Kassab and Brissler earn
Battle Ground honor

Elie Kassab has been named Battle Ground's Business Person of the Year by the Battle Ground Chamber of Commerce. Battle Ground's Citizen of the Year award was presented to Beverly Brissler, who was runner-up for the Business Person of the Year award this year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

           Elie Kassab and Beverly Brissler

Kassab, owner of Vancouver-based Prestige Development, developed the Gardner Center in the central Clark County city. The new development, since acquired by a group of investors, is the site of Kassab's Battle Ground Cinema and Lloyd's Grill. The center is decorated with seven major bronze sculptures by nationally known Battle Ground artist Jim Demetro.

The new center employs 119 persons. The multi-screen cinema sold over 200,000 tickets in 2006. Kassab's Prestige Development also designed and erected the new Battle Ground Monument at Highway 503 and NE 199th Street.

Brissler, who is with Century 21 American Properties, also earned a special achievement award in 2005. She was cited for her work in both the citizen and the business categories for 2006.Brissler has served on the board of directors of the Battle Ground Chamber of Commerce for seven years, during which she served as secretary of the executive committee for three years and has chaired and co-chaired the two annual principal fundraisers, Casino Night and Harvest Days. She has served on the Board of Directors for Rock Solid Community Teen Center for four years and is a recipient of their Citizen of the Year in 2005.Brissler has also been a Member of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs-Battle Ground.

Business Person of the Year nominees, in addition to Kassab and Brissler, were the following: Tom Opdahl, Opdahl Chiropractic, Dan Mueller, Old Town Battle Ground Association, Annette Hunt, Mallard Landing, and Tani Zarelli, Mary Kay Cosmetics. Other Citizen of the Year finalists were, Tracie Gobert, Dorothy Person, John Idsinga, Pat LaCroix, and John and Jane Higgins.

Running start students attend
Clark College tuition free

Clark College tuition is paid for by local school districts for eligible high school students participating in the Clark College running start program, according to Clark College running start manager Linda Calvert.

This fact and others will be explained during an information session on the local running start program at 6:30 p.m. this evening in the Clark College gymnasium in the O’Connell Sports Center on the Fort Vancouver college campus.

High school sophomores and juniors and their parents are invited to learn how to qualify for the program that enables high school students to attend Clark College while still enrolled in high school. Many complete their high school graduation requirements and also receive associate degrees from the community college simultaneously, Calvert says.

This year, some 900 local high school students are enrolled in Clark’s running start program. The next session begins this fall. For further information, call 992-2842.

CREDC luncheon to focus on China

Former Columbia River Economic Development Council chairman Bill Connelly will share his perspectives on the Chinese economy at the 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 22, quarterly CREDC economic forecast luncheon in the Hilton Vancouver Washington.

Connelly, who is with Vancouver-based Eric Fuller and Associates, recently returned from a trade mission of real estate and investment professionals to five cities in China.

Reservations are required for the event, sponsored by the Port of Camas-Washougal. The cost is $30 per person, $275 for a table of ten. To register, go online at www.credc.org, or call Debbie Fortin, 576-3171.

News brief

Deadline for making reservations for the Friday, Feb. 16, State of the County address is Wednesday, Feb. 7. The program in the Exhibition Hall at the county fairgrounds, 17402 Delfel Road, begins at 3 p.m. with refreshments. Awards will be presented at 3:45 p.m. Chairman of the Board of Clark County Commissioners Steve Stuart will share his perspectives of the past year and discuss challenges that lie ahead. Admission is $15 per person. To make reservations, call Tina Redline, 397-2232. n La Center Mayor Jim Irish delivers the State of the City address at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 21, in the La Center Community Center, 1000 E 4th Street. An open house with light refreshments will be served at 6 p.m.

Calendar

The Southwest Washington Regional Transportation Council meets at 4 p.m. today 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 Intestate Bridge replacement. n The Port of Portland will present plans for Portland International Airports north runway expansion and changes in the airport screening system during an open house that begins at 6 p.m. this evening in Clark Public Utilities’ community room, 1200 Fort Vancouver Way. n Clark County commissioners meet in an informal session at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7, in conference room B in the Public Service Center. n Port of Vancouver commissioners are holding a special meeting at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7, in port offices, 3103 Lower River Road, to discuss future uses of port waterfront property due west of the Interstate Bridge. The property on the former Terminal 1 wharf is under a long-term lease to the Red Lion Hotel at the Quay.   

Tuesday, Feb. 6 headlines

Bush budget would siphon millions from Bonneville Power Administration--Seattle P-I, Charles Pope

Port of Vancouver commissioners approve $48.25 acquisition of 400-acre former Alcoa waterfront site; OK tax hike for $78 million--Columbian, Jonathan Nelson

Port to seek tax boost for land deal--Oregonian, Allan Brettman

WSU Vancouver research grants bring university nearly $900,000--Columbian, Erik Robinson

Amanda Mayoral to tell her story of getting ahead through Clark College Running Start program-Columbian, Howard Buck