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Editorial: Light a fire under the bureaucracy B4 Commentary B5 Obituaries D5 B NEWSROOM • 503-221-8100 TUESDAY, JULY 25, 2006 [email protected] METRO 3M NEWS FROM THE PORTLAND AREA AND THE NORTHWEST

Oregon fires

Portland 050 Out-of-state cash fuels petitions MILES 84 26 Nov. 7 Illinois groups spend Monday. ered for the ballot. Two of the 12 — a business since 1965, Rich founded U.S. Sisters Supporters of the spending limit initia- measure to ban the use of credit scores in Term Limits in 1992. The term limits 5 Black more than $1 million on tive have spent $671,705 in their drive to setting insurance premiums and another group is reportedly moving from Illinois Crater Burns initiatives to limit Oregon qualify the measure for the Nov. 7 ballot, that would cut state taxes — have qualifi- to New York. Happy spending and legislative terms and all but $100,000 of that came from ed with enough valid signatures, and As the campaign finance reports were Valley Americans for Limited Government of more are expected to be approved this filed with the Elections Division of Secre- By EDWARD WALSH and DAVE HOGAN Glenview in suburban Chicago. week and next week. tary of State Bill Bradbury’s office, Brad- THE OREGONIAN THE OREGONIAN Another Glenview-based organization, Headed by Chairman Howard Rich, bury issued a blistering statement accus- ing some initiative campaigns and signa- Two groups based in Illinois have U.S. Term Limits, contributed $510,000 to who lives in New York City, Americans for the Oregon term limits initiative, nearly all Limited Government emphasizes the use ture gathering firms of “gross negligence” poured more than $1 million into Oregon in the signature-gathering process. this year in an attempt to win passage of the money spent so far by that campaign. of initiative campaigns to achieve objec- Dozens of two initiatives that would limit state Advocates of the two conservative ini- tives such as reducing taxes and govern- “We’re seeing the same individuals spending and reimpose legislative term tiatives were the top spenders among the ment spending and protecting property from the same campaigns make big fires across limits, campaign finance reports showed sponsors of 12 proposals being consid- rights. An entrepreneur in real estate and Please see NOV. 7, Page B6 state scorch Drowning deaths continue with heat wave Bitterness range, grass As another blast of hot weather drew people to the with the Oregon Department of Health says: Portland area’s lakes and rivers, several more people Learn to swim: “People who can’t swim should be Wildfires Lightning drowned, bringing the total to at least 24 drownings really careful around the water. If they are out on a boat, could color sparks 90 new fires in two since early June. The people who died ranged in age they should absolutely be wearing a life jacket.” days, including a 42,000-acre from 5 to 78. The number of drownings is in line with Watch currents: “We have these swift running bodies hearings blaze in Malheur County recent history: Forty people drowned in Oregon’s of water that are fed by the snowpack. The currents can waters in 2005. Forty-one drowned in 2004. be treacherous, and the cold water also plays a role.” By MATTHEW PREUSCH Don’t drink: on new city THE OREGONIAN Some water safety precautions seem obvious, but “Your judgment plays a big role, and your they bear repeating. Mel Kohn, state epidemiologist ability to react quickly is impaired.” BEND — Lightning-sparked fires in dry timber and rangeland kept fire Incorporation It’s Bull crews busy across the state Monday, Mountain versus Tigard on and more storms and hot weather are expected today. whether to include a In Central Oregon, a fire burning WASHINGTON proposal on the fall ballot 10 22 through bug-killed trees in the Three Pendleton Vancouver By LUCIANA LOPEZ Sisters Wilderness led to the closure of THE OREGONIAN the historic McKenzie Highway six Portland 11 The 5 Dalles 1 Tigard City Councilor Sydney Sher- miles west of Sisters. 