VAL OGDEN TO KEYNOTE LEADERSHIP CLARK COUNTY GRADUATION

Vancouver’s First Citizen for 2006, former State Representative Val Ogden, will be the keynote speaker as Leadership Clark County (LCC) honors its 13th class of graduates in a 6 p.m. ceremony, Thursday, June 8, at the Water Resources Education Center. LCC is a comprehensive, non-profit personal development program for emerging leaders in the community.

This year, 28 participants will graduate after completing the 10-month course of study, putting the total number of program graduates at more than 360. The course includes lectures and instruction by Clark County business leaders, legislators, community organization officials includes site tours around the county, as well as case studies, and concludes with group projects designed to address community needs.

Graduation speakers from the Class of 2006 are Paul Speer, Hewlett-Packard; Jennifer Kampsula, Kell, Alterman, Runstein; and Maija Mercer, The Management Group.

Additional graduates include Gina Bacon, Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce; Jeanne Bennett, ESD 112; Barbara Brace, First Independent Bank; Kyle Brown, formerly with the J.D. White Company; Louise Brown, CH2M Hill; Karen Crosland, Clark College Foundation; Amy Davis, West Coast Bank; Stacy James Frost, Hopper,Dennis,Jellison; Mick Hoffman, Alki Middle School; Carol Hsu, Hewlett-Packard; Patrice Jacob, retired; Charlie Kleier, Norris, Beggs & Simpson; Todd Krout, Port of Vancouver; Suzanne Levis, City of La Center; Brian Loos, Clark County Public Works; Joy Overstreet, retired; David Qualman, Barco Medical Imaging Systems; Jim Quintana, C-TRAN; Jeff Sarvis, City of La Center; Scott Shattuck, Kaiser Permanente; Karmel Shields, Eastern Washington University-Vancouver; Angela Simmons, IQ Credit Union; Carren Senn Walker, Johnson Bixby & Associates; Jeff and Lena Wittler, Clark Public Utilities.

A 7 p.m. reception will follow the graduation ceremony. The Water Resources Education Center is located at 4600 S.E. Columbia Way in Vancouver. There is no charge for the invitation-only event and reception, which is sponsored by the New Phoenix Casino, La Center.

Recruitment for the LCC Class of 2006-2007 is nearing completion, and is expected to conclude prior to the June 8 graduation. Traditionally, enrollment includes participants from both public and private institutions, large and small, including businesses, educational institutions, government and non-profit organizations. Those interested may still obtain both LCC’s program information and application at www.leadershipclarkcounty.com

Local company to benefit from job skills grant awarded Clark College

More than 30 workers in southwest Washington will receive career- and income-enhancing training through a state Job Skills Program (JSP) Grant awarded to Clark College. The grant, funded by the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC), will provide $50,000 for preparing Attbar, Inc. employees for industry certification, as well as specialized training for supervisors and managers.

The training will take place at Attbar Inc.’s headquarters in Ridgefield, Wash., and is scheduled to begin this fall. Attbar, Inc., founded in 1957, specializes in the fabrication and assembly of fiberglass products. The company supplies parts to the transportation, heavy duty truck, wastewater treatment, marine and sporting goods industries, as well as Hum Vee components to the U.S. military. The training will consist of designing, documenting and implementing the International Standards Organization (ISO 9001) based Quality Management System through a year-long, phased approach.

“This support from the State Board enables the College to meet the need of local industry,” says Dr. R. Wayne Branch, president of Clark College.  “We hope to continue strengthening our contract training efforts, providing business and industry with the skilled workers they need to be successful.”

Harney Park project to have second public hearing

Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation will host a second public meeting about a new Harney Heights neighborhood park development project on Thursday, June 8. The new park is located between E. 18th and 17th streets near Date Street. The public meeting will be from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School Media Center, 4801 Idaho Street in Vancouver.

Project staff will present several preliminary park design options for neighborhood input at the public meeting.  The development of these options was based, in part, on feedback received from neighbors at the first public meeting on May 9.

Development of the master plan and preparation of the construction documents for this project are being paid for through a federal Community Development Block Grant obtained by the Harney Heights Neighborhood Association. The neighborhood association is currently applying for another grant that would pay for construction.

For more information, contact Terry Snyder, Project Manager, at (360-619-1117)or by e-mail at terry.snyder@ci.vancouver.wa.us.

Esther Short Park concert lineup just one month
and a click away

Exactly one month from today, Esther Short Park will be filled with the sounds of summer concerts. The season opener is “5 Guys Named Moe” on Wed., July 5 at noon.

Noon Concerts are on Wednesdays from noon to 1 pm, starting July 5. The Riverview Six to Sunset Concerts are Thursdays from 6 to 8 pm, starting July 6. In addition to live music, movies will also be shown this summer, both at Esther Short Park and the Parade Ground at the Historic Reserve.

Go to http://www.cityofvancouver.us/concerts for the full lineup.

News Brief

The Clark County Board of Commissioners is seeking applicants to fill a vacancy on the Clark County Historic Preservation Commission. The new appointment will continue through July 1, 2008, to complete an unexpired term. Those interested in being considered for an appointment to the Historic Preservation Commission should submit a letter of interest and resume to Jennifer Clark, Clark County Board of Commissioners, P.O. Box 5000, Vancouver, Washington 98666-5000, e-mail – jennifer.clark@clark.wa.gov no later than Wednesday, June 21, 2006.

Calendar

The City of Vancouver will host a community open house to share information on the Main Street Improvement Project, 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 6, in the Vancouver Marketplace, 210 W. Evergreen Blvd. n State Rep. Deb Wallace (D-17th) presents a forum on Partnerships in Education at 6 p.m. this evening in the Hearthwood Elementary School, 801 NE Hearthwood Boulevard. n The Clark Public Utilities Board of Commissioners will hold a special meeting on Tues., June 6 at the Utility’s Electric Center, 1200 Fort Vancouver Way, at 9 a.m.  n Due to a lack of action items, the June 7, 2006 regular meeting of the City/County Telecommunications Commission is cancelled. There is no regular meeting in July. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Wed., Aug. 16 at 7 p.m.

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

Monday on the air         Vancouver City Council Workshop (live)—4 p.m. CVTV    Vancouver City Council (live)—7 p.m. CVTV    Kansas City at Seattle Mariners (live) —7 p.m. FSN, KFXX    Stigma and Mental Health (5/31)—10:30 p.m. CVTV

Town Tabloids and the weather Brett Oppegaard catching up. n Tauf Charneski enjoying Southern hospitality. n Darby Bacon portraitizing. n Brian Loos testing stump speech; constituents responding with applause for the perfect platform. n Todd Krout preparing to take Italian lessons to the next level. n Tuesday, mostly cloudy, sunbreaks, 68. Wednesday, a shower or two, 67. Thursday, partly sunny, warmer, 72.

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