Public hearings and work session on preserving County Fairgrounds & Event Center draws huge crowd

By Anne Scheck

Trammart News Service, February 13, 2026   

More than 300 people showed up at public events this week on the fate of a question over levy funding for the Polk County Fairgrounds. But only one consensus seemed to emerge: Throw out the old playbook and write a completely new one. 

What's needed is a much stronger game plan for a campaign to pass the levy, including a dollar-and-cents guide to the specific money needed, where it will be used and why, according to many attendees. A similar levy went down to a thumping defeat in 2025 and was referenced by several who were at the Saturday work session which was held at the fairgrounds. 

"Like everyone here, I am worried about the fairgrounds," said State Rep. Anna Scharf, whose district includes Dallas and Falls City, when she was queried by Trammart News Saturday. Inquiries to others indicated widespread support for putting a levy on the ballot to fund the facility, which is having annual shortfalls of around $300,000. 

The fairgrounds and event center is threatened with closure this year under the current financial squeeze. But more clarity and better public education is needed, according to many of those in attendance. Better strategy was a rallying cry by several. 

"We'll have a much more robust campaign," asserted County Commissioner Craig Pope in his address to the crowd on Saturday. 

Improved communication also was a common thread in citizen testimony at the county hearings on Wednesday, including from both candidates vying for the county commissioner seat that's being vacated by Pope when his term ends this year. 

Be forthright about costs, how the money will be used, and share specifics about the revenue, as well as the timeline, urged candidate Roxanne Beltz, a city councilor in Monmouth, who also advocated for searching for funding possibilities at the federal level. 

Her opponent for the position, John Swanson of Rickreall, chief of staff for State Sen. Bruce Starr – whose district covers much of rural Polk County – sounded a similar note. The move to secure voter approval for a levy should "tether it" to clarity on spending, as well as other potential funding possibilities, he said. 

Both Swanson and Beltz said they favor putting "an ask" on the May ballot to assess if there's support for an operational levy in November. 

The hearings were held in the county commission room both in the morning and in the evening on Wednesdy, and drew an overflow crowd at the latter meeting.

However, opinions were divided on whether to place that question on the May ballot, which asks voters how they would vote for a levy in November, or instead to simply seek approval of the measure, which would add less than $40 annually to an average homeowner tax bill in Polk County. 

One of those who citied possible confusion by voters if the "ask" was put on the May ballot was Tim Ray, chair of the Polk County Fair Board. "I do wonder if a question in May can be confusing to the voters," he said. 

Most of the individuals who spoke publicly praised the outreach so far. Gabby Walton, director of the Monmouth-Independence Chamber of Commerce, was on hand Saturday and at the evening hearing in county commission chambers Wednesday night. Walton (photo), of Independence, called the fairgrounds a place of growth for youth, citing 4H and FFA, as well as a commercial outlet for many, with 700 events ranging from the reptile extravaganza "Reptopia" to the monthly flea market.

The fairgrounds are a critically important center for enterprise, stressed Deb Thomas of Independence, who manages the Polk Flea Market. In her testimony to the county commissioners, she said the market's vendors are a "family" of fairgrounds supporters. “We’ll do everything in our power" to make sure the levy passes, she said, adding that she is in favor of the "survey" question on the May ballot. 

Memories of animal auctions and flower shows were shared among the crowd, including one memory that harked back 20 years ago this year, when 30 trees were planted by 4H and FFA youth – trees that now provide shade for fair-goers and rodeo viewers. The place is one of "simple, traditional pleasures and values" that are irreplaceable, according to one of those in a group session at the Saturday event, which was held in the main hall at the fairgrounds. 

County Commissioner Pope, who spent part of his boyhood on the fairgrounds, called it "our shining city." 

Commissioner Jeremy Gordon stressed that the levy is "a modest amount" for such a vital facility. Commission Chair Lyle Mordhorst issued the reminder that the fairgrounds also served as a disaster relief center that provided food and shelter for families and their animals during the 2020 wildfire devastation. 

The decision as to whether to place the "advisory question" on the May ballot has yet to be decided by the Board of Commissioners. They have a February 25 deadline for making that determination, said County Administrator Greg Hansen. ▪  

By Anne Scheck

Trammart News Service, February 13, 2026   

This past Tuesday, the Independence City Council passed a new $100-per-year business fee, reversed an earlier decision to place a seven-truck limit on the number of food carts downtown and over-ruled a recommendation to have 15-foot setbacks on any city barbed-wire topped fencing that abuts three or more residential yards. Councilor Dawn Roden, who had an excused absence, wasn't at the meeting. 

New $100 Fee on businesses in city is passed by council. 

Independence businesses, including those that are home-based, will be paying $100 annually to the city after a list of them is developed and implemented, according to a resolution that received a unanimous vote by the city council Tuesday night. 

Councilor Roden was absent from the meeting. 

Businesses that have registered with the Oregon Secretary of State are expected to be used as the record for billing the businesses.

The new fee schedule, which also includes increases to other pre-existing fees, was presented by Independence Finance Director Amanda Carey. 

(Trammart News will follow up on this change with interviews from downtown business owners.) 

Number limiting Food Trucks in downtown is removed.

After a presentation by Jennifer McMullen, co-owner of The Tap Station on Main Street, the city council voted in a unanimous decision to reverse an earlier decision that would have allowed only seven food trucks to locate in the downtown area. 

The initial determination was unfair, McMullen (photo) asserted in her testimony. The action seemed to value one small business owner over another– Parallel 45 had been allowed five food trucks. "I would like to remind the council that all businesses in our town are small businesses," she said. 

The council voted to approve a resolution that completely removes the cap on the number of food trucks. 

(Trammart News plans a feature on The Tap Station, which has undergone recent renovation.) 

Barbed wire fencing: Planning Commission is over-ruled.

The barbed wire was installed on a city-owned fence surrounding the south well field of Independence to add an extra layer of protection to city property. 

But residents of the neighborhood, known as the River Oak area, said the barbed wire addition went up without any communication from the city – and for some of the properties, the fence where it was placed was by their back yards.

The matter then went to the planning commission, the governing body that can make recommendations to the city council on zoning issues. 

After a hearing was held, a majority of the planning commissioners recommended mandating a setback for city fencing with barbed wire, which would be 15 feet from the owners' property lines when it impacts three or more residential yards. 

The council voted to adopt a resolution that eliminated the requirement for the setbacks on city fencing. Mayor Kate Schwarzler warned against the "one-off" nature of the provision. 

However, City Councilor Evan Sorce said he was worried about the lack of communication – neighbors had reported returning home from work to find the change, including barbed-wire on fencing and snips of it on their property. "What is the level of communicating this?" Sorce asked.

There was no communication about it, prior to the installation of the barbed wire, confirmed Assistant City Manager Shawn Irvine. 

Sorce pressed for more communication during such city actions in the future. "How do we do this? It makes a difference, too," he said. 

But Councilor Shannon Corr said she believes there isn't enough staff time to carry out such communication. In the wake of Corr's comment, Trammart News was contacted by a resident with an inquiry about why the full-time communications director couldn't accomplish that task. 

Asked for a response, Planning Commissioner Rebecca Jay noted that the planning commission worked carefully to find what a majority felt was the right means to address both the city's needs and those of the residents. "I did feel, well, what is the point of having a planning commission if they (the council) aren’t going to listen to us," Jay said. 

"This is very disappointing," observed Peggy Clyne, one of the residents who was affected by the barbed-wire addition. She attended Tuesday's meeting. 

(Trammart News will follow up with an inquiry into the duties of the communication director, the approach used by other cities and the reactions of River Oak neighbors.) ▪  

By Anne Scheck

Trammart News Service, February 13, 2026   

Nearly a decade ago, a crowd of more than 150 gathered on the Independence Sports Park field to celebrate its addition to the city as "a great community asset," in the words of then Mayor John McArdle. Today, that same property is being sold.

The probable buyer, Capital Futbol Club, is a nonprofit youth soccer club with a 37-acre facility in east Salem. The proposed deal is still in the "purchasing process" and likely to take months to finalize, said Collin Box, executive director of CFC. 

Still to be determined is the "partitioning" of the land there. But under the current negotiations, the walking path, wetland area and boat ramp are being exempted from the sale. 

Under CFC ownership, the fields won't be restricted to soccer, Box pointed out. They can be used for multiple sports, ranging from soccer to flag football to Ultimate Frisbee. 

The sale was announced at a recent town hall meeting, held by Independence Mayor Kate Schwarzler. However, there's a lot more to be worked out and "nothing is final at this point," Box said. 

Under terms of the tentative sale, the sports park field would no longer be deemed public but Box said he is optimistic about its service to the community. CFC serves approximately 7,000 youth. About 1,000 of them reside in Polk County; Half of those are from West Salem. 

So, it makes sense to have a venue with playing fields for what's becoming a fast-growing segment of players in the county, Box said. 

The goal isn't to create an exclusive field but, instead, to extend the park's resources as an inviting place for the area, according to JoAnna Fields, CFC's marketing director. 

Liability limits for insurance purposes could mean curbing the kind of free-ranging use of the park that's currently seen at the site, from cross-field jogging by local runners to games of kickball by kids. But there are plans to partner with the YMCA and other youth groups to forge a mutual "local benefit," Box said.

Central School District, for example, is seeking an opportunity to be part of the future arrangement, according to one of those privy to the planned CFC change-over. 

The asking price for the land is $300,000 but it remains unknown how the acquisition is being structured. 

CFC has announced that it is continually looking for community partners within this project. If a local business or community member would like to be involved, CFC is encouraging that they reach out to the team at office@cfcsalem.com or by calling 503-673-6708. ▪  

By Anne Scheck

Trammart News Service, February 6, 2026   

A $100 annual fee on businesses, including those that are home-based, got the green light at a recent city council work session. Now details need to be worked out before the new program can be finalized. 

The new charges, which tentatively are to be based on business registrations with the Oregon Secretary of State, will hardly cover the cost of implementing the proposed fee schedule – a typical accountant for the city is paid about $65 an hour, including benefits, noted Amanda Carey, the city’s finance director. 

“If this barely covers the (hourly) rate, why take this on?” asked City Councilor Dawn Roden. 

