>>>
>>> A
>>> A HOLIDAY MAIL THIEF COMES BACK FOR SECONDS.
THE SURVEILLANCE VIDEO THAT
COULD BRING THIS GRINCH TO
JUSTICE.
JUSTICE.
JUSTICE. >>> WAS A WIN WORTH IT?
WHAT AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN
WRESTLER WAS FORCED TO GIVE UP
JUST TO COMPETE.
>> IT'S HUMILIATING AND
RIDICULOUS.
RIDICULOUS. IT'S KEARIN US, DISCRIMINATORY.
>>> AND A WHITE CHRISTMAS ON
MOUNT HOOD.
MOUNT HOOD. WHAT MOTHER NATURE HAS IN STORE
FOR THE REST OF US JUST IN TIME
FOR SANTA TO ARRIVE.
KGW NEWS AT 6:00 STARTS RIGHT
NOW.
NOW.
NOW. >>
NOW. >> THE SUN IS DOWN AND THE
TREE IS LIT.
SAINT NICK STRIP HAS ALREADY
BEGUN.
BEGUN.
BEGUN. MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE.
I AM DAN
THANK
THANK YOU
THANK YOU FOR SPENDING THE HOLIDAY WITH US.
IF YOU ARE NOT AT HOME WITH
YOUR FAMILY, CHANCES ARE YOU
ARE ON MOUNT HOOD.
HOPEFULLY,, YOU ARE.
SKIERS AND SNOWBOARDERS ARE
ENJOYING QUITE A CHRISTMAS
MIRACLE.
MIRACLE.
MIRACLE. PLENTY OF DOUBTERS THIS YEAR
WORRIED WE WERE IN STORE FOR A
LOUSY SKI SEASON.
TODAY, WE COULD SAY IT PROVED
THEM WRONG.
THEM WRONG. WE HAVE SOME HOLIDAY WEATHER
COVERAGE TONIGHT AND WE START
WITH ART EDWARDS UP ON A VERY
SNOWY MOUNT HOOD.
>> Reporter: IT'S BEEN A NEAR
PERFECT DAY HERE ON MOUNT HOOD
IN GOVERNMENT CAMP.
THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE OUT AND
ABOUT.
ABOUT.
ABOUT. THEY TALK ABOUT IT BEING A
FEAST OR FAMINE TIME IN TERMS
OF THE SNOW ON THE GROUND.
TODAY, THEY SAY THAT WE
DEFINITELY EXPERIENCED THE
FEAST.
FEAST.
FEAST. >>
FEAST. >> NOTHING LIKE THE DAY BEFORE
CHRISTMAS TO GO SKIING.
>> Reporter: A LOT OF PEOPLE
AGREED WITH THAT IDEA.
THE PARKING LOT AT TIMBERLINE,
PACKED FOR PRETTY MUCH THE
ENTIRE DAY.
ENTIRE DAY. MOST OF THE LIFTS WERE
OPERATING TODAY.
OPERATING TODAY. SKIERS AND SNOWBOARDERS TAKING
ADVANTAGE OF A SOLID BASE.
AND NEARLY 30 INCHES OF NEW
SNOW OVER THE LAST SEVERAL
DAYS.
DAYS.
DAYS. >>
DAYS. >> IT HASN'T BEEN GREAT
CONDITIONS THIS YEAR.
FINALLY,, DEEP POWDER
EVERYWHERE.
EVERYWHERE. FINALLY GOT A CHRISTMAS
MIRACLE.
MIRACLE.
MIRACLE. >> Reporter: THAT SEEMS TO HAVE
EXTENDED TO THE ROADS.
>> THE ROAD IS NICE AND CLEAR,
SMOOTH.
SMOOTH.
SMOOTH. >> Reporter: NO SNOW ON HIGHWAY
26 FROM PORTLAND TO GOVERNMENT
CAMP.
CAMP.
CAMP. A
CAMP. A NICE DRIVE.
