A $1,000 cash reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the Sunday, March 10, homicide of a 23-year-old Gresham man.

Police responding to report of shots fired at 6:42 p.m. In the 1400 block of Northeast Paropa Court arrived to find Shane Brumbaugh shot at his condominium. He died at the scene.

The suspects arrived on foot and ran to a vehicle, which sped off after the shooting. The getaway car is described as a smaller silver four-door, possibly an import, that may have been driving erratically immediately after the shooting.

Crime Stoppers, in cooperation with the Gresham Police Department, is offering a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information reported to Crime Stoppers that leads to an arrest in this case, or any unsolved felony. Tips can be left anonymously at crimestoppersoforegon.com, text CRIMES (2746370 and in the subject line put 823HELP, followed by your tip, or call 503-823-HELP (4357) and leave your tip.

Friends of Fairview launches fundraising for chili event

Chili lovers, rejoice — the Fairview on the Green Festival featuring its popular chili cook-off is scheduled to return Saturday, Aug. 24, thanks to a grassroots effort by the newly formed Friends of Fairview Committee.

An alliance between former members of the Save the Chili Festival committee and the Reynolds Youth Football Association, has given new life to the highly popular annual event, which was cut from the city’s social calendar and budget this year. The committee is seeking sponsorships from local businesses and community members to raise the estimated $20,000 needed to produce the event. Proceeds from the festival will directly benefit Reynolds Youth Football Association, a nonprofit organization that provides athletic opportunities to underprivileged youth in East County.

Public outcry over the loss of the festival was the motivating factor for a grassroots fund raising effort, said Friends of Fairview spokesperson Brian Cooper.

“(Fairview on the Green)is a civic tradition, but we always knew it would go to a privately funded affair,” Cooper said. “There was no way the city could continue to pay for it. This is our effort to keep it going.”

The festival and chili cook-off were launched in 2006, by former Fairview City Counselor Barb Jones. It picked up speed during its’ four-year run, bringing nearly 5,000 people to the park by 2010 and attracting chili contestants from throughout the Pacific Northwest, including Montana and Idaho. The festival was sidelined in 2011 because of a lack of funding, but returned last year albeit with a smaller attendance.

Yet what distinguishes the event, Cooper said, is the emphasis on family and, more importantly, the Chili-Peppers Children’s Area.

“We’ve always made it a family event,” he added. “While mom and dad eat chili, shop, listen to music or hang out in the beer garden, the kids can run around in the park and participate in activities for them.”

To learn more about sponsorship for the Fairview on the Green Festival and the Chili-Peppers Children’s Area, contact Cooper at 971-570-3831 or via email at friendsoffairview@yahoo.com.

Multnomah Education Service District forces East Gresham Grade School student onto sidewalk to eat lunch

About 30 people cheer along the sidewalk across from East Gresham Grade School as Bonnie Burch crosses the street.

The 8-year-old beams as her mother and grandmother guide her to an event held in her honor, “Eat in Street with Bonnie.”

At a card table under a tent, her grandmother fills a large syringe with blended food and feeds it to Bonnie through a tube in her stomach.

Since kindergarten, Bonnie has been fed this way at school by nurse's aides. But Tuesday, Feb. 26, Multnomah Education Service District told Bonnie’s family she would have to be fed off campus because her feeding method was no longer considered safe.

Friends, family members and activists gathered for an eat-in Wednesday, March 20, to show their support for Bonnie and make a statement to MESD and the Gresham-Barlow School District: They want Bonnie to be fed in the school with her classmates, just as she has been the past four years.

“I’m hoping the MESD nurses can see that there are alternative ways for tubies to eat,” said Beverly Hanset-Burch, Bonnie’s mother and the president of a non-profit Blended Food Resource Group. “The way Bonnie is fed is not only perfectly acceptable, but it’s the healthiest and keeps her well.”

A vibrant little girl

Bonnie was born with arthrogryposis, a congenital disorder that manifests itself in many different ways, and her family was told when she was born she wouldn’t be able to sit up in a wheelchair.

But the child proved doctors wrong. Seeing her daughter walk through the house makes Hanset-Burch and her husband, Jerry Burch, believe Bonnie could one day do many things no one thought possible, including eat whole foods.

Bonnie has fished for salmon on the bank of Big Creek River, traveled to Finland to meet people with the same condition as her through a contest and made friends of all ages.

“Kids say, ‘Hi, Bonnie!’ ‘Hi, Bonnie!’,” Hanset-Burch said. “She’s just this vibrant little girl. How would you like to lose time with your friends day in and day out? Lunch is her social time.

“The kids used to play a game of asking what was in Bonnie’s blend each day,” Hanset-Burch said. “She’s doing so well. Why would we want to rock the boat?”

For the past four weeks, Hanset-Burch, Burch and Bonnie’s grandmother Bea Close have arrived at East Gresham Grade School at 11:30 a.m. to feed Bonnie.

They take Bonnie off campus grounds with a card table and propane heater, trying to make lunchtime as normal as possible for the third-grader.