The reasons range from keeping track of city businesses, such as their locations and variety of operations, to setting up a system for new revenue collection, Carey said (photo). 

The complicating factor appears to be how to categorize home-based businesses.

It’s not likely to be a system that includes hand-crafted items created for a farmer’s market but would probably encompass those listed in the Oregon database, ranging from S Corporations to LLCs, Carey said. She cited the example of a building contractor who has no office outside the home, but whose address is on file with the state for business purposes. 

More than 90% of Oregon’s commercial enterprises are small businesses, according to a 2025 report of the U.S. Small Business Administration. However, statistics on home-based businesses are hard to pin down – so many are “under the radar” as one reference describes it, from the jewelry maker who sells necklaces and bracelets at flea markets to the baker who specializes in creating one-of-a-kind birthday cakes. 

Oregon has regulations for some home-based businesses: massage therapists and childcare providers, for example. But for those who work out of their homes for a company located elsewhere, the picture appears far less clear. 

When the National Bureau of Economic Research surveyed and examined 150,000 firms to “sharpen” the view of work-from-home enterprises, researchers found “massive variation in its extent across employees, businesses and sectors.” 

A national survey released in 2022 by the Institute for Justice indicates home businesses shot up in the post-covid years. The survey, which was conducted among nearly 2,000 home-based business owners, shows a substantial segment sprang up in response to the pandemic. One in three home-based operations were begun after pandemic-related job losses and one in four were started following pandemic-related business closures, according to the survey results.

Independence’s new business fee schedule, including the plan to carry it out, is scheculed to come before the city council this Tuesday. ▪  (The original posted article did not have a firm date of city council proposed adoption.)

By Anne Scheck

Trammart News Service, February 6, 2026   

EDITORIAL

I can pinpoint the very moment that a discouraging cloud enshrouded me, sending me into a shock wave. It was after the mayor’s town hall last week, when I asked someone in Parallel 45 where the event was held, what they thought of it. “Oh, I didn’t go,” this patron said. “What’s the point?” 

I then was told that the city doesn’t give an owl’s hoot about what its residents have to say, so it would have been a waste of time. I countered that the town hall was a good opportunity for questions. Silence ensued.

But the comment echoed a view I’d heard weeks before. 

At the risk of sounding like I spend too much time in taverns, a similar observation had been made to me in a different bar, as I pondered why public participation in city meetings seems to be on the wane. But before any of you in this riverside city tell me one more time that it’s because a tight-knit group of yay-sayers pay no attention to the public, let me caution you against pushing the boycott button. Stay involved and visible. 

Despite a media policy to answer reporter inquiries, City Manager Kenna West  has banned that procedure from being carried out for Trammart News, according to certain city staff members. Because the news outlet needs to show such requests were made, articles repeatedly have stated that a city view was sought but not answered. The only time this news outlet has gotten any semblance of an answer is a referral to the city website.

That situation seems to have had a negative effect on the desire for civic  participation among some residents, who have told Trammart News about  their reluctance.   

You residents do make a big difference. You just don’t know it. You are the reason I sit in a chair in city hall, take out a notepad, scramble to chronicle city actions during a meeting, and leave for home with a lift in spirits. 

So, you can stop feeling any pity for me, if you do, that the city manager has yelled at me; that the city communications director made a grab to stop me from querying the former finance director in council chambers; that sharp-tongued comments have been directed at me. 

I know all too well that if dirty looks were the same as blow darts, I’d be dead. 

Have  you ever heard of FIRE? They're the Foundation for Individual Rights  and Expression and they're legal-eagle do-gooders for the First Amendment. One of their credos is that people like me should expose possible  harmful lapses for the public "because" it means you are standing up not only for your own rights, but also for the rights of others."

The local news outlet, Trammart News, is fueled by endorphins that come from providing information to the citizenry. When the public disengages, these good-feeling chemicals start to dip, and the TN engine falters. 

Here’s a recent example, which had its start several years ago, when I questioned whether buying a whole new building for the museum was financially feasible. I’d been following the money, so to speak, and I didn’t see how it could be done. Nobody at the city seemed interested in this matter, and I began to feel the TN ignition stall. 

In fact, I received a howl of protest on the sidewalk one day from museum advocate Vickie McCubbin, long-time chair of the Heritage Museum Advisory Board. But then a budget committee member gave me an “atta-gal.”

So, I got into gear again. 

Now, a few years later, here was McCubbin – at the recent work-session meeting, front and center, explaining her support for a nearly $20 addition to the water bill to sustain the museum … as well as the parks and library. 

You can imagine why I might want to get some feedback, given the route this has taken. Plus, I’d had another booming sidewalk encounter with her since then, which I referenced as I approached her in council chambers.

I told her that I thought all of this might merit an editorial.  

"You can do whatever the hell you want,” came the loud-voiced reply. Later, I tried to follow up but was told by McCubbin in an email that “conversing with you in person or via email is only upsetting and I do not wish to have contact with you.” So, I’ve complied, even though it’s baked-in for me to try to get the perspective from the other side. 

And I can certainly understand why McCubbin doesn’t like me. The gumshoe fits. The mayor and a couple of city councilors seem to regard me as that pest-like, pesky person asking unwelcome questions. And yes, that’s who I am. In fact, at one point, McCubbin strongly implied local media has no place in this riverside city. 

But all this really hasn’t had much impact. Here’s why: I don’t carry on reporting because of city officials or their appointees. I do so because I think a peel-back on issues often is sorely needed. And for reasons I cannot fully explain, I think it increases my serotonin levels, helping me have a happy life. The uplift comes from you.

So, you and your fellow Indies of Indy, would you please stay publicly engaged? Please don’t give up. That's the gist of this editorial.

And please be aware that I'm not immune to frustrated feelings myself. I gave an internal eyeroll when one of those presenting at the work session – on fees – said that former spending was “a different era.” 

I couldn’t disagree more. Two of the current city councilors were there when the council was warned nine years ago about the growing debt. The way taxes are spent is a very big thing to me  – I was trained that tracking them down, dollar for dollar, is an all-important task in reporting on municipalities. Now generally, the city won't answer any questions from Trammart News other than legally-required responses to formal public records requests.

Back when the debt was identified as a future concern, I was seen as a varmint, too. I reported on the auditor who issued that advisory. It’s now déjà vu. 

I believe the wise saying of the great Spanish philosopher George Santayana: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” It is so true. I am pretty sure President Harry Truman said it, too. 

He also was from a town called Independence. And he always said he felt motivated by a deep-seated need to provide service for American benefit. Historians have attributed it to the fact, at least in part, of his origins in Missouri. I was born there, as well – in the same show-me state he was, which is known for its wide variety of mules. ▪  

By Lance Masterson

for Trammart News Service, February 6, 2026   

Vienna Diehm wanted a new challenge. So she said goodbye to gymnastics and swimming and hello to wrestling.

Three seasons into Panther Kids Wrestling, Diehm hasn’t looked back.

“My brother started wrestling first, and I thought it was really fun and it looked really easy,” she said. “When practicing, they did cartwheels, skipped, raised their hands, and the stretches were easy.”

Curiosity soon became commitment. She quickly learned wrestling teaches more than just moves on the mat.

“You learn sportsmanship, and that not everything is going to go the way you want it to go,” she said.

Diehm has proven to be a quick study. She is a two-time state runner-up.

Teammate Isaac Vidal keeps coming back for more. Now in his sixth year with PKW, he’s the club’s most experienced wrestler. His three younger brothers also wrestle.

“It was about how much I was pushed and how much I felt like winning,” he said of his love for the sport. “It gives me courage to keep going.”

That drive has taken Vidal to four state meets.

“It was ginormous - the biggest place I’ve ever wrestled,” he said.

Nerves weren’t an issue ... ginormous venue aside.

“I was more focused on who I was wrestling.”

The multi-sport athlete also plays soccer and baseball. But wrestling is his priority at this time.

Jessica Vidal, Isaac's mom, has seen the sport shape four children.

“They learn confidence, respect, how to represent themselves and control emotions,” she said.

She remembers Isaac’s first state meet, when he had the wind knocked out of him.

“It terrified me,” she admitted. “Helping him understand his feelings is part of wrestling, too.”

There’s more to wrestling than pins and takedowns. There’s resilience, awareness and how to handle adversity. Head coach Vidal Pena lived these lessons firsthand.

Born with a physical disability that limited opportunities in team sports, Pena found wrestling valued effort and determination more than circumstances.

“I was told I wouldn’t be any good,” he said of team sports. But when I started wrestling, “there weren’t many people with two arms who could beat me.”

One of Central’s more decorated wrestlers, Pena was a three-time district champion, state-placer and Team Oregon representative. He’s coached for 26 years.

He joined the PKW staff in 2014 after dropping off his son for practice.

“There were four or five kids and two older guys with no shoes on trying to get things going,” Pena recalled. “They saw me and said, ‘Hey, great, you’re here,’ and handed me a whistle.”

Two years later he became coach. The club has since grown from about a dozen wrestlers to 54, including seven girls ages 7 to 12.

“The girls program is really growing,” he said of a trend mirrored nationally.

PKW now has 13 coaches, allowing for small-group instruction and greater focus on skill-development. Parent involvement has also increased, with many staying to watch practice and support program expectations.

PKW began in 2007. Former Central coach, the Van Holstad, formed it as a youth pipeline. As Talmadge Middle School didn't have its own program.

Funding comes largely from community support. The club’s home tournament draws up to 1,000 participants and serves as PKW’s biggest fundraiser. Community donations are also accepted.

A scholarship program ensures access for families in economic need.

“I tell kids anybody can wrestle,” Pena said. “If you learn self-discipline and sportsmanship now, the rest of life is easier.”

PKW is part of the Oregon Wrestling Association, the organization that sanctions and books tournaments statewide, Pena said.

“If a tournament isn’t sanctioned, we don’t go because our insurance won’t cover us,” he said. “Every kid has secondary insurance for sanctioned events.”

Competition is stiff. Some 280 teams from throughout the state wrestled at a recent tournament, Pena said.

The toughest tournament of the year is probably the Oregon Classic. Only the top three wrestlers from each of the state’s five regional qualifiers advance to this prestigious event.

As the season came to a close, Coach Pena reflected on the team-building that was a big part of the competitions. 

