Statesman Journal from Salem, Oregon • Page 2

satemnortht communit5 entertainment 6, 7 The Oregon Statesman, Thurtdoy, April 3, 1980 city feport Salem neighborhood associations plan Police still searching message to Council: 'Shut down the Gut' tor Ubn escapee lady both say they doubt dozens of police in the area, even if the resources existed to provide them, would chase many people away. The Gut is a social phenomenon that law enforcement alone will not discourage, Hollady says. Flesch argues the police would be a little more vigorous and creative in handling the problem if It developed out in South Sulem In more financially and politically well-connected neighborhoods. When a new Gut appeared to be blossoming around the Lancaster Mall and River Road areas, Flesch says, the Marion County Sheriff's office was quick to crack down. THE SAME KIND OF toughness is needed from the city police, Flesch says, so the Gut can be closed and not given a chance to retrench elsewhere.

Salem City Councilman Peter Courtney's ward Includes the Gut and he agrees. "We've got to get it out of there and irrevocably so." tions, says Salem Police Maj. Everett Van Osdol. Police know homeowners und shop keepers are having a tough time, he says, but the department is at loss what to do. THE SOLUTION IS simple, according to Flesch: Get the police to enforce the law.

Far too many "warnings" and not enough tickets are issued by polic he says. If enough tickets were dished out to the habitual troublemakers, some people might start losing their licenses, he says. Enforcement picked up this past weekend on the Gut, Van Osdol says, as Spring Break signalled the opening of cruising season. He says 40 citations and 26 warnings were issued Friday night and 50 citations and 23 warnings were written up on Saturday night. Because of the city council interest and some nasty incidents in the past couple of years, the police prepare a weekly report on the Gut for the city manager.

VAN OSDOL AND Police Chief Roy Hoi- By LANCE DICKIE Orrgo Suietmaa Reporter A delegation of leaders from Northeast Neighbors, Highland and Grant neighborhood associations will ask the Salem City Council Monday to shut down the Gut. Enough is enough, say Northeast Salem residents who want police to chase off the not-so-young punks and troublemakers residents say cruise Portland Road NE and the infamous Gut. "We are not going to compromise again," says Highland chairman Don Flesch. "Get rid of the Gut, get it out of the north end of town." FLESCH AND OTHERS are worried the city council and staff are satisfied if the traffic, noise and vandalism can be confined to the Portland and Fairgrounds roads NE area. "It's time," Flesch says, "to get the police department off its duff and do something." Area residents say harmless teenage cruising is a thing of the past.

What used to be a fair weather rite of passage involving high school kids driving the family wagon, has turned into a year round plague of vandalism, noise and trespassing. "There is a hard core that has never grown up," Flesch says of the cruisers, many of whom he describes as in their mid-20s and early 30s. CARS FULL OF high school kids still snake through the Gut bumper to bumper on Friday and Saturday nights, local residents say, but the teenagers are usually off the streets by 11:30 p.m. What's left, Flesch says, is large groups of adults who race their cars through the surrounding neighborhoods, strew empty liquor bottles around, urinate on lawns and fornicate in the bushes. Such descriptions are far from exacgera- 3alem police Wednesday continued their search for a 25-year-old man who escaped from Oregon State Hospital late Monday night.

Michael A. Rupert apparently scaled a fence near Ward 41A of the hospital, police said. Rupert was described as 5 feet, 10 inches tall, 132 pounds, with brown eyes and brown curly hair. He was last seen wearing a white shirt and khaki pants. Police said Rupert had recently been transferred from Oregon State Penitentiary to the state hospital.

"Police said Rupert may have suffered cuts on his body during the escape. A state hospital spokesman said Rupert had been sentenced to the prison from Multnomah County on unauthorized auto use and shoplifting charges. On Tuesday, a state Corrections Division Release Center inmate failed to return when a pass expired. Richard Serrato, 29, left the center Friday and was expected back at 10 ajn. Tuesday.

