Jeremy Gordon

Fam Jam is just around the corner!

Fun opportunity for the whole family to connect and register the little ones for kindergarten.

https://www.facebook.com/share/1KVsyuucKm/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Fam Jam is almost here! 🥳🎉

Polk County's biggest FREE family event is just around the corner and you will not want to miss it!

📅 Saturday, April 25th | 10:00am - 2:00pm
📍 Polk County Fairgrounds - 520 S Pacific Hwy W, Rickreall

Here is what to expect:
🚒 SW Polk Fire obstacle course and fire engine up close
📚 Kindergarten registration for fall 2026 with reps from Dallas, Oregon, and Central 13J school districts
🎁 Nearly 50 resource and activity booths plus fun giveaways all day

All of this is completely FREE thanks to sponsors Willamette Health Council and Marion & Polk Early Learning Hub, Inc.! 💛

April 25th. Free and fun for the whole family. See you there! 🥳

Today our Discovery/Evidence team was recognized by the Polk County Board of Commissioners with the STAR (Special Thanks and Recognition) award! In the world of prosecution, justice isn't just done in the courtroom, it includes the commitment of those who serve behind the scenes. Our Discovery/Evidence team works behind the scenes to manage mountains of digital evidence and documentation. Their dedication ensures that every case is handled with the highest level of integrity, transparency, and efficiency.

We are incredibly proud of their hard work and this well deserved recognition!

On our way to Washington, D.C. advocating for regional water infrastructure.

This work takes sustained effort, strong partnerships and relationships, and a clear plan. That’s what we’re building for Polk County and its water providers. Grateful to those who kickstarted this effort years ago.

Are you a contractor that is licensed, bonded, and insured in the State of Oregon? Can you install ramps, door or cabinet door handles? Can you provide house cleaning, junk removal, or pest control? Please complete the form to indicate you are interested in partnering with Polk County Family and Community Outreach to provide these services to approved clients.

https://polkoregonjotform.jotform.com/260544832323857

**How to Voice Your Support for Valley of the Giants**

I’ve heard from many of you recently about the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) revision of the Western Oregon Resource Management Plan and what it could mean for places like Valley of the Giants. The BLM is currently accepting public comment as it begins revising these plans, and I encourage people who value the Valley of the Giants ACEC designation to share their views. Links to submit comments are at the end of this msg.

At the same time, it’s important not to be alarmist. The old-growth grove at Valley of the Giants already carries an Outstanding Natural Area designation, which makes it extremely unlikely the grove itself would ever be considered for harvest.

The broader 1,600-acre Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) helps protect the surrounding landscape, while the 51-acre Outstanding Natural Area protects the core stand of towering Douglas-fir and western hemlock.

More broadly, the RMP revision is about how BLM manages millions of acres of O&C lands across western Oregon. These lands were intended to support sustained-yield timber harvest while protecting unique natural areas. With good management, we can do both: preserve special places like Valley of the Giants while responsibly increasing timber harvest levels after decades of under-harvesting. That balance supports family-wage timber jobs, generates revenue for local services, and reduces pressure to harvest more intensively on private forest lands.

I’ve also been working with BLM on restoring access after the winter 2024 debris flow that washed out a culvert on the North Fork Siletz River Road. The Marys Peak Field Office, working with the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, plans to replace the damaged culvert with a more durable bridge this spring, pending conditions.

Public input is an important part of this planning process, and I encourage anyone who cares about the future of Valley of the Giants to submit comments to BLM.

You can submit comments via email to:

[email protected]

Or submit them through the Federal Register notice here:

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/02/19/2026-03290/notice-of-intent-to-revise-resource-management-plans-for-northwestern-and-coastal-oregon-and

“Freedom is not won by a passive acceptance of suffering. Freedom is won by a struggle against suffering.”

—MLK, “Where Do We Go from Here”

Wishing everyone a meaningful day, and hoping we each find small ways to live out Dr. King’s call to serve one another in our own corners of life.

Update: Roads are very slick. Please use caution.
Thank you to the Polk County Sheriff's Office Oregon, Public Works, and partners for their quick response to remove this vehicle from obstructing the right-of-way. And thank you all for your patience as crews take care of business.

I’m saddened to hear of the passing of my colleague and neighboring county commissioner, Claire Hall. She served her community for more than twenty years and was a dedicated local leader who worked tirelessly to bring resources to veterans, support constituents facing housing insecurity, and expand mental health services within county jails. Her service and commitment to her community will be remembered, and she will be missed.

Lincoln County Commissioner Claire Hall died late Sunday in Portland hospital; recall election is now void Hall’s death comes the week of a historic recall election – the first time in the county’s 132-year history that voters are being asked if a commissioner should be recalled from office. With her death, the recall election underway is void.

Water is rising all over the county. Please be careful while out and about, and never drive into water over a roadway.

This week, The Board of Commissioners recognized Tara Luker for Special Thanks and Recognition!

Katlyn D’Agostini stated this in her nomination:
"Tara is a vital force for positivity, particularly during the inherent stress of Tax Season. Her unwavering reliability is the cornerstone of our office's operations, as we depend on her to navigate the intensive process of issuing tax statements, compiling lender files, and preparing for the Property Tax collection season.

Beyond her essential duties, Tara excels at transforming potentially negative customer interactions into positive outcomes, consistently demonstrating patience and genuine sincerity.

Her ability to de-escalate frustration not only improves the taxpayer experience but also significantly reduces the office's overall tenseness. In addition to her seasonal responsibilities, Tara's proactive, "all hands on deck" attitude during downtime is invaluable.

She consistently initiates help with tasks like filing and other projects, elevating the productivity of the entire team.
Polk County is truly fortunate to have an employee whose honest, hardworking, and genuine nature inspires those around her."

We are excited to recognize Tara for the STAR Recognition Award!

Great week at the 2025 Association of Oregon Counties Conference in Lane County. Always energizing to be in the same room with county leaders who are working every day to deliver real results for our communities.

A big thank-you to Immediate Past President John Shafer from Umatilla County for his focus on mental health- and for the opportunity to join him for a panel discussion on County Local Mental Health Authorities and the power of strong local and regional partnerships. Counties know their people, their providers, and their challenges. When the Oregon Health Authority trusts communities to lead and deliver outcomes in full partnership, we get better results for the people we serve.

Grateful for the collaboration, the honest conversations, and the shared commitment to improving systems across Oregon. Looking forward to keeping that momentum going in the year ahead.