TUESDAY, April 12, 2005

Unemployment rate falls in county,
state rate is lowest in four years

Clark County’s seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate dropped to 6.7 percent for March, an over one-half percent decline from February and better by over two and a half points over the 9.1 unadjusted unemployment rate here in March 2004.

According to state Employment Security commissioner Karen Lee, “March marked the first time since March 1998 that Washington’s unemployment rate was as low as the national average.”

The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped to 5.2 percent from 5.5 percent in February. The unadjusted rate for the state was 5.7 percent, leaving Clark County’s rate a full percentage point higher.

State data show that Clark County added 800 jobs during the month, bringing the total employed here to 183,700.

Clark College hosts state
Science Olympiad Saturday

Hundreds of students from 48 Washington middle and high schools will converge in the O’Connell Sports Center at Clark College Saturday, April 16, for the first state Science Olympiad ever held in southern Washington.

Opening ceremonies are at 8:30 a.m. The awards ceremonies are at 4 p.m. There is no charge for visitors. However, spectators will not be able to see all exhibits. Engineering and robotics projects will be in public view.

The top two high school and top two middle school teams will compete nationally at the University of Illinois in May. More than 2 million students are involved nationally.

Local sponsors are the Vancouver Rotary Foundation and IQ Credit Union.

Museum has space for your
Mount St. Helens memorabilia

The Clark County Historical Museum is opening a 25th anniversary exhibit of the Mount St. Helens exhibition Wednesday, May 18, and is seeking local memorabilia of the event.

According to museum director Susan Tissot, the museum is looking for all kinds of memorabilia, including T-shirts, games, cards, jewelry and art.  The material used in the display will be returned after the exhibit closes, Tissot says.

For further information, call Tissot at 993-5679.

People

Named Clark College athletes-of-the-month are track and field competitors Maria Bribiesca and Charles Velasquez. The monthly awards are sponsored by Les Schwab and Burgerville USA.

News briefs

The C-TRAN board meets at 5:15 p.m. today in C-TRAN administration building, 2425 NE 65th Avenue. g Evergreen Public Schools school board interviews Christine M. Johns, Towson, Md., one of four candidates for superintendent of schools, at 5:30 p.m. today in the Burton Elementary School, 12401 NE 28th Street. Interviews with the other three candidates follow at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 13, in the Cascade Middle School, 13900 NE 18th Street. g The YWCA of Clark County opens its 2005 training cycle this evening with a volunteer orientation session at 6 p.m. in YWCA offices, 3609 Main Street. Session is free, and no reservations are required. Call 696-0167 for further information. g The new Clark College Student Union in Gaiser Hall opens with a student fair at 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 12. A ceremonial ribbon will be severed at 11:30 a.m. Music and entertainment follows at noon. An artists presentation is at 2 p.m. in the Archer Gallery, followed by rededication of the Archer Gallery Donor Wall at 3:30 p.m. Outstanding alumni for 2005 will be presented during a dedication of the Outstanding Alumni Wall. Unveiling of the building dedication plaque is at 5 p.m. g Clark County commissioners meet in an informal session at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 13, in conference room B in the Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin Street.
 

Headlines at home and from around the world:
(Click on the headlines below for the rest of the story)

Three accused of terrorist plot against USA's top financial institutions--USA TODAY, Toni Locy

Council hears Vancouver transportation officials say eastside traffic is improving--Columbian, Jeffrey Mize

County health committee tags methamphetamine as top priority--Columbian, Tom Vogt

State to spend $12 million to iron out bumpity bumb I-205--Oregonian, Bill Stewart

Battle Ground to find out whether it has a hazardous waste problem at public works site--Oregonian, Wendy Owen

Village Idiot awards made--Seattle Times, AP

Billionaires live longer--MSN, Forbes

Mount St. Helens VolcanoCam [updates every five minutes]--USDA Forest Service, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument

Tuesday on the air

Vancouver Police Department Recognition Ceremony—4 p.m. CVTV
City Minutes—5 p.m. CVTV
Clark County Focus—5:30 p.m. CVTV
Portland Blazers at San Antonio (live)—5:30 p.m. KGW-TV, KXL, KXMG
Clark County Close Up—6 p.m. CVTV
Vancouver Planning Commission (live)—7 p.m. CVTV
 

Town tabloids and the weather 

Nancy Miller telling Arch, “Садиться” g Greg Flakus stirring up international flavor. g Troy Thomas pulling the plug. g Mike Shepherd making deals. g Ellen Hartzell has a better idea. g Tuesday, windy and rainy, 51. Wednesday, April showers return, 50. Thursday, showers followed by sunbreaks, 54. . .