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About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (May 29, 2002)
________ 5 WEdNEschy, M ay 29, 2002 The media may help us find these girls SALEWA DE LA CRUZ , Design Editor Just when people think the hope and support has dwin dled for Ashley Pond and Miranda Gaddis, the Oregon City girls who disappeared, a new surge of effort and deter mination continues the endeavors to find these girls and bring them home. Findmiranda.com and find- ashley.com are diligent in their postings and helping to keep the case in the limelight. On a daily basis there are postings on these web sites to keep people updated as to the goings on in the case. Another search done on May 18“1 revealed a backpack, hall pass- and other miscella neous items, which have yet to be identified as part of the case. Billy Crabtree of Pc Projex affirms that the only way to find these girls is to get the media to keep coverage on them. The nation tends to agree because Pond and Gaddis appeared on the cover of People Magazine. A story will also be featured on the Montel Williams show and will be taped through July and August. Due to the mys teriousness of this case, the popular show “Unsolved Mysteries,” will also air the story about the girls’ disap pearances. . Over the weekend two bod ies of females were found, one near Estacada and one near Timothy Lake. It was established they were not apart of the ongoing investi- the question of what hap- pened to these girls would be gation for Pond and Gaddis. For one brief moment, though, people believed there to be closure. That at least answered, but alas, the searches are still on and con tinue every other weekend. So where are these girls? The question is still yet to be answered. The only way to find the truth is for persons with information about this case to come forward. According to reports by forensic investigators involved in the case, it would be easier to go forward in the case if they had a crime scene, but that is still yet to be established. Law enforcement agencies have sifted through more than 3,500 leads, but still nothing solid to finally answer the question: Where are Ashley Pond and Miranda Gaddis? To reach Salena De La Cruz e-mail at salenadelacruz@netsc ape.net or drop by B-104. Oregon voter turnout affects status of potential levys FRANK JORDAN News Editor Oregon voters spoke loud, but not altogether too clear, last week during the Oregon primary election, with about 45 percent of registered voters mailing in or dropping off ballots prior to the 8 p.m. deadline May 21. In the statewide races, Ted Kulongoski held off former State Treasurer Jim Hill and former Multnomah County Commissioner Bev Stein to cap ture the Democratic nomination to replace John Kitzhaber as gov ernor. On the Republican side, State Legislator Kevin Mannix will be Kulongoski’s opponent in November. Mannix defeated Ron Sexton and former state labor commissioner Jack Roberts in a close race. Locally, the Clackamas County Public Safety levy went down to defeat by a 53-47 percent mar gin. However, even if the meas ure had passed, it still would have failed because, of Oregon’s double majority law, which states that in order for tax levies to pass the levy must not only get more than 50 percent of the total votes cast, the total votes cast must be 50 percent or more of all regis “Oregon voters spoke loud, but not altogether too clear, last week dur ing the Oregon pri mary election...” tered voters in the area where the levy would affect. Clackamas County voter turnout topped out at about 47 percent. Clackamas County Commissioners are still debating whether or not to send the same levy to vot ers in November, or some thing a little more watered down. Susan Castillo, a state represen tative from Eugene and a former television reporter, was elected to a four-year term as Superintendent of Public Instruction. Castillo captured almost 55 percent of the vote, avoiding a runoff in November. Oregon’s general election will be held Tuesday, November 5 and will again be a vote-by-niail election. Interested people who have not registered to vote must do so by October 15. Voter reg istration forms may be picked up at post offices, govern ment offices or at the county elections office on Portland Avenue in Gladstone. To reach Frank Jordan e-mail fmj68@hotmail.com or drop by B-104. Don’t let loans catch up to you, handle money wisely DAISY BAIN A&E Editor Many students are asking them selves at the end of the school year, “How am I going to pay for school?” If the current trend holds from last year, student loan rates could drop to their lowest levels in the history of the feder al student loan program. “That’s what they said about last year’s rates,” said Craig Nickles, CCC Financial Aid Loan Coordinator. Last year’s rates were low and many students consoli dated then, thinking the rates were at their low est. Now they are stuck with those rates because under the rules of consolidation, you can only consolidate once. “It’s a one-tjme offer,” said Nickles. Currently the interest rates are between five and six percent depending on if the student is in school or out of school and in repayment. The last auction of the federal fiscal year is in June. In July, the loan rates could drop another two per centage points. AH borrowers with variable interest loans will get the interest rate reduction automatically. These new rates only apply to those students who had their loans issued on or after July 1, 1998. Nickles warns students not to get too excited. He’s afraid stu dents who have curient loans issued will want to make rash decisions by trying to consolidate their loans now. When you con solidate, the interest rate locks and most lenders round up to the nearest percentile. Your borrowing power is based on the income you will earn after leaving school- which determines the monthly payment you can afford. Generally, your monthly student loan payment should be no more than 8% of your monthly salary. Your Expected Annual Income You Can Your ' Monthly After Graduation Afford to Borrow* Payment' $15,000 $ 8,300 $101 $17,500 $ 9,600 $116 $20,000 $11,000 $133 $22,500 $12,500 $152 $25,000 $13,500 $164 $27,500 $15,000 $182 $30,000 $16,000 $194 $32,500 $18,000 $218 $35,000 $19,000 $231 $37,500 $20,600 $250 $40,000 $22,000 $267 $42,500 $23,000 $279 $45,000 $24,000 $291 $50,000 $27,000 $328 $55,000 $30,000 $364 $60,000 $33,000 $400 ’The figures are approximate and are based on a 8% interest rate and a 10 year repayment term. Variable rate Federal Stafford Loans are capped at 8.25%. _ See back for Occupation Salaries Courtesy of US Bank “Wait until you finish school,” said Nickles. Many students consolidate when they graduate with a degree, then a few years later decide they want to go back to school to get their masters. The only problem is their new loans can no longer be combined with the old at the low rate. Some advantages to consolida tion are you can put all your loans into one, providing one monthly payment. Extended repayment periods can go from 12 to 30 years depending upon the size of the debt, which results in lower monthly payment. Disadvantages include higher interest costs. An extended repayment period increases the total interest costs. Consolidated loans could offer fewer deferment options and you will lose any forgiveness eligi bility you may have on your Perkins, NDSL and Nursing Loans. “Yeah, the trend says the inter est rates will stay low, but who knows,” said Nickles. Before jumping into loans or consolidating the ones you have now before graduation, remem ber that the highest the rates will ever be is 8.25 percent. There are also other ways to manage and minimize your debt. Some of these ideas you can get from your financial aid office. Find any financial aid that may not have to be repaid, such as grants, scholarships, and work-study. Draw up a budget for yourself while you are in school, and stick to it. Estimate your future income to determine what you will be able to pay each month after you graduate. Be realistic! Be inquisitive; make sure you ask all the questions nec essary to get the facts about each loan. Read the promissory note before signing. Limit what you borrow. You may not need every loan out there. To reach Daisy Bain e-mail daisy- bain@hotmaii.com or drop by B- 104.
