October 2009

By ASHLEY M. HEHER AP Retail Writer

It may not be Halloween yet, but Sears is taking the Christmas creep one step further.

The department store says it will offer what it calls "Black Friday doorbuster" deals beginning this Friday, nearly a month before the traditional day-after-Thanksgiving sales.

Sears says the offers will rotate each week and be available 7 a.m.- noon each Saturday. However, it's kicking off the effort with a special markdown this Friday.

The day after Thanksgiving is dubbed Black Friday because it often was the day when shoppers helped stores break into profitability for the full year.

Experts say Sears' decision to start the sales nearly a month in advance shows just how worried retailers are about what's expected to be a grim holiday season.
      
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

A crane lifted an 80-foot tall bell tower into place Wednesday at Central Lutheran Church at 1820 N.E. 21st Street. And lots of folks were there with cameras in hand to watch the operation.

Portland Police Chief Rosie Sizer spent Tuesday at Vestal (K-8) as part of the program. You read about how her day went on the Portland Public Schools Web site.

Nearly two dozen dogs were seized from a northeast Portland facility after the county determined the owner was not providing adequate care for them.

The dogs seized are mostly Chihuahaus and Yorkshire Terriers.  Four of the dogs are puppies and one was pregnant.  A total of 23 were removed from the facility, which has not been named but was located on Northeast Glisan Street.

According to Animal Services, the dogs were being cared for in unsanitary conditions at the facility and health screenings revealed parasites, infections and multiple health problems.

The owner, Beverly Mathews Simms, had been given 120 days to clean up the facility but according to Animal Services, follow-up inspections showed she was not in compliance.