“At first it was fun because mom and dad were there for lunch,” Hanset-Burch said.

But after the few first days, Bonnie became frustrated and struggled in her classes, missing the time at lunch with her peers.

“I don’t want my daughter existing,” Hanset-Burch said. “I want her thriving.”

MESD and district response

Because of confidentiality, MESD spokesman Mark Skolnick and Gresham Barlow School District spokeswoman Athena Vadnais could not comment on the specifics of Bonnie’s case.

How medical procedures –– feeding protocols, insulin injections, seizure responses and the administration of medications –– are carried out in school districts is determined by MESD school nurses, Vadnais said.

Gresham-Barlow will not permit a staff member, parent or caregiver to carry out a procedure in the schools a medical professional has deemed unsafe, she said.

A statement released by MESD says that MESD nurses follow practice guidelines to ensure the safest procedure is used. Nursing practice supports gastrostomy tube feed by gravity or through a pump, but not the plunge method.

According to the statement, the plunge method, which MESD nurses no longer use in a school setting, requires “continuous, forceful pushing of the syringe to administer.”

“When thick blended food is forced through a tube using a plunger, a primary concern is that by forcing the plunger, the person feeding the child is unable to determine if a blockage is present. A blockage could mean that the tube placement has been dislodged, leading to injury to the abdominal cavity, peritoneum or stomach wall,” the statement says.

But Rebecca Adams, a consulting school nurse in Eastern Oregon whose son is plunge fed, said she had seen very little information to deter her from thinking the plunge method was safe.

“There was a time when children with certain disorders were placed at institutions,” Adams said. “Now they’re in they’re homes, and families want to feed them like they feed the rest of their families.

“I have several students who have done blended feeding with great results,” she said. “The families are very happy, and we haven’t had any troubles.”

Supporting Bonnie

On Wednesday, supporters from throughout the Portland Metro area showed up for Bonnie, including representatives from the Vancouver-based nonprofit organization, Differently Abled, Nationally Accepted (DANA).

“We’d like to see her life restored to as she knew it,” said Dionna Standridge, founder of DANA, who was accompanied by her granddaughter Kennedy.

Kelley Schaperjahn, a Gresham resident who was born with the same disorder as Bonnie, said the little girl’s situation hit home. She recalled sometimes feeling separated from her peers for P.E. or lunch.

For Kerri Derrevere and the Shane family, Bonnie’s story brought up concerns of what their young children, Owen and Keira, will experience when they reach school age. Both children are fed the same way Bonnie is.

“It’s very upsetting,” said January Shane, Keira’s mother, said. “I think of what I’d do if that were Keira. (Bonnie is) made to feel like an outsider –– an outcast. It’s not right.”

A man arrested last year for his role in a fatal park brawl now faces attempted murder and assault charges.

Roger Dale Elliott, 24, of Northeast Portland is being held on $750,000 bail at the Multnomah County Inverness Jail on charges filed Thursday, March 21, of attempted murder, first-degree assault and second-degree assault in which he allegedly stabbed the mother of his child's new boyfriend.

Elliot pleaded not guilty to the charges during his Thursday arraignment.

Gresham police arrested Elliott on Sept. 23, 2012, following a knife fight between 10 people at Pat Pfeifer Park in the 300 block of Northeast 172nd Avenue. The fight killed Destiny A. Smith, 23, of Gladstone, who died at the hospital. Her death remains the only unsolved homicide of the five Gresham police investigated last year.

Elliott is accused of trying to kill a different person, Henry Real — one of three people injured in the fight.

Real was transported to a hospital for emergency surgery on serious stab wounds to the chest, abdomen and an eviscerated bowel, according to court documents.

The two men met at the park to fight over a woman Real was dating, who had a child with Elliott.

Witnesses reported seeing Elliott armed with a knife in each hand and Real armed with one knife. Mutual friends tried to stop the fight from happening and one even took Real's knife away from him.

Once Real was unarmed, he was knocked to the ground. Witnesses saw Elliott on top of Real striking him repeatedly in the ares where he was injured.

Because of the gang ties of those involved, both suspects and victims were not cooperative with police.

But one day after the fight, police arrested Elliott for violating his parole on convictions of being a felon in possession of a weapon and for unauthorized use of a vehicle.

Six months later, on Wednesday, March 20, police added attempted murder and assault charges to the list of charges he is facing.

Smith's death remains under investigation. Anyone with information about either case is asked to call the Gresham police tipline at 503-618-2719 or 888-989-3505.

Miranda Crockett was tied up and forced into an ice bath before she drowned

A Fairview woman will spend 20 years in prison after pleading guilty Friday, March 22, to the first-degree manslaughter and coercion of her boyfriend’s 10-year-old daughter.

Police charged Chandra Ilene Rose, 34, with six counts of criminal mistreatment, coercion and the reckless endangerment of another’s life two days after 10-year-old Miranda Crockett was found dead Nov. 24, 2012,

at the Kings Garden Apartments in the 2700 block of Northeast 205th Avenue in Fairview, where the girl lived with her father, Daniel Crockett, Rose and Rose’s two children.