Before  every tournament, we get together and do a chant that explains a wrestler, Pena said. 

It goes: "I am the offense, I am the defense, I  don't take a time-out, I don't sit on the bench. It's all on me. And I  will win. Because I am a champion. And I am a wrestler! Panthers in 3.  1-2-3 PANTHERS!"   

There  were a few wrestlers that lost only a couple of matches this season and are likely to earn a high place at state, Pena observed. But, there also are relative beginners who eventually catch fire, he pointed out.  "I have  one wrestler that didn't win for a month straight and then something  just clicked," he said.  "A switch was turned on." Then he started  winning fairly regularly. 

Matches are won by pinning or outscoring an opponent. A pin occurs when both shoulder blades of an opponent are touching the mat.

Points, which vary, are given for takedowns, reversals, near falls and escapes. Points can also be subtracted for such infractions as stalling.

Team points are awarded for a pin, forfeit, injury or disqualification, technical fall, major decision and decision.

The PKW wrestling season is from October through the first of February.

PKW is on Facebook and online at www.pantherkidswrestling.com for more information. ▪  

(Disclosure: Trammart News is a PKW donor.)

By Anne Scheck

Trammart News Service, January 30, 2026   

A recommended increase to residents’ water bills of nearly $20 to fund the library, museum, and parks for the coming fiscal year was sent to the city’s budget committee for consideration Tuesday night, after the Independence City Council concluded that no new levy for the desired revenue would be undertaken at this time. 

The decision follows voter rejection, by a 3-2 margin, of the initial levy attempt a little over 

a year ago.  

Two city councilors expressed worry at the prospect of adding a new fee to the water bill. 

The proposed action was presented by the Community Services and Parks Sustainability Committee, known as the CSPS committee, which was formed in recent months to address financial challenges ahead for the museum, library, and parks. 

The additional fee of $19.65, became a source of discussion among the councilors during a work session – a work session that prohibited public testimony, inciting criticism from former City Manager David Clyne.

An email outlining his ideas to meet future needs of these amenities wasn't forwarded to either the CSPS committee or the city council, Clyne stated, observing that, during his tenure as city manager, a decade of year-by-year planning helped to predict and avoid financial pitfalls. "Such forecasting allowed us to project forward to achieve sustainability without the harried approach being utilized today," he said. 

At the meeting, the chair of the CSPS committee, Erin Seiler, said she would be a definite "yes" vote for the added utility billing. She pointed out that this source of revenue protects amenities sorely needed by families in the city. 

Seiler also is a member of the city’s budget committee. 

Noting that his own engagement with residents led him to believe “the community is divided on this issue,” Councilor Bill Boisvert voiced doubt. “How much of the community was part of this process?” he asked. 

Seiler said the CSPS committee had relied on the expertise of city staff for information, but that there would be opportunity for public testimony from residents after the recommendation progressed to the budget committee.

CSPS committee members, who were appointed by Mayor Kate Schwarzler, were drawn largely from those serving on the boards of the museum and library, according to meeting minutes. 

Boisvert added that when “I pay my water bill, I want it to pay for water.” 

Councilor Dawn Roden agreed – saying she was against asking residents to pay for such a large increase when the city has a history of add-on expenses to taxpayers without their consent; She cited the $10 million-plus loan for the Independence Civic Center and the establishment of MINET, the city’s co-owned municipal fiber-optic company.

MINET still owes about $4 million in promissory notes to Independence, which reflects money Independence paid to help the company meet its bond obligations, according to the most recent city audit. 

MINET is considered by many residents, as indicated in past surveys by the company, to be an optimal internet service. However, it has nonetheless been a sticking point for some – by creating a burden on the water bill for residents in the same way the new fee allegedly will do, according to Roden. 

Several years ago, $10 was added to the water bill to help collect money needed for MINET. That $10 never dropped off from the billing – and it became an issue to a former city councilor, Ken Day, who had pushed for finding ways to reduce the water bill once MINET stabilized. Day, who passed away in late 2024, eventually left the city council, in part, over his frustration, according to an interview with Trammart News at the time of his resignation. 

The costs of operations for the museum, library and parks surpass a million dollars annually, according to figures from the city. However, some who voted against the levy in 2024 and were queried by Trammart News in the aftermath of the failed ballot, said they would have supported more money for the library. 

Some made a distinction between the library and museum – the former was seen by a cross-section of about 10 residents as a necessity and the latter was viewed by them as a relative luxury. However, no separation of the two for voting on the former levy apparently was ever seriously considered. 

Since then, one of those close to city staff expressed disappointment to Trammart News over the city's alleged lack of preparation for relocation of the current museum. The building at C and 2nd streets is currently for sale, a decision made in the last budget session. 

Under the present proposal, the museum would combine with the library, moving there. Yet there has been no movement. "So, what's the plan?" is an important question to be answered, according to this individual. Inquires by Trammart News to the city about this matter haven't been answered.

Seiler, the CSPS committee chair, stressed that cities elsewhere are faced with the same challenges, and are answering it with new fees. A look at other small towns in Oregon by a KGW investigative team bears this out, according to a 2025 report on scores of cities by the NBC affiliate.  In a recent consultant's report, which was presented to the city council in the past few months, it was suggested that the most expedient way for the city to obtain the desired revenue would be an additional sum added to the utility fee.

However, some residents have pointed to neighboring cities – Corvallis and Salem – where both have voter-backed revenue for similar amenities. Corvallis voters approved their ballot measure in 2023 and Salem residents did the same last year. 

Roden suggested that the Polk County Fairgrounds were essential, too – and that support for it is needed. 

Councilor Evan Sorce countered that "we want to make sure we are holding the county projects to the same standard that we are holding the city projects." He later explained that his stance is that it is "totally appropriate" to review and consider other options if voters reject a levy, as they have done, also, for the county fairgrounds. 

"Rejection of the levy shouldn't mean we can't look at all the options available to us," Sorce said. 

In fact, there's a second levy being considered to provide funding for the Polk County Fairgrounds. And before it lands on the final ballot, voters will be asked in May to answer an advisory question, on the spring ballot, as to whether they would support an operating levy in November. 

If they respond "yes," that could mean the "fairground levy" could come back again this fall. A no vote would signal lack of support for it, which might end the effort. If so, this “would result in discontinuing the Polk County Fair and the closing of the facility,” according to a statement from the county.

But even placing the advisory on the May ballot will take positive public input, according to the Polk County Board of Commissioners. Public hearings will be held on Feb. 11 at 9 am and 6 pm on the issue, according to the board. 

This differs from the way Independence is moving toward add-on fees. So far, no plans have been announced for a public hearing on the proposed fee increase. 

However, there are two opportunities for residents to testify: as the budget sessions are underway and at the city council meeting where the final budget vote is taken, according to Seiler. 

The anticipated total for Independence add-on fees is about $30 per month. The sum includes a  $10 per month public-safety fee. 

But the water bill is expected to tick up, periodically. Starting in December 2026, the water rates will be adjusted annually, at a minimum, to reflect inflation as measured by the consumer price index in the West Region, which is now 2.9%. 

Jasper Smith, who has served in different board positions for the city,  said he believes that city councilors who oppose the fee shouldn't be  considered as unsupportive of the museum, library or parks. In a brief  interview during a break in the meeting, Smith affirmed his view that  reluctance to approve the fee may be only that – concern over  instituting a new charge on the water bill and not a sign of anything  else. ▪  

By Anne Scheck

Trammart News Service, January 30, 2026   

The manufacturing plant has sat empty in a large lot behind a chain link fence near the Central School District “Bus Barn,” with fading yellow paint and a sign that still reads “Forest River.” But soon it will be home to a new operation, giving a new company, Oregon Mining and Ag Fabrication, room to grow. 

The buyer is a heavy industrial fabrication company that specializes in complex welding and machining services. The business provides rebuilds, design builds, and build-from-print to industries like mining, construction, and agriculture. 

 Currently, the company is in Donald, with nine employees, but the 19-acre campus of the former Forest River facility will allow for needed expansion, explained Blake Westling, the founder and head of the operation. Oregon Mining & Ag Fabrication needs space for large industrial equipment to perform a variety of tasks that range from repairing a rock crusher to custom-building for clients. 

Westling, a native Oregonian, went to Linfield University in McMinnville about two decades ago, where he received a degree in international marketing. But it was his love of building and design that drove him to the work he has done professionally since that time  –  though the marketing expertise obviously has come in handy. Westling estimated that, at some point, the business will need 50 employees. 

The rail line that runs through the property will be used, as well, he said. The train is a familiar sound to Independence residents, who hear the blasting horn in the morning as the engine and cars rumble along the tracks. 

Westling is anxious to partner with the community, perhaps to offer internships or apprenticeships. He plant to make contact with Central School District 13J about that plan. 

However, it's a segment of the airpark population that seemed anxious to hear about what will be happening at the site. 

The neighborhood there has several engineers, as well as pilots, who run a "Teen Build" weekly program where adolescents from the surrounding area learn about building aircraft and maintenance in a hands-on way. The airport is home to a chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association, EAA 292, which hosts "Teen Aviation Weekend," where youth learn to build and fly a model glider, among other skills.

 Westling said he looks forward to meeting that group. The Forest River site where his company will relocate, at 840 N Walnut Street, is only a few blocks away from the airport. ▪  

By Anne Scheck

Trammart News Service, January 30, 2026   

Last night, Independence Mayor Kate Schwarzler held a town hall in the event space at Parallel 45, the brewery pub on Monmouth Street in the downtown area of the city. Schwarzler was well received and delivered some good news: hoped-for progress on the city’s affordable housing front, which is now in the exploratory stages, and a reprieve for the precarious financial support of the trolley, which has secured grant and legislative funding for the near future but cannot run for free forever.

But a few of the statements made by the mayor seemed likely to benefit from more detail. Trammart News added some information and provided links to help clarify some of the issues mayor mentioned. Here are five that appear to be most significant to residents. 

