One in five Clark County 10th graders
reports being drunk in the “past 30 days”

Clark County high school students are using alcohol and drugs in staggering numbers, according to a statewide youth survey reported Clark County Public Health.

About the only good news in the biennial survey just reported is that fewer high school students reported being depressed in 2006, compared to 2004. The number of depressed students decreased from 32 percent to 26 percent in 2006.

Results of the survey showed the following:

One in five Clark County 10th graders reported being drunk in a thirty-day period during the time of the survey.

One in four 12th graders reported binge drinking during a thirty-day period during the time of the survey. Binge drinking was described as five or more drinks in a row.

One in five Clark County 12th graders reported being drunk or high at school.

One in five Clark County 12th graders reported smoking marijuana during a thirty-day period during the time of the survey.

One in ten reported using prescription pain killers to get high.

In Clark County, about one in ten high school seniors reported bringing such weapons as guns, knives and clubs to school.

Compared to two years ago, more high school students in Clark County reported being gang members during 2006. Nearly one in ten 10th graders said they belonged to gangs during 2006.

The Healthy Youth Survey was taken anonymously by almost 200,000 students in 1,028 schools in the state, according to Clark County Health Officer Alan Melnick.

County making property inspections
in Camas, Washougal and east county

The Clark County Department of Assessment & GIS will be making physical inspections of all properties in the cities of Camas and Washougal, the urban neighborhoods immediately west of 164th Avenue and all rural areas north of Camas and Washougal this year.

The results of the inspections will be the basis for tax rates beginning in 2008.

The physical inspections, at a minimum, are exterior observation of the property to determine whether there have been any changes in the physical characteristics that would affect property value. Appraisers will also be updating photos of properties.

Appraisers will begin this month and continue the work through this summer. For further information, call 397-2391.

Humane Society has 17 Lab-mix
puppies up for adoption

The Humane Society for Southwest Washington has 17 Labrador-mix puppies up for adoption, according to Chuck Tourtillott, executive director.

Adoption fees for the puppies are $110 each. The puppies are sterilized, have implanted microchip registrations and their first round of vaccinations. The adoption fee includes a free veterinary visit for a complete health examination and they will be treated for roundworm and hook worm.

For further information on these puppies and others, call 693-4746.

Jonnie Martin to keynote Women
Entrepreneurs of Washington

Jonnie Martin, Vancouver management consultant, is the keynote speaker for the Vancouver-headquartered Women Entrepreneurs of Washington dinner meeting on Wednesday, May 16, in the Heathman Lodge.

Other speakers at the session that begins at 5:30 p.m. are Gale Volk, owner of Fitness with Purpose, and Kathryn Martyn Smith, owner of One More Bite.

Admission is $28 for members and $35 for visitors. For further information, call Cathie Nielson, 573-5744.

News brief

The C-TRAN Advisory Committee is seeking new members, according to director of public affairs, Scott Patterson. The 15-member committee represents a broad range of C-TRAN customers. Currently the committee is seeking people who have the following qualifications: environmental expertise, business expertise, neighborhood association expertise, educators, bi-state commuting, non-ambulatory C-TRAN users, users with other physical or mental impairments. For further information, call 696-4494.

Calendar

Clark County Commissioners meet in an informal session at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 4.

Tuesday, April 3, Headlines

Meth is still a big problem in Clark County--Columbian, Stephanie Rice

Residents narrowly escape serious injury when 15-year-old driver crashes into condo--Columbian, Jose Paul Corona

Battle Ground home-schoolers can learn online--Columbian, Isolde Raftery

WSU Vancouver seniors Nate Scholz and Ashley Wayman take top prizes in national marketing competition--Columbian, Cami Joner

One on one with Gina Bacon--Columbian, Cami Joner

Nautilus lets 30 go as it shifts structure--Oregonian, Helen Jung

Paul Allen reclaims Rose Garden--Oregonian, Helen Jung

Dow Jones climbs 128 points on oil price drop, home sales increase--USA TODAY, AP