Open
Sesame
It was never in Helen Hill's plans to be the
most famous bastard in the country. But since she organized
a ballot measure campaign to open the birth records of
adoptees, living in the public eye has become as comfortable
as her combat boots.
When a judge ruled last Friday that Hill's ballot measure
could finally take effect, she became even more of a celebrity.
In 1998, voters approved Measure 58, but birth mothers
who opposed open records quickly filed suit, claiming,
among other things, that the new law violates their constitutional
right to privacy. Since then, the records have been kept
closed, pending the outcome of the court battle. On Friday,
Marion County Circuit Court Judge Paul Lipscomb issued
a summary judgment that the birth mothers have no case.
Hill learned about Lipscomb's decision from a radio reporter.
She spent the rest of the day juggling phone calls from
journalists, adoptees, birth mothers and well-wishers,
all the while being shadowed by a reporter from a French
newspaper.
"If you would have told me before this, that I'd be live
on Good Morning America, I would never have believed
you," the 44-year-old Nehalemart teacher says. "It was
such a quantum leap for an ordinary person to get catapulted
there."
Hill picked up the battle of open records after attending
a Bastard Nation conference two years ago. With money
she inherited from her adoptive father, she sponsored
the most extreme change to adoption laws the country has
seen. (While Alaska and Kansas have open records, in no
state have the records been unsealed retroactively.)
In the months since the lawsuit was filed, Hill has been
featured on Good Morning America and on The
NewsHour with Jim Lehrer. She's explained the intricacies
of Oregon's adoption laws to reporters from Japan, been
on talk-radio shows from St. Louis to Chicago to Detroit
and been quoted on the front pages of most major newspapers
in the country. She was on the phone with USA Today
on Friday.
While Hill played media maven, the message about the
ruling was sent out over the Internet from Renton, Wash.,
by Shea Grimm of Bastard Nation. The 'Net began smoking
with messages of celebration and excitement, as activists
from around the world reveled in the unexpectedly sudden
victory. "I have tears in my eyes, and I'm hopping around
the office doing a happy dance," wrote one member of BN.
Franklin Hunsaker, attorney for the anonymous birth mothers
who filed suit against Measure 58, says he will appeal
the ruling. Even if he does, the birth records will likely
stay open throughout the appeal process. The Health Division
reports it has received orders from more than 655 adults
requesting their birth certificates.
--Patty Wentz
The
Clinton Also Rises
Leave it to reporters to predict doom
at every turn.
Weeks ago, we wrote about the Clinton Street Theatre
closing its doors. Well, it did shut down (for
the most part) Friday July 16, but on Aug. 13, the theater
will reopen under new management.
Elizabeth Rozier, who with her ex-husband, Dennis Nyback,
owned Seattle's Pike Street Cinema, bought the theater
roughly three weeks ago and plans to show independent,
contemporary films--think Northwest Portland's Cinema
21, but with an added twist. Rozier plans to also show
selections from Nyback's extensive collection of quirky
found films.
"I want to run more first-run, independent films but
to intersperse them with good revivals," explains Rozier.
Nyback's collection will supply two weeks of special
features for the theater's grand opening. Making its debut
Aug. 13 is "Billie Holiday From First to Last," a collection
of every film featuring Lady Day. The new Clinton will
also help you answer the burning question "Food: Is it
for you?" in another series.
Rozier also has plans to "do some cosmetic work," like
adding new carpet, "but nothing really dramatic."
Previous owner Anne Marie DiStefano says plans to sell
the theater had been in the works since early June, when
it became apparent that she couldn't to afford to run
it anymore. "I am really excited about this," she says.
"I am so happy that the theater will be in the hands of
someone who really values film."
Neither DiStefano or Rozier would disclose the theater's
selling price. "I don't disclose financial information,
even to my mother," Rozier says.
Faithful fans of The Rocky Horror Picture Show
need not worry, though. DiStefano promises that the cult
favorite will still be shown every Saturday night.
--Katia Dunn
Out
of the Woods
At 2:20 pm on July 20, the man accused of being
the Forest Park serial killer made his first public appearance,
facing a somber, standing-room-only crowd in a courtroom
at the Justice Center.
Hearing the charges against him for the first time--three
counts of aggravated murder--Todd Allen Reed stood in
front of a dozen shaken family members and friends of
his alleged victims. Peering through thick glasses, the
32-year-old employee at Rinella Produce barely acknowledged
their presence. Instead, he stared straight ahead through
thick glasses and nodded as attorney James D. Lang gave
him instructions.
He uttered not a single word.
But a probable-cause affidavit released by the district
attorney's office speaks volumes about the work the Portland
Police Bureau has done over the past two and a half months
to make this arrest.
According to the affidavit, Reed was discovered because
he is a creature of habit.
All three victims were suspected of engaging in prostitution
along West Burnside Street just before they were strangled.
In addition, they all had long, brown hair. Figuring that
the serial killer would act again, the police ran what's
known as a "decoy" mission, with a female officer--disguised
to look like the three victims--street-walking on West
Burnside Street.
On July 7 at 5:20 am, Reed parked his car in the Blockbuster
lot near Southwest 20th Avenue and watched the decoy,
according to the affidavit. Noticing Reed's behavior,
Sgt. John Bocciolatt approached him and began a conversation.
Reed reportedly admitted being convicted of rape in the
past, then, incredibly, allowed Bocciolatt to search his
car. The officer allegedly found a "length of yellow strapping
material" that could be used as a strangulation device
and an open, unused condom.
With that, the police had strong suspicions. But Reed's
DNA was the final bit of evidence they needed to make
an arrest.
Investigators had collected a DNA sample from a used
condom that was found near one of the victim's bodies.
They had also collected Reed's DNA years ago, when he
was charged with rape. The two allegedly matched.
Reed was arrested on Sunday, July 18, nearly two weeks
after the decoy mission and more than two months after
the first victim's body was found.
Diane Russell, the stepmother of victim Stephanie Russell,
wanted to make just one point after Reed's first court
appearance: "I would like to express my thanks to the
Portland Police Bureau," she said, fighting back tears.
--Maureen O'Hagan
Correction
In our story about this year's Chamber Music
Northwest festival ("Who's
Afraid of the 20th Century?" WW, July 7, 1999),
we misspelled the name of artistic director David Shifrin.
Also, we have three corrections to last week's cover
story ("The Good, the Bad and
the Awful", July 14, 1999): Rep. Randall Edwards is
from Portland; Sen. Mae Yih is from Albany; Sen. Tom Hartung
is a Republican.
WW regrets the errors.
