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Bush makes $15 million commitment
to deepen Columbia River channel
President George W. Bush,
campaigning in Portland today, announced support and a $15 million budget
amendment for deepening the Columbia River channel to 43 feet.
“By deepening the channel from 40 to 43 feet, it will
create new export opportunities for Columbia River ports and will help our
farmers and ranchers. It will help our manufacturers remain competitive and it
will protect and restore jobs, really good paying jobs and will help restore the
river’s eco-system,” the president said.
“The project will enhance the vitality of the river, on
the 104 miles between the ocean and Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver,
Washington,.” he declared.
Bush thanked Washington Democratic Sen.
Patty Murray for her support of the
channel deepening. “This project needs bi-partisan support,” the president said.
The project, supported by all major Columbia River ports,
except Astoria, does have bi-partisan support from lawmakers representing
Washington, Oregon and Idaho.
Just this week Murray wrote the president a letter
pressing him to provide the $15 million the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says it
needs to continue the project.
Murray said: “Members of Congress, Washington, Oregon,
and Idaho all support this proposal. But, unfortunately, you have failed to step
forward and support it. For two years running you requested zero dollars for
channel deepening while also cutting overall funding for the Army Corps of
Engineers. Despite your objections, many of us, on a bipartisan basis, have
worked to secure the $15 million the Corps says it needs to move forward. While
your budget last year didn’t provide a dime.”
U.S. Rep. Brian Baird
(D-3rd), among the first to champion the project, said, “We welcome the
president to the team, but it is important to know that the rest of the team has
been on the field and playing hard for a number of years now. We also have a
number of other critical projects in the region, including maintaining our small
harbors and channels and critical flood control projects. Unfortunately, the
president’s budgets have zeroed-out or frozen funds for many of these needs and
our local economy is suffering because of that.”
The project, which would enable new super-sized vessels
to navigate the River as far inland as the Ports of Vancouver and Portland, is
still a half-dozen years and a couple of law suits and scores of millions of
dollars more away from completion. But, with the endorsement of the president, a
redesigned Columbia River channel is expected to become a reality.
Harold Abbe appointed to Columbia
River Gorge Commission
Labor leader Harold Abbe,
Camas, has been appointed to the Columbia River Gorge Commission by Gov.
Gary Locke.
Abbe, active in community affairs throughout the county,
was appointed to a term ending June 12, 2008.
Highway 500 at I-205
closed for the weekend
Highway 500 traffic, in both directions between
Interstate 205 and NE 117th Street-Fourth Plain Road, will be closed from 7 p.m.
this evening until 5 a.m. Monday, Aug, 16
The state Department of Transportation is closing the
highway in order to make connections to a newly completed overpass. The project
is one of the “Nickel” highway improvements funded by a five-cent per gallon
gasoline tax. When completed in 2005, the project will replace a signal
controlled intersection at NE 112th Avenue and Gher Road, with a freeway-type
interchange.
County fair continues through Sunday
A demolition derby at 7:30 p.m. tonight is the major
entertainment for the third from the last day of the 2004 Clark County Fair.
Pro-Arena Trucks and Tuff Trucks entertain at 2 and 7:30
p.m. Saturday, Aug. 14, and Tuff Trucks and Monster Trucks at 2 and 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, the final day of the 136th annual fair.
Adult admission to the fair is $8. Parking is $5. Bus
transportation is free.
1860s baseball free at the
parade grounds Saturday
Billed as “An evening of 1860s vintage baseball,” two
teams will face each other at the parade grounds in Vancouver Barracks at 6 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 14. Attendance is free. Visitors are encouraged to bring blankets
and lawn chairs. No alcohol or barbecues are permitted.
The barehanded ball game is presented annually by the
National Park Service, a partner in the Vancouver National Historic Reserve, and
the Vancouver National Historic Reserve Trust.
Free health screening Saturday
A free health screening for children headed back to
school this fall is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, 14, in the East County
Family Resource Center, 1702 C Street, Washougal.
Sponsored by the Clark County Health Department,
activities include free immunizations for youngsters who have their shot
records, free bike helmets, dental, hearing and vision screenings, $20 sports
physicals, safety ID cards and a sports shoe exchange. For further information,
call 835-7802.
(For the rest of the story click on the headlines
below.)
President Bush announces $15 million toward
deepening Columbia River channel, KATU (Video)
Free WiFi
coming soon to Esther Short Park-- Vancouver Business Journal, Charlie
Devereux
David
Richter's All Dad's Toys sprints on wheels--Vancouver Business Journal,
Charlie Devereux
Kerry rallies thousands in downtown Portland--KGW-TV, AP, Andrew Kramer
Brad Prothero
caters to the fair animals--Columbian, Justin Carinci
Ground broken
for county's $38 million health center--Columbian, Erin Middlewood
Former Blazer
Chris Dudley to hang with the president--Columbian, Andrew Seligman
Pacific Coast
Shredding upping the export market--Columbian, Jonathan Nelson
Costco set
to open August 27--Vancouver Business Journal, Cami Joner
Julia
Child dead at 91--USA TODAY, AP
Category 4 hurricane Charley roars ashore in Florida, USA TODAY, AP
New 192nd Avenue link to link to Highway 14 moving right along--Oregonian,
Allan Brettman
Columbian's best
picks for entertainment
PGA Championship Leaderboard
NPR 5-minute hourly news updates (Audio)
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