Investigators called the girl's death suspicious. The

state medical examiner determined Miranda drowning and was the victim of homicide.

But despite the initial criminal-mistreatment charges Rose faced after the homicide, she was not charged in the girl's death until recently.

John Casalino, the Multnomah County Deputy District Attorney who prosecuted the case, described the last night of the girl's life.

“On the night of her death, Ms. Rose put Miranda in an ice bath," he said. Ms. Rose tied her up and Ms. Rose made Miranda sleep in a storage box. Ultimately, Ms. Rose caused Miranda to drown in the bathtub.”

Casalino described how Miranda’s life had drastically changed when Rose moved in with Miranda’s father, Daniel Crockett, last June .

The girl was taken out of Salish Pond Elementary School to be home-schooled. Neighbors rarely saw her.

“Miranda was made to sleep in a locked bathroom,” Casalino said.

Rose declined to comment during the sentencing hearing.

Crockett, who is Rose's boyfriend and Miranda's father, described the events of Nov. 24 as “a moment of reckless” and asked for leniency.

Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge Michael McShane instead sentenced Rose to 20 years in prison for Miranda’s death.

Fairview Police Chief Ken Johnson described how emotional the case had been for police.

"I have a granddaughter who looks like Miranda," Johnson said. "It's been very difficult for everyone involved and there was a lot of complexity with this case, but justice has been done for Miranda."

Timing may not be everything, but it can be damn important, as Troy Rutkowski proved Saturday night at the Rose Garden.

The Winterhawks' veteran defenseman had just escaped the penalty box early in the third period when an Everett forward tried to skate by with the puck. Rutkowski poked it back inside the Silvertips' blue line, won the race to get it and sent a pass to teammate Ty Rattie, whose high, hard shot found the back of the net for a 3-0 lead.

It was just one piece of Portland's 4-1 victory that squared its best-of-seven first-round Western Hockey League playoff series with Everett at 1-1, but it was a mighty big one on a night when Rutkowski stood tall.

The 6-2, 200-pound back-liner had a goal and two assists and helped anchor a defense that matched a franchise record in allowing the Silvertips only 11 shots on goal.

" 'Rutter' stepped up," coach Travis Green said. "Our leaders were real good tonight. It was a real 20-man effort, but the veteran guys led the way."

After outshooting Everett 58-31 yet coming out on the short end of a 4-3 decision in Friday's series opener, the Hawks came out with plenty of determination, ruling the shots-on-goal battle 34-11 and keeping the play in the Silvertips' end a vast majority of the game.

"I really liked the way our team came back tonight and battled hard for 60 minutes," Green said. The Hawks "were on the right side of the puck defensively, not just offensively.

"Playoff hockey is very much territorial. If you can control the territorial game, more nights than not, you're going to be on the right side of the scoreboard."

Nobody was more important for the Hawks Saturday night than Rutkowski, one of the more dependable as well as durable defensemen in franchise history. The Edmonton, Alberta, native, who signed a three-year entry-level contract with the NHL's Ottawa Senators earlier this month, played in 351 regular-season games, finishing with 240 consecutively, both club career records. He owns a share of the team mark for regular-season goals by a defenseman with 61.

Rutkowski, who turns 21 on April 29, is also the Hawks' career leader in playoff games with 58 and, including the postseason, his ironman mark now stands at 298 straight contests.

It was a big night for the defense, who scored three of Portland's goals. Rutkowski got it started on a rebound off a Rattie shot in the first period.

"I was just following the play up and Rattie lost (the puck) at his skates, and I saw it pop out when I got to the net," he said. "I was lucky enough to get my stick on it."

Rutkowski's third-period assist to Rattie as he exited the sin bin was fortuitous but perfectly executed.

"I was just trying to poke the puck up to him," he said. "Anytime you have a 50-goal scorer ahead of you, you give him the puck."

Though Rutkowski offered self-effacingly that "I don't know if my offense is that great," he scored 20 goals during the regular season and has a knack for being at the right place at the right time.

"He has great hockey sense," said teammate Seth "Iceman" Jones, the son of former NBA forward Popeye Jones and a rookie ticketed as the potential No. 1 pick in the upcoming NHL draft. "He has had a fantastic year. He has put some points up, he's played solid defense, blocked shots, penalty-killed … he's our vocal leader and he leads by example, for sure. We wouldn't be here if it wasn't for him."

As one of Portland's three overage players, Rutkowski has quietly helped hold things in check through a long season's chaotic times.

"Rutter has been a big piece of our team for awhile now," Green said. "He carried our team on its back during Christmas time, almost, when all the guys were gone (to seasonal world junior tournaments). He's a character guy who cares about his teammates. Those kind of players step up in big games."

Even with the shocking Game 1 loss, the Hawks showed no panic.

"After a game like (Friday's), you have to bounce back," Rutkowski said. "Our mood was exactly like after any regular-season game we lost. We wanted to get our jump back and play the way we can play."

