June 7, 211(1« Page A 6 iiU K l MM T he P obtlam i O bserver Washington County Commissioners accepted a cheek for $ 20,000 from State Farm InsuraneeCompanies. The m oney was granted to improve Intersection Operation and Safety. State Farm, the nation's and Oregons la rg e st au to in su re r, re c e n tly identified 10 o f the most dangerous intersections in the state o f Oregon. They based their list on the number of claims their customers have filed crashes at intersections in Oregon. Number 7 on the list, is the intersection o f Baseline and 18th Avenue, in Washington County. The traffic Pattern “fix” which took two years to design and build was necessary because o f the frequent passage o f Westside Max trains just north o f the intersection. It has lessened delay and helps keep traffic flowing smoothly. The project was built with funding from Major Streets Transportation Improvement Program (MSTIP 3) and Tri-Met. Accidents at the site are Murder already down significantly. The State Farm grant will help Washington County improve signage at the in te rse c tio n , as this configuration is relatively new and unusual. State Farm is making the grant as part o f a program to focus attention on intersection safety issues. They are m aking several m illion dollars available to communities across the county to study and make changes to en h an ce sa fe ty at sp e c ific intersections. Earlier this year, nearly $ 100,000 was presented to the City o f Portland for 5 o f its intersections. “State Farm has become involved in studying the safety of intersections as a national safety awareness project," says State Farm Vice President o f Operations Vicki Marvin. “Similar projects have show n th a t »im pie, low cost improvements, ean lead to a reduction in the number o f crashes thereby reducing injuries and death. “ With m ore a le rt m o to rists in the intersection, fewer accident may occur. from page 1 total o f 14 shootings, 4 stabbings, 3 strangulations, and one case where a victim fell to his death after being involved with a neighbor who had intervened in a domestic dispute. In aparticularly disturbing case which occurred in Southeast Portland last year, a 24-year-old Caucasian woman, Veronica S. James was found in a large canvas bag at an unoccupied residence at 9145 SE. Taylor St. after having been beaten, strangled and sh o t. She w as a know n methamphetamine user. The case remains unsolved. In another case which made headlines last year, a 19-year-old Asian man, Hiem M. Pham, was stabbed to death during a fight in the Taco Bell parking lot. The gang related case still remains unsolved. The greatest number o f homicide victims last year were among 8 people ages 31 to 35, followed by 7 cases among victims ages 20 to 24, and 7 cases among victims ages 16 to 19. There were 6 homicides last year among victims ages 41 to 50,4 victims were over 50,3 were 25 to 30,2 were 36 to 40, and 1 homicide victim was under 15. Six homicide suspects in 1999were31 to 35-years-old, 5 were 16 to 19, 4 suspects were respectively ages 36 to 40,25 to 30, or 20 to 24.2 homicide suspects were ages 41 to 50, I was over 50, and 2 homicide suspects, disturbingly, were under 15-years- old. W eekends seem ed a fairly popular time for sinister happenings in the City o f Portland. Saturday was one o f the more popular days in 1999 for assailants to commit murder. Thursday was also one o f the most populardaysofthew eek in 1999.On both days in 1999, 7 homicides occurred. Friday night was just a little less popular than Saturday was last year for murder and mayhem, with 5 murders committed in on that day in 1999. Trends seem to show most homicides occurring in the late evening or early morning, with 7 homicides in 1999 happening between 1 and 2 am. Four apiece occurred between the hours o f 10-12 pm.,8 - 10 pm., and 6 to 8 pm. There were 5 homicides in 1999 from 2 to 4 pm., 3 between 10-12 pm., 2 between 4 and 6 pm., 1 between 6 and 8 pm., and 1 between 8 and 10 pm. Sgt. Greopper recommends that the best way to prevent murder short o f situations where you may be risking your own life getting involved is to be a good witness and cooperate fully with the police. The best way to prevent yourself from becoming a murder statistic is not to get yourself into situations where violence is likely to escalate into