ON TIMBERLINE ROAD, A DIFFERENT
STORY.
STORY.
STORY. PRETTY CLEAR AT THE BOTTOM BUT
THE CLOSER YOU GOT TO THE
SUMMIT, THE MORE SNOW-COVERED
THE ROAD.
THE ROAD.
THE ROAD. WHAT YOU WOULD EXPECT, AND NOT
ENOUGH SNOW TO KEEP PEOPLE FROM
GETTING TO THEIR ULTIMATE
DESTINATION.
DESTINATION. >> I DROVE RIGHT ON UP.
>> Reporter: CHAINS OR TRACTION
TIRES REQUIRED.
>>
>> PHYLLIS IN ROD. GIVE US THE REST OF THE STORY
-- PHIL US IN ROD.
GIVE US THE REST OF THE STORY.
>> WE HAVE SIX INCH BASINS UP
THERE AT TIMBERLINE AND
MEADOWS.
MEADOWS.
MEADOWS. THE SNOW THE LAST THREE OR FOUR
DAYS HAS JUST MADE OUR HOLIDAY
BREAK.
BREAK.
BREAK. THERE IS NO BIG SIGN OF A MELT
OFF.
OFF.
OFF. GOVERNMENT CAMP HIGHWAY 26 WAS
CLEAN.
CLEAN.
CLEAN. SHOULD BE MAINLY CLEAN TOMORROW
FOR TRAVEL.
FOR TRAVEL. BUT SANTIAM, WILLAMETTE PASSES,
COMPLETELY SNOW-COVERED AND
JUST LOOKING MESSY.
BE PREPARED FOR THAT.
IT WILL BE A DRY CHRISTMAS DAY
BOTH IN THE MOUNTAINS AND DOWN
HERE TOMORROW.
HERE TOMORROW. BY THE WAY, DO YOU REMEMBER
LAST YEAR?
LAST YEAR? WE HAVE PICTURES TO JOLT YOUR
MEMORY A LITTLE BIT.
CHRISTMAS EVE, WE ACTUALLY GOT
HIT WITH WHAT WAS KIND OF A MIX
OF ONE TO TWO INCHES OF SLEET,
THE ICY SHEEN YOU SEE THERE.
THERE WAS BONA FIDE SNOW MIXED
IN GIVING US A NICE, WHITE
COVERAGE THAT STAYED ON THE
GROUND FOR A WHITE CHRISTMAS
DAY.
DAY.
DAY. SOMETHING AS YOU KNOW WE DON'T
OFTEN GET MUCH OF THE, SO THAT
LOOKS MORE WET THAN ANYTHING.
THAT WAS A YEAR AGO.
A BEAUTIFUL EVENING RIGHT NOW
AS WE COME BACK OUT TO
RUDOLPH'S KNOWS ON THE
PORTLAND, OREGON SIGN.
EVENING TEMPERATURES HOLDING AT
41 DEGREES.
41 DEGREES. WE WILL BE IN THE 30s FOR THE
STROKE OF MIDNIGHT IF YOU ARE
GOING TO MIDNIGHT MASS, BUT
ABOVE FREEZING.
ABOVE FREEZING. THE WINDS ARE LIGHT.
IT WILL BE DRY AND PARTLY
CLOUDY.
CLOUDY.
CLOUDY. HERE IS CHRISTMAS DAY.
36 IN TOWN, MAYBE SOME SPOTS IF
WE HAVE CLEARING LONG ENOUGH
TONIGHT WILL GET TO FREEZING BY
TOMORROW MORNING.
TOMORROW MORNING. GENERALLY COME MORNING CLOUDS
GIVING WAY TO SUN BREAKS.
42 AT LUNCHTIME AND 42 AT 5:00
P.M.
P.M.
P.M. THE
P.M. THE SNOW REPORT IS MONSTROUS.
IT'S WONDERFUL.
IT'S WONDERFUL. WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT THOSE
NUMBERS COMING UP AND WE'RE
GOING TO COMPARE THIS WEEK'S
WEATHER TO THE WEATHER A YEAR
AGO UP ON THE MOUNTAIN.
