Brent Warstler hears charges in crash that killed Gresham woman

A Cornelius man accused of driving drunk and killing a 20-year-old Gresham woman made his first appearance in Multnomah County Circuit Court on Tuesday, Jan. 22.

Brent Warstler, 42, was charged with first-degree manslaughter, second-degree assault, driving under the influence of intoxicants, reckless driving and two counts of recklessly endangering another person.

Around 2:30 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 20, Warstler ran a red light and collided with a taxi at Northwest Fifth Avenue and Everett Street in Portland. Warstler’s 2012 Dodge Ram pickup truck veered onto the sidewalk, striking two pedestrians, Rebecca Bray and Brandi Butner, who were waiting for a designated driver.

Bray, of Gresham, died at the scene, while Butner, 21, of Fairview, was taken to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center. She was upgraded from serious to fair condition on Tuesday, Jan. 22, but a hospital spokeswoman said she was not ready to speak about the accident.

Warstler was transported to a hospital for minor injuries, along with three of his passengers. Warstler, who was arrested at the hospital, was booked into the Multnomah County Jail.

Warstler, who received a court-appointed attorney, is expected to enter a plea during his next court appearance Wednesday, Jan. 30.

Warstler will be arraigned on a grand-jury indictment after prosecutors present their evidence to a grand jury this week.

Warstler’s friends and family members attended the arraignment but declined to comment.

Brian Leymaster will serve 75 months in prison

A Corbett man charged with manslaughter after he struck and killed a motorcyclist in August 2012 reached a plea agreement in Multnomah County Circuit Court on Tuesday, Jan. 22.

Brian David Leymaster, 42, will serve 75 months in prison after pleading no contest to second-degree manslaughter, reckless endangering, reckless driving, failure to perform the duties of a driver, driving under the influence and second-degree criminal mischief.

The crash occurred at about 7:45 p.m. Aug. 25, when Leymaster was driving home while being followed by his two sons, ages 17 and 11, Deputy District Attorney Nicole Jergovic said. Leymaster, driving a 2012 Dodge Ram pickup truck, turned around a corner at 90 mph and crossed the center line. He collided head-on with Gar Riggs, 60, of Sandy, who was riding a 1999 Yamaha motorcycle in the 39100 block of Southeast Gordon Creek Road.

Leymaster’s truck struck a tree, so he asked his two sons, who were too far behind to see the accident, to drive him home.

When Leymaster returned home, his wife, Devree, learned of the crash and drove him back to the scene.

At the site of the accident, Leymaster was arrested and booked in Multnomah County Inverness Jail.

Gordon Creek Road was shut down for about five hours while investigators conducted a crash reconstruction of the scene.

In addition to time in prison, Leymaster will serve 35 months of probation upon his release. He also has to pay restitution to the victim’s family, and his driver’s license was revoked for life.

Leymaster will be transported to Coffee Creek Correctional Institution on Thursday, Jan. 24.

Leymaster was arrested for drunken driving in 2003 but completed a diversion program in order to have the case dismissed since it was his first offense.

Barlow carries a 43-41 lead into the fourth quarter, but makes just four shots in the final eight minutes

PORTLAND — The Barlow boys basketball team went cold down the stretch and fell 59-55 at Central Catholic on Friday night.

The teams battled back and forth most of the night, going into the locker room deadlocked 24-24.

The Bruins came out hot in the third quarter, connecting on 9 of 14 (.643) attempts and missing just once inside the paint. Despite the sizzling shooting, Barlow found itself up just two points heading into the fourth quarter.

That’s when the temperature dropped.

Barlow missed its first three shots of the quarter — all coming from beyond the arc.

Meanwhile, Central Catholic cleaned up on the boards and converted several second-chance baskets, going ahead 51-46 after Simon Noling banked a 15-footer off the glass with 3:04 to play.

The Rams secured the victory by hitting all four of their free throws in the final minute.

Look for extended game coverage in the Tuesday, Jan. 29, print edition.

Four injured when a man, angered by a fight, steers into a cluster of people outside restaurant

A Gresham man angered by a fight is accused of intentionally driving his Mercedes into a group of people and crashing into a restaurant entryway early Friday, Jan. 25.

Four men who were hit by the car are being treated for non-life threatening injuries. The driver — Brad Everett Eason, 30, of Gresham — is being held at the Multnomah County Detention Center on four allegations of attempted murder, plus allegations of first-degree assault, driving under the influence of intoxicants and reckless driving. His bail is $1.25 million.

Three of the four injured men were part of a group of people that Easton had just gotten into a fight with at Shari's Restaurant in the 800 block of Southwest Highland Drive. said Det. John Rasmussen, Gresham police spokesman. The fourth man was not with the group — he was eating breakfast before going outside to smoke a cigarette when the car crashed into him.

Police and paramedics responded to the 3:48 a.m. report of a pedestrian stuck by a vehicle and a group of approximately 10 people fighting, Rasmussen said.

Based on witnesses accounts and work by the Vehicular Crime Team, police believe that Eason was at a bar with a group of approximately 10 friends and new acquaintance earlier in the evening before the group went to Shari's, Rasmussen said. An argument started between Eason and two females in the group. The argument continued outside and Eason verbally threatened the women. Then he got in a short physical fight with Najee Newman, 21, of Portland, before the two separated.

