Corvallis Gazette-Times from Corvallis, Oregon • 3

Tuesday, July 8, 2003, Corvallis Gazette-Times, Corvallis, Ore. www.gazettetimes.com Community Northwest A3 Today In History -J IZZT "Tor r-, The Associated Press Journal was first published. In 1891, Warren G. Harding married Florence K. DeWolfe in Marion, Ohio.

In 1907, Florenz Ziegfeld staged his first "Follies," on the roof of the New York Theater. In 1919, Pesident Wilson received a tumultuous wel- -come in New York after his return from the Versailles Peace Conference in France. In 1947, demolition work began in New York to make way for the new permanent headquarters of the United Nations. In 1975, President Ford announced he would seek the Republican nomination for the presidency in 1976. In 1994, Kim II Sung, North Korea's communist leader since 1948, died at age 82.

Today is Tuesday, July 8, the 189th day of 2003. There are 176 days left in the year. Today's Highlight In History: In 1950, Gen. Douglas MacArthur was named commander-in-chief of United Nations forces in Korea. On this date: In 1663.

King Charles II of England granted a charter to Rhode Island. In 1776, Col. John Nixon gave the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence, in Philadelphia. In 1853, an expedition led by Commodore Matthew Perry arrived in Yedo Bay, Japan, on a mission to seek diplomatic and trade relations with the Japanese. In 1889, The Wall Street Photographies Studio on Maaison wvvw.shadowsmithphoto.com Portraiture 753-3910 CopyRestoration ANDREW MARIM AN Associated Press A historic covered bridge in Wimer lies in ruins after collapsing Sunday.

A man and his twin five-year-old grandsons, who were on the bridge when it went down, suffered injliries and were taken to Rogue Valley Medical Center in Medford. feasiDifi) "BtoGfl aft MGtbgcs Op inions in hearin Rennert said he heard a crack and turned to see the A-frame roof fall off the bridge. He then heard a louder crack as the whole bridge collapsed, he said. Fifteen people immediately went to rescue the trio, Rennert said. Haynes was conscious and able to give rescuers the boys' mother's name and telephone number, he said.

Police said at least one man, Kelcy Boatman of Gold Hill, was cited for trying to take shingles from the collapsed bridge, possibly as a souvenir of the historic structure. that required replacement, Jackson County engineer Dale Petrasek told the (Medford) Mail-Tribune. Wimer Bridge collapsed around 2:30 p.m. Sunday as Billy Haynes, 56, of Wimer and his grandsons, Geo and Mickey Harvey, were walking across it. Haynes was in serious condition Monday at Providence Medical Center in Medford.

Mickey Harvey was treated and released, but Geo Harvey was in fair condition Monday at Providence Medical Center after surgery to repair a broken leg. Evans Creek is about 40 feet below the 100-foot span, which was built in 1892. There were no vehicles on the bridge, whichTias'a three-ton weight limit, when it collapsed. Petrasek said a more thorough investigation of the bridge's failure will be conducted this week. He said the county had planned to seek bids for rebuilding the bridge in September.

Witness Tom Rennert was working at the nearby Covered Bridge Market when he saw the bridge collapse. sales tax hasn't said whether shell seek a fourth term. In speeches, Blumenauer has said Portland lags behind in reforms, ignores residents' concerns, and seems removed from the rest of Oregon. Officer on leave after shooting SPRINGFIELD A Springfield police officer has been placed on administrative leave after shooting a man this weekend in an altercation. The officer, whose name was not released pending an internal investigation, was not injured in the incident, Police Chief Jerry Smith said Sunday.

The man, Tyler Phillip Smith, 21, of Springfield, was listed in serious condition Monday at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Collapse injures man, two boys The Associated Press WIMER A faulty support beam that was identified during a previous inspection likely caused a covered bridge here to collapse over the weekend, injuring a man and his 5-year-old twin grandsons, county officials said after preliminary inspections. The upper beam on one of the trusses had a curvature Bickering rises over budget rule By CHARLES E. BEGGS Associated Press writer SALEM House Republicans pushed through a rule change Monday that gives House Speaker Karen Minnis the power to force action on budget matters. Minnis, R-Wood Village, can now move appropriations bills to House votes by sending them to a House panel instead of to the Joint Ways Means Committee. Because the Senate is tied 15-15, its seats on the joint committee are evenly split and Democrats can block action on measures.

They have threatened to hold up action on big money bills until Republicans consider more revenue-raising options, such as tax increases. Minnis said the action could spur budget talks by showing that Republicans can get things done. Democrats downplayed the maneuver, however, noting that any budget bill has to eventually pass the Senate. "What will be will be; I haven't paid much attention to it," said Senate President Peter Courtney, D-Salem. "I've just thought how to get the numbers together and get Oregon an adequate budget." Democrats and Republicans are about $1 billion apart on a two-year budget that will probably total about $11 billion to $12 billion.

Some small agency budgets have been approved, but there's been no agreement on local schools, university funding and more than $2 billion in health care and other social services. Minnis and Courtney said no gains were made Monday in closed-door talks. Art takes you rm I A mJ- Eugene with a single gunshot wound to the upper abdomen. Police say Saturday's incident began when Tyler Smith attacked a motorist and ended when he charged a police officer and attempted to reach for the officer's gun. Dad accused of trying to kill baby KEIZER A father has been charged with attempted felony assault and reckless endanger-ment after police say he tried to suffocate his 1-month-old son with a pillow over the weekend.