1) Hopes are high that the skeletal structure known colloquially as “Stonehenge” finally has an owner that will rebuild or refurbish the eyesore. “We do feel like this one has a good track record,” Schwarzler said. “They have been actively engaging with the city.” Now more than two decades since the building was begun and after multiple changes in ownership, fingers are crossed, she said. However, under questioning, Schwarzler said there is no guarantee of a finished product. An outside look from a visitor three years ago pondered the fate of this “unfinished concrete skeleton” after its sale then. And, in a pithy essay on it, optimistically suggested it might progress toward completion. https://hh-today.com/visiting-independence-and-station-203/

2) The city is in negotiations for the sports park to be purchased by a soccer club that has run out of space. It was a “very, very difficult decision to put the sports park up for sale, “ Schwarzler said, adding that it turned out “there's a silver lining in this.” Under the plan, the city will retain the boat ramp, the walking paths and the wetland area, she said. 

The buyer, CFC Soccer Club, will be able to give the area the attention and upkeep that the city could not provide, she said. A link to the Salem-based soccer club apparently referenced by Schwarzler: https://www.cfcsalem.com/news/announcing-the-new-cfc-a-letter-from-the-director

3) The city has instituted a way of using funds by keeping them in separate “buckets,” which is a better method and avoids transfers from one fund to the other, she contended. “We talked a lot about different buckets of money, and so cities have a different budget process,” she said. Schwarzler suggested such practices are an improvement, but conceded that times are financially tough. She predicted rough going for three-to-five years, in large part because Oregon tax measures have meant property-tax revenues haven’t kept pace with the cost of budgetary needs. 

Schwarzler observed that cities are subject to special restrictions. “City council made a decision to change some practices that had been happening,” she said.

A town hall attendee, David Clyne, a former city manager of Independence, suggested that the newer approach may have made things more difficult. After the town hall, he noted that his administration felt comfortable with making transfers. “We felt fully justified (in) the transfers and were never dinged by auditors, attorneys, rating agencies or the state,” he said. 

Clyne’s viewpoint seemed to be reinforced by a question-and-answer interview with Greg Ellis, another previous Independence city manager. It was conducted in 2025 by Trammart News. https://media.muckrack.com/portfolio/items/21528316/8-22-2025-interview-with-greg-ellis.pdf

4) A planned regional water treatment plant will proceed – the city is projected to run out of water in the next several years, with robust growth if it occurs. “We've had some people say, but I turned the water on in my house. The water comes out right now,” Schwarzler said. “But that doesn't mean that five years from now, 10 years from now.” 

“Water treatment plants don't get built overnight, so we really had to get on that quickly, “ she added. There is a three-way partnership with Monmouth and Polk County for a regional water treatment plant. (However, Polk County isn’t planning to contribute any substantial money to it, according to county officials.)

Schwarzler referenced different kinds of funding, including grants, to finance the water treatment plant. However, the initial phase is estimated to cost $44,588,000, and by the time it is completed, that cost will be approximately $95 million, according to the city’s master plan on the structure. https://ciindependenceor.civicweb.net/document/42059/StaffReport.LA-2023-01.WMP.ExA.pdf?handle=8465358CFDA34F01BCAD51A068CD1E94

Additionally, Schwarzler said she wanted to point out a “myth-buster” – that money for MINET is no longer being taken out of the water bill, as widely presumed. 

However, the $10 that was added to the water bill for MINET when it needed extra funding never was removed from the utility billing, even though the money is no longer allocated for the fiberoptic company. 

https://www.ci.independence.or.us/water-rate-adjustment-effective-july-1-2024/ 

 5) City Hall closure on Fridays hasn't yet shown a definite cost savings.  In answer to a question about the Independence Civic Center being closed on Fridays, with the exception of the police department, Schwarzler said: "We kind of have to go through it for a while before we know if there's really a cost savings with that or not."

"Our city staff is still working on Friday," Schwarzler explained. "They are working at home." 

The aim was to lower heating bills and utility bills, as well as reduce wear and tear on the flooring and stairs.

Shortly after the decision was made, a city staffer indicated that no  calculations on how much could be saved were conducted – a finding  confirmed by Independence finance director Rob Moody in an interview with the Statesman-Journal. “It’s marginal,” Moody told the newspaper. https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/local/2025/07/06/budget-cuts-independence-oregon/84465783007/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z11xx32p001150c001150v11xx32d--55--b--55--&gca-ft=307&gca-ds=sophi  ▪  

By Anne Scheck

Trammart News Service, January 23, 2026   

The last county fair before it is closed down permanently will be held this August at the Polk County Fairgrounds, unless a new source of revenue can be found – a levy is the last hope, so county officials plan to put “an advisory question” about the proposed fee on the May ballot. 

The question likely to be posed: “Are voters willing to support an operating levy to continue operation of the Polk County Fairgrounds?”  The public response will be the determining factor on whether a proposed “local option tax” for helping fund the fairgrounds will appear on the ballot in November, according to plans announced this past Tuesday at a meeting of the Polk County Board of Commissioners.

By asking voters on the springtime ballot whether they support a levy for the fairgrounds, the commissioners can decide whether to undertake a full-blown campaign to try to secure its passage in November. The proposed levy ranges from 10 cents to 13 cents per $1,000 of assessed home value – an amount that would mean about $45 annually to an average homeowner, according to calculations reported at the commissioners’ meeting. 

However, before the advisory question is put to voters, a hearing will be held on the ballot submission on February 11, at two different times: 9 am and 6 pm, in the Polk County Boardroom on first floor of the Polk County Courthouse. 

The issue isn’t new, as indicated by reports about expenditures for the fairgrounds over the past several years. 

Despite numerous rentals of the venue by community groups and for special events – from gatherings for bluegrass country music to the 100-plus vendors at the monthly Polk Flea Market – money shortfalls have been a continuing concern. The county cannot subsidize the fairgrounds in the same way some other county governments do; Polk County is among those with the lowest property tax revenue in the state.

Neighboring counties, such as Yamhill to the north, Marion to the East, Benton to the South and Lincoln to the West, all collect millions more in tax dollars, compared with the approximately $16 million annually that’s taken in by Polk County (nearly $28 million for Yamhill, about $91 million for Marion, $32 million for Benton and just over $28 million for Lincoln, which has only slightly more than half the 92,000-plus population of Polk County, according to a regional listing of tax rolls). 

All three commissioners agreed that a more comprehensive campaign – voter pamphlet with stark language, educational outreach that's widespread – is a necessary component. “It will be useful information,” affirmed County Commissioner Jeremy Gordon. 

The levy, which was put to voters on a previous ballot, failed along with a Central School District bond and a levy from the city of Independence to support parks, the library and the museum.

During that time, there was a lot of misinformation about the one for the fairgrounds, said Tina Andersen, manager of the fairgrounds. However, as she explained in a follow-up interview after the levy vote, she was prevented from addressing much about the proposed levy before its failure, except for imparting basic information. Like the county commissioners, she’s paid by county coffers, and state law prohibits strident advocacy of a measure like the levy by government employees. 

This time around, it should be clearly spelled out that county residents will lose the fairgrounds without the levy's voter approval, said Commissioner Craig Pope. 

The importance of the facility should be emphasized, Pope said. In recent years, the fairgrounds have functioned as an emergency shelter for victims of a wildfire disaster, including providing a place for their farm animals, too – and the fairgrounds are home nearly year-round to 4H, noted Commissioner Lyle Mordhorst. 

Tim Ray, who chairs the Polk County Fair Board, said the ongoing struggle with operational deficits are unavoidable, and stated that this needs to be clearly defined for voters. “It is KISS without that last S,” he said, adding: “What I mean is ‘keep it simple.’ ’’ 

The county’s general fund has been in decline, due to relatively stagnant tax growth combined with escalating costs, observed County Administrator Greg Hansen. 

A “yes” vote on the advisory question in May would mean support of the operating levy, which would enable needed upgrades to the fairgrounds and keep them running; a no vote would mean lack of support for it, which could end the effort to carry the proposed levy forward, placing it on the November election ballot. This outcome “would result in discontinuing the Polk County Fair and the closing of the facility,” according to a prepared statement from the county.

Commissioner Gordon addressed Salem City Club this week to report on how the county  commission operates in Polk County. When asked what keeps him up at  night with worry, he answered that it is the risk of losing the capacity to keep the fairgrounds open. The site is a "hub" and culturally and  historically important, he said. ▪  

By Anne Scheck

Trammart News Service, January 23, 2026   

A city council vote to limit the number of food trucks downtown to seven and to put new standards in place for their service and operation seems to have addressed concerns that the street-vending units could cut into existing restaurant businesses in the Main Street area. 

The issue apparently surfaced after Parallel 45, a brewery and beer tavern in the 200 block of Monmouth Street, received permission from the city for a hub of five trucks, including Cuisenella's, which serves Mexican dishes, and Bobablastic, which makes a wide variety of bubble drinks. With the rise of food trucks, local restaurateurs worried that their business might be affected.

Eric Chase, the co-owner with his wife, Heather, of Golden Hop Saloon on C Street, testified at the meeting that limits were needed. Too many food carts in the downtown area "will shut the rest of us out," he said. 

The Independence City Council agreed that Parallel 45 should be restricted to five, which already are either operating or in the pipeline, and that The Tap Station on north Main Street can be allocated two. 

A nationwide analysis of the matter two years ago, in the Journal of Foodservice Business Research, shows that, in general, there's no impact on "brick-and-mortar" eating establishments when food trucks move in. 

However, other factors can come into play for both on-street and inside dining: the amount of pedestrian traffic, the ease of parking, the possible duplication of specific offerings and the local economy. In a study of pedestrian malls – areas of businesses and stores with high walkability – Cornell University researcher Stephan Schmidt suggested the concept isn't panning out in many places. 

In the past few months, three businesses in downtown Independence have been shuttered: Costa de Oro restaurant, Melting Pot Candy and Ice Age Candy. Of the three, Melting Pot Candy had been in business the longest – it served hand-crafted chocolate confections for nine years at a storefront on Main and C streets. The shop was renowned for bags of toffee ranging in flavors from dark hazelnut to cinnamon pecan. 

The economic outlook for hospitality and leisure – the category that also includes meals outside of the home – is hard to assess for Independence; State reports don't routinely include Oregon's small towns. But in November 2025, the last month available for such data, both of the town's neighboring cities – Corvallis and Salem – showed revenues appeared to be flat, with no appreciable gains over the previous year.  ▪  

By Lance Masterson

For Trammart News Service, January 23, 2026   

Passion for swimming still burns for David Morelli. The coach, now in his fourth year with the Panthers, has been involved in the sport for more than a half century. What keeps him going? 