The group broke into smaller ones, preparing to leave as Eason walked alone to his 2009 Mercedes C30 and backed out of his parking spot. Then he drove through the parking lot toward the front of the restaurant where a small part of the group was standing near the front door.

Witnesses report hearing the Mercedes’ tires lose traction as Eason accelerated, veered to the left into an open parking space near the restaurant's front door, struck an SUV, then drove onto the walkway and into part of the restaurant's entryway, running into four people in the process.

After the crash, Eason got out of his car and aggressively advanced toward one of the men he had just hit. Witnesses subdued Eason, who sustained minor injuries in the struggle, and held him until police arrived.

Rob Polanco, 23, of Gresham, was directly in front of Eason’s car when the Mercedes hit him. Polanco hit the windshield, breaking it, before being thrown into a large window behind him. Although his body did not break the glass, it did tear the window frame from the wall. He suffered a non life-threatening head injury and relatives took him to the hospital.

Kennyth Estoy, 23, of Troutdale, was transported to Oregon Health & Science University by ambulance with a compound fracture to his right leg. The full extent of his injury is not known.

Newman — the man Eason briefly got into a fight with before going to his car — was treated and released for a bruised left leg and arm at Oregon Health & Science University.

The fourth victim, Dan Daugherty, 32, of Boring, was not part of the Eason's group. He's been eating breakfast and was standing outside smoking a cigarette when Eason drove his car into the cluster of people and entryway. Daugherty suffered a minor injury to his left leg and did seek additional medical attention.

A Gresham man found himself in deep — well, you know what — both literally and figuratively late Sunday while trying to run from police.

Officers had to carry the manure-covered man out of a horse pasture after he slipped and fell on the pasture’s uneven terrain. Adding injury to insult, the man also broke his lower leg in the fall, according to police.

It all began at about 9:10 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 28, when Gresham Traffic Officer Scott McFarland saw a motorist driving 55 mph near East Powell Boulevard and Northeast Kelly Avenue, which is in a 30 mph zone, said Lt. Claudio Grandjean, Gresham Police spokesman.

The officer caught up to the red 1997 Ford Explorer at Main Avenue and tried to stop him, but the driver sped off, continuing westbound on Powell. When the suspect’s speeds topped 80 mph near Southwest Walters Avenue, McFarland stopped the chase given the danger to the community such high speeds pose.

But first, he read the license plate information to emergency dispatchers, who determined the vehicle was registered to an occupant of an apartment in the 2700 block of West Powell Boulevard.

The officer drove to the apartment and found the Explorer in the parking lot. Nobody was inside the vehicle, but McFarland noted what appeared to be fresh damage to the front end.

McFarland knocked on the door of the apartment the car was registered to. The woman who answered said her boyfriend just arrived in a panic, told her that the police were after him and had run out the back door.

The door opens out to a horse pasture.

When officers checked it, they found the man crawling around in the muck, covered in horse manure.

The suspect — identified as Jose Luis Lopez, 24, of Gresham — had hopped the fence into the pasture, but fell on the uneven terrain and into the horse manure, Grandjean said. The fall injured his ankle, making it impossible for him to walk. “Officers had to practically carry him from the pasture to the police car,” Grandjean said.

Police took him to a hospital, where Lopez got good news and bad news. His ankle was not broken like he thought it was. Instead, his fibula — the smaller calf bone behind the shin bone — was broken just above the ankle.

Officers also discovered that not only was Lopez allegedly driving while intoxicated, he was driving with a license suspended for a previous DUII, for which he was on probation.

McFarland’s follow-up investigation led him to the area where Lopez was coming from when the officer first noticed the man speeding. There, in the 24000 block of Southeast Stark Street, the officer found a damaged tree and evidence that Lopez had crashed into it.

“This guy had a bad night,” Grandjean said.

Lopez is being held on $35,000 bail at the Multnomah County Detention Center on allegations of felony drunken driving, reckless driving, attempt to elude police by vehicle, second-degree criminal mischief, driving with a suspended or revoked license and hit-and-run resulting in property damage. He also is on an administrative probation hold for violating his probation on that prior drunken driving case and on a third-degree robbery conviction.

Grandjean said the case is a good example of an officer weighing the risk to the public and discontinuing a chase while still getting a dangerous driver off the road.

“He will not be able to continue to drive in violation of his suspended license,” Grandjean added.

Between that and the broken leg, Lopez should be moving at a much slower pace for a while.

Back in high school, Kerri Scranton couldn’t wait to graduate. She wanted out of the small town in Florida where she lived with her parents and younger sister. Out of the house brimming with dysfunction.

Growing up, she’d lose herself in travel books, looking at pictures of far-off destinations while dreaming of seeing the world.

So she enlisted in the Navy.

Now, more than 20 years later, the Gresham woman is being honored by the Navy Recruiting Command with its National Recruiter of the Year award in the category of Support Person of the Year.

Scranton is one of only 13 honored who is not a recruiter. Instead, she is an administrative officer managing the Portland-based administrative office for the Navy’s recruiting district.

The district covers five states including Oregon, southern Washington, northern California, most of Nevada and part of Idaho.

Since starting in the office in 2010, Scranton has taken over the duties for her chief, who retired last April. Her exemplary job performance won her the local Support Person of the Year award, leading to being named Support Person of the Year for the region west of the Mississippi River, culminating in her latest honor at the national level.

