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Higgins P.T. Boat 659 going
back home to New Orleans
P.T. Boat 659 at 4th and E Reserve Streets
now on the way home to New Orleans
After an eight-year struggle to restore the historic Higgins
P.T. Boat 659, the P.T. Boat Council of Vancouver has found a permanent home for
the boat in New Orleans, where it was built during World War II, and where it
will be restored.
Following a $1-million restoration,
the 78-foot long craft will be displayed in the new four-block National D-Day
Museum in downtown New Orleans, according to
Judith Davis, president of the P.T. Boat Council. She says the boat will
be the only one of its kind to be showcased in a world-class museum.
“We’re all pleased that a permanent
home has been found, but saddened that we weren’t able to complete the job
locally,” Davis says.
The 50-ton P.T. 659 was donated to the
Columbia Barracks Military Historical Society in 1996 by Save the P.T. Boat,
Inc., Portland, after which the newly formed P.T. Boat Council of Vancouver was
formed. Save The P.T. Boat currently is in the process of restoring another P.T.
Boat. Only three other P.T. Boats are known to have been restored.
The fast, wooden-hulled boats became
famous more for their crew and passengers than their exploits. Army Gen. Douglas
MacArthur left the Philippines on orders of President Roosevelt when the islands
were taken over by the Japanese in World War II; President John Kennedy
commanded P.T. 109, which was sunk by the Japanese Navy; and a P.T. Boat was a
prop in a television series, McHale’s Navy.
The boat, now located at the corner of
4th and E Reserve Streets. A “bon voyage” event is planned before the boat is
taken by ship through the Panama Canal to New Orleans, Davis says.
Steve Wrightson named to ESD 112 board
Steve
Wrightson, chief of Fire District 3 for the past 15 years, has been
appointed to the board of Educational Service District 112,
Marilyn Koenninger,
chair of the board, announced today.
Wrightson succeeds
Dean Sutherland, who has moved away from
the Hockinson district in which Wrightson lives.
Wrightson is in his 30th year in fire
service. He earned a bachelor's degree from San Diego State University, a fire
science degree from Portland Community College, graduated from the Executive
Fire Officer Program of the National Fire Academy, and recently earned a masters
degree in business administration from City University.
EDS 112 serves 100,000 students in 30
school districts and 26 private schools in southern Washington. The organization
has 600 employees.
Evergreen Public Schools awarded
$1.35 million federal grant
Evergreen Public Schools has been
selected to receive a $1.35 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of
Education to implement small learning communities at its three comprehensive
high schools.
“The grant funding will allow
Evergreen Public Schools to finish implementing changes at the high schools that
are based on research and will ensure that all students achieve at high levels
before graduation,” according to Rick Melching,
Evergreen Public Schools Superintendent. He adds, “Research on effective high
schools, where fewer students drop out and more students successfully complete
course-work and graduate on time, support the concept of smaller learning
communities.”
The three high schools are Evergreen,
Heritage and Mountain View High Schools. Each already has a plan in place for
implementing smaller learning communities.
“The awarding of this grant by the
federal government recognizes and affirms that Evergreen Public Schools is on
the right track and is providing excellent direction with its high schools,”
said Melching.
People
Dee
Skilling, a Vancouver school custodian, yesterday was presented a
lifesaving award by Gov. Gary Locke at
the state’s 53rd annual Industrial Safety and Health Conference in Spokane.
Fifty-two lifesaving and humanitarian awards were presented at the conference.
According to the citation accompanying the award: “When a school district
secretary choked during early morning hours, she was able to get to the only
other person in the school before she blacked out. Dee Skilling, the school
custodian, used what he'd learned in first aid to clear a blockage.”
News briefs
Mystery author
J. A. Jance is the featured speaker at
the 2004 Authors & Illustrators Dinner at 6 p.m. today in The Hoop, 7250 NE 41st
Street. The dinner and a silent auction are sponsored by the Fort Vancouver
Regional Library Foundation. g
The Southwest Washington Chapter of the American Red Cross offers two blood
drawings Friday, Oct. 1, the first from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Blood Donor
Center, 6300 NE St. James Boulevard, and the second from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the
Masonic Lodge, 2500 NE 78th Street. g
Gubernatorial candidates, Democrat Christine
Gregoire and Republican Dino Rossi,
are together for the only time this election year in a forum sponsored by the
Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce at 11:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 1, in the Red
Lion Hotel at the Quay. Pre-registration tickets are $30. Tickets at the door
are $35. For further information, call 694-2588.
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MIRIAM GREEN 
"Working to help you!"