Love for the swim lanes.

David Morelli loves coaching swimmers.

A somewhat surprising development given that Morelli, Central High's swim coach, was a late arrival to the sport.

Gymnastics and trampoline were preferred activities when he was young. But that changed as he neared the end of high school.

“In my senior year, someone asked if I wanted to try diving. That’s where it began,” he said of his passion pursuit. “I didn’t have much of a swimming background before that, mostly just playing around at the YMCA.”

Once introduced, Morelli took to diving like a fish takes to water. He was good enough to compete in college despite limited exposure to the sport. His days of competition ended when he injured his back. So he turned to coaching. First divers, then swimmers.

In South Dakota, he was an assistant coach for an all-age team that had 60 members. He worked with younger athletes. His efforts didn’t go unnoticed.

“They needed a coach,” he said of when opportunity came knocking. “I said yes, called my old coach for advice on how to organize practices, and switched from diving to swimming. I used my teaching background and learned quickly.”

The transition wasn’t seamless, but it felt natural. Morelli knew early on that teaching basics was paramount.

“I helped swimmers with their strokes and lessons. Getting them ready,” he said. “Strokes, turns, fundamentals … that’s always been the base. If you don’t have that, everything else is harder.”

Senior swimmer Koko Li of Central first took swim lessons when she was seven, or so. Hit the pause button, and returned to swimming as a freshman. She initially considered herself a novice on the team.

“Coach Morelli said ‘I almost drowned’ the first day. That’s probably an exaggeration, but I wasn’t good. I had to hang onto the wall because I really couldn’t swim,” Le said. “The first couple weeks were really hard. I didn’t think it was going to get better, but it did.”

Le appreciates Morelli’s guidance and expertise as her strokes and strength steadily improves.

“He had me just float - face down - because I was really tense,” she said of her first practices. “It helped calm me down and realize I could be relaxed and controlled in the water.”

An early benchmark was to swim a full length of 25 yards without stopping. Four years later, Le's goal is to make the district finals in the 500-yard freestyle.

Her initial “I can do this” moment is another fond memory. 

“Probably at the first or second meet, when I finished a full race and realized I wasn’t going to drown,” Le said.

Helena Guarnieri Ferreira knew her way around a pool when she joined the Panthers. Ferreira is a foreign exchange student from the Sao Paulo, Brazil area. She’s also a club swimmer with eight years of experience.

Her hometown team is large, with more than 40 swimmers, pools are outside and the weather is warm.

“It’s hard,” Ferreira said of swimming here in winter. “In Brazil, we don’t really have cold, maybe one week and then it’s done. Here, it’s so cold. I’ve been sick three times.” 

But she keeps going.

Another difference is in coaching philosophy, she noted. Swimmers here have more autonomy to chart their own path, for example.

“In Brazil, if I say, ‘Coach, I need to train butterfly,’ my coach might say, ‘No, you need backstroke,’ and that’s what I train,” she said. “Here, if you need to train something, they work with you on it. I talk with coach a lot on what I need to improve.”

Then there’s the level of competition.

“Some people here are very fast. When you see those fast times, it’s like, ‘oh, gosh’,” Ferreira said.

Morelli is a retired Presbyterian pastor. He and his family traveled to where he was needed, but mainly in the west.

“Everywhere I went, I was involved in swimming as a coach, a swim parent or official,” he said.

In 1995, he and his family moved to Dallas. He’s since coached the Blue Dolphins club and Dallas High School, and for other teams and programs in the area. Then he became head Panther.

Ask him about wins, records and podium appearances, and he’s likely to focus instead on the importance of teaching athletes how to swim correctly and train with purpose … all while carrying these lessons with them into everyday life.

Twenty or so Panthers are on this year’s swim team, a number consistent with past years. There are no club swimmers. So expectations - as far as state qualifiers - are tempered. A stark contrast to recent years when the Hagedorns - Taylor, Gentry and Cash - and others battled the elite.

Still, there are personal records to be broken, goals to be conquered.

“If we can get some kids who’ve been swimming three or four years into the district finals, that would be great. Even the consolation finals, top 12,” Morelli said. “But top six is ideal.”

In addition to coaching, Morelli was a meet director for the Alaska State Championships in Sitka, traveled to Munich in 1972 to watch the Olympics, and served as a delegate to the National Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) swim convention in Kansas City.

Given all Morelli's accomplished, why not hang up the flippers and kickboards? Because it’s not time yet.

“I do it because I have always loved swimming,” he said. ▪  

By Anne Scheck

Trammart News Service, January 16, 2026   

A 32-acre sports park in north Independence that the city has placed for sale – a sale aimed at helping the town shore up depleted city funds – prompted resident Trevor Hailwood to launch an online campaign this week to preserve the area for public use, igniting an explosion of residential support for his plan. 

Hailwood (photo) wants to raise the money to buy it to guarantee it remains a public facility. "Once we sell this, we can never get it back," he said after being contacted about the posting, which shows an overview of the site. The sports park is advertised for a price of $300,000 and includes an advisory that an estimated payment plan would be $1,734 monthly. 

The “Indy sports fields,” as they are sometimes called, are on a parcel that’s also home to a designated wetland. "I also don't want to see it go for that reason," Hailwood said.

From a list of comments now numbering more than 100 on Hailwood’s original Facebook post to near-universal reactions expressed at a crowded Chamber of Commerce event Wednesday, the sale of the sports-field property is seen as a potentially a huge loss to the community. 

“I’d love to help with that effort,” said Gabby Walton, the newly appointed president & CEO of the Monmouth Independence Chamber of Commerce. 

She was at the chamber’s early morning meet-up, which drew nearly 60 people to Brew & Tap this past Wednesday. However, Walton referenced her non-profit, Project Gear Box, which provides sports equipment to youth, as the prospective participant for Hailwood’s proposal. 

Also making offers were Monmouth-based D Carmona Construction and Ashley Sews of Independence.

The thought of the sports park changing ownership is a sad one, said Kelcie Patrick, a Central High School graduate who coached a youth soccer team at the sports park about a decade ago. “It just seems like it had so much potential but they (the city) kind of dropped the ball,” she said.

After developing a “concept plan” for the sports park property in 2008, the City entered into a partnership with the owners to create the ballfields and build a new boat ramp on the site, according to a news account from that time period. The Oregon National Guard worked to grade the land and construct a large retaining wall.

Now that same property has been placed on the sale block, along with other city-owned properties that range from lots in Independence Landing to “Polk Park,” which is a few blocks west of north Main Street. The decision to place them for sale followed last year’s municipal budget session, in which the city was found to be under severe financial strain. The city's advertisement states that offers that would keep the Sports Park in public use would be given preference.

The move to generate more funds was endorsed by an outside consultant, Portland-based Jensen Strategies, which was hired through a federal grant for cities suffering from revenue shortages. The firm is providing outside expertise for Independence amid its financial struggles.

The situation places Independence on a fiscal cliff that will end in severe deficits in a few years if not appropriately addressed, according to Dave Waffle, a member of the consulting team who gave a presentation to the city from a report based on information from "The Distressed Cities and Persistent Poverty Technical Assistance Program.” 

There has been no response to an inquiry from Trammart News about Hailwood’s plan by the city’s communications director, Emmanuel Goicohea. However, the city council was scheduled to meet in executive session to negotiate “real property transactions” last night. 

Although such negotiations are confidential, the park land for sale has had some interest from potential buyers, according to a city-affiliated individual. Both the sports park and “Polk Park” have possible complications: the former contains a wetland, subject to certain protections under Oregon law; the latter has a possible restriction on sale by the donor that turned up several years ago, which was cited as preventing its sale during a previous city administration. 

Wetland areas have proven a stumbling block for development in some parts of the city where there's vacant land, including west of the Independence State Airport. Under Oregon law, land swaps can lift that burden off builders – but local governments are required to submit wetland-use notices and seek proper permits from the Department of State Lands or the Department of Land Conservation and Development.

Hailwood stressed that it would only take $60 from 5000 people to buy the sports fields or $30 from 10,000. That’s a one-time obligation he pointed out. “A one month’s Starbucks budget,” he said, adding that volunteers could help maintain the park. ▪  

By Anne Scheck

Trammart News Service, January 16, 2026 

In the wake of halted city development that’s been blamed on building fees that are too high, the Independence City Council voted to whittle down those charges by about $10,000 Tuesday night – but a representative from one of the main builders in past years, Salem-based Dalke Construction, said that’s not enough to attract developers to town. 

Reducing $54,000 in fees to $43,000 won’t have the desired impact because neighboring cities – both Dallas and Monmouth are way below that amount “even though you are going in the right direction,” said Chet Graham of Realty First in Dallas, who represents Dalke homes in the Brandy Meadows subdivision of south Independence. In testimony before the council, Graham referenced a letter that had been sent to the city by the Home Builders Association of Marion and Polk Counties, which showed that the fees, known as System Development Charges, are just over $20,000 in Dallas and close to $16,000 in Monmouth. 

In the HBA letter, Mike Erdmann, CEO of the Polk/Marion HBA, observed that “when one jurisdiction imposes fees that are tens of thousands of dollars higher than its neighbors, projects move elsewhere.” Erdmann urged more evaluation by Independence officials, and eventual alignment with the regional market “so housing can again be built in Independence.” 

However, the city’s public works director, Gerald Fisher, said that an ongoing project in the city, a 67-lot subdivision known as Southwest Crossing, is proceeding without objection to the higher fees by the developers there, who accepted the SDCs at the $53,000 per-home amount. Though so far there is only earth-moving equipment on the land, Fisher said he expects residences to be built this coming summer.

To be able to reduce the SDCs, Fisher recommended removing or modifying scores of capital-improvement projects from the city’s plan for upgrades and additions – eliminations ranging from bike lanes to sidewalk infill. 

The council vote was 5-1 to reduce the SDCs and accept the changes in capital-improvement projects, with City Councilor Dawn Roden dissenting. 

Roden explained that she cast the “no” vote because Fisher had stated that one developer was undeterred by the high SDCs, while another found them still too much to pay even with the $10,000 reduction. The move stops projects that “we have deemed very important,” she pointed out. 

