October 7, 1987, Portland Observer, Page 5
Could An Earthquake Hit
.Is Our Landmass Safe or.
Portland?------- Merely Complacent?
New findings indicate similar geological zones to the Northwest have
experienced large earthquakes.
The ancient Greeks thought that when Atlas shifted the weight of the
world he was carrying on his shoulders, the earth shook. Many religious
groups through the centuries have thought that God was punishing man­
kind when an earthquake hit. In 1760, an English geologist, John Mitchell,
stated earthquakes were from the movement of underground rocks, and in
1859, Irish engineer, Robert Mallet, indicated that strain in the earth's crust
caused earthquakes.
These
marsh
dence
snags
tw o cedar snags — p ro trud in g throu g h a brackish-w ater
of W illapa Bay. southw est W ashington — are am ong the evi­
th a t great earthquakes occur in the P acific N o rth w est. The
record a kind o f coastal dow nd ro pp in g th a t o fte n accom -
Twentieth century scientists have now determined that the cause of
most earthquakes is based on the i960 theory of Plate Tectonic's. The
Plate Tectonic theory states that the earth s outer 60 mile shell is made of
separate rigid blocks or plates which move. As the plates move, they press
and grind against each othei. The result is a major upheaval in the earth's
surface.
Oregon and Washington sit complacently on the edge of a huge plate
of the earth's crust that includes the North American continent. Not far
offshore, this North American plate rides over a smaller plate system called
Juan de Fuca. As the North American plate moves, it is forcing this
smaller plate into the depths of the earth's mantle in a process called sub­
duction.
At locations like this around the world where plates meet, the tremen­
dous pressure created as these plates collide and slide across each other
results in powerful earthquakes such as the quake that rocked Alaska in
1964 with a magnitude of 8.5 on the Richter scale. San Francisco as a part
of the 750 mile long San Andreas fault was demolished in 1906 with an
THE IN pERSON
AMAZING
MANNING
BROTHERS
%
OF
S E A T T LE , W ASHINGTON
earthquake registering 8.3. But, the Northwest has no physical recording
of an earthquake of this type of magnitude. Monitoring devices now
trained on the subduction zones in our area have failed to detect even a
tremor.
What is unique about the Cascadian subduction zone that includes
Washington and Oregon and stretches from British Columbia to Northern
California? Since the Juan de Fuca plate is composed of relatively young
material, does this mean that it is more malleable and therefore slides under
the North American plate without the grinding and jerking friction that re-
panies earthquakes o f m agnitude 8 to 9. Brian A tw a te r, of the U.S.
Geological Survey in Seattle, discussed the N o rth w est's earthquake
history last Friday evening, O ctober 2, at the Oregon M useum o f
Science and Industry. The man in the photograph is David Yama-
guchi, o f the USGS in Vancouver.
suits in earthquakes at other subduction zones? Or, do we have all the
information?
Thomas H. Heaton, a geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey in
Pasedena, California and Brian F. Atwater of the U.S. Geological Survey
in Seattle, will describe new findings that indicate that the Northwest is a
viable earthquake zone. Heaton and his colleagues are comparing the acti­
vity of the Cascadian subduction zone with geologically similar zones
around the world. They have concluded that most of the like-regions
studied, have had large earthquakes. Studies of these earthquakes have
led to predictions of the likelihood and the possible magnitude of an earth­
quake of major proportions to hit the Northwest.
In fact, newly discovered evidence in the geological record indicates
that several large-scale earthquakes may have rocked the Northwest in pre­
historic times. Dr. Atwater has found signs that indicate the rapid sinking
of large sections of the Washington coast
subsidence, that often accom­
panies earthquakes, have occurred at least six times in the last 7,000 years.
This type of subsidence, a sinking of the earth's surface, often accom­
panies earthquakes.
Could the recent lack of seismic activity from the Cascadia subduction
zone indicate that the North American and Juan de Fuca plates are locked
together instead of sliding smoothly? If so, could a break in this tension
result in a cataclysmic earthquake? Is the Northwest geologically unique,
or are we merely enjoying a false complacency?
Tickets for non-members are $4.00 for adults and $2.50 for seniors
and students ages 3 to 17. Tickets for members are $3.50 for adults and
$2.00 for seniors and students. For more information, call OMSI: (503)
222-2828.
Root Canal Therapy Saves Teeth
Let's enter the world of root canal therapy where very ill teeth can be
saved and extractions prevented. The thought of having a nerve removed
from anywhere sounds terrible and strikes fear into the hearts of men. The
thought of having a nerve removed from a place so near the brain sends
shudders up most spines. There are the feelings, fears and thoughts that
we tend to have about the unknown.
Some patients would prefer to have the tooth removed, when in reality
what they really want is to have the discomfort removed. Patients talk
about the tooth as though it is surely their arch enemy and is out to get
them.
Root canal therapy can allow a patient to be free of discomfort and
maintain the tooth. Surgical removal of a tooth is more traumatic to the
tissues around a tooth and requires a much longer healing time.
Some patients ask me, what exactly is a root canal. Dentists refer to
root canals as "root canal therapy", "endodentia", and "endodentric
therapy."
Root canals are done whenever there is nerve death in the tooth
caused by decay that can't be repaired by normal filling, by the tooth being
broken, or by the tooth being knocked out or jarred badly. Even teeth that
cause discomfort or are abcessed can be saved by root canal therapy.
Root canal therapy can be done in one visit or in three visits. On the
first visit after the tooth (nerve) is anesthetized (numbed), the dentist enters
into the crown of the sick tooth with an instrument. After reaching the
area inside the tooth where the nerve tissue is located, the dentist removes
all the nerve tissue in the crown portion of the tooth and in the root portion
of the tooth, thus relieving the patient of discomfort. After the nerve is re­
moved, which is usually confortable for the patient, the dentist usually
places a medication in the area where the nerve was and seals the tooth
with a temporary filling.
