A pril 4, 2001
Page A6
flortlanb © bsm ier
HE Business
(Pbeeruer
Man Battles to Keep Opportunity Alive
to d o is j u s t k e e p c o m in g to
w o rk , k e e p c o m in g to w o rk ' I
B y G ideon L a m z ,
T he P ortland O bserver
did."
"H e g a v e m e a c h a n c e to
b e c o m e a n ic e m a n ,” H a rris
s a id . “ I w o u ld lo v e fo r h im to
s till b e h e r e . I 'm g o in g to k e e p
h is le g a c y g o in g . I ’m n o t g o ­
in g to s to p c u ttin g h a i r .”
T h is m o n th h e w ill g o b a c k
to O S P to ta lk to in m a te s a b o u t
m a k in g th e tr a n s itio n to th e
r e a l w o r ld a f te r p ris o n . W o u ld
h e h a v e b e e n a b le to d o it
w ith o u t B o b b y J o e M o o r e ’s
D e m o n d H a rris firs t g o t in to
tr o u b le in 1 9 9 5 , w h e n h e a n d
tw o o th e r g u y s d e c id e d to p a r ­
t i c ip a te in a s tr in g o f a r m e d
r o b b e r ie s .
“ I w a s 2 2 y e a r s o ld a n d it
w a s m o r e o r le s s lik e a th r ill
th in g . N o o n e w a s o n d r u g s o r
a n y t h i n g ,” H a r r is sa id .
H is 11 -d a y c rim e s p re e w ith
tw o o th e r g u y s r o b b in g flo w e r
s h o p s a n d o th e r b u s in e s s e s
la n d e d h im in th e O re g o n S ta te
P r is o n . H e w a s s e n te n c e d to
f iv e y e a r s a n d fiv e m o n th s .
H e w a s le t o u t fo u r m o n th s
e a r ly f o r g o o d b e h a v io r .
W h ile h e w a s in p r is o n , h e
r e c e iv e d a le tte r fro m B o b b y
J o e M o o r e , o w n e r o f B o b b y ’s
B a r b e r a n d B e a u ty S h o p o n
N o r th e a s t 2 4 ,h a n d A lb e r ta .
“ H e k n e w m y g r a n d p a r e n ts
a n d a s k e d m e to c o m e to w o rk
w ith h i m ,” H a r r is sa id .
H e o b ta in e d h is b a r b e r ’s li­
c e n s e a n d b e g a n w o r k in g w ith
together, giving credit to his barbershop's late owner fo r giving him
second chance.
(P hoto by M ark W ashington /P ortland O bserver )
M o o re in J a n u a r y , 2 0 0 0 . O n
A u g . 2 8 , M o o re d ie d o f a s to m ­
a c h a n e u r is m . H a r r is w a n ts to
k e e p h is le g a c y a liv e a n d h o n o r
th e fa c t h e w a s g iv e n a s e c ­
ond chance.
“ B o b b y Jo e M o o re w as a
r e a l n ic e g u y w ith a b ig h e a r t.
H e a lw a y s tr e a te d y o u f a ir ly
a n d w a s a re a l d o w n to e a r th
p e r s o n ,” H a r r is r e c a lle d .
O th e rs M o o re g a v e a
c h a n c e d i d n ’t d o r ig h t b y h im .
T h e y s h o w e d u p la te to w o rk
a n d le f t e a r ly . N o t H a r r is .
“ H e to ld m e , ‘A ll y o u h a v e
c lie n te le , I w o u ld s a y , ta k e it
o n e d a y a t a t i m e ,” H a r r is
sa id .
S ta r tin g o u t w ith n o c lie n ts ,
H a r r is a c q u ir e d c u s to m e r s b y
w o rd o f m o u th . N o w m a n y o f
h is c u s to m e r s a re p e o p le fro m
c o rre c tio n a l f a c ilitie s w ho
w a n t to h e lp h im .
A p e r s o n f ro m a n A f r ic a n -
A m e ric a n P a r o le P ro g ra m a lso
m e e ts w ith fo r m e r in m a te s lik e
H a r r is a n d h e lp s th e m k e e p
t h e i r liv e s o n tr a c k .
N o w H a r r is is m a r r ie d to
h is
2 8 -y e a r-o ld
w ife
D e m e n ic a , w h o is at h o m e w ith
a 3 m o n th o ld b o y , D e v o n , a n d
h is 9 - y e a r - o ld b r o th e r D e m o n .
I t ’s a fa r c r y fro m p r is o n .
