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--> --> Amber Alert system inked by Kitzhaber By Brad Cain Associated Press Writer SALEM - Gov. John Kitzhaber signed an executive order establishing the Amber Alert system in Oregon, saying time is critical after an abduction and that the new system will let authorities notify the public almost immediately. "The eyes and the ears of the public and advanced communications technologies are powerful tools" to help find abducted children, the governor said Monday. Under the Amber Alert system, a kidnapping anywhere in Oregon will set the new statewide system in motion. Law enforcement agencies will send alerts to all radio and television stations with descriptions of the missing children, their abductors and other information. It will be up to the individual TV and radio stations to decide whether to carry broadcast reports about the Amber Alert. Information about an abduction also will be posted on 38 electronic "reader boards" that are located along Oregon's interstates and major state highways. Police officials said the Amber Alerts will be used if the child is believed to be in imminent danger and that the alerts won't be used in most cases involving custody disputes. Amber Alerts started in Arlington, Texas, after the 1996 abduction of 9-year-old Amber Hagerman. A neighbor saw her kidnapping and gave good information to police, but officers didn't get that information out to the public. Amber's body was found four days later. At a Capitol ceremony, Kitzhaber said he was especially pleased to sign the order creating the Amber Alert system on Monday, which is his son Logan's fifth birthday. "I think all of us are all too familiar with the recent high-profile cases involving the abduction of children by predatory and violent individuals," Kitzhaber said. "Sadly, many of those children never returned to their families alive - something hanging over all of us," he said. Major Greg Willeford of the Oregon State Police said about half the states now have Amber Alert systems, and that only 14 such alerts have been issued in recent years. "Hopefully, it will be very seldom used" in Oregon, Willeford said, adding that having such a system in place could actually provide a deterrent to child abductions. Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing