Skip to main content* Notorious Portland divorce lawyer Allan Knappenberger ("SOB, Esq.," March 22, 2000), often accused of overcharging and other ethical lapses, will finally have his day in court--Supreme Court. Back in November 2002, a disciplinary panel of the Oregon State Bar slapped him with a 90-day suspension and two years of probation, along with a requirement for a psychological evaluation. Knappenberger appealed, and on Thursday Portland ethics lawyer Peter Jarvis will argue his case before the Oregon Supreme Court. At this point, Knappenberger is fighting for his license to practice law: He has also appealed a second suspension leveled by the bar last October, and he faces yet another ethics charge by the bar for allegedly neglecting a case.
* For weeks, Murmurs has been staring at the holiday postcard it received from Congresswoman Darlene Hooley, wondering, "Who are these uniformed dudes pictured with her on the front of the card?" Nowhere does the 5th District Dem explain where, why, when or how she corralled these eight upstanding servicemen to pose with her. All the card says is, "May the spirit of peace, hope and love be with us throughout this holiday season." It started to make sense when Murmurs heard OPB talking about Hooley's probable reelection opponent: Brian Boquist, a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve who's now serving in Iraq.
* Quote of the Week:
"It's going to be a total cream-out."
--KGW meteorologist Dave Salesky, Jan. 5, on the imminent snowstorm.
* As if to compound the weirdness of the news that former Portland rocker Elliott Smith's death wasn't necessarily suicide, The New York Times miscaptioned a photo of the singer-songwriter, who died of stab wounds in October. Instead, the Paper of Record identified still-living Portland rocker Sam Coomes, Smith's former bandmate in Heatmiser and currently of Quasi, as Smith. The Times corrected its error; meanwhile, no significant news since the L.A. county coroner's refusal last week to confirm Smith's death was a suicide.
* North Portland stronghold Mock Crest Tavern has seized a leading role in the wireless revolution! The North Lombard Street bar recently staked a claim to the title of the first blues bar in the nation to offer free wi-fi Internet access. Blues fans can also use house laptops for up to an hour, or longer if no one else is waiting to surf.
* Someone forgot to tell Adam Klugman and Dave Adams that Bush's re-election was in the bag. The two West Linn neighbors tapped their video expertise and lefty anger to create a 30-second TV spot blasting the president's handling of the economy and the war. How good is it? Good enough to be chosen as one of 15 finalists in MoveOn.org's national contest seeking the most creative ads that "tell the truth about George Bush's policies." Among the judges are Michael Moore, Margaret Cho and Oregon's own Gus Van Sant. Check it out at www.bushin30seconds.org.
* Irrepressible Radio Cab driver David Yandell is well-known for his charity efforts, which include an annual turkey drive for the needy. Now Yandell says he needs help. His beloved Pomeranian, Micholas J. Double-scoop, was killed by a car, and Yandell needs cash to inter him in the Oregon Humane Society's mausoleum, which costs $800. "I've never asked for help before," Yandell says. U.S. Bank has set up an account (Mickey the Dog) for donations, and a vet is keeping the pooch on ice until he can be embalmed. Yandell can be reached at 380-8027.
WWeek 2015