I f y o u w a n t to h e lp H a r r is
s u c c e e d , s to p b y h is b a r b e r ­
s h o p a t 2 5 3 5 N .E . A lb e r ta o r
c a ll ( 5 0 3 ) 3 3 1 - 0 7 1 2 .
h e lp ?
“ I b e lie v e th e r e c o u ld h a v e
b e e n s o m e d if f ic u ltie s , b u t I
b e lie v e I c o u ld h a v e o v e rc o m e
th o s e d if f ic u ltie s ,” H a rris said.
F irm s s u c h a s F r e ig h tlin e r e m ­
p lo y e x - c o n s r e g u la r ly to g e t
ta x w r ite o f f s .
W h a t w o u ld h e sa y to a n ­
o th e r in m a te lik e h i m s e l f w h o
needed a chance?
“ I f th e r e w a s a g u y in th e r e
w h o h a d a b a r b e r ’s lic e n s e
a n d w a s w o r r ie d a b o u t g e ttin g
PacifiCorp Files for 24 Percent Rate Increase
Opposing Consumer Advocates Request Cost Adjustments
( A P ) — P a c ifiC o rp h a s ask e d
th e O re g o n P u b lic U tility C o m ­
m is s io n to a p p ro v e a 2 4 p e rc e n t
ra te in c r e a s e to set o f f so a rin g
w h o le s a le p o w e r p ric e s a n d a
g rim o u tlo o k fo r h y d ro p o w e r in
c o m in g m o n th s.
C u s to m e r s w o u ld b e g in p a y ­
in g th e $ 4 2 .7 m illio n in c re a se
o v e r th re e m o n th s b e g in n in g
M a y 2. M o st h o u s e h o ld s w o u ld
p a y a n a v e ra g e 2 0 .3 p e rc e n t
m o re on th e ir m o n th ly bill, w h ile
ra te s fo r in d u s tria l c u s to m e rs
w o u ld b e a b o u t 3 2 .6 h ig h e r, th e
c o m p a n y said.
T h e h ik e r e f le c ts w h a t
P a c ifiC o rp e x p e c ts to p a y d u r ­
in g th a t p e rio d . T h e c h a n g e s
w o u ld rem ain in e ffe c t until A ug.
1, w h e n th e c o m p a n y e x p e c ts
n e w p ric e a d ju s tm e n ts as a r e ­
su lt o f ra te n e g o tia tio n s th a t
b e g a n la s t y e a r.
C o n s u m e r a d v o c a te s c r iti­
c iz e d th e p ro p o se d 24 p e rc e n t
in c re a s e a n d th e re q u e s t fo r
p o w e r-c o s t a d ju stm e n ts.
B o b Je n k s, e x e c u tiv e d ire c ­
to r o f th e C itiz e n s' U tility B oard,
sa id th e P U C sh o u ld d e n y b o th
r e q u e s ts .
Tips For Last Minute Tax Filers
This year on April 16th, don’t
g et cau g h t b y new s cam era
crew s w ho w ant to cap tu re
p ro crastin ato rs in the act o f
filing th e ir taxes at the last
minute.
C om pleting a tax form can
be an assignm ent that even the
m o st re sp o n sib le in d iv id u a l
would w ant to delay.
I f you are among the thou­
sands o f A m ericans yet to send
o ff your tax form, here are a
few tips and recom m endations
from the Better Business B u­
reau:
G ather all relevant inform a­
tion such as receipts, financial
records, W -2 forms and copies
o f the past y ear’s tax return.
M ake sure you have all the
docum entation you need for the
deductions you claim.
If you are going to fill out
your ow n return, utilize free
help. T he 1RS conducts “tax
clinics” in m ost m ajor cities,
and you can call a toll free
helpline at 1-800-829-1040. For
more inform ation, contact the
AARP at 1-888-227-7669.
Educate yourself about the
latest tax information. You may
not be aware o f changes in tax
law that could represent a tax
savings. If you decide to have
som eone prepare your taxes
for you, there are a variety o f
options.
T o d e te rm in e th e tax
preparer that m ay be best for
you, take a look at the com ­
plexity o f your return and if
you have had major events in
the last year, such as retire­
ment, death o f a spouse, mar­
riage, divorce, inheritance, or a
change in your number o f de­
pendents.
I f your return is complex,
you may want to engage the
services o f Certified Public A c­
countant (CPA), Tax Attorney
or an Enrolled Agent. Enrolled
Agents are approved to rep re­
sent taxpayers before the IRS
and can a ssist people w ith
especially com plex tax cases
and m ultiple forms.