State police were notified when Serrato missed the deadline, according to Sgt. Adrian DeLay of the release Serrato was sentenced on two charges of illegal sale of narcotics and one charge of robbery, DeLay said. He was due for parole in September. Flexible road standards will be considered League backs transit funds Salem Area Transit District's financing measure, up for a vote May 20, has picked up the endorsement of the Salem League of Voters. League President Pat LaRock said a strong bus system would conserve gasoline, curb air pollution and improve access to housing and jobs.

LaRock is co-chairman of Yes For Transit, a citizens' committee promoting passage of the one-year, $25rnillion property tax measure. Arson suspected in fire 'A fire that damaged a south Salem house Wednesday night was "of suspicious origin," according to Salem police. The fire began about 7: 25 p.m. in an open basement area under a vacant house at 2785 River Road police said. The blaze damaged wall of the structure as well as some rafters, police said.

Salem Fire Department officials spent several hours at the scene and could not be reached for comment. series of more than 50 fires of incendiary or suspicious origin have plagued the Salem area since early December. Most have been in vacant buildings, many of them along Turner Road SE. Robbery attempt reported Salem police said an elderly woman was knocked to the ground Wednesday night when a white male in his late teens tried to grab her. purse.

a police said the woman was walking near the 1000 block of Spruce Street NE about 9:45 p.m. when the incident occurred. The suspect was wearing a blue jacket and jeans and had long blond hair, police said. The would-be robber was last seen running east on Spruce Street. The victim was not injured, police said.

Salem student earns all As ty ai SI DALLAS Polk County commissioners have agreed to consider flexible standards for public roads in farming und forest areas. Dale Jordan, director of county development, said problems arise when road standards for grade, drainage and type of construction under the subdivision ordinance are applied to partitions. Ralph Blanchard, county surveyor, said the road department is considering alternate road standards, based on daily use. Commissioners directed planning and road staff members to formulate road standard changes they consider appropriate for review by the area advisory commission roads advisory committee. In other business, commissioners: Agreed to transfer $61,644 from the gener.

al operating contingency fund to the finance and sheriff's departments to cover prisoner exchanges and transfers to Marion County from 1975-79 at $22,509 and computer software, at $38,924, already approved in the 1979-80 budget. Entered into an agreement with Aldene Carlson to provide up to 18 hours a week, at $8 an hour, of intensive case management of chronically menially and emotionally ill persons reluming from the state hospital to Polk County. The county received $4,500 in February from the State Mental Health program for the remaining six months of this fiscal year. Announced 2 p.m. April 14 for the first county budget hearing in Room 107, Statesman photo by Ron Cooper Salem's volcano to spew.

The students built the model as part of an after-school project. The mini-volcano, made of bark chips, eventually erupted a fizz of baking soda and vinegar. Mount St. Helens isn't the only volcano people are watching. Inspired by the Washington eruption, McKinley Elementary School students wait for a miniature version Albany's new city manager MONMOUTH Helen Pressman, Salem, was among students named to the President's List for earning straight As during winter trm at Oregon College of Education.

Local government is just the right leve sblem today daughter, Sarah, 14, is an eighih-grader. Barrons is happy to return to Oregon, where he served in the U.S. Coast Guard from 1960 to 1962, but he leaves behind a city that had become his home. But, he says, as he took a walk in Wednesday morning's sunshine in downtown Albany, he knew he had made the right choice. "I really was ready to leave Mt.

Pleasant," he said. "I'd done what I was able to do there, and I was ready for a new job. There are a lot of challenges here in Albany. I'm ready to get on with it." THE ALBANY JOB will be considerably different from managing Mt. Pleasant.

While the Michigan town revolved around education, Albany is a city of heavy industry, timber and agriculture. Albany's population is about 6,000 greater than that of the Michigan town. The mid-valley city has been plagued by financial woes in recent years, and discord between the city council and former manager Hugh Hull led to Hull's dismissal last October. Barrons wasn't a part of the earlier discontent, and is starling fresh. A self proclaimed goal-setter, he's making lists of projects to look into and people to meet.