“It’s a huge honor,” said Scranton, 39, from behind her desk at the Airport Business Center in Portland. Although she is not a recruiter, she works with them to iron out a variety of issues that sailors may encounter, such as problems with pay raises or benefit eligibility.

“I love my job,” she said. “I like fixing things and finding solutions to problems. Letting them (sailors) know about something they didn’t know they were entitled to.”

In keeping with the Navy tradition of travel, the 13 national winners traveled to Washington, D.C., for the week of Jan. 14.

There, the winners were on parade, meeting dignitaries such as the Secretary of the Navy and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, and touring the Pentagon and the Tomb of the Unknown Solider.

“I was so hoping to meet the president, but I didn’t,” Scranton said, noting that the trip was just before President Barack Obama’s second inauguration.

Not too shabby for a girl from a town so small it had just one blinking traffic light.

Scranton lived in Richlands, Va., until she was 13, when her family moved to Malone, Fla.

While in high school, Scranton approached the military recruiters who’d visited. Her grandfather was in the Army and her dad served four years in the Air Force during the Vietnam war but stayed stateside.

But Scranton wasn’t motivated by a desire to carry out the family’s tradition of military service.

“I wanted to see the world and leave home,” she said.

Her relationship with her parents was strained and college was financially out of reach. She was a talented artist, but art school was “super expensive.” Besides, she wasn’t even sure if she wanted to go to college.

So, she approached recruiters for the Air Force and Navy at her high school.

“And the Navy painted a prettier picture than the Air Force,” she said. “I love the ocean, and I think that kind of won me over.”

After graduating from Malone High School — she was one of 52 in her graduating class — she spent about a year and a half on the USS Hunley, a submarine tender. About half of the sailors were women, so she didn’t encounter any harassment or discrimination.

The ship was decommissioned in 1994. Then she became one of the first female sailors to embark on the USS Ashland. Of the 300 person crew, only 20 were women. There was some low-level harassment or “testing the waters” as she called it. But Scranton didn’t let it get to her.

“I’m sort of assertive and fun,” she said. “I make friends quickly.”

From 1992 to 1996, she traveled the globe participating in goodwill missions delivering sewing machines, shoes and painting schools. She spent a month in Africa and five months in South America.

Hoping to get a better sense of what direction she wanted to go in the Navy, Scranton joined the Navy Reserve for three years.

This allowed her to serve one weekend a month as a reservist while trying on different careers.

Along the way, she got married and in 1999 had her first child, Nicholas. Suddenly, the stability of being active duty took on new appeal. She spent three years in Sicily, and had her daughter, Kimber, in Japan, where Scranton spent four years.

While in Japan, her marriage ended but a new love bloomed. She got remarried. Her husband, Blase, also was in the military and in 2006 their daughter, Mackenzie, was born.

The family relocated to Whidbey Island, Wash., for three years, while Scranton fulfilled some mysterious job duties. She worked in electronic warfare with Squadron VAQ-130 and can’t talk about it.

“They’re planes and they have a very important mission but I can’t say anything more than that,” she said.

In 2010, her family moved to Gresham, and she began working in the Portland administrative office. Based on her national award, it seems as though she’s found her career niche.

“I have an amazing chain of command,” she said. “I really do love my job.”

When not at work, she spends time with her husband — who is the restaurant manager for Helium Comedy Club in Portland, and enrolled at Mt. Hood Community College — and her three children. They are involved in science, dance, gymnastics and Girl Scouts. Scranton is troop leader for Gresham Troop No. 45559.

Scranton said she couldn’t be more pleased about the direction her life has taken. She’s traveled the globe — “I sketched ‘David’ in Rome,” she said — has a fulfilling career and an amazing family, she said.

She even inspired her little sister to join the military.

“I literally came from nothing — a very small town that provided few career opportunities,” she said. “The Navy has taken me in a direction I never even dreamed of.”

Four injured when a man, angered by a fight, steers into a cluster of people outside restaurant

A Gresham man angered by a fight is accused of intentionally driving his Mercedes into a group of people and crashing into a restaurant entryway early Friday, Jan. 25.

Four men who were hit by the car are being treated for non-life-threatening injuries. The driver — Brad Everett Eason, 30, of Gresham — is being held at the Multnomah County Detention Center on four allegations of attempted murder, plus allegations of first-degree assault, driving under the influence of intoxicants and reckless driving. His bail is $1.25 million.

Three of the four injured men were part of a group of people whom Eason had just gotten into a fight with at Shari's Restaurant in the 800 block of Southwest Highland Drive, said Detective John Rasmussen, Gresham police spokesman. The fourth man was not with the group — he was eating breakfast before going outside to smoke a cigarette when the car crashed into him.

Police and paramedics responded to the 3:48 a.m. report of a pedestrian stuck by a vehicle and a group of approximately 10 people fighting, Rasmussen said.

Based on witnesses accounts and work by the Vehicular Crime Team, police believe that Eason was at a bar with a group of approximately 10 friends and new acquaintances earlier in the evening before the group went to Shari's, Rasmussen said. An argument started between Eason and two females in the group. The argument continued outside, and Eason verbally threatened the women. Then he got in a short physical fight with Najee Newman, 21, of Portland before the two separated.

