9
PORTLAND
OBSERVER
Vol 6 No. 43
Thursday, September 9th, 1976
_______________
10c per cwpy
J
Justice Department closes "Gilcrase file”
Two years ago the Oregon Journal
levied charges against Cleveland Gil
crease, Executive Director of the Port
land Metropolitan Steering Committee,
accusing him of misuse of federal funds.
In the aftermath of these charges the
Community Service Agency, the federal
agency that funds PMSC. conducted
audits of the 1973 and 1974 expenditures.
Additional audits of PMSC and of Gil
crease's personal financial status were
conducted by the FBI, the Internal Reve
nue Service and the Justice Department.
The J ustice Department has closed its
case, indicating that there will be no
criminal charges, and the final audit re
port has been released.
Approximately $15 million passed
through PMSC and across Gilcrease's
desk during 1973 and 1974, Of this.
$50.496 was questioned by the audit.
Audit firms consider questioned or disal
lowed items of one per cent to be imma
terial; PMSC questioned expenditures
came to approximately */> of one per cent.
Of the $50.496 questioned expenditures,
justification for approximately $33.000
has been submitted to CSA and some of
this amount accepted by CSA. leaving
about 17,000 still to be resolved.
The audit company. Coopers and
Lybrand, defines "questioned" as those
items for which documented justification
has not yet been produced. "This does not
necessarily mean that the cost will be
disallowed by CSA."
The Coopers and Lybrand audit of 1974
concluded that PMSC accounting proce
dures were inadequate. Following the
establishment of new procedures, the
same company's audit for 1975. ruled the
system to be adequate. PMSC has since
hired a new controller and strengthened
the fiscal department.
Although thorough investigation by
several agencies of government found
inadequate bookkeeping procedures but
no criminal action, Gilcrease's integrity
Justice Department Investigation: Broken arrow*
has been repeatedly impuned by the local
press. A recent editorial in the Oregon
Journal (August 7th. 1976) says, "Based
on the audit, we think Gilcrease's action*
indicate either ignorance or a leas than
high regard for the public funds he was
entrusted with." No such charges have
been levied against the Mayor, the Chair
man of the Board of County Commiaaion
era. the Governor, where city, county and
state audits have been found deficient,
but errors have been attributed to the
computers. A local banker recently ex
pressed the opinion that his bank, one o
the major binding corporations in
Oregon, could not pass the test* put to
Gilcrease.
Gilcrease. who in 1974 answered
charges against him with counter charge
(Please turn to p. 2 col. 4)
w
Boise
studies
basics
Students at Boise Elementary School
entered their “new school” Tuesday, af
ter a long summer vacation. If Principal
David McCrea's plan is successful, it will
be their last long summer vacation.
Boise has adopted a “basic school" pro
gram with the full support of parents,
students and the community. The new
plan will emphasize the fundamental
skills of reading, writing and arithmetic.
While additional subjects, such as science
and social studies, will be taught, they
will be taught with the basics in mind.
“Our only goals are in the basic skills,"
McCrea said.
“Our children have a terrible lack in
reading skills. We need to spend as much
time as we can teaching them to read.
Without reading, they cannot achieve in
other subjects.“
A special ingredient in the plan is goal
orientation. Each student will be able to
judge his progress according to estab
lished goals and when he meets one goal,
will begin on the next. Parents will be
given the student's goals and regular
conferences will help them assess their
children's progress.
The Boise plan features a year around
schedule with four quarters, each with
nine weeks, followed by a two week re
cess. Summer vacation will be six weeks
during the summer.
The two-week “down times" will be
used for students who are asked to return
half days for special help and for students
who want to take special classes. Class
size during these periods will be from ten
to fifteen students. •
Parents will be asked to assist during
regular class time and during the “down
times". Homework will be given all class
es on a regular basis to encourage parti
cipation of parents in their children's ed
ucation. McCrea believes children make
better progress in school if they are made
aware of their parents' interest.
Boise stud its are beginning the new
year with great expectations. Delphine
Veley told the Observer, “It's nice." Alisa
Channel said she likes the new plan be
cause “You learn more. It’s going to be
fun." Demetria Herron said. "It's fun”,
and Idell Brown was interested in the
"down times", “We only go half a day in
the vacation times."
Street heads Emanuel affirmative action effort
Anna Street has assumed the duties of
affirmaative action specialist at Emanuel
Hospital. Miss Street was selected from a
large number of applicants by the Model
Cities Liason Committee, chaired by Bob
Rogers
Miss Street's primary responsiblity is
the hospital's affirmative action plan - “to
achieve discrimination free personnel and
work environment".
