Richard Curtis named to
state Gambling Commission

La Center legislator Rep. Richard Curtis (R-18th) has been appointed to the Washington State Gambling Commission. Curtis is one of four legislators appointed to the commission by the governor. Along with five citizen members, the four legislators oversee the state’s gambling policy.

“The 18th District has debated many issues related to gambling, of which I have been a part over the last several years,” Curtis said today. “Being at the table and discussing the impacts, positive and negative, gambling has on our communities is something I look forward to.”

The legislature created the Gambling Commission in 1973 after a series of gambling-related scandals. Once appointed, the legislators are considered ex officio members of the commission and are tasked solely with approving or amending tribal gaming compacts.

Curtis, a former La Center councilman, is the ranking Republican on the House Local Government Committee and also serves on the House Health Care and Wellness Committee and the House Transportation Committee.

Jack Burkman hires on at state
Department of Transportation

Former Vancouver city councilman Jack Burkman has been appointed Southwest Region planning manager for the state Department of Transportation.

Burkman has over 25 years’ experience with Hewlett Packard, first as an engineer, and later, until his retirement, as a manager and executive.

Burkman has served on the C-TRAN board of directors, the Clark County Planning Commission and the Vancouver Planning Oversight Committee. Burkman is a member of the board of trustees of the Fort Vancouver Regional Library District. He was an unsuccessful Democratic candidate for state representative in the 17th District.

WSU Vancouver computer project turns
into GeoMonkey business venture

Want to see a satellite photo of where you live? Go to www.Geomonkey.com. You’ll see the house and yard and cars in the driveway. Want to connect that location with another, even several others? Geomonkey can do that for you too.

With Geomonkey you customize maps, adding driving directions, videos, photos and documents, and publish it all on the Internet if you want to. Geomonkey is a free computer program developed at Washington State University Vancouver.

The program was developed by Orest Pilskains, assistant professor in WSU Vancouver’s school of engineering and computer science, and ten students.

Using, for the first time in Vancouver, Cougar Gap Funding, the group invented and programmed the new application and formed the new limited liability corporation. Cougar Gap Funding is a Washington State University Research Foundation mechanism used to move research innovations to commercialization.

“This project is a great example of a university development spawning local economic development,” said WSU Vancouver chancellor Hal Dengerink. “The student involvement helped bring a current, customer-oriented relevance to the technology.”

Partners in the company are Pilskains, WSU Research Foundation and the students, Jason Donowitz, Fred Haslam, Keith Hacker, Kevin Karpenske, Kurtis McCoy, Adam McDonald, Stephen Mesa, Aaron Mills, Jacob Moore and Susan Seley.

Baird busy in Vancouver Thursday

Camas High School student Hadley Alley will be presented the Congressional Bronze Medal for Public Service and Personal Development by U.S. Rep. Brian Baird at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 25, in the Fort Vancouver High School Auditorium, 5700 NE 18th Street. Hadley is being honored for 100 hours of public service and 50 hours of personal development.

The presentation immediately precedes a town hall meeting hosted by Baird in the high school auditorium.

Earlier Thursday, at 1 p.m., Baird will address a Concord Coalition Budget Meeting in E. B. Hamilton Hall, 605 Barnes Street, in Vancouver Barracks.

The Concord Coalition is a national nonpartisan organization that holds discussions on the need for fiscal responsibility.

The public is invited to each of Baird’s appearances.

Calendar

Port of Ridgefield commissioners meet in regular session at 6 p.m. this evening in port offices at 111 W Division Street. n Heritage High School associate principal Dave Morris will receive the Val Joshua Racial Justice Award in YWCA Clark County ceremonies that begin at 6 p.m. this evening in the YWCA Helen Schoen Building, 3609 Main Street. For further information, call 906-9129. n Annual three-day Clark College northwest high school jazz competition begins at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 25, in the college’s Gaiser Hall, and continues through final competition at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27. Competition begins at 8 a.m. Friday and 7:40 a.m. Saturday. Adult admission is $5 each day. For further information, call 992-2188 or 992-2662. n The Columbia River Crossing Task Force is holding an open house to present proposed ways of replacing the Interstate 5 Columbia River bridges at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 25, in the Oregon Association of Minority Entrepreneurs, 4134 N Vancouver Avenue, Portland. n S. Renee Mitchell, award-winning Oregonian newspaper columnist, is the speaker for the Black Entrepreneurs of Clark County’s Sweat Equity series at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 25, in Clark Public Utilities Electric Center, 1200 Fort Vancouver Way. For further information, call 604-8583. n The Clark County Planning Commission will meet in a work session to discuss alternatives land use map aspects of the county growth management plan undergoing revision at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 25, in the Public Service Center.

Wednesday, Jan. 23, headlines

Bananas for maps--GeoMonkey business--Columbian, Courtney Sherwood

State economy booming--Columbian, Courtney Sherwood

Daily Business Roundup--Columbian

Retired Coast Guard cutter may get new life on Vancouver shore--Columbian, Tom Koenninger

Comments being sought on Camp Bonneville cleanup--Oregonian, Allan Brettman

University of Washington  hopes to build hundreds of condos  for campus--Seattle Times, Nick Perry

Three more U.S. troops die in Iraq--USA TODAY, AP

Senate Foreign Relations Committee passes non-binding resolution opposing Bush troop surge--Washington Post, Bill Brubaker, Debbi Wilgoren and Howard Schneider

Kerry won't run for president--Washington Post, William Branigin