THE NEWS IS REALLY FETCHING.
THAT'S COMING UP.
>> APPRECIATE IT.
>>> I WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT A
MAN WITH A GUN CARJACKING THE
DRIVER OF A MINIVAN IN DOWNTOWN
PORTLAND THIS AFTERNOON.
POLICE ARE LOOKING FOR THE
SUSPECT.
SUSPECT.
SUSPECT. ALL OF THIS HAPPENING AROUND
2:00 NEAR SOUTHWEST 10th AND
WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON. WITNESSES SAY A MAN WITH A GUN
STORE THAT MINIVAN FROM A FOOD
CART WORKER.
CART WORKER. THE PERSON WAS UNLOADING
SUPPLIES AT THE TIME.
OFFICERS SAY THE SUSPECT MADE
HIT SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLES AS
HE MADE THE GET AWAY.
ONE OF THOSE VEHICLES BELONGED
TO A BROTHER AND SISTER
CATCHING UP ON SOME CHRISTMAS
SHOPPING.
SHOPPING.
SHOPPING. >> WE WERE COMING BACK AND WE
SEE THIS COP CAR FLYING DOWN
THE STREET.
THE STREET. WE THOUGHT THAT WAS ODD.
WHAT'S GOING ON THERE?
>> IT WAS PRETTY SCARY AT
FIRST.
FIRST.
FIRST. I
FIRST. I WAS SUPPOSED TO DRIVE MY CAR
BACK TO SCHOOL IN TWO DAYS, SO
WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH
THAT BUT I AM GLAD IT WASN'T US
IN THE CAR WHEN IT HAPPENED.
>> KEEP YOUR EYES PEELED FOR A
PURPLE OR MAROON 2008 CHRYSLER
TOWN AND COUNTRY, SIMILAR TO
THE ONE YOU'RE LOOKING AT THERE.
WE HAVE THE OREGON PLATES AS 8
2 9 H X P. PORTLAND POLICE
WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU IF
YOU
>>>
>>> A
>>> A VANCOUVER DOCTOR AND HIS SON DIED DURING A WEEKEND TRIP
TO MEXICO.
TO MEXICO. THEY WERE FROM VANCOUVER.
THE TWO OF THEM, AND THREE OTHER
YOUNG CHILDREN WERE VACATIONING
IN CABO WHEN THIS HAPPENED. ON
SATURDAY, TOM AND GRAEME
GRIEHOUSE WENT ON AN ADVANCED
DIVE WITH FREQUENT CURRENT
CHANGES AND LAPSES IN
VISIBILITY.
VISIBILITY. TOM WAS AN AN EXPERIENCED DIVER
WHO APPARENTLY OFTEN TOOK HIS
SON WITH HIM.
BUT THE FAMILY BELIEVES THEY
GOT SEPARATED DURING THE DIVE.
YESTERDAY, TECHNICAL DIVERS
FOUND THE 57-YEAR-OLD DOCTOR
AND HIS 27-YEAR-OLD SON DEAD.
THE FAMILY IS STILL IN MEXICO
WORKING ON PLANS NOW TO GET
BACK TO VANCOUVER.
TOM WAS THE MEDICAL DIRECTOR
FOR LEGACY MEDICAL GROUP FAMILY
WELLNESS.
WELLNESS.
WELLNESS. TODAY, LEGACY HEALTH RELEASED A
STATEMENT SAYING IN PART, THAT
TOM WAS, "BELOVED BY PATIENTS,
PEERS, AND STAFF.
THIS LOSS WILL BE DEEPLY FELT.
OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE
WITH DOCTOR GRIEHOUSE'S FAMILY
AND FRIENDS.
>>>
>>> HOW
>>> HOW ARE YOU DOING? >> GOOD.
>> GOOD.
