Learn why this East Portland Veteran’s group throws this honorary dinner – and how the recipients may go on to earn national fame for their service …
The hall was filled to capacity as American Legion Post #1 honored Portland Fire & Rescue and the Portland Police Bureau’s men of the year.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
The American Legion Post #1 meeting hall on SE 122nd Avenue was packed elbow-to-elbow, as their annual Friendship Dinner honoring Portland’s top police officer and top firefighter got underway on April 19.
“We present the ‘Russ Lemmon Awards’ each year,” Post Commander Thomas Fulton told us, after the three-course buffet dinner and before the awards ceremony.
American Legion Post #1 Commander Thomas Fulton conducts the presentation of the Russ Lemmon Awards.
“The purpose is to recognize outstanding individuals from our fire and police bureaus who make our community better and safer,” Fulton explained. “One [honoree] will risk their life to save yours, by pulling you from a burning house. The other might give you a deserved traffic ticket – or step in the line of fire and take a bullet, to keep you from being shot.”
The firefighter and the officer are chosen by coworkers at their respective bureaus, Fulton explained. Those honored by Post #1 will compete for state-wide honors from the Oregon American Legion; and, if successful, will go on to be considered for national recognition.
Portland Fire & Rescue Firefighter Anthony Tony Snook from Station #1 accepts his award from American Legion Portland Post #1 Commander Thomas Fulton as PF&R Captain Robert Zavodsky looks on.
Firefighter of the Year
“It’s an honor to be among great Americans,” said Portland Fire & Rescue (PF&R) Captain Robert Zavodsky, as he began telling why Firefighter Anthony “Tony” Snook from PF&R Station #1 was selected.
“Tony does not look toward rank or money – things that normally motivate people. Tony is one of those true firefighters who, day in and day out, is motivated by the passion he has for his work. He comes to work with a tremendous attitude; the younger ones look to him as a shining light,” Zavodsky noted.
Snook has become known as an apparatus specialist, able to fix nearly anything, including the six-burner range in the station house. He designed and specified the equipment used in PF&R’s “Urban Search and Rescue” rig.
“Before search video cameras were available, Tony and his lieutenant built a prototype search camera system. It was a great – there was nothing like it at the time,” Zavodsky quipped, “except it took a man just to carry the battery.”
Snook is known as a Disneyland aficionado, Zavodsky added. A firefighter, with a son ill with cancer, asked for help planning an upcoming trip. “Not only did Tony lay out ‘the ideal’ itinerary, he encouraged everyone in the stationhouse to help pay for the trip.”
On the third-floor wall of Station #1, his Captain told the veterans, there is a wall bearing photographs of each of the firefighters who won this award over the years. “I get a special feeling when I walk down that hall and think about these dedicated firefighters. All of us will tell you that Tony is the sort of person that you would like to work with,” concluded Zavodsky as he handed the award to Snook.
Past Post Commander Tom Murphy escorts honoree Officer Robert Brown around the meeting hall and to the stage.
Police Officer of the Year
Portland Police Bureau East Precinct Commander Michael Crebs was next to step to the podium, to tell why Officer Robert Brown was chosen for this year’s honor.
“Cops are often in chaotic situations,” began Crebs. “Not only is he physically imposing, Officer Brown’s performance is tactically sound. Whenever he goes into a tense situation, he brings calm and a state of equilibrium. He helps people feel that everything will soon be alright.”
Crebs held up a thick folder, and told what he found, when he reviewed Brown’s personnel file.
“There are too many commendations and letters to read,” the Commander said. “I pulled out a couple of items, to give you a snapshot of this officer; each of them tells a different story about Robert.”
Reading a note that one of his peers wrote, early in his career, Crebs quoted, “Officer Brown does well in establishing rapport with citizens. He’s personable and respectful. He shows initiative when activity is slow, and doesn’t focus on one aspect such as traffic stops.” The commander added, “This shows that Robert was a well-rounded officer from day one.”
Crebs then related the story of a grocery store robber who held a knife to the neck of a clerk and demanded money. “The suspect fled as Robert arrived on-scene. He tracked the suspect down, following him through neighborhood back yards. Robert saw feet sticking out from under a bush, took the suspect into custody, and recovered the money. This is exemplifies his work; he loves to catch the ‘bad guys’.”
Portland Police Bureau East Precinct Commander Michael Crebs congratulates Officer Robert Brown after his award was presented by the Post’s commander, Thomas Fulton, at American Legion Portland Post #1.
The final example Crebs pointed out was this citation: “He has the ability to quickly establish a perimeter, work with undercover officers, and work with members of the canine unit. [Brown’s] outstanding work significantly contributed to the capture of suspects, and to the safety of the community.”
Over the past two years, Brown’s efforts working with canine units resulted in the arrest of 15 suspects for felony activities in different incidents, the commander noted.
Quoting the great football coach, Vince Lombardi, Crebs looked Brown in the eyes and concluded by saying, “The quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion to his commitment to personal excellence regardless of his chosen field of endeavor. Robert, you chose the Portland Police Bureau’s East Precinct night shift, where you’ve achieved excellence.”
After the program concluded, PF&R Chief David Sprando commented, “Considering the way that these individuals have served their country, it’s like the top honor for us.”