The group broke into smaller ones, preparing to leave as Eason walked alone to his 2009 Mercedes C30 and backed out of his parking spot. Then he drove through the parking lot toward the front of the restaurant where a small part of the group was standing near the front door.

Witnesses report hearing the Mercedes’ tires lose traction as Eason accelerated, veered to the left into an open parking space near the restaurant's front door, struck an SUV, then drove onto the walkway and into part of the restaurant's entryway, running into four people in the process.

Reports are that after the crash, Eason got out of his car and jumped over the back, aggressively moving toward the victims. “The witnesses' perceptions were that he was not coming to render aid but was instead going to continue the fight,” Rasmussen said.

Witnesses stopped and restrained Eason before he reached the victims.

Then it appears that someone escorted Eason inside where they waited for police. Officers arrested him without further incident, Rasmussen said.

Rob Polanco, 23, of Gresham was directly in front of Eason’s car when the Mercedes hit him. Polanco hit the windshield, breaking it, before being thrown into a large window behind him. Although his body did not break the glass, it did tear the window frame from the wall. He suffered a non-life-threatening head injury, and relatives took him to the hospital.

Kennyth Estoy, 23, of Troutdale was transported to Oregon Health & Science University by ambulance with a compound fracture to his right leg. The full extent of his injury is not known.

Newman — the man Eason briefly got into a fight with before going to his car — was treated and released for a bruised left leg and arm at Oregon Health & Science University.

The fourth victim, Dan Daugherty, 32, of Boring, was not part of Eason's group. He'd been eating breakfast and was standing outside smoking a cigarette when Eason drove his car into the cluster of people and entryway. Daugherty suffered a minor injury to his left leg.

A sex offender wanted by police is behind bars after leading police on a chase that ended in a crash early Sunday, Jan. 27.

Michael Duane Zook, 26, whose last known address was in Gresham in the 3200 bock of Northeast 181st Avenue, is being held on $35,000 bail at the Multnomah County Inverness Jail on allegations of attempt to elude police by vehicle, methamphetamine possession, reckless driving and reckless endangerment, violating his parole or probation on an unspecified offense, as well as on warrants for felony and misdemeanor failure to register as a sex offender.

At 12:03 a.m., Portland police tried to pull over a 1995 Toyota Tercel at Southeast 111th Avenue and Harold Street on a traffic infraction, said Sgt. Pete Simpson, Portland Police spokesman.

The driver sped away from police heading southbound on 111th Avenue. At Foster Road police used a maneuver to spin the Toyota, but the driver regained control of the car and sped away eastbound on Foster Road. At Southeast 162nd Avenue, the driver turned southbound towards Happy Valley. The suspect then turned off all of the car's lights as he continued southbound on 162nd Avenue. At Southeast Vrandenburg Road, the suspect made a right turn but lost control of the vehicle and crashed, landing on the car's side.

Officers arrived and immediately called for paramedics to respond and treat the driver, as well as his and passenger.

Zook was treated for minor injuries at a Portland hospital and booked into jail on various charges. His passenger, a 25-year-old woman, also was treated for minor injuries at the scene and released.

Gresham, Fairview police chiefs speak about national debate

Gresham and neighboring cities haven’t been immune to the national gun debate or its residual effects.

Gun sales in Multnomah County have soared. Carrying AR-15s down Main Avenue has become a form of protest. And, of course, it was a December shooting at Clackamas Town Center that helped spur the nationwide discussion.

Sheriffs throughout Oregon have begun taking sides after Linn County Sheriff Tim Mueller wrote a letter to Vice President Joe Biden, stating that he wouldn’t enforce any measures outlined in President Barack Obama’s proposed gun control legislation, which includes a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.

But Gresham Police Chief Craig Junginger believes a discussion on gun control needs to take place.

“When I took the oath as police chief, it was to uphold our constitution, but I also have to provide safety for the community,” he said. “And I think there needs to be a broad discussion on the relevancy of the Second Amendment and where we’re at.”

Junginger, who’s been Gresham’s police chief for four years, says his department hasn’t been impervious to recent tragedies in Newtown, Conn., and Clackamas. But as the two sides of the debate tussle over the issue of guns, the Gresham Police Department is waiting for decisions to be finalized before adding its voice to the discussion of the proposed legislation.

“I think we have to wait and see when it gets enacted, where we stand, because I don’t think you can selectively pick and choose what legislation you’re going to enforce,” he said.

In Fairview, Police Chief Ken Johnson says he wants to work with Oregonians to prevent further mass shootings.

“The factors leading to these events are often complex, and there are no easy answers when seeking to prevent them,” he said. “We encourage a multifaceted approach to proposals seeking to reduce these violent acts. Additionally, any proposal should be analyzed in light of their real potential to reduce such events.”

While the national debate rages on, Junginger says there are state laws that Oregon should examine.

If an individual purchases a gun at a store, it must be registered. But if that gun is sold from one private party to another, it doesn’t have to be re-registered.

Junginger says that makes it difficult to track down culprits, especially in Gresham, where roughly 85 percent of homicides involve gun violence.

“I think that’s part of the problem here,” Junginger said, adding that in Gresham, roughly 20 percent of the guns involved in crimes are not registered to the current owner. “Here, if it’s been through three or four different hands, it’s pretty difficult to track it down.”

While Gresham police have responded to very few incidents involving assault weapons in recent years, a demonstration during the middle of this month sparked an onslaught of 9-1-1 calls.

