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--> --> National Guard adds 18 soldiers to airport patrols SALEM (AP) - The Oregon National Guard said Friday it will add 18 soldiers to patrols that are helping guard Oregon's airports following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. President Bush on Friday ordered a 25 percent holiday-season increase in the number of National Guard troops at the nation's airports. Fifty-nine Guard members have patrolled the state's seven airports since Sept. 11, said Kay Fristad, Guard spokeswoman. The additional troops will be drawn from a 20-member auxiliary group that has undergone airport security training, she said. The first members could be at some larger airports Saturday, and all 18 members will be in place by Monday, Fristad said. Oregon National Guard commander Maj. Gen. Alexander Burgin said 10 to 12 members would likely be assigned to Portland's airport, with the remaining ones scattered at the state's six other airports. "They're doing an analysis of need at airports. Obviously, they have a greater need at Portland (International Airport) because they have more gates than some of the small airports," said Fristad. Guard duties will include monitoring security checkpoints and baggage screening gates, patrolling terminal ramps and garages, and checking cars and curbside activity, she said. Meanwhile, Portland airport officials are reconsidering plans to reopen one-third of the spaces in the airport's short-term parking garage. The 1,100 spots were closed by order of the Federal Aviation Administration on Sept. 11 because of concerns a car bomb would blow out the nearby airport terminals. Officials at the Port of Portland, which owns the garage, said last week they might reopen the spaces, but search all vehicles that used them. Instead, the Port may keep the spaces cordoned off, while raising the daily price for short-term parking, airport director Steve Schreiber said Friday. That might persuade more people who plan to park overnight to use the cheaper longer-term parking lots, freeing up garage space for short-term parkers. "It looks unlikely that we'll be able to open those spaces," he said. 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