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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (April 16, 2003)
MP Dynamic Duo Test Run for I-Max College bound brothers overcome obstacles Interstate light-rail sees first train See story, page A3 See story, Metro section, inside W íjtartíanh ©bserlier ‘City of Roses Volume X X X III Established in 1970 • N u m b er 16 |:'Kra<-u WWW,portlandobserver.com Committed to Cultural Diversity Wednesday • April 16. 2003 Hopson Honored as First Citizen Bad hair day for inmate with stash A Norwegian jail inmate has been caught with $4,500 cash h id d e n in h is m a ssiv e dreadlocks. A prison official says guards found the money during a routine check but it is unclear how long the 20-year- old prisoner had kept the cash braided into his locks. “W e’re used to finding things hidden on the body but cash in the hair - that's a new one,” said Staale Olsen, the deputy director o f Aana prison. He’s no slumlord •. A landlord in Gardner, Mass., tired o f chasing down tenants who do not pay their rent on time, is giving them a little extra incentive to pony up - the chance to win a free vacation. Douglas Rau, who has more than 100 ten ants across central Massachu setts, held a drawing Friday for all tenants who have paid their rent in full. Resident PabloGallero won a four-day, three-night stay for two at a resort in the Bahamas along with $250 in spending money. Rau said he plans to hold sim ilar draw ings every month, although the prize may not always be as generous. : Dogs for dinner Police in the northern Philippines have rescued 83 dogs set to be slaughtered and eaten and ar rested two people transporting the ani inals. Pol ice flagged down •. ' a bus ferrying the dogs to a . • restaurant that serves dog meat ' in the nearby town ofLa Trinidad. Police arrested the two people in ' the vehicle, but both later posted bail. The 83 dogs were turned over to an animal shelter. A brothel bill refund A German court has ordered a brothel to reim burse a man charged for sex he could not ’ remember having, after the es tablishment failed to provide an itemized receipt for services ren dered. “The brothel failed to pro vide concrete documentation o f the prices and services pro vided," court spokesman Vera iluth said. The man told the court he had been too drunk to remem ber what sexual services he may have ordered at the brothel in K aa rst. T he e s ta b lish m e n t charged him 9,000 euros on his credit card. No money in the bank Police in Pine Bluff, Ark. say they aren't sure what charge is appropriate for Julius Kearney, 23, who apparently tried to rob a bank. The man entered a branch ofthe Bank o f America about 10 a.m. Monday, with a trash bag, authorities said. “Put the money in the bag,” he demanded. In stead, one o f the two tellers told him the bank was out o f money, and the other teller laughed and offered him deposit slips. The would-be robber left the bank angry, but since no weapon was found during his arrest, he never threatened anybody, police are unsure how the case will be handled. . • photo by M ark W ashington /T he P ortland O bserver Tony Hopson, seen with children at Self Enhancement, Inc., will be honored as the 2003 Portland First Citizen for his civic achievements and busi ness leadership in the community. Hopson founded SEI in 1981 to offer a variety o f activities and services for youth and families in inner-Portland Self Enhancement founder joins prominent leaders group Northeast Portland community leader Tony L. Hopson will be honored as the 2003 Portland First Citizen by the Portland Metropolitan Association o f Realtors at a banquet scheduled for May 6 at the Portland Marriott-Waterfront. The Portland First Citizen Award was created by the Portland Realty Board in 1928 to honor civic achievements and business lead ersh ip ^ the com mu nity. Considered Portland’s most prestigious award, the individuals who have received it are some o f the city’s most prominent leaders during the past eight decades. Hopson founded Self Enhancement, Inc. in 19 8 1 as a one-week summer camp committed to improving collegiate and employment opportunities for high school students. The initial camp served 80 students. Since then, SEI has expanded to serve more than 1,500 students a year in various programs. In 1989, SEI raised over $10 m illion to build a 62,000 square foot com m unity center that opened its doors in 1997. The center offers a variety o f activities and services for youth and fam ilies in inner-Portland and has quickly becom e a hub o f the com m unity and a place o f em ploym ent for more than 94 people. - -./• Hopson has also been recognized for his activism and community leadership by receiving the State o f Oregon’s “Gold Schmidty Award,” the “Teamwork Award” from Christian Women Against Crime, the Urban League o f Portland’s “Equal Opportunity Award," the Albina Ministerial Alliance’s “Bridge Builder Award,” Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority’s “ Em erald Award,” the Black United Fund’s “Legacy Award," the "Aubrey R. Watzek Award” from Lewis and Clark College, the “Community Award” from the Portland Observer Newspaper, and the “Living Leg end Award” from Willamette University. Hopson is married and is the father o f three sons. In his spare time he enjoys music, travel and water sports. Postwar Iraq Plans Begin U.S., Iraqi leaders converge to create a government (AP) — A U.S.-sponsored fo rum that brought Iraqi opposition leaders tog eth er to shape the c o u n try 's postw ar governm ent began Tuesday with a U.S. promise not to rule Iraq. The forum concluded with an agreement to meet again in lOdays. Meeting in the biblical birthplace ofthe prophet Abraham, delegates from Iraq’s many factions dis cussed the role o f religion in the future government and ways to rebuild the country. Butsome Shiite Muslim groups boycotted the meet Oregon Convention Center Supervisor Timothy Odoms (from left), teams up with his Utility Managers Darryl Jones and Ayli Vanzandt to put the last details in place for this week 's opening o f a $116 million expansion. The exhibition complex on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard is now the largest o f its kind in the United States. ing and thousands pro tested nearby. A 13-point statement released after the meeting stressed the need to work toward a democratic Iraq built on the rule o f law and equal ity. It also called for dissolving Saddam’s Baath Party, but left open the question o f separating church from the state. Retired Lt. Gen. Jay Gamer, who will head the U.S.-led interim ad ministration in Iraq, opened the conference under a golden-col ored tent at Tallil air base. “What better birthday can a man have than to begin it not only where civilization began but where continued yf photo by P ortland O bserver on page A 5 ArmySpc. Shoshana Johnson gets a hug from Chief Warrant Officer David Williams Sunday. The U. S. soldiers were safely rescued after being taken prison o f war in Iraq. (AP photo) M ark W ashington /T he Convention Center to Throw Expansion Party Free festival features food, arts and entertainment The $ 116 million expanded O r egon Convention Center will open this weekend with The Big Bash, a I free public celebration ofO regon's finest forms o f art, entertainment, food, beer, wine, recreation and business. Convention Center workers are busily readying the new center for the two-day festival, which begins Friday at noon with a performance by the Portland Community C ol lege Jazz Band. The Big Bash will also include the Portland Oregon Visitors As sociation trade show, where attend ees can shop over 400 booths fea- continued on page AS I
