The Columbian from Vancouver, Washington • 29

Sunday April 10 2005 LOCAL NORTHWEST the Columbian C7 Congregation: Schools: From page Cl From paga Cl against state law to allow it on happened at Skyview that chapter is closed What we want to do is try to make sure we don't haw a meet at First Congregational United Church of Christ for regular services and holiday obser Kely Gorby wipes a tear as she looks at photos of family Jim Mjorof Shverdale MMlIs Taa brother Billie Mjor wife looks on Kathrya Murdock Vancouver school district ATTORNEY campus Little said it was OK because tiie firing inn had been removed He carried it to the class and held it while the student gave his report Pound filed a report on tiie incident The Clark County prosecuting office decided not to charge little or the district in the matter Murdock district administrators and school board members never said Little violated school policy However no part of the existing policy or revised policy allows for a principal to approve a gun in school for any reason The district would not say whether Little was reprimanded The student who brought tiie Winchester rifle was not punished Little could not be reached for comment JANET MATHEWS The Columbian Good deed: vances They began with members conducting their own services called lay-led Then Jan Rabinow-itch a Jewish educator was hired to lead the congregation Now members are in the final stages of a process to bring die first Reform Jewish rabbi to Clark County The county became home to its first rabbi in fall 2003 with the arrival of Shmulik Greenberg his wife Tzivie and their son MendeL The couple established Chabad Lubavitch of Clark County a community based on a more conservative form of Judaism than Congregation Kol Ami Reform Jews are the more liberal of the three main branches of Judaism which includes Orthodox and Conservative congregations Besides a commitment to God the Torah the holy book and Israel Reform Judaism embraces innovation Members accept there is new information to be discovered about their faith according to tiie Union for Reform Judaism Website Reform Jewish congregations also reach out to people who have converted to the faith and families with members of more than one religion The Reform Jewish movement was the first to ordain female rabbis and elect female congregation presidents Tie movement also welcomes gays and lesbians to its Minnesota shootings From page Cl They think twice before passing a homeless person asking for help and encourage their friends and church members to give to the needy makes you more com- every time you allow something It becomes a slippery slope" She said she had never heard of a student interested in using a weapon for a class presentation She was surprised to hear the rifle was allowed into class a gun a little less dangerous Soronen said Some recent gun problems in schools have had little to do with the actual weapons Last month Salem-Keizer (Ore) School District officials would not allow a photo of a graduate who is a Marine serving in Iraq to be posted in a high school The photo showed the man and others casually lounging with military-issued machine guns After a huge public outcry over the banned photo the district decided to allow a photo including machine guns that presented tiie Marine in a more military-like setting Soronen said nationally the trend is to increasingly stringent rules when it comes to weapons on school grounds However that does mean that sometimes innocent acts such as a water pistol or pocket knife in a backpack have gotten children into serious trouble Nonetheless policies must be applied evenly she said attorney Murdock said she would advise district administrators that guns not be allowed into buildings regardless of whether they are operable happened at Skyview that chapter is closed What we want to do is try to make sure we have a she said ple thing to do" she said not like I do it all the time" Jim Mjor wanted her to know how much it meant that someone cared about his sister in her last days is for he said as his wife handed Gorby a huge gift bag with the bright purple patterned quilt inside my God" Gorby said as she accepted the gift with tears in her eyes beautiful" know how much our family appreciates Jim Mjor said guarantee you if you were in Minnesota right now be part of the family" School board President Dale Rice said he sees nothing wrong with a principal allowing an inoperable firearm into school as long as he or she has control of it The topic of school violence and guns was brought to the national spotlight once again on March 21 when a student at Red Lake High School in Red Lake Minn shot to death nine people and then killed himself Firearms have been outlawed on school campuses since the federal Gun-Free School Act was passed in 1994 That law requires that students who bring guns to school be expelled for at least daughters Mara 25 and Mariena 21 The giris were adopted by cousin Jon and his wife Verla Hochstetler and live in Frazee Minn four hours north of Minneapolis The Hochstetlers purchased the handeewn quilt during a fund-raiser Their intention was to give it to the one of the girls as a wedding present Instead the quilt was sent to Washington with the Mjors when they came home from memorial ser- Billie Mjor said just wish there were more like Kelly" After giving Taalid her jacket Gorby kept an eye out for her and hoped for tiie best never saw her she said It was comforting to Jim Mjor to know someone was kind to Taalid in her last days found some peace about her death was my sister she still is my he said warm not cold up there with our A woman transformed vice just thought Kelly was an angel in Billie Mjor said Family members had tried to help Taalid over the years as she struggled with drug use and served time in mom one year Typically