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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 12, 1997)
River jumping provides fun for some, citations for others ■ JUMPS: The Willamette provides some relief from the summer heat, but jumping is cause for a $255 citation By Nicole Kristal Oregon Daily Emerald One after another they plum met toward the water. Some fall stylishly, clasping their hands around their feet. Others fall fear fully, arms flailing, screaming from the depths of their lungs. All jump from the Knickerbocker Bridge on the Willamette River with a similar purpose in mind. “It’s a thrill,” said Dan Ramirez, who brought his two nephews to jump from the bridge. According to 10-year-old Sam Jewell, a neighbor of Ramirez’s nephews, the exciting fall lasts for about three seconds. Sometimes the impact of the water can be quite unpleasant. “Sometimes you slap your arms,” said Thomas Ramirez as he raised his left arm to reveal a bright red mark left from impact. Thomas’ 10-year-old brother Glenn won’t jump anymore be cause of an unpleasant experi ence. “Once, I did the splits, and I smacked the water,” Glenn said. “And my nose became un plugged. Water squirted up my nose, and I got a brain freeze.” If the number of jumpers on the bridge is any indication of the amount of fun obtained from a single jump, most people must consider the experience quite pleasant. However, the fun mo mentarily stops when police pa trol the bridge. “No one was jumping while [the police officer] was there,” said Ramirez. “But as soon as he left, everyone jumped.” Being caught, however, is not a huge concern. “The police aren’t going to jump in after you,” Ramirez said. Public information officer Jan Power said a person jumping from a bridge or a rope swing can receive a $255 citation for disor derly conduct accompanied by a mandatory court appearance and 1 ▼EMERALD The Oregon Daily Emeralds published j daily Monday through Friday during the school year and Tuesday and Thursday during the summer by the Oregon Dally Emerald Publishing Co. Inc, atthe University ot Oregon in Eugene, Oregon. ; The Emerald operates independently ot the University with offices at Suite 300 of j the Erb Memorial Union. The EmeraWis private property. The unlawful removal or j use of papers is prosecutable by law. ▼NEWSROOM • (541)346-5511 Editor-In-Chief; Sarah Kidder Associate Editors: Ryan Frank, Cart Yeh Editorial Editor MikeSchmierbach Photo Editor Chad Patteson Reporter. Michael Hines, Nicole Krista! Webmaster Nick Shifter Illustrator Chris Hutchinson ▼BUSINESS • (541)346-5512 General Manager; Judy Riedl Supervisor Kathy Carbone Teri Awaya, John Long, Ferenc Rakoczi i ▼ADVERTISING • (541) 346-3712 Director 8ecky Merchant Yujln Chi, Chris Erickson. Lindsay Knaak, ! Erick Scheiss, Rose Soil. Matt Solomon, Chris Suydam ▼CLASSIFIEDS • (541) 346-4343 Manager Anne Amador ▼ PRODUCTION • (541) 346-4381 Manager Michele Ross Coordinator: Ingrid White, Tara Sloan Laura Oanlel, Melissa Lebahn possible jail time. The charge falls under the category of disor derly conduct because it creates a hazardous condition and possi bly causes alarm or public incon venience. “It’s more the personal safety issue that anything,” said Power. “You hit the bottom and drown ing and broken bones are very possible.” But the Knickerbocker Bridge isn’t the only popular area along the river. Various rope swings scattered along the riverside serve as a fun attraction as well — especially for the many Uni versity students who hit the river to dodge the summer heat. “I come out here pretty much everyday,” said Elijah Wood, a sophomore at the University. “There’s not much else to do in Eugene this summer.” Another rivergoer, clad in sop ping wet black pants, seemed to be enjoying the atmosphere. “It’s beautiful out here,” said Warren Champneys, Eugene res ident. “You couldn’t ask for a better day. ” One rivergoer complained about seeing state police on the bike path behind the river. “The river should be a place where people can come and not be harassed by police,” said a swimmer who referred to himself as Jimmy Buffett. “It’s an inva sion of privacy to some extent.” According to Jan Power, public information officer, police only patrol the city property along the riverfront. “We’ve never had a river pa trol,” said Power. “It’s something that’s never been funded.” Buffett said he believes police should spend less time removing the homeless from the shores and more time maintaining the river. “If the city wants the river to be a nice place, [city officials] should put some money into it,” said Buffett. According to Buffett, a good place to start would be the re moval of hazardous boulders that line the riverbed. “Maybe people could remove boulders for community service,” Buffett said. ALL DAY TUESDAY s p A G H E T T I ALL YOU CAN EAT EVERY TUES! 11:30 am-10 pm $025 pizza VfcT££ ITALIAN KITCHEN 2673 Willamette • 484-0996 CHAD PATTESON/Emerald Weekend river rafters pause to watch Jimmy Buffet fly off a rope swing, above, white Jed Smith, left, finds his fun on the heights of the Knickerbock er Bridge, Sunday afternoon. Recycle flour Body. Power Pacing by Karen Voight International fitness authority Karen Voight invites you to Gold's Gym new exercise facility called Spin City.This newly designated area incorporates Power Pacing, a new kind of workout that is low impact on the body, but can bum up ' to 500 calories per workout That means an individual that maintains the same eating habits could lose up to 20 pounds in 12 months! 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