If you do not have a com ­
plex return, you m ay w ant to
choose a local or nationally
franchised tax preparation ser­
vice. W hen selectin g a se r­
vice, be w ary o f any service
th a t “ g u a ra n te e s” a refund.
Som e services offer a quick
paym ent on your anticipated
refund; rem em ber that this is
a loan and read and u n der­
stand the term s carefully b e­
fore signing.
M ake sure that y o u are able
to c o n ta c t the se rv ic e year
round in the event o f an audit,
or if your taxes need to be
am ended. W hen se le c tin g a
tax preparation service, check
their reliability report w ith the
B etter B usiness B ureau.
Y ou can request a copy o f
the B B B ’s free brochure “Tips
on Tax P reparers” by BBB on
the consum er hotlin e in O r­
egon at 503-226-3981, and in
W estern W ashington at 206-
431-2222, or on the w eb at
w w w .th e b b b .o rg . Y ou can
a c c e s s th e IR S on lin e at
w w w .irs .g o v
uppose a tree fell through your garage to n ig h t...
WHO WOULD COME THROUGH FOR YOU TOMORROW?
Workshop Focuses on Job Skills
Area residents are invited to partici­
pate in Portland Community College's
first annual Employment Showcase
Workshops on Monday, April 16 and
Tuesday, April 17. This will be two-
day even t with each workshop sched­
uled from 10:00 a.m. to3:00p.m .atthe
Cascade Campus Center.
The workshops will consist o f train­
ing in the areas ofspeaking effectively,
d ressin g for success, and using ap ­
p ro p ria te p re s e n ta tio n tech n iq u es.
P articipants m ay also unitize p o w er
po in t o r s po d iu m to present th eir skills
and abilities. T he goal is to en h an ce
y o u r stro n g points an d upgrade your
potential talents. F ollow ing the w o rk ­
shops, participants w ill jo in em ployers
at the First A nnual E m ploym ent show ­
case to be held at the Skills C enter, O n
A pril 18. T here, you w ill be able to
present y o u r n ew fo u n d skills and re­
veal y o u r area o f expertise for em ploy­
m en t opportunities. Y o u w ill also have
a ch an ce to interact w ith o v er thirty
em ployers w ho are looking forreliable
and suitab le professionals.
T h ere is no ch arg e fo r this event
and seating is limited. F o r further infor-
m ationcall 503-978-5341
Portland Pays Hom eowners to Build ‘ ‘Green’ ’
Portland homeowners planning to
remodel orbuildanewhomecan receive
a cash incentive from the city’s Office of
Sustainable Development To support
environmentally friendly homes, thecity
will pay S3,000to homeowners willing to
build “green” and share their experience
with the community. Up to 40 qualified
projects will be selected. A qualifying a
hom eow ner m ust m eet a basic set o f
requirem ents that include solar water
heaters,daylighting, on-sightstorm water
m anagem ent resource-efficient appli­
ances, non-toxic paint and m uch more. A
review panel will base the aw ards on a
desired mix o f remodel and new homes,
building types, locations, m easures and
project costs. “W e ’d like to show how
V
green building ideas, w hich m ake homes
more comfortable, durable, healthier and
m ore environmentally friendly, can be
applied to any home-large o r small, new
or rem odeled.” says Susan Anderson,
the city’s sustainable developm ent di­
rector. Formore information, contact Mike
O ’B n e n o r Jill Kolek a t503-823-7725 or
visitw w w green-rated.org.
You’re inside your house, safe from the big storm. When, booin'. Lightning strikes. Next
thing you know, there’s a tree all the way through your garage roof. Taking care of claims
like this is what American Family Insurance is all about. Over 70 years of experience
means fast, efficient service and home protection you can trust. Life is unpredictable.
That’s why it’s good to have a homeowners insurance policy you can count on. If a storm
should put a tree through your garage tonight, it’s comforting to know you can depend
on Family to come through for you tomorrow'. Call one of our knowledgeable, friendly
agents today. Or visit our website at www.am fam .com .
Find out all the ways “Family” comes through for you!
AMERICAN FAMILY
■i
i m u i - i ■ L=J
M /TO HOMf BUSMfSS H fU T H U f l
¡SS,SP
A ll Y o u r P r o t e c t i o n U n d e r O n e R o o f .
Check your local directory for the agent nearest you
©2000 American Family Mutual Insurance Company and its Subsidiaries Home Office - Madison, Wl 53783 Home Office - Columbus, OH 43240 wwwamtam.com