Columbia Springs Environmental Education Center
proposal for education center gets local support

Clark Public Utilities’ commissioners Tuesday unanimously supported by resolution a proposal by the Columbia Springs Environmental Education Center to become a major southern Washington environmental education and science center.

Earlier Clark County commissioners also endorsed the plan that calls for a $13 million expenditure from the state alternative education fund to create the center, at the site on three and a half acres at the historic 70-year-old state fish hatchery at 12208 SE Evergreen Highway.

State Rep. Jim Moeller (D-49th) has prepared a budget request for state allocation that would initially pay for a “net-zero energy” building complex that would house classrooms, conference rooms, a laboratory and a library. Most of the rest of the Clark County delegation is expected to be onboard; in particular State Sen. Don Benton (R-17th) says he is putting his full support behind state funding for the center.

“This project is visionary. It will create a passion in students for careers in emerging sciences,” Benton said, adding that the design for the center encourages interaction among K-12 and college students and professional scientists.

According to Benton, the new facility would be a living classroom with sod roofs, wet/moss walls, solar panels, and micro-hydroelectric generation. The facility is also designed in such a way that no heating or cooling duct work is needed.

Port rail by-pass to begin this year

A two-year, $56 million West Vancouver Freight Access project that will put rail traffic entering the Port of Vancouver beneath the north-south Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad mainline will begin this fall, reports Port of Vancouver executive director Larry Paulson.

The rail underpass will eliminate the delays and congestion created by port rail traffic crossing the increasingly busy north-south rail corridor.

According to Paulson, 70 percent of the port’s cargo is shipped by rail, and that is predicted to increase to 80 percent in the next 20 years.

Paulson says the port project also benefits rail freight from throughout the state’s western region by decreasing congestion on the only river-grade rail line traveling through the Columbia River Gorge to the east.

When completed in 2009, the West Vancouver Freight Access project will extend rail to marine and industrial developments in Columbia Gateway.

David Evans opening Vancouver office

The Portland-based engineering firm David Evans and Associates, Inc., is opening a satellite office next month in the Bank of America Financial Center, 805 Broadway.

Initially the office will have seven full-time employees but has space for a total of 13, says Neal Christensen, who will be manager of the Vancouver office.

Neal Christensen to head up
Vancouver office for David
Evans and Associates

David Evans and Associates, founded in Portland in 1976, has grown to a firm of over 1,000 employees in 20 offices in seven states.

David Evans is the lead engineering firm for the team preparing an Environmental Impact Statement for evaluation of Columbia River Crossing Project alternatives. The company has also worked on a number of design projects in Clark County, including the Mill Plain Boulevard extension, the 192nd Avenue extension and the NE 137th Avenue, 49th Street roundabout, which will be in construction later this year.

According to Christensen, several David Evans employees already live in Vancouver. The company is employee-owned.

Free flu shots

Free flu shots, until 1,200 surplus doses run out, are being offered by Clark County Public Health to anyone over the age of seven years, according to spokesperson Marilyn Westlake. Westlake said the flu vaccines cannot be stored for future use. The flu season can peak in February or even as late as March, Westlake says.

The free flu shots are available between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. week days in the county Public Health Center, 1601 E Fourth Plain Boulevard.

Free shots are also available between 1 and 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 18, in Fire District 11, 505 SW 1st Street, Battle Ground; 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 20, in the Camas Fire Station, 4321 NW Parker Road; 6 and 8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 27, in Fire District 12, 414 E Cedar Avenue, La Center; 5:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 28, in Fire District 6, 8800 NE Hazel Dell Avenue; and 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 6, in Vancouver Fire Station, 7110 NE 63rd Street.

Flu shots are being administered by nurses from the Clark County Public Health, Southwest Washington Medical Center and the Vancouver Fire Department. For further information, call Westlake at 759-4411.

People

Thomas Stallone has been reappointed to the Clark County Mental Health Advisory Board. n Craig Lynch and Richard Fazio have been reappointed to the Clark County Weed Management Noxious Weed Board.

Calendar

Port of Ridgefield commissioners meet in regular session at 6 p.m. this evening in port offices at 111 W Division Street.

Wednesday, Feb. 14 headlines

Autistic Jason McElwain scored an incredible 20 points in four minutes a year ago today--NBC video, Matt Lauer

Maya Lyn land bridge across Highway 14 taking shape--Columbian, Dean Baker

Vancouver plays key role in WSU's future new president says--Columbian, Howard Buck

Bill would consider second oil pipeline--Columbian, Kathie Dubrin

Clark Public Utilities' ups rate stabilization fund to $12 million following good year--Columbian, Courtney Sherwood

Port action to buy defunct Alcoa smelter property is visionary--Columbian, Tom Koenninger

Oregon lawmakers looking at law to ban drivers from using handheld cell phones while driving--Oregonian, Janie Har

Bush says Iran is supplying weapons in Iraq--Washington Post, David Branigin

Chrysler to cut 13,000 jobs--Washington Post, Sholnn Freeman

Fed chief suggests rates will hold steady--New York Times, David Stout and Brian Knowlton

Dow closes at record 12,741.86--USA TODAY, MarketWatch, Nick Godt