder, but no response has been received from Goicochea.

After a special session by the city council, Sorce was chosen over Karkanen, an IT specialist who joined the library board last summer. Sorce had run unsuccessfully for the city council last year, for the position held by Councilor Dawn Roden. 

Mayor Kate Schwarzler explained that “we got a total of six applications” and each councilor voted for two; the two who garnered the most votes were invited to the council meeting as finalists. 

However, a public records request by Trammart News shows there actually were seven applicants, not six as indicated by Schwarzler. 

The five others, obtained through a public records request, were Marc Miller, Jesus Orozco, Vidal Pena, Dale Russell and Dana Sharman. Two had previous experience in elected offices and one had sought a council position by campaigning in the last election – none of those three were selected as a finalist.  

City Councilor Shannon Corr said she was looking for “significant experience” and a “demonstrated desire to serve the community” in making her top choices. 

Roden voted no on the ballot that affirmed Sorce as the new council member. 

“I think it is a real shame that Vidal Pena was not selected,” said Roden, who noted she favored adding diversity to the council and Pena had a long record of community service. She also singled out Marc Miller, who has a resume showing both elective and Oregon statehouse experience. 

Trammart News did not receive a reply form Goicochea about an inquiry regarding how the final city council-candidate process was carried out.

Many believe the first serious issue facing the new city council will be establishing the 25-26 city budget. This week another inquiry was sent by Trammart News to ask why no 2024 municipal audit has been filed for Independence, in light of the city’s budget-calendar adoption Tuesday night. 

Both the cities of Dallas and Monmouth have a municipal audit for the past year on file with the Oregon Secretary of State, as is expected by the end of 2024. Independence hasn’t met that deadline.

Trammart News sent an inquiry to the secretary of state's office and was advised that Independence had requested an extension until the end of February. ▪

By Anne Scheck

Trammart News Service, February 14, 2025 

Will Central High School get a special Valentine gift this year? It’s a first-of-its-kind class on Latino studies.

If it achieves the hoped-for enrollment this month – the number of enrollees remains to be determined – the semester course will be offered in the fall, providing an entirely new educational elective in social studies that counts toward graduation.  

Central’s Victor Ochoa, the teacher who led the effort to create it, was born and raised in Independence – he’s a graduate of Central High School. In fact, he’s from one of the oldest Mexican American families in the area. They settled in the town in the 1960s. 

After becoming the newest faculty member to join the Panthers this past August, Ochoa quickly began to plan for a Latino Studies course. 

Virginia Antunez, assistant principal at CHS, said there is palpable excitement at the school at the prospect of seeing this course “come to life.” 

“We are thankful to have al maestro Victor Ochoa collaborate with others on the curriculum and bring his love and passion into this course,” she said. 

In a regrettable and ironic twist, it was as a teen at Central High School that he encountered an incident that, in part, spurred him toward his goal. “I was given feedback from a teacher of mine saying that a paper (I wrote) should be reviewed by someone whose first language is English,” he recalled. “I came from a multigenerational and bilingual immigrant household and I had, at the time, passed several advanced English classes.”

Though he credits his love for history – and his community – for propelling him toward achievement, “the scars left by this interaction became part of the kindling that has fueled my passions as an educator,” he explained. 

After obtaining an undergraduate degree from Western Oregon University, he received a master’s degree from the University of Oregon in history. His work became part of the basis for a research article that appeared in the Oregon Journal of the Social Studies three years ago, called "Para Les Niñes Olvidados" or "For the Forgotten Children."

The historian who worked with Ochoa foresees great things ahead, thanks to his drive, his professional commitment and his background. “Victor Ochoa brings his important research on the strength and vibrant culture of Independence, Oregon's Latine community,” said Kim Jensen, professor of history at WOU. Jensen predicts “his Latine history course will enrich Central High School students and our entire community.” (Jensen’s term “Latine” is a reference often utilized in academia; Ochoa uses “Latino.”) 

Part of Ochoa’s research focuses on the impact of a "dual-identity" of Latinos living in the United States.

He’s a living example. He continues to love pozole, for instance – but it’s been a difficult dish to duplicate because, from the perspective of his childhood, it represents far more than soup. 

“During the wintertime, when I was a child, my grandfather would pull out the largest pot we had on the stove,” he said. “My grandfather, my sister, and I would go out to the store together to buy the chicken, hominy, onion, and the rest of the ingredients.”