Asked about the new SDCs for Independence, which now stand at just over $42,000 per housing unit, Larry Dalke, president of Dalke Construction, emphasized that, to “pencil out,” the houses would need to be priced higher than surrounding areas. “But would you pay $30,000 more for a house in Independence?” he asked. He stressed he has great affection for the town, and “we’re waiting to come back.” 

The changes were made as Independence struggles to restore growth. There hasn’t been a completed building permit issued for a new subdivision home since developers departed more than a year ago after the bumped-up SDCs reached $53,000, according to an unnamed city-affiliated individual. 

The reduction of SDC fees also was recommended as part of a report issued late last year, after the financially strapped city qualified for a federally provided consulting plan known as the “Distressed Cities and Persistent Poverty Technical Assistance Program.” Before that program began, the state-required Housing Production Strategy analysis concluded that SDCs could be lowered to restart building. 

Last year, Trammart News inquired of one builder whether he would return after leaving the city. He called it unlikely due to what he perceived as disinterested treatment by City Manager Kenna West, despite his alleged attempts to connect. 

West was asked by Trammart News about public displays that seemed to suggest disengagement at that time with certain individuals. A comment was sought from her about seemingly being more attentive to desktop objects in meetings – her phone, for example – during some speaker presentations. No response was received by this news outlet. (Tuesday night West seemed to be preoccupied in the same manner while Graham was testifying.) 

Both West and Fisher confirmed that the demand for developer-derived funding for a traffic light at 7th and Monmouth streets, which had been a sticking point for Dalke Construction, has been dropped. Construction of the “Chestnut Street Bridge” should alleviate traffic and improve navigation in the area, West said. An influx of grant funds has helped put money toward the Chestnut Street Bridge project, the two said. 

However, no major changes appear to have occurred for this bridge project since the traffic light was designated as being necessary. Response to a Trammart News inquiry to the Oregon Department of Transportation about eliminating the traffic-light installation, where ODOT technically has oversight since Monmouth Street is part of Highway 51, wasn’t received by press time.▪  

By Anne Scheck

Trammart News Service, January 16, 2026 

On a winter’s day during the holiday season and again yesterday, two grandmothers met to talk over recent events that have made both reluctant to read or listen to the news. One of the grandmothers, Aida, now walks in fear, worried that her skin is brown. The other, Anne, now feels the same worry about Aida – and others, too. In response to that growing worry, the two composed a statement that’s become part of the Trammart News policy. 

The draft of it was scratched out a paper towel, then revised. The statement follows the two conversations the pair had in the last several weeks, which were combined and recapped, and appears below. 

ANNE: I am so glad we have gotten to meet up and talk like this. All of this recent turmoil – the shootings, the unwelcome protests – don’t seem so far away anymore, even though they haven’t happened here. 

AIDA: My worry is that all of this will somehow come back to impact my family. 

ANNE: Yes, even though your family is … how can I say it? Legally here. 

AIDA: I have stopped watching the news because it is sad to see how poorly we treat other human beings. It makes me angry and depressed. 

ANNE: Well, I have done that, too. And I’m actually in the news business. But this is all so deeply affecting. I am limiting myself mostly to the new season “Of All Creatures Great and Small.” But that is why I wanted to talk again. I feel like I am burying my head in the sand. 

AIDA: People who have been here for generations are scared. My grandparents went through Ellis Island, and I find it all frightening. 

ANNE: Well, you are more official than I am, probably. I don’t think my long-ago family members went through Ellis Island. So, I guess maybe my family did not come to America legally. They were a bunch of stubborn Scots with no time for bureaucracy. I think they just landed some rickety boats on a Southern shore and slithered out and then headed to Missouri. 

AIDA: Well, we all bleed red when cut. 

ANNE: Yes. And there has been too much blood in recent days. 

AIDA: I think about my own family, my new great-grandson. 

ANNE: Well, all this has gotten me thinking about how we can misunderstand each other, I want to tell you about one recent incident, in one of the grocery stores here in Indy.

AIDA: Go ahead. 

ANNE: Well, there is this young woman at the check-out counter. I thought I recognized her but I didn’t know why. So, I started asking a bunch of questions. “Did you go to Central High School? Do you go to WOU?” I am trying to pin it down. It’s driving me nuts because she looks so familiar.

AIDA: Was she Hispanic?

ANNE: Yes. And eventually after some of this “How do I know you” stuff, she looked uncomfortable. It dawned on me that she didn’t know whether to trust a stranger like me, and maybe thought I was someone who might go make a phone call or something.

AIDA: That could very well be. 

ANNE: And now we have this division of safety, because I am blond and blue-eyed. Or was. I have dishwater gray-brown hair now and bleary eyes, but you know what I mean.

AIDA: Yes, I do. 

ANNE: OK, so I've been thinking about this a lot. And I have a long-winded example of how people can misunderstand each other, based on this other experience I keep thinking about here in town. I want to tell you about it. Because I’m not sure but I think some misunderstandings simply stem from the fact that signals get crossed, due to misreading each other or whatever. 

AIDA: Oh, yes. We project feelings and opinions on others sometimes without realizing it. 

ANNE: So, during certain parts of the year, to promote Trammart News and sort of support the merchants, I buy gift cards for $25 and give them away, when someone signs up to follow Trammart News. I always carry cash, too, because some people prefer the money.

AIDA: Yes, I would imagine so. 

ANNE: So, there is this young man sitting on the patio at Brew & Tap. He is waiting for the trolley. So, I ask him. I figure he is a WOU student, but it turns out he is not. But I want to be good as my word, and I already asked him if he wants to follow Trammart News and he says yes, and so then he does so … and so I am trying to put dollars into his hands. But then it turns out I am short a dollar. So, I am frantically looking for change in the bottom of my purse. 

AIDA: He probably would have been fine with $24. 

ANNE: Well, you’re right. He was very nice. Very nice. But this is how I see it: If you make a promise, I mean, you’ve got to stick with it. So, the trolley comes and I am still looking for this darn change. So, he gets on the trolley – and I hop on with him. I am still looking in my purse. He goes: “No, really, I don’t need that last dollar” or something like that. 

AIDA: But you stayed on?

ANNE: Yes, and here is what I mean. This was probably a clash of cultures, right there. I am doing what I think to be right – making good on what I said. This young man, who I think was headed to Central High School, is just embarrassed. I mean, I think the trolley driver found it funny. I am dumping out my purse and scooping up nickels and dimes. 

AIDA: You felt like you went too far with it?

ANNE: I did go too far. But that’s really my point. It was important to me to make sure I did what I considered to be the right thing. But I didn’t. This student didn’t want me on the trolley doing this, supposedly on his behalf. But I was so set on making things right … I found enough and got off at the next stop. But I felt right about my actions but I don’t think he did. 

AIDA: I think what you may be talking about, though, is generational. We’re different than other generations. I think we can be more rigid, if that’s the right word.

ANNE: Well, obviously it is the right word in my case. But I wonder how often this kind of thing  – just misunderstanding – happens, between people, and maybe at times leads to hard feelings, even bitterness over what are offenses to some … 

AIDA: I am sure it does. But I think it’s worse on the internet. The things that get said there are just hard to believe. 

ANNE: Yes, very hard to believe. I want to put our joint statement on the internet, actually. I am putting it into the Trammart News policy. I don’t know if you remember … but when we went to The Starduster Cafe around Christmas, I ran out of paper so I put it on a paper towel. I revised it a little bit. 

AIDA: I think it is fine that it gets published. Maybe one of these days we will get together for lunch and not have things like what’s happening now weighing on us. 

ANNE: Thanks, Aida. I feel the same. 

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

Statement for Trammart News composed by the two grandmothers.

"We believe all are residents in our community. We believe all who live here are entitled to due process. We believe all who came here looking for a better life, and contributing to the community in a positive and peaceful way, should never have to walk in fear. Treatment that makes our residents feel unsafe is unfair and inhumane. We believe we should uphold the designation "welcoming community" that the city council adopted several years ago. We believe that we should be able to speak out in support of that designation, which was bestowed on the city by elected officials." ▪  

By Anne Scheck

Trammart News Service, January 9, 2026 

In the future, barbed wire that’s added to city-owned fencing around public facilities will have to be at least 15 feet away from homeowner property lines when three or more residences would be affected by the addition, according to a recommendation approved by the Independence Planning Commission this past Monday night. 

In a 3-2 decision, the planning commission voted to put a 15-foot setback amendment on a city-proposed resolution that would have allowed barbed wire to be added to any existing chain-link fencing around public-service areas when it’s been in place for at least three years. 

The  Independence city recorder was queried by Trammart News to make sure the language of the resolution was correct – it was not read into the  record at the meeting after being presented by Planning Commissioner Rebecca Jay. However, the city remained at work on the revision and the precise wording was unavailable at press time.

Jay has asked that this be clarified. For the recommendation to be enacted it also needs approval from the Independence City Council.

The original resolution was submitted to the planning commission by city staff after the public works department installed barbed wire on city fencing that abuts back yards in the River Oak neighborhood in southeast Independence. 

At the meeting, neighbors who live by the city fence, which surrounds the south well field, said they weren’t contacted prior to the barbed wire installation. 

Commission Chair Corby Chappell (photo) asked whether there was any outreach to affected residents before the barbed wire was added to the fencing. Assistant City Manager Shawn Irvine, who attended the meeting, confirmed that apparently no contact was undertaken by the city to inform the residents about the barbed wire addition. 

“This was very un-neighborly,” said Commissioner Jay. 

The discussion by planning commissioners prior to the vote also included observations that the city didn’t act according to its own code when the barbed wire was installed – and the two city staff members at the meeting seemed to agree. 

Both City Planning Manager Fred Evander and Irvine, who also is the city’s economic development director, said there was “no standard” applied to the recent barbed-wire installation. “We do absolutely need a standard for moving forward,” Evander said. 

Public Works Director Gerald Fisher, whose department put the barbed wire on the fencing, was contacted by email from Trammart News for a response to the assertion by residents that this was a serious lapse by the city. A city-affiliated staff member stated that the barbed-wire installation was done entirely for security reasons. 

Both David Clyne and Mike Tweed, who live in the River Oak neighborhood, expressed their concern during testimony at the meeting. Other residents who attended the meeting, but didn’t do so at the public podium, also said they were disappointed with the city. 

