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When she's not portraying Bob Packwood's protective chief of staff Elizabeth Richard gives drama tips to Portland school kids. |
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TRASHING a Career For the past two weeks, many Portland lawyers have asked themselves the same question: "How could David Peters have been nabbed?" The answer may lie in his trash can. Peters, a Multnomah County deputy district attorney, resigned last week after police reportedly found cocaine residue, a small amount of marijuana and pot paraphernalia in his Northeast Portland house. Peters' alleged drug use came to police attention because his name and number were found in an address book seized in connection with a case against Michael Hipps and Adam Wylie. The pair was charged in July with dealing drugs out of the Zupan's parking lot. So, with more than a month's warning, how did a veteran prosecutor get caught with drugs in his house? Although Peters undoubtedly knew that turning up in the address book of an alleged drug dealer wouldn't help his career, he also knew that it wouldn't be enough evidence in itself to obtain a search warrant for his house. What Peters might not have known is that police had other tools at their disposal. Word around the legal community is that police were able to obtain a warrant to search his house because they found drug evidence among the spent coffee grounds, orange peels and tired leftovers in his curbside trash. Although DA Mike Schrunk would not confirm the trash theory of Peter's fall from grace, the story makes sense. Police can dumpster-dive as much as they want without a warrant, thanks to a 1988 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that all presumption of privacy is abandoned once the trash can is dragged to the curb. The fact that warrantless searches of garbage are legal doesn't mean the Portland Police make them a regular practice. Several defense lawyers said they had never heard of a case in which police went to such lengths in a case that so far only involves possible drug possession charges. --MO |
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Stage Frights This week the combative former top aide to Bob Packwood is back in the spotlight, thanks the able efforts of Portland actress Elizabeth Richard, who plays the role of Franklin in Groping for Justice: The Bob Packwood Story at the Echo Theater (see Stage listings). It's a daunting role to play in Portland, where Franklin's villainous visage was a familiar fixture in news accounts of the former senator's boozy stumble from power. It was all the more foreboding a task for Richard, who was living out of state at the height of the Packwood Follies and couldn't dig up any video or audio tape of her character, who still resides in Portland. Instead, Richard had to rely on newspaper accounts, Senate testimony, a couple of photographs and coaching from people who had met Franklin--everyone from TV reporters to a guy who served her at Elephant's Delicatessen. She got some good coaching. "I kept getting: 'She's hard. She's nasty. She's the one who does the dirty work,'" Richard says. "The picture that was emerging was not a pretty one." Richard is aware that, of all the major characters in the play, hers is the only one that comes off as one-dimensional--a limitation of the script's adherence to public records and news accounts. "I'm sure there's more to Elaine than just being tough," she says, "but the script doesn't call for that." --JS
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Ready to R U U M B L E! At least in his mind. It appears Wilcox is about to join Portland Wrestling (pronounced "rasslin'" by aficionados). Two weeks ago, Wilcox was a guest radio commentator for the weekly wrestling matches that have been taking place this summer at the Aladdin Theater. At the end of the 10-man Battle Royal (pronounced "roy-Al"), one grappler, Buddy "Heartthrob" Wayne, started giving Wilcox some lip. So the 6-foot-3-inch, 250-pound Wilcox decked the Heartthrob, who scampered out of the theater before Wilcox--clad in jeans, turtleneck and thongs--could inflict any more damage. As any serious fan knows, this incident foreshadows Wilcox's entry into the ring. Indeed, when asked on the street if he would be joining the most virtuous and misunderstood of American sports, Wilcox replied that "negotiations are under way." "Don't count it out," adds Portland Wrestling promoter Jeff Kafoury. It's long been a dream of Wilcox's to make his living in the "squared circle." "He's always been big into professional wrestling," U of O sports information director Dave Williford confirms. In fact, Williford reports that Wilcox's biggest thrill while in the Minnesota Vikings' camp was not donning an NFL uniform but having the opportunity to meet former Worldwide Wrestling Federation legend Jesse "The Body" Ventura. We might see Wilcox in action when Portland Wrestling on Oct. 4 moves to its new digs at the Collectors' Market behind Portland Meadows. Saturday, Sept. 13, marks the final show at the Aladdin. --BY |