On the next appointment, the temporary filling is removed and the
canal walls which held the nerves are filed and smoothed of tissue particles
and shaped. After the canals have been prepared, a claylike material is
placed where the nerve was removed and packed tightly to prevent further
infection.
After this, the hole in the tooth is usually filled to prevent the crown of
the tooth from breaking. Sometimes the dentist will make a crown for the
tooth.
If you have a tooth that may require a root canal, do not request that
it be extracted. Find out if the tooth can be saved. If it can be saved,
remember that in the long run you save money, comfort and your oral
health. Keep smiling.___________ __ ________________________ ____
Dr. W ard's office is located in d o w n tow n Portland: 610 SW Alder, Suite 1008. Portland, OR
Kids' Day O ff—October
Fulton Park Community Center, 68 S.W. Miles, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., ages
5 to 11. Meet at Fulton for arts, crafts, and games. Then ride Tri-Met to
Mt. Scott Community Center for rollerskating. Have pizza for lunch and
return to Markham Community School for a movie and popcorn. The fee is
$18.00, which includes all admission and transportation fees.
Auto Repair
J o h n ’s P lace
4134 N .E. K illin g s w o rth . P o rtla n d , OR 97211
2 8 1 -4 8 5 7
Î7
Public Service Announcement
Add to your art collection, have a fabulous evening and help fund
care desperately needed for AIDS patients at Portland's first annual ART/
AIDS Benefit. Over 300 artists and 28 galleries are participating in ART/
AIDS Gallery Walk and sale. Finish with a "Visual Experience" and refresh­
ments in the Oregon Art Institute's Sculpture Court All proceeds will be
used to provide long-term care and education about AIDS. ART/AIDS,
4:00 p.m., Sunday, October 11.
For ticket information, call Powell's Bookstore, 228-1108.
W ith Special Guest
The Leggett Brothers
Welding
epair
ebuild
W in te r S a fe ty Specials!!
Tire R otation*.................................... $5.00
'Includes FREE Brake Inspection
4 Corner Brake J o b * ................ $54.95
Labor
Plus Parts
'FREE Tire Rotation
Lube-Oil* & Filter Change..............$12.95
*Up to 5 qts. Oil Most Cars
Open 7 Days For Your Convenience
DATE: O cto ber 9, 1987
TIM E : 7:00 p.m .
PLACE: C hurch o f the Living God
6401 N.E. 10th St.
TH E M O U N T O L IV E T B A P T IS T C H U R C H
N.E. First & Schuyler • 284-1954
FOR IN FO R M A TIO N : 287-4430
D O N ATIO N : $5.00 at the do or
HOST PASTOR: Elder Roy M axie
John H Jackson. Minister, M Ed M O
9 30 A M Church School
11 00 A M Congregational Worship
5:00 P M Vesper Service
10 00 A M Baptism Fourth Sunday
11 00 Communion Each First Sunday
.ALLEN TEMPLE CME CHURCH
Corner of 8th and Skidm ore
Sunday School 9 :15 a.m.
Sunday Worship 1:00 a.m.
|Christian Youth Fellowship 6:00 p.m.
(second and fourth Sundays)
P hillip S. Nelson (Pastor)
Tuesday
Bible Band
YOU ARE WELCOME ÎO WORSHIP AT
84 N E K illin g s w o rth • 281 0499
7 30 p m
Thursday
A warm spirit of fellowship always’’
--------------—— ------
S?*«*
►
Choir Rehearsal
Sunday
1 00 p m
• Sunday School
9 15am
Morning
Worship
Y Y
H P
W W W W
\rk oí Salen
~
11 15 a m
6 30pm
nt ( md in C hrist SZ
X'
Worship
8 00 p m
Tuesday Friday
t k t Ptinc
ii
”
It
H » V
IV peace tvüh
‘ il tv hoimcs$
Ib t
C
o
r ó
Noon Day
Prayer
Friday
The Pastor Speaks
7 30 p m .
Saturday
Morning Prayer
9 00a m
Shu w r i of AtNKwxja
m o rr^
hinarlr—
HMD A M
Swnr RAAA 148QAM CW
Wholesale
Pricing
On Groceries
Gone Public
Did you know that for almost 30 years you could have bought some of
your groceries at wholesale prices? The Bee Company, for over 30
years, has offered the public weekly shipments of name-brand
groceries at genuine wholesale prices.
You'll find canned and
packaged goods, pet foods, as well as frozen and close-dated deli
products on the shelves. The best feature is that you do not have to
buy by the case. You buy just what you want to buy, just the amount
you need. Located at 800 N. Killingsworth, just east of I-5, they are
open Monday through Saturday 9:30 am to 6:00 pm. Isn't it about
time you save on your grocery bill?
PHONE 283-3171
They'll Tell You All About It
The American Baptist Convention, American Baptist Churches of
Oregon: Lott Carey Foreign Mission Convention: National, Oregon,
Portland Ecumenical Ministries, American Bible Society, M .& M .
Board.
DENTAL CARE TOUR
FAMILY CAN COUNTON.
E d w a rd E. W a r d , D M D
General Dentistry
Dr. Edward E. Ward
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Prevention oriented
Friendly professional staff
Insurance gladly accepted
Sedation for sensitive patients
Fees discussed prior to treatment
Visa Mastercard accepted
Convenient downtown location
New patients welcome
All bus lines/validated parking
ADA member
Phone (503) 228-3009
610 S.W. Alder, Suite 1008
Hour«: M-F 7 A M 7PM SA T 8AM-5PM
“Convenient, affordable dental care fo r you r family. ”