>> GOOD. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> WHETHER IT'S BECAUSE OF THE
COLD OR THE HOLIDAYS
THEMSELVES, THIS TIME OF YEAR
CAN BE ESPECIALLY TOUGH FOR
PEOPLE IN PORTLAND WITHOUT
HOMES.
HOMES.
HOMES. TONIGHT, HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS
DID THEIR BEST TO MAKE LIFE ON
THE STREETS A LITTLE EASIER FOR
SOME.
SOME.
SOME. OF
SOME. OF COURSE, YOU'VE HEARD OF KEEP
PORTLAND WEIRD, RIGHT?
THIS IS KEEP PORTLAND AND
VANCOUVER WARM.
VANCOUVER WARM. MAGGIE VESPA REPORTS.
>>
>> Reporter: GOOD EVENING. EVERY YEAR ALONG THIS TIME WE
GET QUESTIONS FROM A LOT OF YOU
ABOUT HOW YOU CAN HELP THE LESS
FORTUNATE IN OUR CITY.
TODAY, AN ANSWER.
LIKE
LIKE A
LIKE A WELL OILED RED AND WHITE STRIPED MACHINE, THIS SOUTHEAST
PORTLAND WAREHOUSE BECOMES A
HOLIDAY HUB.
HOLIDAY HUB. >> WHAT YOU SEE BEHIND ME IS
3500 BAGS BEING ASSEMBLED.
>> Reporter: FOR THE NONPROFIT
WEATHERD HANDS.
WEATHERD HANDS. >> EVERY BAG HAS A PAIR OF
SOCKS, BIDDING OR STOCKING CAP,
AND GLOVES.
AND GLOVES. IF YOUR EXTREMITIES ARE COLD,
YOU ARE NEVER GOING TO GET
WARM.
WARM.
WARM. >>
WARM. >> Reporter: DUBBED KEEP
PORTLAND AND VANCOUVER WARM,
THE ANNUAL PUSH HAS BEEN GOING
STRONG SINCE 2001.
CREWS LOADED CAR AFTER CAR, AND
EVEN A FEDEX TRUCK WITH BAGS,
FOOD, AND TOILETRIES, ALSO
INCLUDED.
INCLUDED.
INCLUDED. EACH VOLUNTEER DRIVER IS THEN
ASSIGNED A DELIVERY AREA FROM
CLARK COUNTY ALL THE WAY DOWN
TO McMINNVILLE.
TO McMINNVILLE. >> ARE YOU GOING TO GIVE THEM
TO PEOPLE?
TO PEOPLE? >> Reporter: AARON SEWALL AND
HIS WIFE STEPHANIE BROUGHT
THEIR THREE-YEAR-OLD.
THEIR THREE-YEAR-OLD. >> I AM MAKING SURE TO TEACH
MATH, FRENCH, WHATEVER
LANGUAGE, BUT TO TEACH
SOMETHING THAT MEANINGFUL TO
HELP PEOPLE I THINK IS THE MOST
IMPORTANT THING I CAN GIVE TO
MY CHILD.
MY CHILD.
MY CHILD. >> Reporter: ARE YOU EXCITED TO
HAND THEM OUT FOR CHRISTMAS?
>> YEAH.
>> YEAH.
>> YEAH. >> Reporter: THEY ARE
ASSIGNMENT?
ASSIGNMENT? DOWNTOWN PORTLAND AND THE
PEARL.
PEARL.
PEARL. WE
PEARL. WE FOLLOWED ALONG AND UNDER THE
STEEL BRIDGE, BAGS WENT FAST.
THIS
THIS MAN
THIS MAN SPOTTED THEM FROM UP ABOVE, AND HURRIED DOWN.
>> LOOK AT THIS.
THIS IS A NICE, WARM HAT.
THIS IS REALLY NICE.
AND SOME SOCKS, AND SOME
GLOVES.
GLOVES.