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Lessons in Tolerance Last Thursday morning, 11 demonstrators from Rock for Life, a pro-life music-based Christianministry, took to the public sidewalk in front of the school on Southeast 26th Avenue, wielding large, graphic signs of aborted fetuses and passing out anti-abortion literature. Cleveland High principal Bruce Plato says he urged students to ignore the demonstrators and go into the building. Most complied, he says, but a small group of pro-choice girls remained outside and began heated discussions, hurling personal rants at the demonstrators. Things escalated after a female student stole one of the protesters' signs, ran to the school property and ripped it up. When demonstrators retreated for a prayer, another female student allegedly smashed the windshield of one of their cars. Christina Kohler was arrested the following day by Portland Public Schools police and charged with second degree criminal mischief. Pierced and tattooed, Rock for Lifers don't fit the pro-life stereotype. "We're the kind of people you would look at and say, 'They should be pro-choice,'" says national director Bryan Kemper. They're not. Kemper, for example, believes that even rape victims and adolescents should have their unwanted children. The group was formed in 1994 as a response to Rock for Choice, a pro-choice music-based educational organization; they even toured alongside Rock for Choice at the 1994 Lollapalooza music festival. More than 100 bands affiliated with Rock for Life are currently touring the country and promoting their message, with styles ranging from adult contemporary to hard-core punk. The organization has chapters in seven states, but only the Oregon branch has targeted schools. In addition to Cleveland, the group has protested at Grant High School, Putnam High School in Milwaukie and Oregon City High School. Kemper says Rock for Life of Oregon has also demonstrated at Portland-area abortion clinics and is working on an anti-pornography campaign targeting Barnes & Noble. --RR |
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ON THE BUS When Stacey takes the post Oct. 1, some of Tri-Met's sharpest critics will be pleased. Jim Howell, a former Tri-Met planner and an outspoken critic of the agency, says Stacey's record as the City of Portland's planning director shows "he's sympathetic to good public transit." Even more encouraging is the fact that Stacey rides the No. 4 bus from his Southeast Portland home to his downtown law office. Stacey, 48, estimates that he's taken more than 10,000 rides on local buses, going back to his high school days when Tri-Met was the Rose City Transit Co. "That's real important," says Howell. "A lot of people say they want good transit, then don't have the foggiest idea what it takes." City Commissioner Charlie Hales, who oversees the city's transportation bureau, agrees. "Casey Stengel said, 'You can observe a lot just by watching,' and when it comes to transit, you can observe a lot just by riding." It's a little odd to hear Hales praise Stacey, because Hales fired him as city planning director in 1993, saying Stacey wasn't friendly enough to developers and builders. Now the two sound like best friends, having found themselves on the same side of the debate about holding Portland's urban growth boundary. Stacey says he was surprised by the "intensity" of his desire to get back to public service. The job pays $95,473. Stacey wouldn't say how much he makes at the high-powered law firm Ball Janik, but admitted it's considerably more than he'll make at Tri-Met. Stacey, who will be replacing Dave Yaden, says money will be a big issue for Tri-Met and suggests the agency will need a new local revenue source. Howell maintains money is not Tri-Met's main problem. While Tri-Met's revenues increased by a whopping 19 percent last fiscal year, ridership only grew by 4.4 percent--a fact that Tri-Met actually boasts about. "They shouldn't be bragging," says Howell, "they should be embarrassed." --BY |
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The "Yes on 51" folks--that's the campaign to repeal Oregon's "Death With Dignity" law--must be speaking with a lisp these days. A giant billboard hovering over Southeast McLoughlin Boulevard reads, "It'ss Fatally Flawed. Vote Yes on 51." Campaign director Mal Bellafronto didn't notice the extra "s" until WW brought it to his attention. "It looks pretty strange," he said of the sign, which has been up for nearly a week. "I can't explain it." Bellafronto called AK Media, the company responsible for the billboards, and a spokeswoman there told him the company didn't see anything wrong. Bellafronto, though, says, "It's glaring!" The campaign manager also discovered that a similar billboard in Salem is missing an apostrophe. That sign reads, "Its Fatally Flawed." --JF |
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To our readers: Last week a Willamette Week employee--a production worker who has been with this company many years--was arrested by the Portland Police in connection with charges of sexual abuse of a minor. The allegations have no connection with the employee's work for Willamette Week. The employee, Randy Moe, is on leave. Willamette Week often prints adverse news about people and institutions--including others in the media--and our diligence in doing so ought not to stop at our own door. Moreover, people who work in the media, no matter what their role, are in the public eye. We are shaken by this event and wish to express our concern to all involved. |
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