Miss Street admits Emanuel has ser
problems and that, regardless of its
Equal Employment Opportunity Comit
ment. these problems will take time to
solve. “If we are to resolve these prob
lems. all line personnel must work to
gether to achieve the goal. One person
cannot carry the responsibility, but we
must work as a team."
ious
She is pleased that Roger Larson, hos
pital administrator Bain and the board
have com mi ted themselves to achieving
and maintaining the the trust of the com
mumty in the hospital and its employees.
Emanuel is the First non profit hospital
in Portland to hire a full time affirmative
action officer. Only Good Samaritan and
Kaiser have affirmative action officers.
Miss Street looks on the quality of the
results of her efforts as being the real
issue, not the statistics of minorities hir
ed. "The important thing is to do a quality
job. one that will have some meaning in
the community."
Prior to her position with Emanuel.
Miss Street was Office Manager for City
Commissioner Charles Jordan for two
and one half years, and before that was
Executive Secretary at Northwest Re
___ _3
1 t f
1
THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
the regular high schools. Most students,
however, are learning on the job through
work/study programs.
"We try to place students on jobs that
fit their career interests," Mitchell said,
"But the job shortage makes it difficult."
The school cooperates with the employer
in directing the student's training. Com
puters are used to identify student's
fields of interest and aptitude.
Some of the school's students are drop
outs or have been expelled from regular
schools, but other* have been good stu
dents who want an alternative to the
regular high school. “Students cover a
wide range of abilities and interests.
Some are very bright, but have choose
vocational
training.
Others
have
problems with the regular academic
program.”
Mitchell left his position as Quadrant
Manager for Multnomah County to accept
his new job. Previous to working for the
county, he had been director of curricu
lum at John Adams High School in
Portland.
Workshop explains
JOHN BLANC
Dorothy Jeon Staple checks the full year schedule.
Names in the News
Ixirene Stefik was promoted to buyer
in infants and toys at Lipmans. She has
been at Lipmans for two and one half
years. She previously worked at Ix*vantis
Stores in Nigeria, where she purchased
from Europe, the US, and Hong Kong.
She is a native of Seattle.
A farewell party feted I .andon Johnson
who has been the summer guest of his
•iter, Mrs. Kathi Harevey. I.andon re
turned to Yankton University. Yankton,
South Dakota for his junior year, major
ing in Physical Education.
Ways to finance the purchase of resi how veterans can benefit from this pro
Mrs. Harrir Belle Pairs, Mrs. Kuby
dential property will be discussed at a gram.
Taylor and daughter, Desiree. have re
Real Estate Information Workshop next
John Blanc, U.S. National Bank, Union
turned from an extended vacation to De
Tuesday. September 14th, at Portland Ave. Branch, will bring information on
kalb, Texas, Texarkansas, Mt. Pleasant
Community College. The meeting is open conventional bank financing.
i
and Dallas, where they visited Mrs. Tay
to all those who may be interested in
The advantages of these programs to
lor's sister, Mrs. Earlene Cribbs.
buying a home and to those who may persons who want to sell their homes ill
have a home they wish to sell.
be included in the program. There will be
Dennis Gartin. Deputy Chief Appraiser plenty of time available for questions and
The Green Fingers Harvest Luncheon
for FHA, will discuss the different pro discussion.
- a gourmet feast was held September
grams for FHA insured home loans. FHA
The workshop is organized oy Cal 2nd at Vancouver Avenue First Baptst
programs are designed to help families Toran and Bob Nelson. Sales Associates Church, featuring food grown in the gar
become home owners by making low lor E. G. Stassens, Inc., Realtors.- den project, prepared by the gardeners.
down payments possible. People with Sponsors are Stassen*. The Portland Ob
Representatives of the community were:
small savings but with income adequate
server and the Union Ave. Branch of U.S. Mr. Oliver I arsen, Ex. Vice President,
to make the monthly payments can bene
National Bank.
Chamber of Commerce; City Commis
fit under FHA.
The meeting will be held in Room B-47, sioner Conn.e McCready; OACWC Presi
State Veterans Administration home
Cascade Hall. 705 N. Killingsworth, dent Betty Thompson; Mrs. Lois Barry,
loans offer low down payments with low
Tuesday evening, September 14th from President of Portland Federation of Wo
interest rate*. Marvin Franshier from the
7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The public is wel men's Organization*. Special guests in
State Veteran's loan program will explain
come and there is no cost to participants. eluded project donors: l>eo Weederman
home purchase, sale
(Photos: Dan Long)
The Boise plan is unique in another
respect. It is contrary to the district's
policy of grouping schools in an effort to
promote the development of elementary
and middle school clusters. Because of
Boise's geographic location it does not fit
easily into a cluster, and any cluster it
would be united with at this time would
excede the district's goal of 25 per cent
minority enrollment. Boise was 83 per
cent Black during the 1975-1976 school
year. Until a plan can be devised where
Boise students could be transferred in a
group to a school that fits the racial
criteria, parents prefer to keep the Kin
dergarten through eighth grade school.
