POLK COUNTY — The Oregon State Fire Marshal encourages those celebrating the July Fourth to practice the four “Bs” of firework safety.

POLK COUNTY — The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is investigating two letters and three voicemails that contain threats against Sen. Brian Boquist (R-Dallas).

DALLAS — Dennis Sarver will serve 10 years in prison after being found guilty of manslaughter in the death of a man who was a lifelong friend.

INDEPENDENCE – Polk County Sheriff’s Office and State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of a barn fire that started Monday afternoon on Morrow Road outside of Independence.

DALLAS — A Polk County jury found Dennis Sarver guilty of first-degree manslaughter, second-degree manslaughter and unlawful use of a weapon following three days of testimony last week.

DALLAS – A Polk County jury is deliberating charges against Salem resident Dennis Sarver, who is accused of murdering Falls City resident Earl Jambura.

DALLAS — Thomas Aquinas Blount, 63, is charged with 19 theft- and identity theft-related crimes that are alleged to have occurred between 2010 and 2012.

DALLAS — Retired Dallas Fire & EMS captain and chaplain Dave Pederson’s service with the department began with a compromise.

DALLAS — Dennis Sarver, of Salem, may soon be headed to trial facing murder and manslaughter charges in the death of Falls City resident Earl “Buddy” Jambura.

DALLAS — Polk County Circuit Court Judge Rafael Caso on May 24 ruled on motions to exclude evidence in the case of Dyllan D. Coons, of Dallas.

FALLS CITY — A Falls City man faces charges of menacing and resisting arrest after he reportedly caused a disturbance at Falls City City Hall on Thursday.

INDEPENDENCE — A woman from Jefferson died in a crash on Corvallis Road south of Independence on Saturday night.

A woman from Jefferson died in a crash on Corvallis Road, south of Independence, on Saturday night.

DALLAS — Four people and their pets were forced from their home on Clow Corner Road early Monday morning after a fire ignited in the attached garage of the house.

POLK COUNTY — Donovan Lee Jackson, 42, pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree rape and attempted first-degree sodomy on April 23 in Polk County Circuit Court.

INDEPENDENCE — Eric Dale Hedrick, 47, of Independence, pleaded guilty on April 23 to six counts of identity theft and one count of aggravated identity theft. Dismissed were one count of first-degree forgery, one count of first-degree theft and 11 counts of identity theft.

INDEPENDENCE — The Independence Police Department received its second consecutive award of law enforcement accreditation at the recent Oregon Association Chiefs of Police annual conference.

MONMOUTH/INDEPENDENCE — Everybody needs a little help sometimes, even the people who normally do the helping.A chaplaincy program shared by Independence and Monmouth police departments and Polk County Fire District No. 1 now has five chaplains.

POLK COUNTY — After the 2013 public safety levy failed, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office was cut to seven positions in patrol, and chances were slim that a minor property crime would be prosecuted.

INDEPENDENCE — Quinlyn Reed Harden, of Independence, was charged with 10 additional counts of sex abuse on April 3.

INDEPENDENCE — The Independence Police Department recognized officers at its annual awards banquet on March 10.

DALLAS — A logger suffered serious injuries after being struck by a boulder while working 600 and 700 feet down a ravine at a remote logging site in Polk County.

Kayla Margie Carter, 30, of Corvallis pleaded not guilty to criminal charges in connection with a March 16 crash at the intersection of Highway 99 and Airlie Road.

INDEPENDENCE — Eric Dale Hedrick, 47, of Independence, was arrested on Feb. 13 for first-degree theft, six counts of second-degree theft, 10 counts of aggravated identity theft, five counts of identity theft, first-degree forgery, and 64 counts of second-degree forgery.

POLK COUNTY — Jodi Whiting still loves the job she got by “happenstance” about 15 years ago.

INDEPENDENCE — Not all calls Polk Fire District No. 1 responds to are emergencies. Though, to Barbara Tuohy, calling the department was the only answer she could think of a few weeks ago when she had a problem.

DALLAS — Dallas Fire & EMS awarded Ken Waller Officer of the Year and Zach Leigh Firefighter of the Year at its annual Sweethearts Awards Banquet at Pressed Coffee Roasters Café in Dallas on Feb. 9.

UPDATE March 7: