Albany Democrat-Herald from Albany, Oregon • 4

Oregon A4 ALBANY (OR.) DEMOCRAT-HERALD, WEDNESDAY, JAN. 8, 1997 Oregonians continue flood cleanup Complaints soar against US West 2 A. rent law, the PUC cannot impose financial penalties on utilities without going to court. Among other things, the new regulations require that at least 95 percent of all service problem reports must be resolved within 48 hours. Haynes said it is hoped that most US West customers will have service restored by the end of this week.

Repairs involving flooded lines and boxes are complex and time consuming, Haynes said. Especially difficult situations have been found in areas of southwest Portland. Repairs crews are working "at least 10 hours a day, six days a week and maybe seven," he said. Many customers are not satisfied. Jacquelyn Bailey, who runs Pro West Landscape Inc.

out of her Southwest Portland home, lost her service the day after Christmas. "Now US West's customer service people in Denver tell me it could be another seven days," Bailey said. "We're a very small business, so we could lose a lot of money in 16 days." SALEM (AP) The Oregon Public Utility Commission has been logging record amounts of complaints against US West, which is working to restore telephone service disrupted by year-end storms. US West spokesman Jim Haynes said 5,900 customers were out of service statewide Tuesday, and an additional 3,100 customers had static on their lines or other problems. The commission took a record 175 complaints against the utility Monday, up from a record 143 complaints Friday.

The PUC has hired three temporary employees to field telephone calls, said commission spokesman Mike Allegre. The PUC looks into each complaint, often contacts the phone company and tries to get back to the complainant. It is taking two weeks or more now to contact complainants. The PUC plans to ask the Legislature for more authority to take action against utilities with high numbers of complaints, Allegre said. The commission last year tightened rate regulations in response to service complaints, but under cur Auoclatwl Pratt Zoeann Ross of Ashland surveys her belongings Tuesday after flood waters ravaged her home.

Teacher cutbacks seen Spokesman Bob Wayt said GTE planned to drop employees, cable and equipment from a helicopter this week to areas inaccessible by vehicle. Repairing nature's damage to the Imnaha Canyon area will cost the county and the U.S. Forest Service $8 million, officials said. In Klamath County, the Oregon Department of Transportation had to stop work to install a new culvert to help drain flood waters surrounding the Odessa Store on Highway 140 after a property owner threatened legal action. Art Alaniz, area maintenance manager for ODOT, said the out-of-state property owner was coming to negotiate with state officials.

U.S. Army National Guards distributed drinking water, food and cell phones over the weekend, enough to last several days, said Carol Tocco, a U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman. Road crews hoped to have a temporary bypass built by Thursday to the subdivision, about 20 miles up-river from Imnaha. Pacific Power Light Co.

was waiting for the new road before getting repair crews into the subdivision. Another 15 customers still were without power in Imnaha Canyon on Tuesday, but spokesman Gary Donnelly said it should be restored by Thursday. About half the canyon's 250 residents still had no phone service. north side of the Plaza, such as Munchies Restaurant and Bakery and the Ashland Fudge Company, where the high water mark was 22 inches from the floor. "We have major, major cleaning to do and some sterilizing before we can open," said Chris Mcintosh, who owns the fudge shop with his parents.

No one was allowed into buildings on the south side of the Plaza, -which suffered structural damage after taking the brunt of the flood waters. In the northeastern corner of Oregon, at least 15 homes in the Im-naha River Woods subdivision remained without electricity, phone service or a route out on Tuesday. offs next year if the situation does not change. "The governor's budget is a heck of a lot better than it could be, but it doesn't keep us whole," said William Korach, superintendent of Lake Oswego schools. Portland is in a particular bind.

It was able to stave off many layoffs this year only because a major fund-raising effort succeeded in winning $19 million in additional support from Multnomah County, the city of Portland and private sources. Much of that money isn't expected to be available next year. Portland Superintendent Jack Bierwirth said the contract the district signed with teachers last spring to avert a strike is increasing labor costs by about 3 percent annually. The district has had an increase of more than 30 percent in its school bus contract with Laidlaw Transit Inc. Also, years of deferred maintenance and purchases are catching up with the district, Bierwirth said.

