The World from Coos Bay, Oregon • 11

Wednesday, March 15, 1995, THE WORLD, Coos Bay, Ore. Page 11 SfafeLocal news Deliberations start in Rosebtirg toddlers death 15 minutes between the time a neighbor heard him shoot the cat and the time he would have had to leave on his jog to be spotted by another neighbor. Scott characterized Gibsons sometimes confusing statements and actions as the behavior of an innocent man. The defense lawyer argued that if Gibson were guilty, he wouldnt have allowed detectives, a child welfare worker and a therapist to question his daughter, the one eyewitness, or gone along with an attempt to draw out her forgotten memories through hypnosis. Is that the action of somebody who is guilty? Scott asked jurors.

Not very By Jeff Barnard Associated Press Writer ROSEBURG (AP) The defense suggested former deputy Larrys Gibsons 8- year-old girl made up her story about seeing her father hit her little brother under influence from her mother. This is not to say she is a liar," defense lawyer Alan Scott said of Gibsons daughter, Karen, on Tuesday in closing statements. "It is just to say she is not reliable. Scott said Karen told the story for the first time last spring, around the third anniversary of her brothers disappearance and after her mother left her father in Montana and moved in with her fathers half-sister, Debbie Calek, in Iowa. Kids are very impressionable," Scott said.

They adopt the story line of an adult. Whose story line was there to adopt? Debbie Caleks and Judy Gibson is charged with murder and murder by abuse in the March 18, 1991 pearance of his son. Tommy, from the front yard of the familys mobile home outside the small town of Glendale. Under state sentencing guidelines, each charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. The jury of eight women and four men was to begin deliberating on the charges today after receiving instructions from' Judge Thomas Kolberg.

Reviewing the testimony of more than 80 witnesses. District Attorney Ted Zacher ex plained Tommy's disappearance this way: Larry Gibson left the house at about 1 1:30 a.m. for his daily jog, and before ing ordered Tommy to stay in the yard and wait for his sister, Karen, to come out. On his way out, Gibson spotted a cat he thought was a stray and shot it with the pistol he was carrying in a shoulder holster. Tommy couldnt resist coming down to look at the dead cat, and Gibson lost his temper, taking the boy up to the carport and slapping him four times across the face.

Seeing Karen watching in the window, Gibson put the boy in the back of his patrol car and drove behind a woodpile, where he put the boy in a white plastic bag and hid him in the trunk of the car. "She saw her dad holding Tommys hands behind his back as he hit him four times," Zacher said. This was seared into Karens mind. You remember what she told the investigators. I want to forget, but I cant, because of the nightmares.

After a number of searchers came to look for Tommy, Gibson put on his uniform and drove off, dumping the body in an area known as Swamp Creek after giving up his idea of leaving it at a freeway rest area. Karen was so scared by her fathers threats that she couldn't tell her story until she was 1,000 miles away from him, Zacher said. Scott argued that Gibson didnt have time to kill his son and hide the body in the 10 or Trio of college students missing in Mt. Hood storm TIMBERLINE LODGE (AP) Theyre skilled, strong and sturdy. So searchers wonder what could have happened to three Reed College students who set out on a spring break climb of 1 Mount Hood.

The three were reported missing after failing to return from a two-day expedition to the summit of the peak 60 miles east of Portland. Searchers walked trails through the night looking for signs of Samuel Nickerson, 20, James Hilger, 21, and Heidi Becker, also 21. Snow continued to fall' this morning, preventing searchers from using aircraft But between 50 and 75 searchers were on the mountain after dawn. taking our best guess of what these people could do or would do, said search coordinator Chris Nolte, a Clackamas County sheriffs deputy. About 40 Explorer Scouts set up lookouts below Timberline Lodge along roads where the climbers might emerge.

Some 3,000 feet above, professional vmountaineers searched the south side of the mountain. A half-dozen Portland Mountain Rescue volunteers spent the night methodically searching the vast Palmer snow field. Their Sno-Cats revolving emergency beacon was visible late into the night, crisscrossing the snow. They looked for spots where the climbers might have dug a snow cave to escape high winds and swirling snow. There was hope their equipment and experience could see them through harsh conditions on the mountain, where nine climbers, including seven high school students, died in 1986.

Damon Coates, a Clackamas County sheriffs deputy, said authorities believe the climbers might have missed Timberline Lodge on their way back down the mountain. Thats going to put them a long trip down to the highway and theres some real thick terrain, he said. A climbing register indicates the three left Timberline Lodge late Saturday afternoon, intending to spend two nights on the mountain. Listing their summit route, they confirmed they had checked weather and snow conditions. They listed supplies including a compass and map; a stove, fuel and waterproof matches; enough food for three days; and crampons, ropes and ice axes.