Saturday's game was played more tightly than in the opener, but the Hawks stayed patient, outshooting the Silvertips 18-4 while taking a 2-0 lead through two periods.

"I liked that we didn't get impatient tonight," Green said. "Our team is used to scoring goals. Young guys who want to score a lot, sometimes they get a little antsy when things aren't going their way.

"Before the game, we talked about, 'Go out and play 60 minutes, and if you win the game 1-nothing, great.' We weren't worried about the score; we were just worried about the process of getting to the end."

Getting to the end took some time as fisticuffs accented some hard feelings on both sides in the game's final minutes. The Hawks had the edge there, too, with feisty little Brendan Leipsic scoring a unanimous decision over Everett's Connor Cox in the nightcap square-off as the sellout crowd of 10,947 roared its approval.

Portland -- the WHL's regular-season champion -- went into the series heavily favored against an Everett team that squeezed into the playoffs as the eighth and final seed in the Western Conference. Most pundits forecast a sweep.

Now the teams head to Everett for Games 3 and 4 Wednesday and Friday night. There is no question Portland is far and away the better team, but 17-year-old goaltender Austin Lotz -- solid in Game 2 after playing lights-out in the opener -- gives Everett a weapon to lean on.

"We were committed tonight," Green said. In Friday's game, "we weren't all in. Whether it was overconfidence, or playing a little too offensive, I'm not sure. When you lose a game like that and you play the next night, it's a lot harder than when you win, especially at home. It's tough if you go down 0-2.

"Give (the Silvertips) credit. They came in here and played two hard games. I think we wore them down a little bit tonight, but it's going to be a battle. We have to go up and steal one now in Everett."

That's not what the Hawks are really after. They're thinking two wins on the road, then returning to wrap up the series Saturday night at the Garden.

Saturday's win was a good start, but there is plenty of hockey yet to be played in a series that has proved more competitive than anyone imagined.

kerryeggers@portlandtribune.com

Twitter: @kerryeggers

Centennial wins third game of spring break 7-1 over Rex Putnam

CLACKAMAS — Centennial’s softball team found the winning track at the Hoodview spring break tournament putting together a three-game streak capped by Wednesday afternoon’s 7-1 win over Rex Putnam.

The Eagles broke the game open with a two-out rally in the second inning. Niki Misenhimer and Chelsey Miller connected on back-to-back singles and found their way home on Natalie McDonald’s two-run shot to left field to put Centennial up 3-0.

The team strung together three more hits in the seventh inning to stretch the lead to 7-0 before Rex Putnam pushed across its only run when it was down to its final out.

Centennial pitcher Katie Walker retired the side in order twice, including a quick trip through the heart of the order in the sixth inning to secure the victory.

Look for extended game coverage in the Friday, March 29, print edition.

View a photo gallery from this game at …

http://daveball.exposuremanager.com/g/march26_cnt-putnam_softball

Taylor Allen's walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning propelled Gresham to a 7-6 win over Sandy on Monday. The Gophers overcame a 6-0 deficit to earn the extra-inning victory.

“We're inexperienced. We have two kids with varsity experience,” Gresham coach Chad Waples said. “We stuck with it. What I like is that we didn't quit.”

With two outs in the ninth inning, Tristan Press took his lead from second base and Allen stepped to the plate. Allen fought off an inside fastball from Sandy pitcher Scooter Turin and cracked a routine ground ball in the direction of shortstop Bryce Tilton. On the last hop before reaching Tilton's glove, the ball hit a pebble, bounced up and sailed over Tilton's head. Press rounded third and scored easily to end the game.

Look for extended game coverage in the Tuesday, March 26, print edition.

ESTACADA — Corbett’s softball team climbed the ladder a division and scored a 3-0 shutout over 4A Estacada on Monday afternoon to remain unbeaten as it heads into spring break.

The Cardinals broke up a scoreless game in the third inning when Lindsay Miller punched a two-out RBI-triple through the middle of the infield. The ball found a little extra space when the Rangers chose to play an outfielder short after a player was injured during pre-game warm-ups.

Corbett’s Kaylyn Hooley followed with an RBI-double that dropped inches inside the right-field line.

The Cardinals broke the game open in the sixth inning when they put their first four hitters on base. A series of RBI-singles moved the score to 8-0 when a collision at first base left players from each side rolling on the turf. Estacada’s Bailey Hill suffered a head injury on the play, leaving the Rangers two players short and prompting the umpire to call the game short.

The Cardinals host Colton at 11 a.m. Wednesday and face Stevenson in a doubleheader at 3 p.m. Friday.

Look for extended game coverage in the Tuesday, March 26, print edition.

View a photo gallery from the game at ...

http://daveball.exposuremanager.com/g/march25_est-crb_softball

Just five years ago, Nadaka Nature Park was a little-known and neglected forested area in the middle of Gresham’s Wilkes East neighborhood.

Now, it is on the cusp of becoming a full-blown neighborhood park complete with community gardens, a nature-based play area, picnic shelter and walking trail.

Gresham city councilors on Tuesday, March 19, approved applying for a state grant that, if OK’d, would provide funding up to $750,000 for park improvements.