Shayne Joeckel, 21, also faces separate charges of felony domestic assault after allegedly biting and punching the baby's mother, Melissa Olfert, last week. The Associated Press found serious safety lapses in the operation of the vessels. Xanterra, the Denver-based concessionaire that took over Crater Lake Lodge and other tourist operations last year, will spend about $600,000 on three new fiberglass boats, said Rick Burcham, its corporate director of projects. split on a single mom raising two children. Logan said it would be better to cut tax loopholes for the rich, and raise income taxes for the highest earners.

Attempts to implement a sales tax, and their subsequent failures, have practically become Oregon institutions. Voters have rejected a sales tax nine times since 1933. The last time was in 1993, when the idea went down by a 3-to-l margin. Oregon is one of five states without a sales tax. Still, as income tax revenues have plummeted during bad economic times the past two years, forcing lawmakers to deeply cut schools, health services and the state police, the idea has resurfaced.

House Speaker Karen Minnis, R-Wood Village, allowed the committee two weeks of hearings on tax reform after much pressure by a small group of Republicans in favor of the tax. Rep. Lane Shetterly, a Dallas Republican who is chair of the revenue committee, said he doesn't plan on crafting any proposals this legislative session. Instead, he said the hearings may continue after the Legislature adjourns, with the idea of drafting a tax plan to put on the ballot as soon as next year. FOR tOOAT'S SHOWTIME www.REGmovies.com or call 541-928-7469 Albany 7 9th St Cinemas 4 TM)H SHOWnWK WHY Offtffi FROTH WfW-fM) Corvallis Community Band "0 Art '7-tr I CENTRAL PARK theme: Great i Sponsored by: The Regent Retirement Cherries Raspberries Blueberries S.J 1 ftserve a Hat dea In brief Congressman may run for mayoralty PORTLAND U.S.

Rep. Earl Blumenauer isn't coy about a potential run next year for mayor of Portland. The Democratic congressman used some of his $273,000 House campaign account to send a mailing to thousands of supporters. Last week, he attended meetings throughout Portland. But Blumenauer, 53, says he won't decide until the fall on a mayoral campaign once he has a conversation with Portlanders about the city.

Campaigning for the May 2004 primary has already begun. City Commissioner Jim Francesconi, a declared candidate, is raising money. Mayor Vera Katz, who beat Blumenauer for mayor in 1992, Safer boats The Associated Press CRATER LAKE NATIONAL PARK Cleaner, quieter and more fuel-efficient boats will soon slice through the waters at Crater Lake, replacing the familiar white-and-blue wooden tour boats that have ferried around generations of visitors. The replacement boats are scheduled to be airlifted into the volcanic lake by helicopter July 22. They will have specially muffled engines to ensure minimum noise, and sensors to keep fuel and other pollutants contained.

Built-in buoyancy chambers assure the vessels will not sink, even if swamped. The craft carry emergency rafts, and passengers can easily reach life jackets in the front of each seat, rather than scramble to compartments, as in the older craft. The hulls, seven to 10 layers to cruise Crater Lake By PETER PRENGAMAN Associated Press writer SALEM Oregonians had the chance to tell legislators Monday what they thought about a- sales tax or the state's lack thereof. The House Revenue Committee's night hearing attracted people from all backgrounds, and as far away as La Grande. With more than 200 people, including 80 who signed up to testify, many had to watch the hearing on circuit television in adjoining rooms.

Opinion was split, with some saying it was time for legislators to pass the tax, and others saying it was ridiculous to even consider it. Proponents said a sales tax would give the state a more stable source of income to fund crucial services like public schools. "Loading the funding on property and income taxes means we are losing a significant portion of revenue," said Stewart Watson, who owns a marketing company in Hood River. Watson said too many people get out of paying their fair share to the state. Those people include independent contractors, who can manipulate what they report as income, and tourists, who get off without paying a sales tax, he said.

Opponents said the tax would take a heavy toll on those struggling to pay their bills. "If you are hell-bent on putting in a sales tax, I hope you put in provisions to shield the poor," said Beverly Logan, USc all ages If 15th Annual of fiberglass up to an inch thick, will be tougher, less prone to leaks and easier to repair than wooden hulls. The engines are sealed in compartments, so water cannot reach them and mix with fuel or oil. "Smart" bilge pumps and filters ensure that even if water were to make it into the compartment, no petroleum could be ejected into the lake. "When the boat is running, you can barely hear it," said Darrin Swindahl, manager of Modutech Marine Inc.

of Tacoma, which built the boats for Xan terra Parks Resorts, operator of the park lodge and other facilities. The new boats are expected to ease contamination concerns that arose in the 1990s, when researchers detected gasoline residue near docks on the lake's north shore. A federal investigation that concluded in 2000 tnrougn artwork I UUI cHUblS dMU AO nO (saw 1Th Annual Kinetic Sculpture Race to you've never been w- I.I I I I ravel I 1 1 YALX 1,1 Willi People powered creations race on Sand, Road, Mud and the River! ENTEK Int'l Grand prix The "Electrathon" takes to the streets AAini-lf inoir Cri ilrtt tiro Daroc Formerly The Illustrated Garden UIUdUCM yUUr nuriZUMi. L-J Fine Art and Unique Gifts July 1 August 2 appointment 209 SW 2nd Street Corvallis 752-081 1 Tuesday Saturday or by i. ixiiiv.t.1.

rt.uift.ui J3 Fun for Tfi: Rhetorical Question: lvJV Is four carats too big? Masterpiece Sponsors Benton County City of Corvallis Comcast Gazette Times Oregon Public Broadcasting Oregon State University RICHARD GRETZ 4380 NE Hwy. 20 Corvallis 752-0697 OPEN EVERYDAY 9am4pm Gold Plaiinumsmiths Buttons on sale 308 SW Mad. Ave Corvallis 754-4263.