Two men carried rifles, including an AR-15, along Gresham’s Main Avenue and in Portland’s Sellwood neighborhood.

While Junginger understood their point of view, he disagreed with their tactic.

“They’re legally within the law, but it’s just crazy for somebody to do something like that,” he said. “What it does to the community, the hysteria it creates for the business owners, doesn’t make it right. You can’t yell fire in a theater, so why should you be able to openly carry an assault weapon down the street here and scare the bejeezus out of every one?”

As the country waits for decisions from Washington, several cities have started taking steps of their own to curb gun violence.

On Saturday, Jan. 26, Seattle held its first gun buy-back in more than 20 years. The guns were exchanged for gift cards, but Seattle police ran out of cards during an event that drew a larger crowd than expected.

But there are no plans for Gresham police to hold a similar event, Junginger says.

“Most of the people turning in the guns are the decent people who have them locked away in their house,” he said, adding that the cost is also an issue. “A lot of cities do it. I just don’t know how effective it is.”

Given how quickly guns are coming off the sale racks, local residents may not be inclined to give them back right away.

As reported in the Jan. 22 edition of The Outlook, the number of concealed handgun licenses has more than doubled in Multnomah County since the school and mall shootings.

Junginger says this run on the market is natural with people fearing a gun ban is coming and that more guns on the street can be a cause for concern.

“It’s putting more guns into circulation that have the opportunity to fall into the wrong hands,” he said.

Johnson, who is also the president of the Oregon Association Chiefs of Police, says a comprehensive plan needs several factors in order to be successful, including “adequate services for those in mental health crisis” and “adequate resources for enforcement and sanction to those violating existing weapons laws.”

In Gresham, schools could see changes to current safety measures.

Junginger says he plans to meet with Gresham-Barlow School District Superintendent Jim Schlachter to discuss ways to improve safety in schools.

John DeWitt Eaton

Aug. 9, 1932-Jan. 24, 2013

Former Portland resident John DeWitt Eaton died Thursday, Jan. 24, in Elkton, Ky. He was 80.

A celebration of life was held Saturday, Jan. 26, in Guthrie, Ky.

John was born Aug. 9, 1932, in Portland, to John and Mary Fraley Eaton. He was a retired cook.

Survivors include his sisters, Mary Eaton and Hylah Cauley of Oregon, and nieces, Hylah Moncy and Merrilee Wolfe.

Cook-Webb Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

Michael Francis Uhler

Jan. 3, 1953-Aug. 21, 2012

Sandy resident Michael Francis Uhler died Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2012, at home. He was 59.

A private graveside service was held Sept. 13, 2012, at Willamette National Cemetery.

Michael was born Jan. 3, 1953 in Dallas, Texas, to Frank Joseph and Mary Ellen Uhler. Michael served in the Coast Guard during Vietnam and was discharged in Dec. 1974.

He married Angela Gonzales Aug. 8, 2008, at Yaquina Bay Lighthouse in Newport.

Michael was preceded in death by his first wife, Joan C. Uhler, in 2003. He is survived by his wife, Angela Uhler; sister, Robin Reynolds; daughters, Aimee Uhler and Terra Uhler; sons, Cameron Uhler, Eddie Uhler and Jay Uhler; and nephew, Chris Villareal.

Shirley Brown

Aug. 11, 1930-Jan. 25, 2013

Gresham resident Shirley Brown died Friday, Jan. 25, 2013, in Portland. She was 82. 

No services are scheduled at this time.

Shirley was born Aug. 11, 1930, in Caliente, Nev., to George and Jeanetta Hampton.

A long time resident of Las Vegas, she moved to Gresham in 2006 to be closer to her daughter. Shirley retired as an executive Sous Chef for Mandalay Corporation. She enjoyed crafts, knitting and dancing.

Shirley is survived by her daughter, Susan Woodruff; son, John Merrill; and three grandchildren, John P. Merrill, Justin Merrill and Heather Woodruff.

Bateman Carroll Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

Anton (Tony) Gonzales Jr.

Sept. 17, 1949-Jan. 24, 2013

Sandy resident Anton (Tony) Gonzales Jr. died Thursday, Jan. 24, after a battle with lung cancer. He was 63.

A memorial service will be held at 12:45 p.m. Friday, Feb. 1, at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland.

Tony was born Sept. 17, 1949, in Queens, N.Y., to Ana Brown. He graduated from Falls City High School in Oregon.

Tony served in the Army during Vietnam and was a metal worker. On May 29, 1971, he married Myrna Anderson in Reno.

He enjoyed Corvettes, home repairs and remodeling, gardening and his two dachshunds.

Tony is survived by his wife; daughter, Angela Uhler; son, Dustin Gonzales; mother, Ana Brown; sister, Isabel Honse; granddaughters Aimee Uhler and Terra Uhler; and grandson, Cameron Uhler.

Alton Robert Bailey

May 31, 1920-Jan. 25, 2013

Gresham resident Alton Robert Bailey died Friday, Jan. 25. He was 92.

A viewing will be held 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 31, and 9 a.m. to noon Friday, Feb. 1, at Finley Sunset Hills Chapel, 6801 S.W. Sunset Highway, Portland.

A service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Feb.1, at Zeller Chapel of the Roses, 2107 N.E. Broadway Blvd., Portland.