GLOVES. PEOPLE DON'T REALLY REALIZE
WHAT
WHAT DRY
WHAT DRY SOCKS IS LIKE. >> Reporter: THE GIFT SOMETHING
MOST TAKE FOR GRANTED AND A
HOLIDAY LESSON FOR A FAMILY'S
YOUNG SON.
YOUNG SON. >> I THINK FOR HIM TO BE CLOSE
TO PEOPLE AND TO BE
COMMUNICATING WITH THEM, I
THINK IT'S WONDERFUL.
>> Reporter: AND WE WILL BE
POSTING INFO ABOUT HOW YOU CAN
HELP WITH WEATHERD HANDS, AND
ABOUT OTHER VOLUNTEER
OPPORTUNITIES AT WWW.KGW.COM.
I AM MAGGIE VESPA REPORTING.
KGW NEWS.
KGW NEWS.
KGW NEWS. >>> NOW, WE WANT TO BRING YOU
TO SOMETHING YOU NEVER WANT TO
HAPPEN ESPECIALLY IN CHRISTMAS
EVE.
EVE.
EVE. A
EVE. A MAN ADMITTED HE CRASHED HIS
SUV THROUGH A CHURCH IN
NORTHEAST PORTLAND.
NORTHEAST PORTLAND. THIS IS THE SOUTHEAST THE CARIA
CHURCH OF OUR LADY KENT
LEHANG.
LEHANG.
LEHANG. LOTS OF DAMAGE AND LEFTOVER CAR
PARTS.
PARTS.
PARTS. A
PARTS. A MAN CALLED 911 LATER AND SAID
HE DID IT.
THAT'S 35-YEAR-OLD HUGH FONG
WHO WAS ARRESTED A FIRST DEGREE
CRIMINAL MISCHIEF.
CRIMINAL MISCHIEF. POLICE ARE TELLING US THE BIAS
CRIMES DETAIL IS INVESTIGATING.
>>>
>>> A
>>> A PORTLAND SMALL BUSINESS OWNER IS WARNING FOLKS ABOUT A
PAYROLL SCAM THAT COST THEM
TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.
INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER CRISTIN
SEVERANCE JOINS US NOW WITH
TONIGHT'S SCAM ALERT.
THIS ONE AS SO MANY YOU REPORT
ON IS PRETTY SOPHISTICATED.
>> Reporter: IT IS.
THE SCAMMERS REALLY KNEW WHAT
THEY WERE DOING.
THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU SAYS
SCAMMERS USED THE NAME OF A
REAL, OUT-OF-STATE TRUCKING
COMPANY TO TRICK A PORTLAND
SMALL BUSINESS INTO RUNNING
THEIR PAYROLL, AND IT COST THE
BUSINESS NEARLY $50,000.
>>
>> 1910,
>> 1910, RIGHT? >> YEAH.
>> YEAH.
>> YEAH. >> Reporter: ANNE BURGESS AND
HER EMPLOYEES RUN CHECKMATE
BUSINESS OUT OF THIS HISTORIC
HOME IN SOUTHEAST PORTLAND.
>> I HAD A COUPLE OF PAYROLLS
TO DO.
TO DO.
TO DO. >>
TO DO. >> WE DEAL WITH A LOT OF SMALL
BUSINESSES, PEOPLE IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
NEIGHBORHOOD. WE HAVE GREAT FOOT TRAFFIC.
>> Reporter: SMALL BUSINESSES
ARE THEIR SPECIALTY BUT THEY
ARE TRYING TO GROW THE PAYROLL
PART OF THEIR COMPANY.
SO WHEN PAYROLL SPECIALIST
TERRY WILLIAMS RECEIVED AN
EMAIL FROM A MICHIGAN TRUCKING
COMPANY WANTING CHECKMATE TO
RUN THEIR PAYROLL, THEY JUMPED
AT THE CHANCE.
>> I HAD NO REASON TO SUSPECT
THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG.
>> Reporter: THEY DID THEIR
HOMEWORK CALLING THE MICHIGAN
SECRETARY OF STATE OFFICE AND
OTHER STATE AGENCIES.
