Mt. Hood Community College Board Elections

The beginning of 1999 saw the Outlook begin reporting on the Mt. Hood Community College (MHCC) Board elections. Staff writer Joe Evers reported on January 2 that some of the people running for board election that year were motivated by community concerns over the board's decisions. On January 6, Evers also wrote a series of short profiles on the individuals running for the board and their values and plans as revealed before the MHCC senate. A February 10 article by Evers details how the faculty and board have been in conflict since April of the previous year. The election was finalized on March 13, with Evers reporting that the board would have four new members in July when they were sworn in.

[photo to the right: MHCC staff member on the picketing line]

Road Rage Reaches Its Limits

Aggressive and intimidating driving saw a huge increase in Gresham and surrounding areas in 1999, and on January 16, Outlook writer Paul Dunnette began reporting on Gresham's implementation of the new law to combat aggression on the road. On January 20, Dunnette reported that the ordinance was unanimously approved by the Gresham City Council, making intentional intimidation via aggressive driving a crime. After passing through a second read as reported on February 4 the bill would immediately go into affect, and though Gresham police considered charging a Portland woman under the new law on February 20, they ultimately decided against it.

[photo to the right: Police and Emergency Services at the scene of an accident involving a postal worker and passenger vehicle]

Teachers Union Turmoil

The contract negotiations between Barlow-Gresham School District and the teachers union almost reached a boiling point early in 1999 as reported by Outlook writer Joe Evers. On January 16 Evers wrote that although the union's 'cooling off' period was still in effect until January 28, a strike vote could occur even earlier than that. A January 23 article by Evers reports that a union questionnaire showed there was strong support in favor of a strike but by January 27, he was able to write that the district and the union had reached a tentative agreement that, despite still needing to be officially approved, was described as a fair deal by both faculty and district officials.

[photo to the right: Teachers picketing ahead of the contract settlement with Barlow-Gresham School District]