City/Region Digest.

Byline: The Register-Guard

LOCAL

Forgery suspect's escape try fails

SPRINGFIELD - A fleeing forgery suspect found himself up a tree Wednesday, and the only way down was into the arms of pursuing Springfield police.

The suspect jumped out a window and climbed the tree after officers arrived at his room at the Gateway Street Shilo Inn, Sgt. Matt Brandt said. Inside the room, police found items allegedly stolen during recent thefts from cars, including credit card and other financial information that might have been used to create fake checks on a computer, Brandt said.

Also inside were two people wanted on outstanding warrants: James Earl Jacobsen, 21, of Eugene, and Peggi June Jackson, 25, a transient. They were being held in the Lane County Jail.

Officers arrested Randall Dean Lunt, 44, a transient, on charges of identity theft, first- and second-degree forgery, criminal possession of a forged instrument and computer crime.

New campus patrols short of volunteers

The University of Oregon is ready to launch its Yellow Jacket campus patrols, but is looking for volunteers to take part in the civilian watchdog program.

Only five people attended the first training session for volunteers, and more are needed. Students, faculty and staff are eligible to volunteer.

Volunteers must be trained before they can patrol. The training consists of learning how to use the hand-held radios issued to each two-person patrol team and getting tips on how to observe and report accurately.

Two training sessions will be held Sunday, one at 2 p.m. and another at 6 p.m. The sessions will be in Room 146, Straub Hall.

The plan is to patrol the main campus from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. seven nights a week.

For more information, contact the UO Department of Public Safety at 346-5444.

REGION

Armed masked man robs pizza parlor

PLEASANT HILL - An armed man wearing a ski mask robbed a Pleasant Hill pizza parlor late Wednesday, the Lane County sheriff's office said.

The man walked into Gatehouse Pizza at 35855 Plaza Loop at 9:40 p.m. with the gray mask pulled over his face and a dark-colored revolver in his right hand, sheriff's Sgt. Matt Keetle said. He ordered the two female employees to fill a plastic bag with cash, then told them to lie on the floor.

He put the bag in his pocket and left the store. The women, who were not harmed, called for help. Sheriff's deputies, with the Coburg police dog team, searched the area for more than an hour but did not find the man, Keetle said Thursday.

The women told deputies that the man was in his late 20s, about 6 feet tall and 170 or 180 pounds. He had unusually light blue eyes and pale skin. He was last seen wearing a blue jacket and dark jeans. Police ask anyone with information to call the sheriff's office at 682-4150.

NORTHWEST

Blue Book wants your scenic photo

Have the perfect photo of Oregon scenery?

Editors of the 2003-04 Oregon Blue Book want to take a look.

The Office of Secretary of State is seeking pictures from amateur photographers for consideration for the cover of the Blue Book, the state's official government directory and encyclopedia of history and facts, which is published every two years. The winning photo also will be featured on the online Blue Book, at www.bluebook.state.or.us.

Photos submitted but not selected for the cover may be used elsewhere in the print or Web version of the book.

Entries must be postmarked by Oct. 10. Photos must be 4-by-6-inch or 4-by-7-inch color prints with a vertical orientation. There is no financial prize.

Entry forms and contest guidelines are available on the Blue Book Web site or by contacting book editor Tim Torgerson at [phone], Ext. 250, or by e-mail at Timothy.B. [e-mail].

- From Register-Guard reports