IT ALL SEEMED LEGIT.
>> THEY KNEW WHAT ANSWERS TO
GIVE US ANY TIME WE QUESTIONED
ANYTHING.
ANYTHING.
ANYTHING. THEY RAPIDLY GOT THINGS BACK TO
US.
US.
US. THEY
US. THEY SEEMED LIKE AN EITHER
BUSINESS OWNER.
BUSINESS OWNER. >> Reporter: THE FIRST FOUR
PAYROLLS WENT THROUGH WITH NO
PROBLEMS,
EACH
EACH TIME, THEY PROCESSED MORE AND MORE MONEY.
FINALLY, THE BANK FLAGGED THE
FIFTH PAYROLL ATTEMPT.
IT TURNS OUT IT WAS ALL A SCAM.
THE SCAMMER USED THE NAME OF A
REAL TRUCKING COMPANY IN
MICHIGAN THAT HAD SHUT DOWN, SO
THE BUSINESS FILINGS WERE ALL ON
RECORD WITH THE STATE.
>> HE WAS USING A BANK ACCOUNT
THAT WASN'T HIS BASICALLY AND
JUST FOR HIM WE WERE
TRANSFERRING MONEY OUT OF THAT
ACCOUNT AND PUTTING IT INTO A
BUNCH OF EMPLOYEE ACCOUNTS, BUT
HE HAD ACCESS TO ALL THOSE
EMPLOYEE ACCOUNTS AND COULD
CLEAR THE CASH OUT OF THEM AS
SOON AS THE MONEY WAS IN THERE.
>> CHECKMATE OWED THEIR CREDIT
CARD PROCESSOR NEARLY $50,000.
SO MUCH MONEY FOR ANY SMALL
BUSINESS.
BUSINESS.
BUSINESS. AT 6:00, THE RED FLAGS THE
BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU SAYS ALL
SMALL BUSINESSES SHOULD BE ON
THE LOOKOUT FOR WHEN IT COMES TO
THIS SCAM AND SIMILAR PAYROLL
SCAMS.
SCAMS.
SCAMS. >>
SCAMS. >> THIS DOESN'T HAVE TO HAPPEN.
IT'S A CHOICE.
>> IT SAID THEY ARE PUTTING
THEIR ENERGY INTO STEALING FROM
OTHER PEOPLE.
OTHER PEOPLE. >> CHECKMATE HAS RECEIVED
EMAILS AND CALLS FROM OTHER OUT-
OF-STATE BUSINESSES WANTING TO
HIRE THEM BUT NOW THEY HAVE A
STRICT OREGON ONLY POLICY.
IF CHECKMATE SURVIVES THIS,
THEY WILL BE OKAY BUT THEY
WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO SURVIVE A
$50,000 LOSS AT OTHER
BUSINESSES SO THEY WANT TO WARN
OTHER BUSINESSES.
OTHER BUSINESSES. >> THAT COULD SINK SOMEBODY.
I SEE YOUR STORIES OFTEN AND
THINK WHY DON'T THESE SMART
PEOPLE USE THEIR POWERS FOR
GOOD INSTEAD OF EVIL BECAUSE
THE PERSON WHO PULLED OFF THAT
SCAM REALLY NEEDED TO KNOW WHAT
THEY WERE DOING.
>> Reporter: I SAY THAT A LOT,
TOO.
TOO.
TOO. IF
TOO. IF THESE SCAMMERS WOULD USE
THEIR TALENT FOR GOOD, WE WOULD
BE A LOT BETTER OFF BUT THIS
SCAMMER HAD TO HAVE READ REAL
DETAILED KNOWLEDGE ABOUT HOW
PAYROLL WORKS.
PAYROLL WORKS. THAT'S HOW HE WAS ABLE TO DO
THIS.
THIS.
THIS. >>
THIS. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
IF YOU THINK CRISTIN SEVERANCE
MIGHT BE ONLINE TO DO ONE OF
YOUR