"This is the level of government at which things get done," he says. "With so many of the projects we do, you can see the results of what's been done almost immediately. It's extra satisfying at this level not only to be able to set goals but to see them start to pay out. With every day, you make real progress." PART OF THE TASK of acclimating him' self to a new stale, Barrons says, includes getting used to Oregon's tax system. A different state tax structure in Michigan allowed Mt.

Pleasant to avoid the use of federal revenue sharing money for operating expenses, as many Oregon cities are often forced to do. "There are substantial differences between the two states," he notes. "With the six percent limitation, I can well understand the cities having troubles." Shaking his head over mention of Marion County's recent financial woes, he says, "One of the things on my list is to look into investments." As Albany's hired administrator, Barrons is aware of his responsibilities to the city and to himself. He was 28 when he became a city manager tor the first time. "Not many other people my age had that kind of responsbi-lily," he recalls.

It was a feeling he liked, and one he says he thrives on. AWAY FROM THE JOB, Barrons, the man who likes to see projects started and finished neatly and quickly, raises bonsai plants. Bonsai is the ancient Japanese method of stunting the growth of normal trees and shrubs to form miniatures. The process, which includes meticulous cutting, binding, and trimming, takes decades, sometimes a century, to produce the desired results. It's an unusual hobby for such a man, but because it differs so much from his public profession, Barrons takes great pleasure from it.

"Maybe it's the change of pace enjoy so much," he says. By MARILYN MONTGOME Oregon Statesman Reporter ALBANY The words of 19th-century statesman Henry Clay are carefully lettered on a block of wood on Bill Barrons' desk in Albany City Hall: "Government is a trust, and the officers of government are trustees; both thejrust and the trustees are created for the benefit of the people." Barrons, 43, is Albany's newest government trustee as the city's new manager. He came to work Monday. Barrons comes to Albany after nearly 22 years in small city government in Michigan. Born in Philadelphia in 1936, he moved to Michigan as a small child and received his education there.

He graduated from Michigan State University in 1958 and went right to work as assistant to the city manager of East Lansing, Mich. "AS A KID, I wanted to be a forest ranger," he muses. "When I went to college, I wanted to go into police work. From there, I decided on public administration. "I like local government best," he says.

"I wouldn't want to be involved in government at a higher level. I like to work with people, and the enormous variety of things that come with this particular job." Barrons' first position as a city manager came in 1964 in St. Louis, a town of less than 4,000 at that time. "The scope of problems might be less in a smaller town like St. Louis," he says, "but in small towns, the manager ends up doing all I The following events are scheduled today in Salem.

MUSIC AND DANCE Capital Choralaires, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., St. Johns Lutheran Church, 14th and Court streets. Women's chorus practice. New members welcome. Beginning guitar, 7 to 10 p.m., Scott School.

Cost is $22. film "Migrating Monarchs," and "Island," noon and 7:30 p.m., Salem Public Library Auditorium. "Migrating Monarchs," is about the annual migration of the Monarch butterfly. "Island," is a travelogue describing the day-to-day life of residents on an island off Ireland's northwest coast. Bag lunchers welcome at noon.

"Stage Fright," 7:30 Film Screening Room, Willamette University Playhouse. (1950, Hitchcock) Admission is $1 or by season ticket. OTHER ACTIVITIES Women's plunge, 8 a.m., Salem YWCA pool. Members 75 cents, non-members $1. Power at Work," 1 p.m., Senior Citizen Center, 1055 Erixon St.

NE. Cosponsors are Chemeketa Community College and the Oregon State Council for Senior Citizens. Free. Women's plunge, 5:30 Salem YWCA pool. Members 75 cents, non-members $1.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), sponsored by Salem Fire Department, 6:30 information on locations and reservations at 588-6113; advance registration required; materials to be picked up at training office, 2740 25th St. SE (airport fire station). Cake decorating, 7 to 9 p.m. Highland School Cafeteria. Carpentry for women, 7 to 9 p.m.

Room 9, Highland Community School. Sponsored by Chemeketa Community College. To register call 399-3336. Fee $5. Materials provided.