But neither Fisher nor the city communications director, Emmanuel Goicochea, replied to Trammart News’ request for a response to resident comments. 

During a brief recess after the vote was taken, several audience members praised the way 

the planning commission had acted, saying they were impressed by how responsive the commissioners seemed to be to the situation. 

Chappell, who has been on the planning commission for 32 years and serves as chair, said he was gratified to hear such support for the commission. 

However, he issued a cautionary note after the vote. “Okay, folks, so you’ve seen what’s transpired from us,” Chappell said, adding that the approved resolution will be sent to the city council for final adoption and, once again, could be changed. “I have seen that happen,” Chappell said. 

Chappell, Jay, and Commissioner Jose Oliveros voted for the amended resolution. ▪  

By Anne Scheck

Trammart News Service, January 9, 2026 

So far, a ban on cell phones that began this week in Central School District appears to be generally accepted by students, warmly welcomed by teachers and right on target for predictions made nearly two years ago by the executive director of The Gate Youth Association. 

At Central High School and elsewhere, the cell phone ban is likely to lead to increased socialization among youth, said Ben Bobeda, who has had close contacts with local teens for decades, by raising three of his own kids and being part of the lives of high school students who use after-school and other programs at The Gate. 

Now evidence ranging from Talmadge Middle School in Independence to the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta is proving Bobeda made a highly accurate forecast a couple years back, when he said that cell phones weren’t simply distractions to learning, they’re deterrents to acquiring the kind of social skills needed to navigate life. 

However, back in 2023, the issue of cell phone use among children and teens had almost no definitive findings on their social development, according to many studies up to that time. 

In fact, a large “umbrella study” to determine the benefits and risks of screen time in youth – involving hundreds of studies with more than a million participants – showed both advantages and disadvantages in learning outcomes, and the definitive but slight negative impact was a higher association with depression. 

The emphasis then – and also currently in some cases – seemed to be on academic interference. The study, in the international journal Nature Human Behavior, included researchers from Louisiana, Australia, Denmark and Belgium. 

Now, however, other deficits are being documented, including impact on personal identity. 

In a recent interview, Bobeda reiterated that social skills come from just "hanging out" with other adolescents – learning how to build relationships that way. They can diminish with over-reliance on cell phones to stay in touch, he asserted. 

When opportunities for being with peers are replaced with texting and other forms of communication, like Snapchat, the over-reliance on screen time can become isolating, he added. Yet the reverse is true: lack of cell phones can mean more back-and-forth conversation. 

That is just what Talmadge's principal, Alisha Resseman, observed this past year. At a district meeting several weeks ago, she noted that since cell phones were banned at all times, there was a lot more interaction at lunch tables between students at the middle school. Without the alternative of phones – which was dropped completely this year at that school – students are forced into more face-to-face talking. 

Talmadge has banned cell phone use for two years, and it has served as an example of the changes that can occur. 

What does more personal interaction mean among students? Less discipline problems, according to an in-depth look at cell phone bans a year ago by Education Week. The reason seems tied to a dramatic drop in cyberbullying, according to the findings. 

The immediacy of connection afforded by cell phones can be addictive, providing a continual "dopamine drop" for youth, Bobeda said. In many cases, it is constant affirmation: the thumbs-up image, the laughing emoji. 

However, social learning and emotional growth for youth occurs from some of the struggles that come from making friends and learning how to get along with different personalities, Bobeda said. Tolerance for these differences is gained by "getting on each other’s nerves" and learning how to manage that, he said. 

In contrast, online pushback to real or perceived offenses takes only a few keystrokes. 

Constant interaction through social media, can "feel like friendship when it isn't," said Mykaela Anderson, program director at The Gate.

For this age group, cyberbullying can be frequent and painful, she said. But there's a lot less of it in groups with healthy, in-person contact, Anderson observed. She cited her workplace as an example of that.

Because The Gate is a welcoming community center, there is no provision that cell phones cannot be used. But among the 100-130 students who stream in, 10% or less seem to use their phones for extended screen time, Anderson said. From sports to the "food zones," social engagement is always underway there, she added. 

At CSD schools, phones are off limits while students are on campus, explained Emily Mentzer, communications coordinator for the district. So, for high school students, they can use their phones at lunch time but only if they go off campus, she said. 

Cellphones are allowed for instructional purposes. A small group of students recently took cellphone photos of an interior part of Talmadge, for instance, as part of an assignment. 

Teachers  are looking forward to the healthy benefits of a cell phone ban at school, according to Nathan Muti, head of the teachers' union at CSD. ▪  

By Anne Scheck

Trammart News Service, January 9, 2026 

 What are my favorite things from last year? And how could they be of interest to you? Maybe a few are your favorite things, too. As Trammart News goes into its tenth year, it is memories not milestones that seem important in 2026. Thank you for a new decade. -- Anne Scheck  

1) KIDS CREATED FUN. Main Street was so inter-generational this year that it deserves a big shout-out. From K-Pop Demon Hunters to traditional witches, Halloween brought a special kind of trick-or-treating along the town's thoroughfare. No adult in the vicinity seemed able to stop smiling. And the Independence Downtown Association gave residents a last-day-of-school celebration with the same outcome, including "time-machine" booths and shaved ice giveaways that gave it a celebratory atmosphere for adults and students alike. Indy Days, which added a carnival this year, had the same effect. 

At the Farmer's Market, the "kid entrepreneur" tables that popped up periodically proved a source of inspiration, with crafts that kept the baby-boom generation in the loop about current trends. Trammart News still has some "Taylor Swift friendship bracelets" made by a local youth, who guaranteed good luck to wearers. 

TN would like to give thanks to parents, family members, volunteers and others who create such opportunities for youth, allowing them to mix in such enjoyable ways with adults in the community. An added note: The town got a pediatrician, with an office in Central Plaza.

2) IMPORTANT VOICES PERSISTED. Individuals who help turn tides and bring issues into visibility remained outspoken – a trait that can make anyone a target. It can be tough to ask unwelcome questions that clash with the position of a larger group – at the public podium as a resident, from the dais as an elected official, or at any civic gathering. But asking unpopular questions often is the path to clarity. This past year Trammart News was able to pursue important topics to the public, brought to the surface by those who spoke up to probe matters that might otherwise escape needed attention. 

Trammart News would like to single out two who seemed unafraid to do so, inciting this news outlet to dive deeper into specific coverage: City Councilor Dawn Roden and School Board Member Jann Jobe. Both, at times, provided a minority view that allowed important subjects to be aired. So did some residents, strengthening the town with their civic engagement. 

But the Trammart News favorite for 2025 is a great grandmother named Aida, with the wisdom of a lifetime journey as a Mexican American, who helped educate us all in conversations with Trammart News that she allowed to be published. May there be many more to come. 

3) LOCAL INNOVATION FLOURISHED. The most obvious example of inventiveness occurred in the wake of a budget slash to eliminate Independence Days, the town's signature Fourth of July event. Though the city would still have had a parade, thanks to amazing annual Rotary efforts, the rest of the holiday might have gone by the wayside. 

But up steps a non-profit formed to answer the need! It already has conducted some meetings and arrangements are underway to carry on the tradition of Indy Days as usual. 

On a smaller scale, did anyone notice there are more spectacularly decorated homes this year at Christmas time? Trammart News has published a tour of the homes for the past two years, and this year it was bigger and better. From a house on 5th Street that had everything from reindeer on the roof to a nativity scene below blazing in lights to the Williams Steet house that looks like a mini-amusement park, neighbors lit up those cold nights with imaginative displays. 

Okay, now for an entirely selfish innovative contribution. Michelle Ashley Custom Cakes invented vegan brownies, making them available for those of us with a sweet tooth but multiple allergies. They are periodically offered at Brew & Tap downtown. 

4) ENVIRONMENTAL FORCES TRIUMPHED. You might not see a tireless tracker of familiar furry rodents as a stunning victor, but that is precisely how Ed Matteo seemed to be perceived when his successful local eradication of nutria was shared with federal wildlife officials. Matteo has been working for years on the project for the Ash Creek Water Control District. And, according to national experts, these creatures have been reduced only in a few places in the country through such constant efforts. 

It is one of many unsung environmental stories in this riverside city. The Luckiamute Watershed Council, which also has been a steward of Ash Creek has helped beat back invasive plants that threatened to choke essential ecosystems along this waterway. And LWC's educational programs this past year brought science to town that was informative and entertaining, from bird walks to expert presentations at Divine Distillers ranging in topics from dragonflies to fungi. Thank you LWC Executive Director Jordan Perez and Outreach Coordinator Suzanne Teller. 

5) MEMORIES WERE MADE. While downtown lights remain – those lighted wreaths and street poles – take a stroll at sundown. You are guaranteed the kind of memory that can only come from this storybook setting: A cherry-red trolley will roll by, clanging a bell-like sound. Cafe lights strung across the sidewalk will light your way.

But if that were the most poignant memory from this past year, it would mean that you didn't get the chance to visit The Wall That Heals, the traveling Vietnam Memorial that made its only stop in Oregon this past fall. There are no words that can adequately describe what its presence meant to so many, including Trammart News. 

6) LAW ENFORCEMENT PREVAILED. Independence has a crime rate far below the national average, and it merits being used as an example of a safe city. But this past year, it is the Polk County Sheriff's Department that gets special recognition by Trammart News. The owner-publisher-reporter of the news outlet was grabbed on the shoulder by the city's communications director to interfere with a news inquiry of the city finance director in the council chambers of city hall. Nearly everyone contacted for advice about the incident, from journalism colleagues to press-freedom advocates, said one government agency usually protects another, and what a waste of time it would be to pursue a complaint. 

The investigation was emotionally tough but worthwhile. The complaint was deemed founded, and Trammart News has delivered that message at several professional venues. It was gratifying to be able to report the outcome to peers in disbelief. 

7) NEW LIBATIONS GREW. Mocktails made it to town in a big way this past year. And those of us who don't drink that often ... except maybe to get on an airplane or engage in wedding toasts ... this was such a welcome change. It means sitting at a table with friends and not feeling like a party-pooper for avoiding the wine. Golden Hop Saloon has different ones, from fruity to spicy, and will customize any mocktail, by the way. Arena Sports Bar & Grill, Brew & Tap and Chase have quite a selection, all delicious. Plus, many of these creations are a work of art, layered and colorful. 