school districts like to make decisions about weapons on a case-by-case basis said Lisa Soronen a staff attorney with the National School Boards Association in Alexandria Va you have a blanket rule you don't have to make those choices" she said taking a political risk Kelly Adams covers social issues and religion for The Columbian Contact her at 360-7598016 or kellMadamscolumbiancom synagogues The union membership offers the congregation a new pool of qualified applicants for the position of rabbi A rabbi chosen from that pool will then have the support of colleagues within the reform movement said Doug Green vice president of Congregation Kol Ami He chaired the committee that looked into joining the national reform Judaism movement have these immense resources" he said That family includes three older siblings and her father Jim Mjor said they had attentive but strict parents and never wanted for anything not like Lori loved" Jim Mjor said He said he would have done something if he knew the situation his sister was in Her life had taken its toll on her appearance he said and she had lost a great deal of weight could have been standing on that corner and I would have never known it was her" he said never would have predicted this would happen" The experience has changed the Mjors prison When they offered help however it came with conditions: She had to quit drugs she use money for cigarettes make a stipulation she just gave her a jacket" Billie said On Saturday Gorby arrived with her husband Kevin to have lunch with the Mjors at a Vancouver restaurant As Billie Mjor hugged her and burst into tears Gorby was still humble just seemed like a sim- KELLY ADAMS covers social issues and religion for The Columbian Contact her at: 360-759-8016 or kellLadamscolvmbiancom mss APRIL 12 58 i NATURE MAPPING WORKSHOP the Wofer Resources Center 4400 SE Columbia Way Sam -4 pm INFO: fcterRifjonEmironmenlal Information Cooperative 544-9510 7-4 jfd -f '1 I 5 We've Upgraded You to ATHLETIC SHOE Bop 1 Girts dubs of SWWasliingloii 409 NE Anderson 3 pm -7 pin Keep malarial font laedfiBs darn out your dost I provide materiel wad to Up mob jportj surface far youlfi and adults INFO 901-4449 Jr Fimimi 1 St) 11 on AR80R DAY CELEBRATION Burnt Bridge Creek Trail Greenwoy project (Darina Rd Seven new trees wil be piontod INFO: Charles Roy Oty Forester 419-112! i I-: APRIL 16 'W Me -M Hop on a Winning Streak as Spirit Mountain introduces its new luxurious bus service Each 2005 model motor coach features plush rediner seats color TVs VCRDVD players AirHeat temperature controls and restroom facilities 5th Annual CRITTER COUNT the Vtaler Resources Educotioa Center 4M0SE Columbia Way Leon to identify local omphibions and reptiles Training by a field biologist before trawling to Milovs sites INFO: 696-M7I or aNyjMiio(LwnaiwKvojit ir-: NATUAUJ BEAUTIFUL BACKYARDS WORKSHOP Oath County 7tth St Operations Center 9 am -Noon leant to reduce or efiminate the need for synthetic pesticides and fertifizen in pour yard and gardes INFO dark County Solid Waste Program 397-41 18 4352 V' saS ''I i Amerkorp's EARTH DAY CELEBRATION CASEE 11104 NE149lh St Brash Prairie 1pm -4 pm Entrironmenlal fair ilh service projects he musk kids fishing derty arts oaks ewirnnnentol booths and food INFO: SA5-5M1 nlmiLgaaloasesdll2org Just $5 gets you a first class ride and all the fun of the best slots blackjack bingo and more Receive a free Fun Book good for discounts and great deals at our restaurants and throughout the casino Sit back and enjoy the ride from Vancouver and Jantzen Beach four days a week APRIL 18 -22 AAA of Washington NE1KURY SWITCH OUT (BATTERY Cart Warner Chevrolet 10111 SE Mil Main oad Korkin's Vanawver AutoBodir 300 SE Hearthwood Bhrd Remove ond mpiace potwitMlty haiardous eterairy switches from your vehide and donate rad lead-odd batteries lor reading Additional info: wwvuMawanMi INFO: Cert Warner Chevrolet 892-0900 or Markin's Vancouver AutoBodir 254-9900 Other departure points indude: Portland (Gateway Gold Coin Restaurant and Parkrose) Salem (Lancaster) Salem Salem Beaverton Oregon City Corvallis Hillsboro Milwaukie Albany Keizer Gresham King City Woodbum Oark College EARTH WEEK CONCERT I LECTURES Gabor Noll Student (enter 1800 LMdovghfin Blvd 1 1 am -1 pm aorh day This year's iheme Is ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY Folk singer Dona Ljfons (Cows with Goes) kids I aH off on Monday April 11 Oihar speahen hybrid an fcatwed Friday Earth Expo eskibfts Friday April 22 INFOr Angela Belts at stan5iginaiLcom or pick op lhe Independent mopes eewspapet 0 APRIL 21 For schedule and times go online wwwspiritmountaincom or call (877) 743-3762 CARE FOR AIR WORKSHOP IWn Air Museum 1105 5th Street 1:30 am -4 JO pm INFO: Piter Rksan Enviroiiiaealal Informahoe Cooperahve 546-9510 "3lj MULTIPLE DAY EVENTS 14' HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE ELECTRONICS COLLECTION April 16 Vanroever Chut Colege 1900 block a Ft Vancouver Way fan-lpm AprO 21 Vancower Frtto Lay 4S0I NW Fruit Vader Road 9 am -1 pm April 22 Vancouver Shaip Miaoelactroiiia 5700 NW Pnufk Em BhrtL 9am-l pm April 23 Ridgefield Union Ridge Hementary 9am-1pm April 27 Vanconver SB! America NE 39th St and 11 2th Ave 9 am -1 pm April La Center 5th Street between Cedar and finh 9am-l pm INFO: (and hr otherevenls planned for May and June) dndt Cowity Solid Wfaste Program 397-6111 4358 ONGOING LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES Columbia Springs Environmental Center 12201 SE Evergreen Highway INFO: U2-0934 or wwvuolumbiospringsuxg 4 NATURALLY BEAUTIFUL BACKYARDS Lecture Series Borders Books and Music II lSEIiOthAve iJOpta-IJOpm 4 April 21 Raising Chickens for Fun and Eggs INFO: dork County Solid Waste Program 397-4118 4352 3 --c 0 I JPWmvwpiwwrogNFPmnrowiuwi wy 1 ww rv nevyv wfp 1 i -Wig Jl- JsfA.