Alton was born May 31, 1920, to George and Margaret Bailey. After serving in the U.S. Army 1942 through 1946, he married Lillian Fink in 1949.

Alton is survived by his, children, Bonnie, Clark, Naomi and Lynn; ten grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.

Easton McLane Medford

Jan. 23, 2013

Easton McLane Medford, the son of Krystle Bowden and Daniel Medford, was delivered stillborn Wednesday, Jan. 23.

A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 30, at Bateman Carroll Funeral Home.

Easton was going to grow up to play baseball with his daddy and love his mommy more than anyone. An active baby even in the womb, he would have been an athlete.

He is survived by his parents; grandparents, Mark and Kelly Bowden and Dan and Cindy Medford; three uncles; and an aunt.

Charitable contributions may be made to the memorial fund in Easton’s name at any Wells Fargo Bank.

Gresham Area Chamber of Commerce Calendar

Connect with Success AM meeting, 7-9 a.m. Friday, Feb. 1, Gresham Animal Hospital, 520 N.W. Division St

Connect with Success AM meeting, 7-9 a.m. Friday, Feb. 8, Gresham Town Fair Chiropractic, VFW Hall, 150 W. Powell Blvd.

Government Affairs Committee, noon to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 6, Riverview Community Bank, 225 E. Burnside Road, Gresham.

Resource Team, 8:15-9:15 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 7, Gresham Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center, board room, 701 N.E. Hood Ave.

Coffee merchant exceeds holiday fundraising goal

Dutch Bros. Coffee franchisees raised more than $139,000 during their annual Buck-4-Kids event held on Dec. 7, surpassing the total garnered in 2011 by $50,000.

All 190 Dutch Bros. Coffee locations in seven states participated in the Buck-4-Kids program by donating drink proceeds to local youth organizations chosen by each owner-operator. Charities included regional Boys and Girls Clubs to local Christmas toy collection programs.

Dutch Bros. was founded in 1992 by Southern Oregon dairy farmer brothers Dane and Travis Boersma. The company began as a single espresso pushcart in Grants Pass, and now includes nearly 200 locations in Oregon, California, Washington, Idaho, Nevada, Colorado and Arizona. Annually, Dutch Bros. contributes more than $1 million to nonprofit organizations as a way of “making a difference, one cup at a time.”

A complete list of recipients from the 2012 Buck-4-Kids fundraiser is available at dutchbros.com/news/2012-buck-4-kids.

To find a local Dutch Bros. location, visit dutchbros.com/locations.

Two service businesses reopen — one with new management, the other with a familiar face

The boom of new small businesses around town is a sign that things are looking up for shopkeepers and consumers.

And while restaurants and specialty stores usually catch our attention quickly, businesses that provide necessary services often go unnoticed until they either aren’t there anymore or we need them.

If spring cleaning is already on your mind, shedding winter’s grime on the car or sprucing up the ’do just got a little more convenient.

Mia’s Xpress Car Wash opened in December, next to Oil Can Henry’s in Gresham Town Fair. The facility was part of the Eco Car Wash franchises, and has been closed since 2008. Now privately owned, Mia’s underwent an extensive equipment update and is offering customers services not found elsewhere.

“All our car washes include free vacuuming and towels for quick touch-ups after the wash,” said Mia’s owner Gabe Dunaway. “We also provide a free dust cloth for interior cleaning and free fragrance. Our cleaning detergents are all Turtle Wax, and most importantly, everything we use is biodegradable.”

Dunaway is a Sherwood resident with a background in the car wash industry. He operated a similar facility in Hillsboro before taking on the long-vacant building in Gresham. Mia’s boasts the newest in “brushless” technology, Dunaway said, and operates in an earth-friendly way.

“We recycle 100 percent of the water we use,” Dunaway said. “And approximately 80 percent of that is reused. The rollers we use to clean the car are made from a foam material. They don’t absorb as much water as other materials, which means they remove more dirt without being as abrasive to the vehicle.”

Being sensitive to the environment is only part of the company’s mission.

Dunaway also is introducing “Mia’s Community Fundraising” in an effort to support local nonprofit organizations and area schools. Groups that register with the company are provided with a Charity Code that identifies them as part of the program. Friends and family use the code each time they wash their car, and monthly, Dunaway issues a check to the group.

“Mia’s will donate $1 to a local fundraising program every time someone washes their car and uses the program’s designated code,” Dunaway said. “There’s no selling or time limit to how long a group can participate, so the group can run the program as long as they want.”

To register with Mia’s Community Fundraising, contact Dunaway at gdun2@comcast.net.

Mia’s Xpress Car Wash

Where: 750 N.W. Eastman Parkway, Gresham

What: full car wash services, including free vacuuming; Mia’s Club enrollment features an unlimited monthly wash program for one price.

Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

For more information: 503-492-8942

New look for an old friend

Customers of Gloria Johnson will be pleased to learn the longtime barber and hairstylist is behind the chair once again after a six-year absence.

Johnson was well known in the Springdale/Corbett area, where she kept locals trimmed and clean-shaven for several years. She later owned the Orient Barber Shop in Gresham for more than a decade, until health problems forced her to sell the business in 2006.

Now on the rebound health-wise, Johnson has reopened her newly remodeled Gloria’s Barber Shop in the same location on Orient Drive, offering nearly the same services.