“We’ll be requesting $550,000,” said Lee Dayfield, who has spearheaded the grass-roots effort to improve and expand the park. “If we get it, it will pretty much get things done.”

Nadaka Nature Park was used as a Camp Fire Girls day camp from 1956 to 1995 when the city of Gresham bought the 10 heavily forested acres as a natural area. It sat unused, surrounded by a barbed-wire topped fence, until 2001 when a gate on the north side of the property off Northeast Pacific Street was opened. The city created a half-mile loop trail, but with such limited accessibility, few residents knew about it.

In 2009, with grant funding from Metro and East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District, the Friends of Nadaka purchased 2 acres that abut the park to the south, called the Nelson property. Purchasing the property, located east of St. Aiden’s Catholic Church, allowed a way for the public to access the park from Glisan Street.

A master plan for the 2 acres — which are not nearly as woodsy as the rest of Nadaka — calls for creation of a park with community gardens, a children’s play area, open space and other amenities.

The Oregon Parks & Recreation Local Government Grant could make that vision a reality, Dayfield said, adding that as a nonprofit agency, the Friends of Nadaka were unable to apply for it.

She hopes to know whether the city gets the grant in time for the third annual Nadaka Community Festival. “That would be the best way to celebrate that festival, I think,” she said.

A retired pastor is alerting residents to be careful about falling for a scam.

Bruce Montgomery of Gresham reported to police that on Friday, March 22, he received a call from a man claiming to be with the Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes.

The man had good news: Montgomery had won $850,000 and a Mercedes, but in order to collect his winnings, he had to provide $850.

“It sounds like a scam to me,” Montgomery told the man and hung up.

Montgomery reported the incident to police, alarmed in part because the caller — who spoke with a foreign accent — knew Montgomery’s date of birth. “It just troubles me,” said Montgomery, who is retired as pastor of Pleasant Home United Methodist Church. “There are seniors who are just cleaned out by these things.”

The Oregon Department of Justice warns that if you have to pay upfront taxes, fees or shipping charges to collect a prize or win a contest, chances are it’s a scam.

If you think you’ve been victimized in a contest, sweepstakes or prize-offer scam, or want to report a person, company or agency that could be engaging in such scams, call your local police and the Oregon attorney general at 1-877-877-9392.

The family of a Gresham woman who died after being struck by an alleged drunken driver in Portland’s Old Town area in January has filed a $4 million wrongful death lawsuit against the driver.

Rebecca Bray, 20, and her friend Brandi Butner of Fairview were standing on the sidewalk waiting for a ride when a 2012 Dodge Ram pickup driven by Brent Warstler crashed into a taxi and struck both women around 2:30 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 20.

Bray died at the scene. Butner, 21, was rushed to Legacy Emanuel Hospital & Health Center with severe injuries, including a broken pelvis. Butner also has filed a lawsuit seeking $3 million for medical costs and trauma.

Warstler, 42, of Cornelius, allegedly was driving about twice the speed limit and an hour after the crash had a blood-alcohol level of 0.20 percent — more than twice the state’s legal limit of 0.08 percent.

He reportedly ran a red light at the intersection of Northwest Fifth Avenue and Everett Street and crashed into a taxi, causing him to veer onto the sidewalk where the truck struck both women.

Bray’s estate filed its lawsuit in Multnomah County Circuit Court on March 15, alleging that Warstler is guilty of negligence.

It seeks a jury trial and $4 million for the victim’s lost wages, her pain, agony and emotional distress, and her mother Sharon Bray’s loss of companionship. The suit also seeks an extra $5,000 for funeral and burial expenses.

Warstler has posted $5,000 bond and is living with family in Gresham until his trial on charges of second-degree manslaughter and third-degree assault.

A heat lamp too close to combustibles is to blame for a house fire that displaced a family in Boring early Monday, March 25.

The 6:40 a.m. fire in the 22000 block of Southeast Borges Road caused an estimated $125,000 to $150,000 in damage, said Pat Bigelow, Fire Marshal for the Boring Fire District.

A heat lamp used to warm an aquarium was placed too close to a roll of craft paper, causing the paper to catch on fire. Nobody was home at the time and two dogs escaped unharmed.

Crews extinguished the fire with help from Clackamas Fire District 1, Gresham Fire & Emergency Services and the Portland Fire Bureau.

In the political complexities that have characterized Clackamas County lately, Commissioner Paul Savas has found himself in the thick of them — a position in which he will likely remain by formally announcing his campaign for re-election in the coming months.

Savas, 56, an Oak Grove resident and business owner, is the only commissioner who lives in the populous North Clackamas area. He won a close election in 2010, and then placed third in a bitter four-way primary campaign for the county’s chairperson position last May.

Two camps of solid opposing votes have emerged since the election of three county commissioners in November, and Savas often is the swing vote in 3-2 decisions. He sided with commissioners Jim Bernard and Martha Schrader to support exiting Administrator Steve Wheeler and to fund a major repair of crumbling public housing.