Adult basic educationGED class, 7 to 10 p.m., Richmond School Guidance Center. "Cioking the Italian Way," 7 to 10 p.m., Building 22, Room 126, Chemeketa Community College. First session in the Chemeketa cooking school series. Call 393-5139 for reservations. Registration is $21 for the series, or $4i0 per session.

ChiWren and divorce seminar, 7 to 9 p.m Human Services Building, 3030 Center St. NE. Children, their emotional and psychological reactions to the break up of their family and some specific things parents can do to aid their children's adjustment. Free and open to the public. ThrBC-psrt scries.

"Overcoming Math Anxiety," 7 to 10 Building 1, Room 104, Chemeketa Community College. First session of a two-evening workshop. For persons who wish to gain confidence in their abilities and knowledge. Pre-registration required, call 399-5139. Fee $5.

"The Middle East Crisis," 7 p.m. Building 1, Room 116, Chemeketa Community College. Talk buy Dr. Farooq Hassan, visiting professor of. law at Willamette University.

Sponsored by the Associated Students of Chemeketa. Free and open to the public. Teen night, 7 to 9 p.m., Walker Middle School. Family night, 7 to 9 pjn. Hoover School gym.

South Salem La Leche League meeting, 7:30 p.m., Carmen Cor-dero, 2112 Maplewood S. "The Art of Breastfeeding and Overcoming All interested women are invited. Call 585-6528 or 363-7017 for more information. Women's plunge, 8:30 pjn, Salem YWCA pool. Members 75 cents, non-members $1.

CIVIC East Lancaster Neighborhood general meeting, 6:45 p.m., Swegle choo), multi-purpose room. McRae Park pUming meeting, 7:30 p.m., 490 21st St. NE. BILL BARRONS his staff work himself. Maybe that's the best training of all." BARRONS' NEXT and most recent job was as manager of the city of Mt.

Pleasant, Mich, population about 22,000, half of them college students. He stayed on there for 11 years, and there his family remains until the end of the school year. Wife, Barbara, is a part-time church secretary. Son, Jeffrey, 18, is a freshman in a Michigan college, and Interstate 80N will become Interstate 84 on May Day PENDLETON (AP) Interstate 80N will become Interstate 84 on May 1. The Oregon Highway Division has spent $140,000 in federal funds during the past two years, changing highway signs.

"The complaint was that it's confusing to have two Interstate 80 highways," said Pat Schwartz of La Grande, regional engineer for the state Highway Division. The original 1-80 comes from the East and heads across Utah, Nevada and California to San Francisco. I-80N branches off from 1-80 at Salt Lake City and goes across Idaho and Oregon. Originally, Utah and Idaho asked for the name change to cut down on travelers' confusion, Schwartz said. "Oregon agreed to go along, provided enough time was allowed for businesses along the route to use up their printed supplies and change their advertising," he said.

Highway maps printed this year have incorporated the change. Signs changed before May 1 will be covered until that day to prevent confusion. Three crews will be working along the highway in Oregon, uncovering the signs and taking down any that still refer to I-80N. Utah and Idaho are following the same procedure. Advertising hasn't changed much.

Yellow page advertisements for motels and restaurants along the freeway still use I-80N as a reference point. A Pacific Northwest Bell Telephone Co. spokesman in Portland said she wasn't aware the name change was coming. After checking with a supervisor, she said, "changes in ad copy are up to the customer." Some businesses along the route don't seem too concerned about the name change. "It's the first I've heard about the name change," said Bob Deans, general manager of the Indian Hills Red Lion Motor Inn.

"But we use our street address and the highway exit number, 210, not the highway number, so it won't be a problem for us." LaMont Smith, director of advertising for the entire chain of Red Lion motels, was aware of the May 1 name change. "There will be some confusion," he admitted, "but it's a much-traveled highway, so I don't expect any major effect. The highway will still be there." VI PS restaurants also don't use the highway name in their advertising, said district manager Bob Grant. At least six of the restaurants are located along the highway from Hood River to Idaho..