“I take both men and women clients and as a barber; I can do shaves as well,” she said. “My medical condition is still somewhat limiting, so at the moment, I don’t do perms, color or hair washing.”

Johnson spent a few years living in Washington during her convalescence and returned to Gresham in December. It’s good to be behind her signature historical barber chair again, she said, and she is especially happy to be available to both active and retired military personnel.

“I’m very supportive of veterans because I’m one,” she said. “I’m glad to be back for my customers.”

Gloria’s Barber Shop

Were: 30021 S.E. Orient Drive, Gresham

What: hair and barber services

Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday

For more information: 503-489-5175

Nic Petan nets the winning goal five minutes into the third period Wednesday against Kamloops

The Portland Winterhawks beat Kamloops at its own game Wednesday night, putting up five straight goals to claim a 5-2 comeback win over the Blazers in a rematch of last year’s Western Conference finals.

“They came back on us three times in the playoffs last year, but tonight we were lucky enough to get it done to them,” Portland goaltender Mac Carruth said. “It felt like a playoff game out there, so it’s a big boost to our confidence.”

The Winterhawks (41-7-1-2) continue to lead the Western Conference seven points over Kelowna, while Kamloops (33-15-2-3) sits in third place.

After giving up two goals in the first period, Portland evened the score in a flash midway through the second.

Ty Rattie got the Winterhawks on the board, setting up out front and deflecting a pass from Nic Petan past Kamloops goalie Cole Cheveldave.

Portland’s next rush down the ice also found the net.

Presten Kopeck fought for a spot in front of the goal, but failed to connect. The Winterhawks maintained possession, cycling the puck around the perimeter and allowing Joe Mahon to join the fray. The puck found his stick, and he pounded it home cleanly.

The Blazers earned a power play late in the period, but struggled to get much going. The team squandered the last 25 seconds of the man-advantage when Portland’s Taylor Peters won the puck in the corner between two blue shirts. Kamloops eventually gained it back, but was tripped up again when Portland’s Brendan Leipsic deflected a pass near the blue line not allowing the Blazers to escape their own zone.

Kamloops fired only four shots in the middle period and the game remained deadlocked 2-2 heading into the third.

“It felt great going into that second intermission tied up,” Petan said. “We felt that our hard work was going to pay off. When you play good defense, the offense is going to come.”

Petan supplied the night’s winning goal, getting loose in the faceoff circle and putting the puck airborne through a tight window, sneaking between Cheveldave’s legs and just inside the far post.

“I went down the wing and had no one on me, so I just wanted to put a shot on net,” he said.

Kamloops had several chances to pull even, but Carruth came up with a series of big saves.

The first chance came after the Blazers won a faceoff in Portland’s zone, and Tyler Hansen put a quick slap shot on target only to see Carruth come up with the glove save.

A minute later, Carruth came out front to challenge the puck, which found its way through traffic and sat loose near the post. The Blazers’ Tim Bozon took a swipe at it, but Carruth twisted back and laid his stick across the ice to make the block.

Kamloops went on its final power play, as the clock ticked to under five minutes. Blazers’ left wing Brendan Ranford centered a slow sliding pass across the mouth of the goal but had no teammates in position to make a play. Instead, the puck came out the far side where Portland’s Taylor Leier cleared it ahead. Peters was breaking past the blue line, coming onto the puck at center ice and escaping for a short-handed breakaway that put the game out of reach.

“We stuck with the game plan and stayed focused,” Portland coach Travis Green said. “We played a good game start to finish.”

Leipsic added an empty-net tally in the final minute.

The Winterhawks have taken two of three against the Blazers with the final game in the regular-season series coming Feb. 20, in British Columbia.

Portland travels to Seattle on Friday before returning to the Coliseum to face Spokane at 7 p.m. Saturday.

Gresham police have safely found an endangered Wood Village man less than 24 hours after he went missing.

The 52-year-old man walked away from Village Manor at 2060 N.E. 238th Dr., in Wood Village at about 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 29, said Lt. Steve Alexander, public information officer for the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office.

The man requires medication for schizophrenia and has a history of wandering away from his home. These factors led police on Wednesday night to issue an alert asking the community to look for the man. He was found a short time later.

The Rams score first-place points in seven of the 11 races Thursday against Barlow

The Barlow boys swim team rushed the pool for an early lead Thursday only to see Central Catholic respond to claim the 96-73 dual win and the Mount Hood Conference regular season title.

The Bruins got out to a big start when Brandon Lowder led a sweep in the 200-yard freestyle, followed by Nick Thorne with a win in the 200 medley to put Barlow ahead 25-21 on the scoreboard.

But Central bounced back with Eamon McNeil leading a 1-2 finish in the 50 free that put the Rams in front in the team tally. They wouldn’t surrender that advantage, posting three more 1-2 finishes before the day was done.

The Rams scored first-place points in seven of the 11 races to finish the season with a 5-0 dual record.

Barlow finished the dual season at 3-2 — good enough for second place after David Douglas (2-2-1) and Gresham (2-2-1) swam to a draw in their finale.

The Barlow girls scored first-place points in five of the last six events to take a 98-68 win over the Rams.

Look for extended meet coverage in the Tuesday, Feb. 5, print edition.