Once his grandfather had the pot and its contents at a rolling boil, “the entire house was entrenched in a sweet aroma of Mexican oregano and a rich broth,” Ochoa recalled. 

But the stew’s scent was only part of it. “Aside from the flavor making it my favorite dish, the main reason is it reminds me of my maternal grandfather and my father,” he said. 

“When it was time for dinner, my family would gather around and devour this warm and comforting dish,” he said, noting that love often seemed to be the most prominent ingredient.  

Ochoa has chronicled the Mexican roots of Independence, and how Mexican American migrants from Texas, called Tejanos, and Mexican nationals, created a home for generations. 

To highlight their troubled history, he collected information from oral histories and photos of Latinos in the United States and Oregon. He also was able to obtain additional information from Latino Studies programming at other school districts and colleges and universities throughout the country.

One essential goal: To create a class where his students can be seen, heard, and feel a sense of belonging. The Latino culture helped build the community in which his students now live, he stressed. 

Between the 1950s and 1960s, several Tejano families from Texas' Lower Rio Grande Valley migrated northward to Oregon in search of economic opportunities and refuge from Texas' historic animosity towards the people of Mexican descent. Over the latter half of the 1900s, Tejanos, and later Mexican nationals, would come together to build one of the oldest Mexican communities in Oregon.

The course will also address cultures of Central Americans and others in Latin America because Latino history is often Mexican-centric, but as a group, Latinos are “a colorful diaspora," Ochoa noted. 

The Latino Studies course will be divided into four modules that will demonstrate significant shifts in migratory patterns to political and cultural movements. Beginning highlights include the pre-Columbian indigenous civilizations, the influence of the Maya, Aztec, and Inca people, and their experiences with Spanish colonization. Additionally, the course will cover how this colonization affected Oregon. 

For example, the Spanish explorer, Bruno de Heceta, mapped the Southern Oregon coast – and is the reason for the namesake of the Heceta Head Lighthouse in Florence, he pointed out. 

Other modules will focus on the Mexican American War in the 1840s and its effects on the Mexican people and World War II and its aftermath in empowering Mexican Americans to exercise their sense of citizenship.  

Speaking for the CHS administration, Assistant Principal Antunez stated: “We believe this course will help foster a sense of belonging in our community and inspire others to continue learning about their history.”

In describing Latino Studies, Ochoa emphasized that it is not just a course to teach about Latino history but also to support students in celebrating their “joyful existence” as Latinos.

                      ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

SIDEBAR on the MODULES of CHS Latino Studies Course

MODULE 1. Ochoa wants to demonstrate how Oregon was a part of a globalized colonization effort by the Spanish, a story that’s not quite in the public history mainstream. One topic will be how Spanish expeditions mapped the Southern Oregon Coast. 

MODULE 2. This module focuses on the Mexican American War in the 1840s and the effects it had on the racialization of the Mexican people that would later serve as a blueprint for racial animosities to other Latinos. The war also created a violent and hostile environment for Tejanos, who would soon migrate to Oregon after World War II with anti-Mexican racism being a significant, influential factor.

MODULE 3.  This section examines World War II and its aftermath in empowering Mexican Americans to exercise their sense of citizenship to construct community and life of their own. This era brought Mexican Americans into the armed service and Mexican nationals under the Bracero program; a wartime labor agreement between the U.S. and Mexico. 

In speaking of braceros, Ochoa plans to demonstrate how Oregon benefited from this program and why Mexican, and later Latino, laborers became the preferred farmhands for Oregon growers; It was a period in which there was a shift in a perception of Mexicans and Latinos, away from being considered “stoop labor.” 

This module also will provide a chance for Ochoa to educate students on the rich Mexican history of Independence, a history that is largely unknown to the general public. Between the 1950s and 1960s, several Tejano families from Texas' Lower Rio Grande Valley migrated northward to Oregon in search of economic opportunities and refuge from Texas' historic animosity towards the people of Mexican descent. 

Over the latter half of the 1900s, Tejanos, and later Mexican nationals, would come together to build one of the oldest Mexican communities in Oregon. 

MODULE 4. In this module, Ochoa turns the spotlight to Central Americans and others in Latin America. Because some Latino history is often Mexican-centric, the Central American stories of American interventions and growing immigration are designed to bring the course into a modern light. ▪