16 15 A fire lookout spotted the fire about 14 6 Water hazards wood had had enough. 11 a.m. Monday, and by afternoon a 8 3 At the council’s July 11 meeting, a 20 Shock from cold Life jackets Logs and rocks Currents can plume of smoke rising from the area 17 18 water in rivers should be worn can trap a push swimmers Bull Mountain resident wanted to ad- was visible miles away in Bend. Salem dress the council about the proposed Lincoln City 4 fed by glaciers by children and swimmer’s foot. from shore As temperatures peaked, the fire — 7 and snowmelt adults, They also pose toward the boundary for a new city on the moun- called Black Crater for the volcanic fea- can cause especially in dangers to middle of a river tain, but the council said the item was ture near where it started — moved swimmers cold or swift divers, who can and prevent them closed for public testimony. 13 east across the wilderness boundary to panic, go moving water. strike their heads from reaching They went back and forth on the and into an area of the Deschutes Na- under and on them. safety. question until Sherwood got up, an- tional Forest popular with hikers and Bend inhale water. nounced that she was going to take a campers. 23 19 break and went into a back room to The fire was estimated at 50 acres to Eugene 24 pour herself a cup of coffee. 70 acres and crews hadn’t yet con- “I’m not tained any of it, though it had mel- going to take it lowed somewhat after an afternoon OREGON anymore,” Meeting flare-up, said Roland Giller, spokes- Sherwood said man for the Deschutes National For- What: Washington 12 this week. But County Board of est. 0 25 for the future, Commissioners The fire was just one of dozens of MILES 2 she said, “the When: fires burning from Central Oregon to 9 6:30 p.m. hope is that we today the southeast corner of the state. can put all the Where: 155 N. First Between Sunday and Monday 21 personalities Ave. in Hillsboro mornings, fire officials tallied 3,676 aside and work More information: lightning strikes across the state, caus- together.” www.co.washington. That kind of Please see FIRES, Page B3 Grants or.us. Pass Medford friction forms the backdrop for the Washington County Board of Commissioners’ meeting tonight, STEVE COWDEN, TANYIA JOHNSON, when the board will begin hearings on Marine from 1. June 8: Fred Oringdulph Jr., 78, THE OREGONIAN whether to put an incorporation pro- Portland; Wallowa River; fell in, trapped posal for a new city of Bull Mountain under rock. on the November ballot. 2. June 17: Nicole Shelene Johnson, 21, Portland area City; Deschutes If the measure is put on the ballot — Winston; Ben Irving Reservoir; River; trapped fell off and passes — it would create a new swimming. under water after raft 3. June 23: Coon Island city of about 1,660 acres and 8,000 peo- killed in Iraq Geoffrey Michael Reynolds, flipped. Wearing life jacket. 29, Portland; Clackamas River; rafting. boat dock. ple — the state’s 56th largest, just 19. July 9: Young-Sook Not wearing life jacket. 11. June 28: Andy ahead of Lincoln City, according to Kuga, 48, Keizer; Deschutes A U.S. Marine from Oregon died last 4. June 24: Maria Martinez, 13, Salem; Panyanouvath, 19, Portland; data from the Population Research River; took raft over a spillway week in Iraq, officials said Monday. Walter Wirth Lake; swimming. Wirth Sandy River; swimming. Center at Portland State University. marked as hazardous. Not wearing life Capt. Christopher T. Pate, 29, from Lake is a no-swimming area. 12. June 28: William Parnell, 20, Although the county commissioners jacket. Washington County was killed Friday 5. June 24: Edward Wyatt Jr., 40, Oakland; Umpqua River; swimming. will be weighing the proposal accord- during combat in Anbar province, Gresham; Sandy River; chest trauma 13. June 29: Darold Lee Williams, 59, 20. July 16: Philip Martinez, 23, Salem; ing to criteria such as land-use regula- according to the Marine Corps. Pate from a belly-flop. Lebanon; South Santiam River; fell into Proposal Rock at mouth of Neskowin tions, they may find themselves also was stationed at