View a photo gallery from the meet at …

http://daveball.exposuremanager.com/g/jan31_--_cc_v_barlow_swim

Former Beaverton teacher on the run after conviction for possessing child porn

Federal agencies are searching for a former Beaverton middle school teacher who cut off and discarded his court-ordered monitoring bracelet at a Troutdale park hours after being convicted of federal child pornography possession charges.

Logan Storm, 36, who had been staying with his parents in Southeast Portland, did not appear for a detention hearing on Wednesday, Jan. 30, said Gerri Badden, spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of Justice.

After discovering the bracelet at Lewis and Clark State Park near Troutdale, a warrant was issued for Storm’s arrest, the U.S. Marshals Service reported. Members of the agency’s Oregon Fugitive Task Force, along with other agencies, are actively searching for the former Stoller Middle School math teacher.

Authorities are asking the public to be on the lookout for Storm’s green Ford F-150 pickup with the Oregon license plate 726 CKA.

Storm was convicted by a jury on Tuesday, Jan. 29, in U.S. District Court of one count of possessing child pornography.

Following the verdict, prosecutors argued that Storm should remain in custody until his Monday, April 8, sentencing date, citing that he was a flight risk.

In July 2010, following a tip from his then-girlfriend, officers served a warrant to search Storm’s North Portland home and found several images of child pornography on a personal computer and thumb drive.

Some of the images involved girls as young as 5 years old.

Shortly after the raid, Storm fled the country for Europe and stayed there for several months. But he was arrested in February 2011 at Portland International Airport after getting off his flight.

Senior U.S. District Judge Ancer Haggerty, however, sided with the defense who said Storm had complied with the pre-trial release conditions and had not fled since being released from jail more than a year ago, Badden said.

Instead, Haggerty ordered that Storm, who already gave up his passport, had to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet.

Storm faces a minimum of seven years and three months in prison.

In 2011, Storm faced an additional charge of first-degree sex abuse, which involved two victims who were younger than 14 years old. That charge was later dropped to allow federal prosecutors to proceed with their case, but it could be revisited.

Anyone with information on Storm’s whereabouts should contact the U.S. Marshals Services at 503-326-2209.

MONDAY, FEB. 4

Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) — 9 a.m., Wood Village Green Mobile Court, 23300 W. Arata Road, Wood Village. A support group for weight management and healthy lifestyles. For more information, call Edna at 503-666-1091 or visit tops.org.

Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) — 6 p.m., Parklane Christian Reformed Church, 16001 S.E. Main St. Weigh-ins begin at 5:45 p.m., followed by the meeting at 6:30 p.m. Visit tops.org for information.

Troutdale Lions — 7:15 p.m., Sam Cox Building, Glenn Otto Community Park, 1106 E. Historic Columbia River Highway, Troutdale. For information, call Jon Brown at 971-322-4582.

TUESDAY, FEB. 5

Full Gospel Business Men — 6 a.m., Shari’s Restaurant, 881 S.W. Highland Drive. A fellowship of evangelical businessmen. For more information, call Stephen Rogers at 503-666-4793.

Historic Downtown Gresham Business Association — 8 a.m., Sunny Han’s Wok and Grill, 305 N. Main Ave. Call 503-665-5990 or visit exploregresham.com for information.

Columbia River Gorge Kiwanis Club — Noon, Tonkin Gresham Honda, Community Room, 24999 S.E. Stark St., Troutdale. 

Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) — 4:30 p.m., Highland Community Church, 4100 S.E. 182nd Ave. A support group for weight management and healthy lifestyles. Weigh-ins start at 4:30 p.m., followed by a 6 p.m. meeting. For more information, visit tops.org.

Gresham Elks 1805 — 7:30 p.m., Gresham Elks Lodge, 3330 N.E. Division St. The Elks are involved with and support several charity projects. Call 503-666-1805 for information.

Celebrate Marti Gras with pancake supper

St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, along with Episcopal parishes of St. Peter and Paul, St. Luke’s, St. Matthew’s and Holy Cross/Sta. Cruz, will hold a free pancake dinner from 5:30-7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 12, for Marti Gras and Shrove Tuesday.

The supper will be held at St. Aidan’s Church, 17405 N.E. Glisan St., Gresham, with cash and nonperishable food donations benefiting SnowCap Community Charities.

For more information, call St. Aidan’s at 503-252-6128.

Crab and shrimp benefit Feb. 20-23

St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church also will hold its largest fundraiser of the year, the All-You-Can-Eat Crab and Shrimp Feast, Feb. 20-23 at 17405 N.E. Glisan St., Gresham.

Tickets are $36 for adults and $33 for seniors age 65 and older.

Today is the deadline for ordering tickets, which can be obtained online through the upcoming events link on the left side of staidans-gresham.org. Ticket orders are processed in the order in which they are received, and will be mailed about three weeks after order forms and checks are received.

For more information, call 503-477-5575.

Air Force

Air Force Airman Kevin J. Ashcroft recently graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.

Ashcroft is the son of Ken Ashcroft of Damascus. He is a 2011 graduate of Spingwater Trail High School, Gresham.

Army

Army Spec. Mitchell D. Etter has returned to the United States after being deployed overseas at a forward operating base to serve in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Operation Enduring Freedom is the official name given to anti-terrorism military operations involving U.S. troops and allied coalition partners.      

Etter has served in the Army for two years. The son of John and Dianne Etter of Gresham, he is a 2004 graduate of Gresham High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in 2009 from Oregon State University.