homicide. For example, many m urders often occur because o f escalating domestic violence. Domestic violence victims should respond to the problem by getting counseling and, if the violence co n tin u e s, leaving the abusive relationship, Groepper said. The public may direct information about unsolved murders to the Portland Police Bureau’s Homicide Detail at (503 ) 823-0479or(503 ) 823-0417. HOME FOCUS David Lahovitz SR. Loan Officer Mortgage Market, INC THlLARGFST. MOST COMPLEIE RETAILFABRLCETOREIN THEREAT JU N E 6 through JU N E 20,2000 Ih IJo ic JL abuvuz eqr T he P ori lanp O bserver There is an almost crazy sounding loan called a 'N O DOC’ loan. The full name is a No Documentation Loan. This loan is in a class o f its own. A no documentation loan is just that. No supporting documentation o f anything on a personal basis except your credit report. If you have a high enough credit score for the lender’s requirements, and you are not asking for more money than they are willing to lend you, then you have a deal. Let’s go over the 'n o ’s.’ so that you will clearly understand what this kind o f ‘no’ is all about. No questions about your job, if you should happen to have one. No questions as to where the money for a down payment is coming from. No questions about your income. No questions about your citizenship. Some o f the normal steps in the loan process will still apply. The property must be appraised as is typical for all loans and you must have a clear title search done on the subject property and yourself. That’s it! Why would someone need such a loan? This loan is perfect for someone in transition who has money to support themselves, yet not the job history that would carry a loan. It is great for someone who is beginning a commissioned job or a self employed job. It also works for someone who is paid in cash and perhaps does not report it all. The loan helps those who are new to the country and are not citizens. Finally it is a catch all for anyone who does not want to show their taxes, but has the money to support a loan. Why would any lender in their right frame ofm ind offer and accept such a loan? Simply stated, based on their experience over the years, it works. In general, these few lenders want .to see at least 25% o f the sale coming from you the buyer. For a refinance the lender may want to see that your share o f the equity in the home is at least 25-30%. Their conclusion is that if the borrower had good credit, and is willing to put down or retain at the least 25 - 30% o f the equity, then this individual is not likely to default or simply walk away from their investment. T hat’s it for No Doc loans. If you have any suggestions for future articles, please call me at 234-5160 or e-mai 1, DAVlDLfaitelepoit.com. Everything in the store * SPECIAL SALE 2 DAYS ONLY - JU N E 16 & 17 I A % OFF* ■ I All F a b ric extended hour* Saturday open til 9pm Limited to stock on hand! FABRIC, D EPOT COUPON $1.99 Butterick Patterns • Lim it 6 per coupon • Valid 6 15 00-6 IN OO • days only Outdoor W arehouse Sale • Now Open Daily 10-6 *1 • *2 ’ *3 • $ 4 per yard Minimum cut 1 yard All merchandise as is All sales final BE SURE TO CHECK OCR STORE FOR “MANAGER'S SPECIALS" ♦Discounts do not apph to previoush discounted or marked down items 6 6 00 thm 6 2 0 IX) 1 84 R osemary A nderson M iddle & n H igh S chool / / GRADUATION SATURDAY, JUNE, 2000,1:30 P.M. AT WHITAKER MIDDLE SCHOOL AUDITORIUM 5700NE 39™, PORTLAND Mr. Chet Edwards, Director o f Alternative Education, Portland Public Schools, will deliver the Commencement Address. The Rosemary Anderson Middle & High School Alternative Education Program, under the direction o f Dr. Samuel E. Kelly, President and CEO Portland Opportunities I ndustrial ization Center, and Donald N. Starr. Director o f Education, serves at-risk middle and high school students referred from the Portland Public Schools District, Youth Services Centers, Juvenile Court, other juvenile diversion agencies, and the community. Rosemary Anderson Middle and High School/Portland OIC is accredited by the Northwest Association o f Schools and Colleges, (N ASC), registered by the State o f Oregon as a private school and approved by the Oregon Department o f Education to serve handicapped children. The school received an NASC Accredited with Merit Award for 1994-1995.