He has voted with new Chairman John Ludlow and Commissioner Tootie Smith to send questions to voters about Milwaukie light rail and the Columbia River Crossing project. In his first couple of years as a commissioner, Savas emphasized his goals to reduce deficit spending and debt-service costs. He tried to demonstrate the need for balanced funding between rural and urban areas, often on the losing side of 4-to-1 votes.

But Savas would like to focus on the county’s economic prosperity rather than politics.

“I just put that aside — I know it’s relevant, but the partisan bickering is really a distraction,” Savas said. “We need to get to the business of the county, and I think that’s what the citizens want and expect us to do.”

Savas measures the success of his time serving Clackamas County using his experience as an elected member of governing boards in Oak Lodge service districts. He’s not satisfied with the progress the county has made over the past few years, nor with its image.

“I want to leave organizations in a better place than when I found them,” he said. “I did that with the water and sewer districts, and that’s what compels me to move forward with my 2014 re-election campaign.”

To delve deeper into Savas’ priorities and the reasons behind his support for various initiatives, this newspaper sat down with him for an extended interview.

Question: What would it take for you to feel comfortable taking a strong stance on the CRC project as proposed?

Answer: The CRC is not our project; we have no intimate knowledge of it. Simply put, I believe in making informed decisions on projects of this magnitude. ODOT should pitch this project to us and answer our questions; they have over 10 years of history with it.

Q: How have your views on Portland-Milwaukie light rail changed since you first ran for commissioner in 2010?

A: My position on PMLR has not changed. My financial concerns have not only been reinforced, but are more serious than I was led to believe. TriMet’s financial outlook is grave.

Q: What can Clackamas County focus on in the next few years to maximize local commercial and industrial potential?

A: The county must first prioritize economic development in its top tier of goals. Then we should align our land-use and transportation plans to position our employment lands to a status that will attract new business. Infrastructure is a vital component of that, and it is one of our key responsibilities.

Sometimes securing and keeping a job comes down to something simple, such as owning a pair of sturdy work shoes. 

SnowCap Community Charities is experiencing requests from many men who don't have adequate footwear to perform comfortably on the job or seek employment.

"We've never before had to make this request for community support, but it is important for the clients we serve," said Judy Alley, SnowCap executive director.

SnowCap is seeking a variety of shoes with good, nonskid soles, such as tennis or athletic shoes. The organization also is seeking used black leather footwear.

"They will be worn to work by many of our clients who are employed in blue collar jobs — fast food workers, security personnel, service station attendants," Alley said. "Some men also need shoes to wear for job interviews, but they are not usually worn for office-type employment."

SnowCap is looking for all sizes of shoes that are clean and free of dirt and odor. Shoes may be delivered to the SnowCap warehouse at 17788 S.E. Pine St. from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays. 

SnowCap Community Charities is a philanthropic organization created 47 years ago to provide food, clothing, advocacy and other services to the poor in East Multnomah County.

For more information, call SnowCap at 503-674-8785, ext. 17, or email judy@snowcap.org.

Compton well still non-functional after being silent for two years

Boring Water District Board Chairman Bob Boring says there are many options to deal with the idled Compton well, but none of the options are good.

That’s why he says he thinks the board will “just sit on it.”

“We might look at (rehabilitating) the well in the next year’s budget,” he said.

Apparently the choice of site for the well — selected about seven years ago — wasn’t the best, but Boring says you can’t see several hundred feet below the surface and know what the well driller will find.

In this case, the drill penetrated a sand pit over the aquifer that is feeding some very good wells in the area, but not at the water district’s site near the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Compton Road near Highway 26.

The well stopped pumping a couple of years ago because of the sand, which clogged filters and eventually ruined a fairly new, and quite large, pump motor.

The pump and motor were sent to the factory to be evaluated for warranty claims, but the result was that the damage was caused by very fine sand.

Boring describes it as “flour sand,” which is so fine and lightweight that it floats on water.

“The more you drill, the worse it gets. (The sand) looks like Mount St. Helens ash.”

That fine sand was encountered when the driller added 100 feet to the well’s depth about a year ago, in hopes of passing through the (more coarse) sand layer and achieving even more volume of water.

But that idea was a bust.

It's been a couple of years since that well pumped water on a regular basis, but Boring said the district is still OK without using the well.

“There’s no question that we need another well online," he said. "But whether the board decides to put good money after bad in that hole, or what we will do, is still up in the air.”

The Compton well would assist in serving the north side of the district, especially adding water volume and pressure for fire service.

One of the popular options is to add concrete to the lowest 100 feet of the well’s depth — preventing the flour sand from entering the well.

In that scenario, they would place the well pump above the top of the concrete and hope they could draw at least 100 gallons a minute.

To test that option would cost more than $9,000, and that’s why rehabilitating the well is likely to wait until the board can justify it in a future year’s budget.

“If we could sustain 100 gallons a minute of useable water,” Boring said, “it would pay us to do it. But (to pay the cost for the test) is money we don’t have. The board is still trying to figure out where that money would come from.”