The basic school concept is expected to
draw white children from other schools in
the district. McCrea was surprside to find
that eight white students who live in
other districts have been enrolled in the
school this year, each because parents
wanted the fundamental education. "We
were pleased to receive these students
because we have done no recruiting. We
did not expect to receive transfers until
after the first year, when the school is
established as a success. Perhaps the
transfers will surpass our expectations.”
gional Training Laboratory.
She came to Oregon from Loa Vegas in
1967 to join the Job Corps. Completing a
two year clerical course in six month*,
she was hired as an instructor.
In 1969, she moved to Portland to at
tend Portland State University, where
she studied Business Administration. On
ly six credit hours away from her bache
lor's degree, achieving that degree is an
immediate goal. Then Miss Street will
begin working on her Master's degree.
Community members of he Emanuel
Model Cities Liason Committee, which
will continue to work with Miss Street,
are: James Loving. Harry Ward. LeRoy
Patton. Robert King. Betty White, Jack
Deyampert, Vern Summers. Reverend
John Jackson. Chaplain William Addix.
and Clarence Beyers.
Mitchell heads Vancouver alternate school
Edgar Mitchell is the new Administra
tor and Head Teacher at the Vancouver
Public Schools' Alternative School.
The school offers an alternative educa
tion to Junior and Senior High School
students of Clark College. The school
emphasizes career education. Students
attend class three hours a day. taking
basic education, and work part or full
time.
Some vocational courses, like small en
gine repair are taken at the school, while
other students take vocational courses at
>
Webfoot Fertilizers; Carl Steabould,
plummer; Mr. and Mrs. Charles Rey
nolds, surveyor. Green Fingers was es
tablished by Mrs. Vivianne Barnet*.
Mrs. Elise Reynolds recently edebrat
ed her birthday with a visit from sons
who live in California,
Mr. Alberta I,. Randolph, who is Past
Daughter Ruler of Daughter of the Elks,
is improved and recuperating from her
recent illness.
Mrs. Betty Thompson, President, Ore
gon Association of Colored Women’s
Clubs, has been awarded the State Presi
dent's Award by the National Association
of Colored Women’s Clubs, Inc. in recog
nition of outstanding club work and dedi
cation. Mrs. Thompson has been presi
dent of the OACW since 1972, which is
the oldest Black women’s organization in
Portland that annually gives scholarships
to graduating high school students and
partipates in a wide range of civic and
community endeavors. Members are: Al-
trustic Club, Mrs. Harrie Belle Paris,
Pres.; Harriet Tubman Club, Mrs. G. A.
Randolph, Pres.; Kathryn Gray Club, Ms.
Viola Johnson, Pres.; Literary Research
Club, Mrs. Irene Cranford, Pre«.; and
Semper Fidelis Club, Mrs. Earnestine
Wiseman, President.
Vincent (¿ore. whose parents are in the
Air Force stationed in Hawaii, is a fresh
man at the University of Portland. Ma
joring in Life Science and Pre Medical,
his interests induce baseball, pool, gui
tar, and weight lifting.
Seniors took a trip to Ft. Stevens State
Park, the trip sponsored by the Advisory
Board of the Urban League Senior Adult
Service Center.
Stanton Duke ahs retired from the UL
Senior Adult Serice Center where he was
in charge of transportation.
Mrs. Rosa N. Smith has returend from
a short business trip to Los Angeles. She
is a teacher aide at Beaumont Elemen
tary School.
Oliver Smith's sons, Cal and Oliver, Jr.
recently visited.
Mr. and Mr*. (Rto Asher are iving in
thier newly purchased home on North
Sumner. Asher is with PNB.
the mt. Sinai Dramatic Club drew a
large crowd with its rendition of "The
Missionary Triumph’
Mrs. I.luella Barpos has returend form
her first trip to California. She visited all
the usual tourist spots on this extensive
trip.
Miss May Franks and Mrs. Napoleon
Jelks drove to Tacoma during the holi
days to visit friends and relatives.
Johnny Watt*, owner of Johnny Watts’
Mexican Imports on North Killingsworh,
is retiring due to illness. He expressed his
appreciation for the support given him by
the community for nearly four years.