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Vancouver Lake Watershed
Partnership beginning to beef up
Prodded by concerns that Vancouver Lake
could simply dry up in the foreseeable future, the Port of
Vancouver in partnership with Public Works Departments of
Vancouver and Clark County, the Vancouver-Clark Parks and
Recreation Department, and the Fruit Valley Neighborhood
Association formed the Vancouver Lake Watershed Partnership.
Nine members from the public are being
sought to join representatives of the public agencies to provide
guidance for the new organization.
The new partnership will develop a community
vision for the future of the lake and is expected to develop
strategies to achieve that vision.
Vancouver Lake, although only a few feet
deep, is the largest lake in the southern Washington-Portland
metropolitan area.
With two major regional parks on its western
shore and at Frenchman’s Bar on the adjoining Columbia River,
the lake supports aquatic activities including boating, sailing,
wind surfing, fishing and swimming (when the algae is not too
thick), hiking and bird watching.
Nominally fed by Burnt Bridge Creek, the
lake is connected to the Columbia River by a flushing channel on
the west and Lake River on the north.
Applications for membership on the Vancouver
Lake Watershed Partnership must be completed by Friday, Aug. 20.
For further information, call
Maureen Chan-Hefflin ,693-3611,
or Loretta Callahan,
759-4479.
County employment rate
stays the
same but 1,900 more people at work
Although Clark County’s non-adjusted
employment rate remained the same in June as it was in May, 6.9
percent, the county added 1,900 new jobs bringing the total of
employed persons in the county to 174,800, according to the
state Department of Employment Security.
The statewide non-adjusted rate of
unemployment for June was 6.1 percent, the same as it was in
May. A year ago the statewide employment rate was 7.6 percent
and Clark County’s rate was 10.3 percent.
The national rate of unemployment in June
was 5.6 percent.
“The state economy has leveled off,
following the national trend,” according to
Sylvia Mundy, state
Employment Security commissioner. “Both the total labor force
and employment grew, but so did the number of unemployed.”
Port to acquire Elmer
Rufener farm,
adding 265 acres to its holdings
Port of Vancouver commissioners today
unanimously agreed to add the 265-acre Elmer Rufener farm to the
port’s holdings. The cost of the farm was $5.9 million.
The farm is just north of the Lower River
Road which borders the port on the north. About 58 acres are
already zoned for light industry. The rest is zoned for
agriculture, according to Port executive director
Larry Paulson.
According to port commission chair
Arch Miller, the
additional property contiguous to the port’s current operating
facilities will allow us to expand and enhance out competitive
edge in the global marketplace.”
Discount tickets for
the
Clark County Fair on sale
Discount admission tickets and carnival ride
coupon books for the Clark Count Fair on sale through Thursday,
Aug. 5, at most credit unions, and First Independent and
Riverview Community Banks. Tickets are also available through
TicketMaster outlets and the fair website,
www.clarkcofair.com.
The fair is August 6-15.
Advance admission tickets are 25 percent off
gate admission process. Carnival ride coupon books offer up to a
50 percent discount off onsite ticket prices. Reserved seating
for some fair events can also be bought now.
News briefs
The C-TRAN board of directors meets at 5:15
p.m. today in the C-TRAN administrative building, 2425 NE 65th
Avenue. nnn The
board of Clark County commissioners meets in informal session at
2 p.m. Wednesday, July 14.
People
John Fratt,
former executive director of the Port of Kalama, most recently
director of governmental relations for the Port of Vancouver, is
retiring August 31. Fratt, who has had a long career in
governmental service and who has been active politically,
expects to be offering consulting in governmental affairs, mixed
in with some travel. .
Top al-Qaeda figure surrenders under Saudi amnesty--USA TODAY,
AP
JetBlue jumps on board for fall air fare wars, discounts as much
as 50 percent--USA TODAY, Reuters
Evergreen School Board plans to sell three parcels, including
college site--Columbian, Gregg Sherrard Blesch
Vancouver group plans to protest airport meeting--Oregonian,
Bill Stewart
Complaints go up amid new city codes--Columbian, Jeffrey Mize
Sign code compliance mixed, official says--Oregonian, Allan
Brettman
Luck was on Yacolt man's side--Columbian, Gregg Sherrard
Blesch
Skybridges going up at Legacy Salmon Creek--Columbian
John Hagensen plans to run for commissioner--Columbian, Erin
Middlewood
Fire
ravages northwest Portland apartment complex under
construction--KATU
Astoria
column shines at night for the first time in 78 years--KATU
Food pyramid might disappear as a guide--USA TODAY, AP
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