Boring is afraid, although not certain, that the district will eventually be forced to seek another well site on the north side of the district.

That’s a costly thought.

And for such a small district, it becomes increasingly difficult to gain capital grants for infrastructure improvements.

“There might be a chance of getting a grant,” Boring said, “but I seriously doubt that.”

Boring firefighters climb nearly 800 feet to the top of Seattle tower

Nine Boring firefighters traveled to Seattle to compete in the annual affair that has grown men donning nearly 100 pounds of gear and running up stairs for nearly 70 floors.

If that doesn’t get their hearts pumping, they can walk down and try it again — although not many want to look at another staircase after that event.

The Scott Firefighter Stairclimb supports the mission of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and raises money through sponsorship, individual and department fundraising as well as through entry fees.

Last year, the event attracted more than 1,500 firefighters from nearly 300 fire departments from three countries. That year, the fundraising brought in a record $1.2 million for blood cancer research and patient services.

This year (Sunday, March 10), there were about 1,550 firefighters from more than 200 fire departments across the Pacific Northwest and more distant areas competing in a timed race to the top of the Columbia Center in downtown Seattle.

The competition required them to wear their turnouts and carry the rest of their firefighter combat gear along with a self-contained breathing apparatus.

This unique event is the largest individual firefighter competition in the world, said a spokesperson for the Boring Fire Department.

At 788 feet of vertical elevation, the Columbia Center (formerly the Bank of America Tower) in downtown Seattle stands as the second tallest building west of the Mississippi River.

To reach the amazing views from the observation deck overlooking the city, firefighters must ascend 69 flights of stairs, which requires stepping up onto 1,311 stair steps before reaching the top.

When the Boring firefighters traveled to Seattle to participate in this event, some were motivated by the opportunity to help fight cancer, said a Boring Fire spokesperson, while others were challenged to put their training and fitness to the test and for others it was personal.

Awards were given to the fastest climbers and to the top fundraisers.

The nine-member team from Boring raised $3,354 for cancer research and achieved the time goals they had set for themselves in the climb.

All Boring participants reached the top of the Columbia Center, and achieved the following times:

• Robert Aberle finished in 257th place, with a time of 17 minutes, 19 seconds.

• Ted Pentecost, 356th place, 18:09.

• Shane Thomas, 360th place, 18:11.

• Tyson Guillory, 489th place, 19:14.

• J.R. Cox, 495th place, 19:18.

• Sandor Pongracz, 516th place, 19:28.

• Steve Edwards, 520th place, 19:31.

• Dave Doornink, 857th place, 22:13.

• Tony Funk, 1,252nd place, 30:22.

Take a piano workshop

Donn Rochlin, an instructor at Mt. Hood Community College, will offer a Just for Fun Piano workshop 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 6, at the college.

The workshop is offered for beginners as well as seasoned players suffering from what Rochlin calls “post-traumatic piano lesson stress disorder.” Rochlin has a philosophy that students should have fun learning and lay the foundation for a lifetime of creative expression.

Tuition is $65, and an additional $25 will be collected for a book and CD.

Following the workshop, Rochlin will offer a How to Improvise on the Piano class from 2-5 p.m. the same day for $65. For more information, call 503-491-7572.

Spring swimming at Sam Barlow

The Sam Barlow High School pool has announced its spring programming, including middle school water polo.

The spring schedule is as follows:

• Middle school water polo, 5-6:15 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays

Session one: April 8-May 1

Session two: May 6-June 3

Cost: $35 per session.

• Swim lessons, Mondays and Wednesdays

Class one — 7:30-8 p.m.

Class class — 8-8:30 p.m.

Cost: $7 for a drop-in class or $12 for two classes.

To register, call 503-258-4960, email schuerman@gresham.k12.or.us or stop by the pool to register.

Scrap metal thieves are suspected of stealing 18 storm drains and storm grates from Gresham streets and culverts in the past two weeks.

Since March 10, thieves have stolen culvert storm drains and storm grates from ditches and gutters along Southwest Butler Road, Southeast Regner Road and Southeast 182nd Avenue in Southwest Gresham, as well as elsewhere in the city, said Laura Shepard, city spokeswoman.

Thieves also took a storm grate from a street in front of an elementary school, she added.

“This is really a safety concern for us,” Shepard said. “For pedestrians, bicyclists and even cars.” In addition, without the grates, culverts can become plugged with debris, causing roadway flooding.

The city estimates it will cost $7,400 to replace the grates. Police suspect thieves are selling them as scrap to metal recyclers for a fraction of what they’re worth. “It’s definitely frustrating for the city,” Shepard said. “Somebody taking public resources to make a few dollars."

It’s not the first time the city has been hit by metal thieves.

Two years ago, a metal thief stole more than 70 storm grates in Portland and Gresham. He made about $7 per grate, Shepard said, and was sentenced to three years in prison and ordered to pay $22,000 in restitution.

Anyone who notices a missing storm drain should report it to the city’s operations center at 503-618-2626. To report suspicious activity, call the Gresham police non-emergency line at 503-823-3333.