Bierwirth hopes more aid for schools will arise from the upcoming legislative session. PORTLAND (AP) Hundreds of teachers would lose their jobs in Oregon school districts under Gov. John Kitzhaber's proposed budget for education. The Portland district, largest in the state, would have to lay off 380 teachers as state funding would leave it $19 million short of the support needed to maintain current service levels. Kitzhaber's $2.65 billion budget proposal for 1997-98 rnakes up for the $459 million the schools will lose under the Measure 47 property tax limitation measure.

The increase for schools will range from 2 percent to 2.3 percent next year, depending on the district. However, rising costs will leave the districts short of money. "It will translate into a loss of teachers, not only in Portland, but around the state," the governor said. Bend-La Pine Superintendent Scott Mutchie said labor costs are rising faster than the increase for schools the governor is planning. The La Grande and Lake Oswego districts will be looking at lay In Oregon In Ashland, voters may be asked to pass bond measures to pay for civic repairs.

ASHLAND (AP) The city of Ashland may have to turn to voters for the money to repair flood damage to businesses, a park and a roadway. City Administrator Brian Almquist has proposed one bond to raise money to pay for repairs to Lithia Park and Water' Street, which both sustained heavy damage when Ashland Creek bolted from its banks on New Year's Day. Another would pay for low-interest loans to businesses damaged by the flooding. Workers were saddened Tuesday when a truck involved in cleaning up Lithia Park ran over and killed the male of a pair of swans that are a popular city attraction. Parks director Ken Mickelsen said the city will find a new mate for the surviving swan.

Flood victims packed the American Red Cross service center in Medford looking for help. "It's like, now what am I supposed to do?" said Jennifer Golden, 27, a single mother whose Ashland apartment was filled with four feet of mud. "Someone show me the way or something." Local schools and Southern Oregon State College remained closed Tuesday as the city worked to bring the municipal water and sewage treatment systems back on line. The city's 18,000 residents have been without water since Thursday morning. City Attorney Paul Nolte said the idea of the bonds is similar to steps taken after flooding in 1974, when the city suffered $1 million in damage.

The city passed $400,000 in bonds to pay for repairs and the federal government picked up the rest, Nolte said. Volunteers turned out to help remove debris from buildings on the LeGate waives extradition PORTLAND (AP) Jimmy Ray LeGate wants to return Massachusetts to face charges he abducted a teen-age girl for a -cross-country run from the law. From a Plexiglas prisoner's booth, LeGate waived extradition Tuesday morning in a Portland courtroom. "The charges are ludicrous," LeGate told the judge. "I just want to go face the Massachusetts charges." Those charges include kidnapping and unlawful sex.

LeGate should be returned to Massachusetts within two weeks, said Steve Todd, deputy district at-' torney in Multnomah County. Until then, he will be held at the Multnomah County Jail in downtown Portland. LeGate refused to waive extradition to Florida, where he faces a charge of violating probation. He was convicted three years ago of forcing or enticing his 13-year-old daughter to commit lewd or lascivious acts. FBI, agents arrested LeGate over the weekend in a northeast Portland apartment.

i LeGate, 41, is accused of kidnapping 14-year-old Karen Lyn Lofland from her home in South Hadley, on Sept. 19 after he had lived with the family for five weeks. In a jailhouse interview Tuesday, LeGate said he had to leave the Loflands' home after detectives and social workers warned the family he had a criminal record. Karen begged to come with hirri, he said. "I am not a villain.

I tried to do something good," he told The Associated Press. "How could I kidnap someone who wanted to go with me, who begged me not to leave without her? I just didn't have the heart to leave without her." He said their relationship on the road started as friends, but turned romantic along the way. He described it as a fun-filled vacation. When asked if there was anything legally or morally wrong about an adult having a romantic relationship with a girl of 14, he had this to say "I know what the law says, and I guess I really don't know what to say there. But I will say this -there is an age limit, sure.

I believe there's an age limit. But due to the circumstances she'd been through, what I'd been through, maybe God brought us together. Who's to say it was wrong? Loretta Lynn was married at 13. Nobody crucified her," he said. Karen was being cared for Tuesday at the Donald E.

