The roller coaster of local events--explained.

[June 23rd, 2004] WINNERS

Oregon Health & Science University--that hilltop lair of doctors, nurses and budding real-estate tycoons--scored the single biggest gift in its history last week when the Schnitzer family donated 20 acres of land in the South Waterfront district to the school. The grant is seen as a key to grandiose plans to build a high-rise residential district and an expanded, biotech-heavy OHSU campus in the area.

Wilsonville and Cornelius bigwigs can bask in winners' glory this week, as the Metro Council did an about-face regarding which areas are suited for industrial development. Looks like an area in east Wilsonville is out, and a parcel in western Washington County is in--leaving Wilsonville Mayor Charlotte Lehan "very pleased."

The French chalked a rare Portland-area victoire, as the decidedly Gallic Sebastien Bourdais took home top honors in the Champ Car Grand Prix at Portland International Raceway.

Oregon's ever-rampant reefer madness claimed another victim--this time, a judge. Jackson County blackrobe Bob King faces charges for holding less than an ounce of The Kind.

Rasheed Wallace. Portlanders suffering from unrequited love may want to study 'Sheed-dawg's "leave town, get a ring" plan.

LOSERS

Dire times for local raccoons: An outbreak of distemper is thinning the furry critters' ranks at an alarming pace. The virus, which doesn't affect humans, has dropped scores of the fuzzballs. Experts say the nefarious hand of Man, as usual, is partly to blame. Well-meaning Portlanders who put food out for raccoons are actually helping spread the infection. Do-gooders, please--knock it off!

Bill Sizemore, the one-man ballot-measure machine who last year was told to fork over $2.5 million for political money-laundering and other sleazy activities, again finds himself on the wrong side of a judge's ruling. Multnomah Circuit Judge Jerome LaBarre held Sizemore in contempt and ordered him to turn over money he'd raised by violating a court injunction--more than $100,000, according to Sizemore. Try not to cry.

Fishing fans with dinner plans are less than lucky along the lower Willamette. State and county health officials warned anglers against eating PCB-contaminated carp, bass and catfish caught in our stretch of the river. While these panfish remain dangerous dining, migratory species such as salmon, lamprey and sturgeon are still considered safe snacks.