Gordon Russell Middle School

Second trimester, 2013

Eighth grade

4.0 — Allison Chastain, Meg Cook, Lindsay Coutts, Ming Fung, Michelle Garcia, Monica Garcia, Emma Garfield, Tayler Haglund, Joely Hand, Bailey Kahan, Lacey Knutson, Britton Luker, Joy Macalanda, Brady Maynard, Alyssa McVay, Kelsey Menolascina, Sarah Meyer, Laura Molina, Timothy Naumets, Jackie Rivas, Laura Rizzo, Danica Salitore, Andrew Severson, Zander Standish, Natalie Tercek, Jake Thompson and Sarah Willhite.

3.5-3.99 — Pilialoha Ahina, Ashley Albelo, Benjamin Arthur, Emily Axtell, Madison Bauck, Samantha Bergeron, Gaby Bowman, Moyrah Brushwood, Marcus Butler, Yasmin Camacho, Robbie Cantrell, Colbie Carlos, Joanna Carrasco-Anica, Sydney Clay, Fulurans Dihzod, Alyson Dow, Perrie Eischen, Kayli Ellis, Rachel Fetters, Adam Fisher, Tommy Fornoff III, Hunter Frasier, Kalissa Gallagher, Makenna Gallagher, Emma Ingram, Taryn Jacobson, Marshall Johnson, Josh Jones, Helen Kim, Noa Kindred, Cameron Koford, McKaylah Kuhns, Kayla Lankford, Maribel Martinez, Chloe Mathes, Kiara McNeal, Dennis Nguyen, Peter Nicolae, Pricilla Olivares, Christian Ordway, Kyla Penrod, Dmitriy Prozapas, Wyatt Radke, Melanie Rivas, Melanie Roberts, Ariel Sangoquiza, Gabriela Santos De Jesus, Duncan Scott, Kyra Sexton, Madison Topaum, Phillip Tsukanov, Alez Valle, Sam Winczewski and Cieara Yates.

Seventh grade

4.0 — Vaimoli Bigler, Kailie Franco, Sarah Gernhart, Conner Grimes, Gretchen Heiser, Erich Hofmann, Alyssa McCurley, Kenna Perzel, Holly Severson, Adrie Slawik, Lauren Timzen, Anthony Wilkins and Autumn Wilson.

3.5-3.99 — Kassy Allen, Alondra Alvarez, Rachel Amadio, Jackson Batman, Jacob Biesterfeld, Anthony Bobrovnikov, Abigail Cohen, Caroline Corvese, Lacey Elwood, Estefany Garcia-Delgado, Sara Hawks, Henry Heiser, Grace Hildebrandt, Kiana Hytrek, Tessa Jenness, Jamisen Jette, Taryn Jones, Amelia Joy, Hayden Kehn, Lauren Kohlhepp, Tristan Kuzma, Rachel Loeb, Aileen Lor, Alayna Luna, Celestria Martin, Emily Nagel, Jimmy Nicholson, Benjamin Petryuk, Nicholas Pritykin, Jessica Romero, Gary Schmidt, Emma Stewart, Clayton Swank, Megan Ward, Tavish White and Karlee Wood.

Sixth grade

4.0 — Jennifer Bordine, Chloe Bowen, Cora Bruders, Lexi Cheney, London Christiansen, Melissa Cook, Isabella Crumpton, Kimberly Dawson, Josie Edmiston, Sophia Emerson, Kenzley Enyart, Lexi Heaton, Amber Ingram, Jenna Jette, Jaclyn Jimison, Sarah Kim, Cody Loeb, Noah Lowery, Kiley Maynard, Savannah Meyer, Jasia Mosley, Shania Nair, Sara Nasuta, Ella Neiwert, Khue Nguyen, Jordan Olsen, Shyloh Pekham, Darcy Pound, Makennah Ray, Hannah Rispler, Magi Sexton, Laura Stanley, Rachel Stanley, Andrew Tercek, Kyree Thames, Yiu Tran, Whitney Waddell, Alicia Zhang and Ben Zimmerman.

3.5-3.99 — Marwa Al-Baiaty, Jasmine Brown, RJ Connolly, Marquiss Cruz Katelynn, Doyle Tanner Dunsworth, Jared Eggleston, Zoey Erickson, Tayler Evi, McKenzie Ferguson, Tetiana Gamza, Adrian Garcia, Jennifer Gonzalez-Sierra, Reece Haney, Emily Herman, Luis Hernandez-Martinez, Savanah Horsell, Dylan Humphrey, Mahir Lisic, Carter Loeb, Kevin Lucas, Lisa Martin, Makyla Meeuws, Jacob Nonamaker, Christian Olivares, Vanessa Pocol, Chase Ramberg, Peyton Randol, Giovanna Schodrow, Savannah Serviss, Talen Stoner, Jenna Tate, Andrew Tatro, Eddy Tello Hernandez, Iris Van der Meer, Pashence Vescovi, Kelsey Williams, Milly Wilson, Haily Yates, Grace Yowell and Jennifer Zambrano.