Long detention home as an out-of-state runaway. She probably will be escorted back to Massachusetts within a few days, said juvenile counselor John Trial scheduled for boy accused in fire HILLSBORO (AP) A trial is set April 1 for the 11-year-old boy accused of setting an apartment fire that killed eight people, including five children, last June in Aloha. The trial for Raymond DeFord originally was set for January. The delay will allow the boy to undergo neurological testing at Oregon Health Sciences University. DeFord is charged with eight counts of felony murder.

The fire at the Oakwood Park Apartments killed three adults and five children under the age of 11, including a 3-month-old. DeFord is in custody at the Christie School, a psychiatric treatment program in Lake Oswego for emotionally disturbed children. He is among 68 youths between the ages of 8 to 18 at the school, the only secure facility in Oregon with a residential atmosphere and an emphasis on treatment. "He continues to do very well," said Jennifer Harrington, one of De-Ford's lawyers. "They consider him the most compliant and well-behaved of children there at this time." The manslaughter charge alleges that Doner acted recklessly but did not mean to kill McLeod.

If convicted, Doner could be placed under court supervision until he is 21. Police make arrest MEDFORD (AP) Police have made an arrest in the slaying of a man found dead in a neighborhood alley wearing nothing but his socks. Francisco Jose Nin, 43, whose front door is just 10 yards from where the body was found, was held without bail pending arraignment in Jackson County District Court on a charge of murder. He is accused in the death of Gary R. Edwards, 59, authorities said.

Police made the arrest Tuesday after speaking with dozens of people, said Medford police Sgt. Gary Bates. Friends last saw Edwards Sunday night at a downtown bar before he left to have dinner at a restaurant. He was found dead Monday morning by a motorist driving through the alley. Police said he'd been beaten about the face and head.

An autopsy was done Tuesday night, but the cause of death was not immediately, released. Teen charged in death ASTORIA (AP) A 14-year-old boy who allegedly shot and killed his best friend while playing with a rifle has been charged with manslaughter. Jeffrey M. Doner was accused of shooting Tim McLeod, also 14, as a group of boys played with air rifles outside Doner's home Friday afternoon. Only Doner's gun was real.

The boys told a neighbor that Doner shot into the ground, but the bullet ricocheted and struck McLeod's left eye. He died about eight hours later. McLeod's parents say Doner should not be prosecuted. "There should not be any criminal charges against him," Pam McLeod said. "I know in my heart Jeff would never do anything intentional to hurt Timmy.

They were best of friends. It was just a horrible accident. That's all it was. "Jeff is going to have a big enough load to bear without anything more happening to him." After he was charged Monday, Doner was released from the Donald E. Long Detention Center in Portland to the custody of his grandparents in Astoria.

1997 Resolution Week Mutated gene blamed for obesity in mice ular receptor in the hypothalamus. That keeps the receptor from receiving its usual chemical message. As a result, the mouse overeats. electrical box with a maze of wires coming in and out, each connecting to a different area of the home, Cone said. This research has identified a wire a receptor that's linked to feeding and obesity.

A receptor is a structure on the surface of cells that receives chemical messages from elsewhere. The scientists found evidence that when a gene called agouti is mutated, the substance it directs the body to produce blocks a partic -Pi January 9,14,15 16 Make a pledge for your New Year's Resolutions! This Year Get my cholesterol checked Testing is offered seven days a week, 8 am to 5 pm. A total cholesterol count for $5 or a more complete test for only $K). Call the, AGH Clinical Laboratory for more details (812-4150). Start exercising Tuesday, Jan.

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Join Michclc Jones, AGH volunteer coordinator, as she describes opportunities available at the hospital. NO FEE. Need more details? Call 812-4700 BY AMY CORNELIUSSEN Associated Press Writer PORTLAND (AP) Mice overeat and gradually become obese when a mutated gene blocks delivery of a stop-eating message in the brain, Oregon Health Sciences University researchers say in a new study. Discovering whether this finding, to be published Thursday in the journal Nature, also applies to humans is the next step. Similar results from a separate study will be published Friday in the journal Cell.

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