Port commissioners meeting at 5 p.m.
to consider buying old Alcoa facilities

Port of Vancouver commissioners, following a tour of the old Alcoa smelting facilities on the Lower River Road, will meet at 5 p.m. today in port offices, 303 Lower River Road, to consider buying two parcels of over 400 acres that in 1939 became the site of one of the first aluminum smelters to tap into what then was surplus Bonneville Administration hydroelectric power as the U.S. was gearing up for potential wartime metal production.

The Columbia River front property is west of Port of Vancouver facilities. Being sold as two separate parcels, for a total $48.25 million, the purchase by the port would be financed by an industrial bond port commissioners could create. The bond would be repaid by a six-year property tax levy, which port officials say would cost the owner of a $250,000 home an additional $112 annually in taxes. The levy would raise $78 million.

Commissioners are expected to take action both on the purchase and the financing package today.

“This property is one of the last waterfront industrial sites of its size available on the West Coast,” says Larry Paulson, port executive director. “It will allow the port to capitalize on exploding growth in international trade to generate economic value and nearly 5,000 new jobs for our community.”

Jesse Dunn named director
of Arc of Clark County

Jesse L. Dunn has been appointed executive director of Arc of Clark County.

Dunn has more than 15 years of management experience in the business field and for the past seven years he has worked as an executive director for the American Society, Easter Seals and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society in New Mexico and Tennessee.

Arc of Clark County, dedicated to improving the quality of life for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families, was founded in 1936.

Family Medicine moving
to west side Memorial campus

Family Medicine of Southwest Washington is moving from Southwest Washington Medical Center’s Mill Plain Boulevard campus to the center’s west side Memorial Campus at 100 E 33rd Street, effective Tuesday, Feb. 13.

Family Medicine is the full-service family practice and training program for family practice residents. Board-certified physicians at Southwest Washington Medical Center teach and supervise resident physicians during a three-year course of study.

Sponsored by Southwest Washington Medical Center, Family Medicine is  affiliated with the Family Practice Residency Network at the University of Washington Medical School. Family Practice is a critical provider of primary care services in the community, offering comprehensive care for people of all ages and income levels.

People

Three congressional pages sponsored by U.S. Rep. Brian Baird (D-3rd) have been named to the U.S. Congressional Page program. They are the following: Abbey Binshaieg, Mountain View High School class treasurer and football player; Kelsey Griffee, Heritage High School student body vice president, and member of the school’s Youth and Government Club; and Corey Shears, Hockinson High School student body president and football quarterback. The pages, who will perform such duties as distributing legislative materials and correspondence and taking messages to their congressman while he is on the House floor, will serve through June 8.

Calendar

The Vancouver City Council meets in a workshop session at 4 p.m. today. n The Vancouver City Council, meets in regular session at 7 p.m. this evening. n Clark County commissioners meet in regular session at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 6. n The Southwest Washington Regional Transportation Council meets at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 6, in the training room in the Public Service Center. On the agenda is a discussion of the proposed alternatives to be included in a draft Environmental Impact Statement being prepared for the Columbia River Crossing Task Force’s proposed I-5 Interstate Bridge replacement.                        

Monday, Feb. 5 headlines

Park service historian Greg Shine digs for details on Vancouver slave freed in 1951--Columbian, Dean Baker

CREDC reports best year in a decade for industrial development--Columbian, Courtney Sherwood

Camas and Washougal are looking at forming a park district--Columbian, Dean Baker

Portland International Airport talking $335 million in expansion, improvements--Columbian, Jonathan Nelson

Jan Harte passionate about her work helping businesses--Columbian, Julia Anderson

Columbian newspaper OffBeat news suggests Russians landed at Pearson in 1929

Builders try to demolish homeowner 'rights' bill--Seattle P-I, Chris McGann

Bush reveals $2.9 trillion budget plan--USA TODAY, Richard Wolf and David Jackson

Car bombs kill dozens in Baghdad--New York Times, Damien Cave and Richard A. Oppel Jr.