NewsRegister.com: Drawing the Line on Gangs

DRAWING THE LINE On gang activity in the Yamhill Valley

Editor's note A September altercation in Newberg between members of two rival groups, which resulted in one teen narrowly escaping death after being beaten and shot in the head, has given Yamhill County residents an eye-opening look at the consequences of youth gangs. The News-Register takes an in-depth look at the gang issue as it relates to our county in "Drawing the Line," a two-part series.

Kate Rowland In Part One, Reporter Kate Rowland asks law enforcement officials for their comments, including Chief Ron Noble, Capt. Rob Edgell and Detective Marshall Roache of the McMinnville Police. In Part Two, she asks authorities at local high schools for their comments on the influence of gangs.

Gang activity stirs concern Law enforcement officials say it appears to be on the rise again When Chief Ron Noble took the reins of the McMinnville Police Department in May 2006, he said he had no doubt McMinnville was a community he could embrace. The former Corvallis police lieutenant said he'd been looking for a town that would be a good fit for his family, which includes a son attending Linfield.

Zero tolerance for tagging To some, graffiti is an art form. To most, it is an act of vandalism. For gangs, it is a statement of turf and warning to intruders. Regardless of its intent, the spray-painting of graffiti in public places, known as "tagging" on the street, represents on ongoing problem in communities across America. And the communities of the Yamhill Valley are not immune.

Make it uncomfortable for gangs "We share information about known gang members," he said. "Our goal is, when we come across somebody we know is engaging in gang activity, quite frankly, we want to make it as uncomfortable for him to live here as possible." Chief Ron Noble McMinnville Police

Gangs not big issue on outskirts Local police officers comment on smaller towns in Yamhill County ... Willamina-based Sheriff's Deputy Derek Trombla: "In Grand Ronde, there has been an influx of an Indian Pride Gang. The Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde brought in a Native American gang expert because there is some gang activity in Grand Ronde. "There has been longtime gang activity in Grand Ronde, for probably 15 or 20 years. The community is working hard to target anything related to gangs." ...

Just kids? "People should be educated enough to know not to say, ‘Oh, that's just kids spray painting. Some of that's out there, but a lot of it is telling a message or issuing a challenge." Rob Edgell McMinnville police captain

Call us "We want everyone to document any kind of graffiti they get. If your fence or your house gets tagged, call us." Marshall Roache McMinnville police detective

Gang-related stabbing in McMinnville Police investigate the July 30, 2002, fatal stabbing at a private party at St. James Catholic Church in McMinnville, which was determined to be gang-related.

Drug busts have reflected adult gangs Large marijuana grows, such as this one busted last summer in Grand Ronde, were traced to adult gangs engaged in organized crime, according to McMinnville Police Capt. Rob Edgell.

Schools first line of gang defense Making a difference in the classroom means making a difference on the street With carefully selected back-to-school outfits laid out for the next day, book bags packed with fresh, blank notebooks and shiny, new school supplies, most Newberg High students slept soundly as the night of Monday, Sept. 3 - Labor Day - came to a close. The 2007-08 school year was set to begin the following morning.

Providing alternatives key to prevention It all starts in the home, but schools serve as surrogate homes. Some kids drift toward a street-gang lifestyle while others don't, and the reasons aren't always that clear cut. "It doesn't affect any particular group," said Marci Ingram, dropout prevention specialist with the McMinnville School District. "It's across the board. Rich, white, Latino, you can see it happen in all kinds of kids."

Rural schools deal with graffiti, colors Local school principals comment on smaller towns in Yamhill County. Amity High Principal Mike Solem: "There is a big gang presence in Gervais, where I came from. "In three years at Amity, I've only had to deal with one situation where a student — in pencil — started marking up ‘Southside,' a Salem gang. He had transferred here from Salem. "We suspended him and he's on warning that anything else will be an automatic expulsion. " ...

Tips offered for parents No. 1: Know who your children's friends are. No. 2: Know who and what influences your kids. No. 3: Know what your children are doing at all times. ...

Fights break out at Mac high "At the beginning of last year we had quite a few issues, some gang fights. They were rival gangs, one side Norteño, one side Sureño." Robert Harmon McMinnville High School resource officer

Get kids involved in positive activities "The more we get kids involved in the educational process in a positive way, the more chance they have to resist or escape gang influences." Tim Loewen Yamhill County Juvenile director

Gangs can provide an emotional attachment "They feel an actual emotional attachment. The gang fills a void the family isn't filling." Peter Simpson Portland detective

Tagging is considered a serious threat Local law enforcement agencies regard tagging as a serious threat to the community. It has become a scourge in every city across America, including McMinnville where these gang names and symbols cover a tunnel under Southeast Davis Street in McMinnville.

Gang fashion doesn't necessarily make a gang The same clothing often favored by gangsters also is considered fashionable by many youngsters with no gang ties whatsoever. Common gang styles include extremely short hair or fully shaved heads; white T-shirts several sizes too big; white, athletic-type undershirts; baggy Dickie, Ben Davis or Solos pants; and pants worn low or sagging, and cuffed inside at the bottom or dragging on the ground.

Tattoos are forever Gang members often ink tattoos of gang symbols on their bodies to signify that membership is for life. The Westside 18th Street gang is a subset of the Surenos — Sur 13s — and is considered widespread throughout the country with a large Portland presence. A common Surenos tattoo is three dots between the thumb and forefinger. Nortenos, a rival gang, often tattoo themselves with four dots.