Here's a tip if you want a mocktail at a local restaurant that hasn't yet jumped on the bandwagon: order a Moscow Mule without liquor. The ginger gives it snap and it invites cool sips. 

No  personal narrative about the satisfaction of non-alcoholic drinking would be complete without imparting the knowledge that tropical concoctions are improved with a dash of horchata, if you have it on hand in a little vial. 

And all of these alcohol-free libations invite the best food addition in Independence: chicken gizzards! The only place that offers them in all of Polk County is Jimmy'Z Gas & Mini Mart. For someone raised in the Midwest, these deep-fried chicken parts are a little taste of home. 

8) CELLPHONE BANS WORKED. Who knew cell phone bans would begin with such a whimper – and warm welcome by some. The ban is underway at Central School District and students, staff and everyone else seem to be taking it in stride. 

By this time next year, it may be clear what differences are occurring in classrooms, student behavior and social learning, thanks to the cellphone ban, which began at Central High School this week. (An article on it appears in this digital issue.) 

9) OSPREY PAIR RETURNED. Just when some in town gave up hope that the nest box in the parking lot by the river would never attract another pair of these so-called seahawks, an osprey pair flew in to prove all naysayers wrong. 

Nothing seemed as satisfying as watching them on the city’s live cam prepare for their two offspring, swooping in to feed outstretched open mouths. Their return is awaited. 

Let's hope the camera for viewing is all spiffed-up by that time. The lively osprey pair managed to obscure it with their ... food processing. 

10) RIVERSIDE BEAUTY RADIATED. From fast-moving waters from winter rain to the placid, glass-like stillness of summer months, the river just never disappoints. It is the city's crowning glory, though that is just the opinion of Trammart News, which has described the Willamette River from the vantage point of Independence as inspiring, calming and invigorating. It has been all three. ▪  

By Anne Scheck

Trammart News Service, January 2, 2026 

A plan to provide needed funds for the Independence Library, the Heritage Museum, and city parks is likely to mean that a new fee will be recommended soon as an add-on to residential utility bills, according to a report given this week at the monthly meeting of the Independence Library Board. 

Early estimates obtained from city records put the proposed fee at about $20 per month. 

"We need to figure out how to get revenue," explained Nathan Christensen, a member of the Independence Library Board who presented the results of the mid-December meeting of the newly formed Community Services and Parks Sustainability Ad Hoc Committee (CSPS). 

The CSPS is expected to submit the fee proposal to the city council in January; the committee’s stated aim is to find a solution to help cover costs for the library, museum, and parks in a period of "structural deficit." That's a designation the city received in a recent federal analysis. The label reflects the town's fragile financial status, according to the report, which was conducted as part of "The Distressed Cities Technical Assistance Program" provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. 

A separate public safety fee was added last year to utility bills to help meet the monetary needs of the Independence Police Department. 

Following that, city property, including some park land and the museum building, was listed for sale. However, there's no record showing that any buyers have purchasing agreements for the properties, according to the listings. 

The CSPS-recommended fee could serve as a bridge to a new campaign for an operational levy to support the services, Christensen pointed out. A ballot measure to fund these services was defeated by voters in November 2024. The goal is to "stop the bleeding," observed Bradley Karkanen, who is president of the Friends of the Independence Public Library.

Estimates for the combined fee would be $19.65 per month to residents – $11.50 for services offered by the library and museum and $8.15 for parks. The amounts are based on the operational costs that could be collected from about 4,000 utility bills, according to city data. 

Christensen, who is the spouse of Heritage Museum Manager Amy Christensen, stressed that the plan hasn't been finalized by the ad hoc committee. However, the consensus among committee members seems to be that this is a logical step, he said. ▪  

An editorial essay by Anne Scheck

Trammart News Service, January 2, 2026   

Of all the elusive personal characteristics so difficult to spot right away in people – honesty, selflessness – it takes a whole lot of familiarity to see what I call the unmistakable quality of lion-heartedness.

This is because a lion's heart isn't showy or self-congratulatory or approval seeking. It's just there, in a natural resting state of quiet certitude, pumping with upbeat grit. 

One of our town's lion hearts is in the bakery.

Please be advised this isn't a typical anniversary piece as Trammart News goes into its 10th year. If you want to see the news outlet plans for 2026 – the changes TN is making, and other features –  you can scroll down past this editorial, and you will find them there, numbered 1-5. 

This essay is to mark the milestone of a decade. It is a simple story. It begins during one of the hardest news-covering times this past year, on the sinking city budget. 

During those budget sessions – which I viewed as generally lacking in financially detailed questions needing to be asked about city-backed proposals – City Councilor Marilyn Morton and Mayor Kate Schwarzler brought up downtown awnings. 

Yes, awnings. Those are the extensions made of cloth or other materials that may be attached to buildings over windows and doors. 

Morton joked about the one at the entrance of the bakery on Main Street, which she described as being covered in bird excrement. Schwarzler pointed to the appearance of the overhang on the building that houses her own business – and referenced the potential importance of funds for downtown refurbishment. 

I think you could call these two separate moments the low points for Trammart News in budget-meeting attendance. A slow boil percolated through what I presumed was my circulatory system. The city was in fiscal crisis, and awnings were the jokey or concerning topic ... 

After the meeting, I made my way to the Ovenbird Bakery. I was pretty certain I detected sap, not bird waste, on the Ovenbird Bakery's awning. I recognized the tree – it had been identified as one owned by the city. It seemed to be leaching onto the awning. 

So, it was time to pay a visit to the owner of the Ovenbird Bakery, Katie Schaub, and share what I was sure would be seen as an outrageous claim of awning-related bird deposits. 

Schaub, merrily rolling out pastry, seemed not the least bit worried about it, though she conceded it was irksome. "But what can you do?" she asked. "People think what they want to think, and I've found it's just best to stay focused on what I need to do." 

But it was a fact error, I insisted. A fact error made by a city councilor in the middle of video-filmed public meeting, a fact error that apparently was introduced in an effort to be funny. 

But bakery owner Schaub refused to be distracted. Whenever big obstacles come her way, she explained, she has the ultimate solution. "I just keep on baking," she said. 

I thought of my own form of baking – copious note-taking in those budget sessions – and trying to confirm accuracy. No questions that I had were being answered by the city's tax-paid communications director, who hasn't responded to Trammart News in more than 18 months. Yet Morton – as well as Mayor Kate Schwarzler and City Manager Kenna West –  frequently referred to the city's transparency. 

For her part, Schwarzler later felt compelled at one point to email Polk County personnel, including the board of commissioners, to defend the city manager's press ban on responding to Trammart News.  

See, when I ask questions, apparently it's seen as invasive, including alleged office visits. I have told Schwarzler that journalists ask questions and knock on doors to check facts, but she seems unfamiliar with these routine press habits. Has she never observed nightly televised examples of broadcast reporters far more glamorous than I am, generally on the same kind of quest, more or less?

Anyway, I love the Ovenbird Bakery and that day with Katie Schaub I saw a lion's heart right alongside her cardiac organ. She wasn't going to sink into ire; She was going to step over it. 

This week I was in the Ovenbird once again, and a couple of patrons told me they wondered when the city was going to stop with the "blame game" of attributing everything to too-low taxes or predecessors who overspent.

My answer: A federally-funded study of Independence revealed situations that occurred more recently. They include under-performance of marketing efforts and city approval of overly high fees for developers, which now seem linked to halts in construction.

I also told them that the budget committee meetings will be starting soon.

And it’s a sure bet that the ever-outspoken Councilor Dawn Roden will be making blunt statements, seeming accusations about information to some on the committee – and that conflictual commentary is practically certain to follow, if the past is any guide. 

And, well, I'm not equipped with lion's heart. Also, I have blood that's proven to be prone to boiling.

So, I buttonholed Schaub once again, as she was at her baker's table. I told her how much I admired her, that the best piece of advice I’d ever gotten in Independence was from her, and it was to just keep on baking.

But sometimes baking seems like a tough form of labor. 

And she knew that in my own case, I wasn't referring literally to baking, but to the kind of persistence and work ethic that, combined with a natural optimism, puts a heart of gold in someone, a heart filled with purpose. A lion's heart, which Katie Schaub has and I don't.

She laughed about the awning. It is being replaced soon, as she starts her 15th year. 

Here's to the lion-hearted among us. They aren't able to give us one of our own, but they serve as examples. They teach us to roar without sounding a battle cry and carry on through diligence and dedication. 

As the budget sessions begin in 2026, I will be there, baking away. 

(NOTE:  A joint email seeking a response to the information in the editorial was sent earlier this week to the two city councilors, the mayor and the city manager included in the above essay; No comments were received by press time. The proprietor of the Ovenbird Bakery, Katie Schaub, was verbally notified at approximately the same time that she would be a main part of the piece.) 

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

Trammart News updates in 2026

1) Trammart News revived "The Linking Letter" in a small pilot program in 2025. It will start again in 2026. It is a telegram-style newsletter and will be sent to email inboxes.

2) Trammart News will be providing brief videos on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month, replacing Tuesday Bouquet Day at those times. The videos, called "The Elder Realm," will focus on aging issues.

3) Trammart News began checking with other towns and cities along Route 66 in 2025 to see how they managed some of the same challenges faced by the City of Independence. This news effort will continue in 2026 and will now be called the "Route 66 Series." 

4) Due to interaction with Rep. Paul Evans’ office, it came to the attention of this news outlet that comments were made by a staff member identified as Evans, who was not the legislator himself. (Trammart News has learned other legislative offices have this practice as well.) It is against the Trammart News policy to incorrectly attribute quotes or comments. Comments that are provided as legislator responses, which are sent and identified as such by a legislative staff member, are welcome and appreciated. Also, routine text-checks of statements will continue to be emailed, when appropriate, to state representatives by Trammart News.

5) Trammart News will continue to seek responses and comments on issues before the city, school, and other public agencies in order to try to obtain all sides of a story. The communications director of the City of Independence, who has failed to respond to Trammart News' inquiries in more than 18 months, will continue to be queried. This is an effort extended to all government agencies and elected officials, under the Trammart News policy. ▪