AP Laserphoto Search team membenfmobilize crews in the effort to find three missing ML Hood climbers. Judge expects early ruling on assisted suicide issue ity of Oregon voters want such a law. After Tuesdays hearing, James Bopp, the national right-to-life lawyer whos leading the legal attack, said he was pleased that the judge refused to lift the injunction. He has not reconsidered the fact that lives would be lost the attorney said. Portland attorney Charles Hinkle, who rep fect until a court can decide if it is constitutional.

The injunction was sought by right-to-life groups who say the law discriminates against people they represent who are terminally ill. The Oregon attorney generals office and sponsors of the assisted suicide measure say it protects constitutional rights and that a major- EUGENE (AP) While refusing to lift an injunction that has blocked Oregons doctor-assisted suicide law from taking effect, a federal judge has indicated he will rule oh the measures constitutionality soon after he hears arguments in the case next month. Thats my hope. It might happen quickly, Judge Michael Hogan told lawyers for both sides, who argued a series of legal maneuvers in his court Tuesday. Narrowly approved by Oregon voters in November, the law allows a patient to request a lethal drug if at least two doctors determine the person has less than six months to live.

Hogan in December issued a preliminary injunction preventing the law from taking ef- resents sponsors of the law, filed the motion seeking to end the injunction on grounds that opponents had failed to show they had been harmed by the assisted suicide law. Even though Hogan rejected the motion without comment, Hinkle said he was encouraged the judge indicated his willingness to issue a ruling soon after4he April 18 hearing. (rUA nr' f) ill! Obituaries are paid announcements Information is provided by mortuaries and family members. Contact morfejaries for more information. Residency rules heading to voters in May salem (ap) Legislature: Rule Oregon voters will decide in May would require mem-whether people aP- bers to live within the pointed to their teg- islative seats should live in their districts for at least one year first The Senate gave final approval Tuesday to a House-passed ballot measure, SJR14, which also would require legislators to stay in their their states, R-Hood River.

provision. The measure and Salem KBZY and Portlands Q105 KCNR. -He is survived by his daughter, Shavannah Merrifield of Salem; his mother, Darlene Miller of Charleston; a brother, Stephen W. Merrifield of Silverton; and a sister, Jacklynn Combs of Salem. His father, Jack Merrifield, preceded him in death.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, Oregon Division, 0330 S.W. Curry, Portland, 97201. -Deofh notices Benjamin B. Jefferis 91, North Bend, died March 14, 1995, at North Bend. Dunes Memorial Chapel, Reedsport, (503) 271-2822.

George Ed Merrifield SALEM Graveside services for George Ed Merrifield, 42, Salem, will be held p.m. Friday, March 17, at the Willamette National Cemetery, Portland. Viewing will be held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Lincoln Memorial Park Funeral Home, 1 1801 S.E.

ML Scott Portland, (503) 771-1 1 17. Mr. Merrifield was bom Oct. 25, 1952, in Cottage Grove, and died March 10, 1995, in Portland. He attended Turner and Portland schools and Lane Community College.

He served in the Marine Corps in Vietnam as helicopter crew chief mechanic. He loved music and worked for 10 years as a radio disc jockey, known as Magic Ed for geted at any specific individual. Its an issue that has arisen over a number of years. Legislators now are required to live for one year prior to election in the districts they seek to represent. But once elected, there is no residence requirement.

Residency was a political issue in 1992, when Secretary of State. Phil Keisling decided to let Wes Cooley remain the ballot for a state Senate seat despite a challenge of his residency. Cooley, who had lived in Deschutes County for 10 years, moved to a travel trailer just inside the Crook County line in 1991 so he could run for the seat: Cooley later moved to a ranch outside the Senate district. The U.S. Constitution requires senators be residents of their states, and U.S.

representatives must be residents of said Sen. Greg Walden, We need a similar passed the Senate on a 27-2 vote will be on the ballot in a May 16 special election. A measure to allow use of Lottery revenue for education also will be on the ballot. The residence measure stems from a flap over the appointment of Sen. Marilyn Shannon, R-Salem, to the seat vacated when Sen.

Jim Bunn was elected to Congress. Those who contested Shannons nomination said she moved into District 15 only after Bunns election. They said Shannon should comply with the same one-year requirement that applies to candidates seeking regular election to the Legislature. Shannon said the measure is not necessary because the voters have not identified residency as a concern. Its not a burning issue with the people back home, Shannon said.

They want to know how we are doing, not how long we have been there. Walden disagreed. We need to have it at a time when there is not a controversy, he said. Its not tar districts while they are in office. Daily 4 PORTLAND (AP) Tuesdays winning numbers in the Oregon Daily 4: 6-1-7-3 DDAPER Ueea: r'" DgSJg's DcauSy Boutique SOFAS SLEEPERS II a )y Anniversary Special I OFF NOTHING HELD BACK i Furniture Factorv Outlet WjZk I I through 4195 No rinsing! Weekly pick-up delivery 1 Comfortable cotton diapers are 100 reusable.

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