More Oregon News from the AP

AP-OR–3rd NewsMinute,304
Here is the latest Oregon news from The Associated Press
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Starting today, Portland police are trying
something new to crack cold cases: a publicity campaign on TriMet
buses. One of the first cases being advertised on a bus billboard
today is that of Brian Todd Mitchell, who was killed in 1995 in
northeast Portland. Portland police have nearly 300 unsolved
homicides dating back to 1969.

CAMAS, Wash. (AP) – Washington and Oregon environmental
officials have joined with the Coast Guard to celebrate the removal
of the last chunk of a derelict barge from the Columbia River near
Camas, Wash. The last section of the Davy Crockett was lifted from
the water yesterday, nearly seven months after the start of efforts
to prevent 33,000 gallons of fuel from escaping into the river. The
431-foot converted World War II-era Liberty Ship partially sank in
January while moored near the Washington shore.

NEWBERG, Ore. (AP) – Police say an occupant of a motel room
rocked by an explosion in the Willamette Valley town of Newberg has
told officers he was cooking hashish there just before the blast.
Police say the man remains at a Portland hospital. Capt. Jeff
Kosmicki said late yesterday that no charges had been filed in the
3 a.m. blast that forced the evacuation of 123 guests from the Best
Western Newberg Inn. A woman and a 2-year-old girl who were also
staying in the room suffered minor injuries.

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – Salem police say they’ve recovered a box
containing a woman’s ashes. The box was stolen in a home burglary.
Police say the thief remains at large. The ashes were found
yesterday in an impounded 1986 Ford pickup that police think was
involved in another burglary at about the same time as the ashes
were stolen Tuesday. Jackie Megert had pleaded for the return of
her mother’s ashes.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

AP-NY-08-26-11 1038EDT