Camp Lejeune, N.C., 6. June 25: Clara Elias-Ascencio, 11, river June 23 while retrieving a bike. Creek; swimming and drinking at the playing referee between Bull Mountain and assigned to the 2nd Air Naval Gun- Gresham; Roslyn Lake; fell into drop-off 14. July 2: Ahmed Hussein, 20, time of the accident. and Tigard, where the acrimonious fire Liaison Company, Command Ele- while wading. Arlington, Texas; Clackamas River; 21. July 17: Harvey S. Kappeler, 60, of history dates back at least to Tigard’s ment, 2nd Marine Expeditionary 7. June 25: John Steven Rae, 59, swimming. Pittsburgh; Rogue River; got out of a 2004 attempt to annex the mountain Force. Details were unavailable. Crabtree; North Santiam River; drowned 15. July 2: Mohammed Abdalo, 21, rented inflatable kayak to free it from wholesale. Pate joined the Marines in Decem- after rescuing three people. Hanover Park, Ill.; Clackamas River; rocks. Not wearing a life jacket. Tigard saw annexation as the culmi- ber 1999 and was promoted to captain 8. June 26: Benito Gaspar-Almaraz, 27, swimming. 22. July 22: Ivan Vorobets, 19, nation of a 20-year effort with the in 2004, officials said. Woodburn; Molalla River; swimming 16. July 4: Francisco Fernandez, 23, Portland; Battle Ground Lake, Wash.; county to guide development on the Maureen Wheeler, a Beaverton while intoxicated. Hillsboro; Sain Creek; swimming. swimming outside a roped-off area. School District spokeswoman, said 9. June 27: Dawlton Grubb, 5, Tenmile; 17. July 4: Lorenzo Daniel Juarez 23. July 23: Man, 25; McKenzie River; mountain, smooth out urban services Pate attended Five Oaks Middle School Ben Irving Reservoir; left unattended. Rojas, 22, Canby; Molalla River; slipped learning to swim. and create a more equal tax base and Aloha High School. 10. June 27: Raymond L. Palmer, 67, off ledge into deep water. 24. July 23: Transient man in his 40s; among area residents. But some Bull — From wire reports Ridgefield, Wash.; Multnomah Channel; 18. July 6: Danielle Hagler, 17, Oregon Willamette River; found floating. Please see BULL MOUNTAIN, Page B6 Psychologists, therapists enlist in effort to aid returning troops Coming home Volunteers offer Inside Veterans Resource Project Carol Levine NW, an effort by a collection of organized professional help to veterans coping Vietnam and WWII Portland-area psychologists, psychologists, with aftereffects of Iraq or Afghanistan veterans tell VA social workers and other social workers and caregivers that fight- mental-health professionals to other mental- By DEE ANNE FINKEN ing in the Middle help returning soldiers get health THE OREGONIAN East is reawakening their lives back together. professionals to their own pain B6 Accustomed to helping people deal with their Since the project’s creation form the Returning emotions, Portland social worker Carol Levine was less than two years ago, each Veterans Resource floundering with her own feelings less than a year of the 21 participating therapists has agreed to pro- Project NW. Each into the U.S. war in Iraq. vide free counseling to a veteran back from Afghani- of the therapists has signed on to stan or Iraq, walking the soldier through what can be Old enough to remember — and regret — the ani- offer free a minefield of adjustment — for as long as soldiers mosity that had greeted so many soldiers returning counseling to a from Vietnam three decades earlier, Levine had been and families need. veteran returning hearing about the challenges of homecoming for The service is welcomed by the Department of Vet- from Iraq or present-day veterans, particularly the citizen soldiers erans Affairs, whose officials say that for some veter- Afghanistan and who make up the majority of Portland’s military pop- ans, it is tough to ask for help — from the government his or her family. ulation. or anyone. Most don’t want to acknowledge they’re “I was feeling so helpless,” Levine said. in counseling — much less talk about it publicly. BRIAN LEE SPECIAL TO But out of Levine’s conflict was born the Returning Please see COMING HOME, Page B6 THE OREGONIAN