Packwood snub troubles critics WASHINGTON (AP) ~ Son Bob Pack wood's Capitol Hill confession Thursday ig nored what critics say is one of the most damaging allega tions of misconduct — that ho launched a campaign to dig up dirt on women accusing him of sexual harassment "It troubles me that Sen Packwood refuses to discuss efforts made to discredit his accusers," said Rep.-elect Elizabeth Purse. D-Ore. At least two women claim Packwood. his aides and friends have engaged in a deliberate effort to smear the characters of the women who have come forward with stories about the Oregon Re publican's unwelcome sexual advances "1 am not going to discuss that issue at all,” Packwood said during a news conference al the Capitol. ”1 am not going to respond to any questions about any efforts to characterize tho women,'' he said (Jinny Burdick, a spokeswoman for Oregonians for Ethical Representation, said Thursday I er group is following up on allegations that Pack wood personally tried to discredit the accusers. “That's the real slory now — the blatant raver up, the smear campaign.” she said Mabsie Walters, u former campaign volunteer for Sen. Bob Packwood, said last week that Pack wood telephoned her to try to gather potentially damaging information about another woman who hud accused the senator of sexual harassment Walters, a former president of the Oregon chap ter of the National Abortion Rights Action League, said F’nckwood called her Nov. 9 to ask questions about Mary Heffernan. who founded the chapter Heffernan is among Hi women who have ac cused Packwood of making unwelcome sexual advances during his 24-year Senate career She said during a visit to his office in the early IDHOs. Packwood grabbed her arms and kissed her Another of Park wood's accusers. Julie William son. has said one of Packwood s friends tele phoned her last spring to warn that Williamson s private life would be made public if she leveled accusations at Packwood, Williamson, who claims Packwood forcefully kissed her and tried to pull her clothes off when she was his aide in 1969. said she interpreted the call to fa: an attempt to silence her Williamson said from New York on Thursday Packwood was lying when he told the Washing ton Post in October that he did not ret ail any of the incidents "I know he was asked about the incident with me over the years I know that he remembers the incident because he immediately went out of the Washington Post interview and told people to send letters about me to the Post I think he'll do anything to hang on to power.” she said Hep. Ron Wydon. D-On:.. said Thursday that the political playing fluid had changed now that Packwood had admitted generlcallv to pressuring the women with unwelcome advani cs Woman sues police; claims false arrest PORTLAND (AP) — A Portland woman has sued polled, claiming she* was falsely c harged with staging a hate crime that her former roommate later admitted staging by herself. Susan Soon, 45. also claimed In her lawsuit that Portland police withheld a videotape that might prove her Innocent. Her former roommate. A/a I on Cooley, has admitted staging a series of hate crimes outside her home that drew wide spread media attention Cooley publicly apologized for her actions and said she was very sorry they had affected Soon. Soon is seeking money damages for defamation and inflic tion of emotional distress. Police have accused her of filing a I'ulse report about someone burning a cross in hor yard “The purpose of the lawsuit is to restore Miss Soon's good name." one of her attorneys, Tom Steenson, said in a news conference Wednesday, “She absolutely denies any wrong doing. it's a false charge “ A police videotape is central to the lawsuit Sta n's attor neys say the tape, from u hidden camera trained on Stain's house, clearly implicates Cooley. The two had lieen the subject of intense media and police attention since May 5. when the southeast Portland home they shared became the target of numerous hate crimes, in cluding cross burnings anti racist graffiti. Cooley, who is black and hat! led people to believe she was confined lo a wheelchair, said she was this target of the hate crimes. After a suicide attempt In parly November, she ad mitted that she can walk and that she staged all of the hate crimes without her roommate's knowledge Rainy weather raises hopes for long-awaited end of drought GRANTS PASS (AP) - High winds that blow over trees and power lines Thursday along the southern Oregon Coast brought heavy rains that raised hopes a seven-year drought may be ending. By the time the storm crossed the Cascade Range, the winds had lessened and at Klamath Falls the rain turned to snow, just in time for the evening Snowflake Festival parade. "It's not over, but we re chip ping away at this drought thing." said Dave Williams, Na tional Weather Service meteor ologist at Klamath Falls. (lusts of up to 110 mph were reported iit Humbug Mountain near Port Or ford, where US Highway 101 was closed for five hours It reopened by 5 a m . officials said. Damage was limited despite the high winds The most rain full recorded was 3 Inches In 24 hours at Newport More than one and a half inches of rain were reported In the same peri od at Gold Reach. Storm drains couldn't keep up with the pounding rain in the Rogue Valley. Gars driving in pre dawn darkness in Grants Pass sent up rooster tails of spray from big puddles Med ford recorded .31 inches of rain in 30 minutes. "All things considered. it sounds like we were pretty Ini kv. ■'■nil ("oos County sher iffs Ngt Ken Marlin, who spent the night out In the storm Oregon's main urban areas were spared in the Willamette Valley Heavy snow was reported on 7.523-foot Mount Ashland, where the ski season opened with SI lift tickets to thank area residents for their contributions to buy the resort On tins const, gusts up to 70 rnph ill H,union flipped a small airplane at the airport and knocked down trees and power lines, said Marlin "The power crews and road crews cutting up trees were l>e ing run ragged," he said Hut most trees withstood the storm because the rain didn't arrive to soften up the ground until alter the winds, he added Songs Of Freedom BOB MARLEY Songs Of Freedom Bob Marley 4 cassette box set $29 99 4 CD box set $39 99 The definitive Bob Marley retrospec&ve - 75 songs, classics and ranties from a lifetime ol timeless, universal music u • . : VA»f$f#>$£ 9 -■ -^