Commander Crebs agreed, adding, “This Post’s hospitality and generosity is awesome. It makes me feel good inside to know that we have this kind of support in our community.”
© 2008 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News
This guy traveled to the edge of Gresham hoping for some “afternoon delight”. He got some real “action” – but not the kind he was looking for …
After arranging for a sex session on the internet, a 39-year-old man got a lot more “action” than he bargained for – and got robbed by thugs in these apartments.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
He was envisioning a sexy encounter, as this fellow drove to the apartment building at 17223 Southeast Powell Blvd. just past noon on April 29.
The 39-year-old guy was probably hoping for some real excitement; after all, he’d arranged a sex-for-money rendezvous via the Internet.
Police aren’t saying who this Romeo is – but he turned from lover-boy into victim within moments after entering the apartment. Portland Police Bureau spokesperson, Officer Cathe Kent filled us in on what happened next.
“The victim arrived at Alicia Roach residence on SE Powell Blvd when two men, armed with a handgun and a baseball bat, confronted him,” reported Kent. “After threatening the victim, the suspects took victim’s money. During the encounter, one shot was discharged inside the apartment.”
Although shaken by be robbed at gun (and bat) point, the victim wasn’t injured; he fled and called police.
When gunshots are fired – and suspects are holed up – SERT members don’t take any chances. They bring out all of their protective gear.
Officers make sure no one gets in or out of these apartments while the investigation continues. The building – you can see just the edge of it – is directly behind the front apartment building.
SERT shuts down streets
Because a gun was fired, the bureau’s Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) arrived and the area around the apartment buildings was taped off – shutting down a 2-block area including the intersection of SE Powell Blvd. and SE 174th Ave.
It took hours to evacuate the area residents and contact witnesses. Eventually, investigators learned that the suspects were hiding in a neighboring apartment.
As the sun set on the edge of outer East Portland, SERT officers isolated the apartment and ordered the suspects out of the apartment. All three surrendered without incident.
- 25-year-old Antawan Simpkins was charged with two counts of Robbery in the First Degree and one count of Ex-con in Possession of a Firearm.
- 16-year-old Anthony Dondre Roach was charged with two counts of Robbery in the First Degree and one count of Menacing.
- 23-year-old Alicia Marie Roach was charged with one count of Robbery in the First Degree.
Fortunately, no additional shots were fired, and the situation ended without incident.
© 2008 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News
No, this is not a boozing society! If you’re not familiar with the term “Breweriana”, learn what these folks are collecting, right here …
Part of Norman Irby’s breweriana collection is this Busch “beer chalk” and stein.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
As we walk into the springtime gathering of the Cascade Breweriana Association, we can’t help but think, “Beer, beer everywhere, and not a drop to drink!”
The tables in the VFW Hall on SE Fern Street are laden with beer labels, signs, tap handles, steins, posters, and T-shirts, as the association’s quarterly swap meet gets underway.
We learn the members of the Cascade Breweriana Association, which was founded in 1978, are dedicated to the collection, the history, and the enjoyment of beer-related items.
Norman Irby, vice president of club, said, “Our swap meet draws people from all over the Pacific Northwest. In fact we have members here today from the Rainier club in the Seattle area. Most of our people are from the greater Portland area, but collectors come from as far away as Eugene.
There are about 125 members in the local club, said Irby. It’s a regional chapter of the national Brewery Collectibles Club of America.
“I collect a lot of different types of things,” Irby stated. “I first started with steins. But I’ve since gotten more into collecting beer chalks.”
A beer chalk, he explained, is a figurine representing the logo of a particular brewery.
Rich Horrocks shows a rare Bohemian Beer stein once produced by Stroh’s Brewing Co. from Detroit, MI.
A full-time hobby
“I’m from Milwaukie and I ought to know,” said Rich Horrocks with a smile, “but that’s spelled with an ‘ie’ on the end.”
Horrocks, a long time member of Cascade Breweriana Association and a board member of the national association, said this is a “full-time hobby” for him, and that he started collecting beer cans in 1963.
“No, I wasn’t old enough to drink then, but my dad emptied out a lot of cans for me. Then I sold the beer can collection and got into breweriana – posters, lighted signs – it can be anything related to the promotion and marketing of brewed beverages.”
Breweriana, Horrocks told us, is a hobby that brings out the best in people. “It’s a lot of fun to intermingle and see the collectios. One might collect Rainer; another might collect Blitz, or breweriana from the microbrewers. We try to help each other, and pick up different items that other members would enjoy.”
As he picks up items from his table, and tells about their origin, Horrocks handles each piece of breweriana as if it’s a museum piece. “You just got to love it, huh?” he says with a wide grin.
Amid a sea of bottles (mostly empty), visitors Steve and Alva Johnston say they drove from Hillsboro to inner SE Portland to take a look at the breweriana collections. “We’re having lots and lots of fun,” Steve says.
You’re invited!
The Cascade Breweriana Association holds four swap meets each year, where anyone can buy, sell, or trade all of beer-related items, Horrocks said. “We have an award-winning newsletter that we send out before each meeting. It has articles on local brewing history, rare collectibles, and memorabilia.”
The local club doesn’t have a web site, but for more information, CLICK HERE.
The membership dues are just $12 per year, he added. If you’re interested, give Horrocks a call at (503) 653-0312 for more information.
© 2008 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News Service
