2001 Minority Business Special Edition
Portland’s minority businesses are entering a new era. Extended
coverage in our Special Section C inside and on pages A 7 and A8.
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"The City Of Roses"
Volume XXXI
Number 39
www.portlandobserver.com
—
Wednesday
Committed to Cultural Diversity
Established in 1970
September 26, 2001
First Black Commands Oregon Air Guard
by
M ichael L eighton
T he P ortland O bserver
For the first time an African
American commander is lead­
ing Oregon fighter pilots in de­
fense of Pacific Northwest air­
space and into the battle against
terrorism.
Col. Garry C. Dean is in charge
of the 142nd Fighter Wing of the
Oregon Air National Guard, sta­
tioned at the Portland Air National Guard Base.
Dean took full charge of the unit on Jan. 21. He is the first
African American to hold the position as wing commander.
He leads more than 1,000 military personnel and 18F-15jet
fighters.
The wing was recently called to duty as part of the
Pentagon’s massive call up of reservists in the wake of the
Sept. 11 attacksonthe W orldTradeCenterinNew York and
Pentagon near Washington, D.C.
Because of the heightened national security concerns
and top secret destinations for the guardsmen called-up,
Dean could not be interviewed for this story, according to
National Guard spokesman Misti Oyler.
As a traditional guardsman, Dean is employed in civilian
life as a pilot for Delta Airlines.
He has more than 4,000 hours flying military aircraft;
2,500 of which are in the F -15.
Dean lived most of his younger life as an Army “brat”
near Ft. Bliss Texas. He was commissioned in May 1978
Saudi Arabia Cuts Taliban Ties
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia— Saudi Arabia
cut all ties with Afghanistan’s Taliban
government, accusing the Central Asian
country o f using its land to harbor
terrorists. The move leaves Pakistan as
the only nation in the world to maintain
ties with the Taliban
Union Wants Guns in Cockpits
WASHINGTON— The Air Line Pilots
Association is urging Congress to pass
legislation allowing pilots to carry fire­
arms in cockpits, am ove the union says
could prevent more hijackings. The
union’s president will press for the
legislation when he testifies before a
House subcommittee.
Chechens Urged to Agree
to Peace Talks
ROSTOV-ON-DON, R ussia— Presi­
dent Vladimir Putin sent an envoy for
negotiations with Chechen rebels. Putin
urged the rebels to “halt all contacts
with international terrorists” and con­
tact Russian authorities for negotia­
tions on disarmament.
Bush Moves to Halt Money Flow
W A SHINGTON— Calling it a “strike
on the financial foundation” o f terror­
ists. President Bush signed an execu­
tive order freezing the assets o f 27
individuals and organizations.
Man Charged with Murder
for Shooting Agent
DETRO IT— A man accused o f fatally
shooting an officer at at a federal
building’s security checkpoint was
charged with murder. If convicted,
David Serra could face life in prison or
the death penalty.
Congress, Bush Team
Reach Deal on Airline Aid Plan
Congress and the White House agreed
early on a $ 15 billion plan designed to
bolster the airline industry in the after-
math o f the terrorist attacks that have
threatened the survival o f some air­
lines.
Iran Says No on Airspace
TEHRAN, Iran — Iran, which lies be­
tween Afghani stan and the Persian Gulf,
where many U.S. forces are located, will
not allow the United States to use its
airspace to attack Afghanistan, Iran’s
Foreign Ministry said.
Security is tight at the Portland Air National Guard Base with each person entering the
nilitary installation checked for proper credentials.
hoto by M ark W ashington /T he P ortland O bserver
Northeast
Hosts Grambling
State Band
i- f
a
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b.
A*
The Youth Opportunity Center, 3034 N.E.
Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., opens its
parking lot Saturday to host an education
and employment expo featuring the world
famous Grambling State Marching Band.
The musicians were in Portland for the
First Annual Vanport Football Classic,
named in honor o f the town with African
American roots that was washed away by
the flood o f 1948.
% 1
P hoto by M ark W ashington /T he P ortland O bserver
Fernwood Kids Get Lesson in Democracy
Child-Drowning Mom
Called Competent for Trial
HOUSTON — A jury on Saturday
found a Houston mother accused of
drowning her five children competent
to stand trial on capital murder charges.
The 11-woman, one-man jury deliber­
ated for more than eight hours over two
days before deciding Andrea Yates
sufficiently understands the charges.
northeast Portland s Femwood Middle School.
PHOTO BY M ark W ashington /T hf P ortland O bserver
State Rep. Jackie Dingfelder, D-North-
east Portland, gave a lesson in dem oc­
racy to students at Fernw ood M iddle
School Friday.
The visit to the northeast Portland
school was part of B ack to School Week
sponsored by the N ational Conference
of State L egislatures, a bipartisan event
designed to teach young people what
it’s like to be a lawm aker, the legislative
process, and why citizen involvem ent is
needed in our society.
“It’s im portant to educate our kids
about the political process at an early
age,” D ingfelder said. “We need to help
them understand that civic involvem ent
is essential in our system o f representa­
tive dem ocracy.
Last year, more than 2,500 legislators
across the country m et with students in
all grade levels, participating in exer­
cises that helped build an understand­
ing o f civic involvem ent and the legis­
lative process.
D in g fe ld e r w as a guest o f T om
S treckert’s 8th grade social studies
class.
In addition to explaining Oregon’s leg­
islative process and stressing the impor­
tance of citizens involvement, she led the
class in a mock legislative exercise to em ­
phasize the cooperation and consensus
building that is necessary in formulating
fair and just outcomes.
Students assumed the roles of assem­
bly leaders, committee chairs and at-large
members of a legislative body. They steered
a bill through hearings, and adopted an
amended version of the law that was agree­
able to most of the members.
"They were a bright and thoughtful
group of kids," D ingfelder said. “I feel
secure in knowing that some of them will
be our future leaders.”
Freightliner
Closings
Whispered
(AP) - Freightliner. the heavy truck
subsidiary of DaimlerChrysler, expects
to lose a record $1.2 billion this year,
possibly forcing the closure of two
plants at the truck maker’s headquar­
ters in north Portland.
Stark’s News Service Interactive is
reporting that Freightliner executives
predicted the losses last week in sepa­
rate meetings with state and local offi­
cials, and with union representatives.
The news service, citing company
sources, says Freightliner lost more
than $520million during the first half of
this year.
Stark's also says nearly a third of
Freightliner’s dealers are facing pos­
sible bankruptcy during an economic
downturn that has worsened since the
Sept. 1 1 terrorist attacks.
Freightliner spokesman Chris Brandt
said Monday that D aim lerChrysler
doesn’t release separate figures for its
subsidiary.
He declined to comment on reports
o f possible closures, but he confirmed
that Freightliner met with Governor
Kitzhaber and M ayor Vera Kate.
i