Archbishop to bless Catholic
high school site in Ridgefield

Seattle Archbishop Alexander Brunett will bless the Ridgefield site of southern Washington’s first Catholic high school in ceremonies that begin at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 15. St. Elizabeth Ann Seaton High School will be on a 38-acre site next to St. Mary’s Church, 1520 N 65th Avenue, Ridgefield.

The new school, to be completed in the fall of 2009, will serve students from Clark, Cowlitz, Skamania and Wahkiakum Counties.

The first phase of construction has an estimated cost of 10 million dollars. The new building will contain classrooms with the latest technological advances, science laboratory, workspace for the faculty, and a mullet-purpose gym. The school will eventually have the capacity to educate 600-700 students. The first phase will accommodate 300 students.

The school will use St. Mary's as its chapel and will not have to build a chapel in the first phase of construction.

Construction of this project could begin as soon as 2008, with the school opening in 2009 with a freshman and sophomore class. This timeline is based on raising at least 6 million dollars in pledges in a capital campaign.

The land for the new high school was bought by the archdiocese in February 2006 at a cost of 1.6 million dollars.

A capital campaign is underway, reports Kathy McDonald, director of development for the school project. For further information, call McDonald at 607-8959, or go to www.seashigh.org.

Nez Perce return to Vancouver
for Chief Redheart memorial

As they have since 1998, the Nez Perce Indians are returning to Vancouver Barracks for their annual Nez Perce Chief Redheart Memorial, which honors their ancestors who were imprisoned over the winter of 1877-78.

The public ceremony honors the memory and pays tribute to the principles of the 33-member group of Chief Redheart’s band who were captured under the direction of Gen. O. O. Howard. Even though this band of the Nez Perce neither fought in the Indian Wars nor committed any crimes, they were kept prisoner at the fort until March 22, 1878. During that winter, an infant member of the band died.

The colorful two-to-three-hour ceremony begins about 10 a.m. on the parade grounds just north of E 5th Street. The ceremony includes singing, dancing and speech making and culminates with a riderless horse (empty saddle) ceremony and a traditional pipe circle, to which all military veterans are invited to participate.

Immediately following the ceremony, a traditional Native American meal is prepared by the Northwest Indian Veterans Association for the tribe and guests.

It is suggested that visitors bring lawn chairs and blankets. There is no charge, although donations will be accepted. For further information, call 696-8211.

News briefs

While The Ampihtheater at Clark County has not announced it, entertainer Willie Nelson has scheduled a Saturday, June 30, concert date for Ridgefield, Wash. Upcoming concerts that amphitheater people have announced are as follows: Brad Paisley, 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 25, Uprising Festival, with Third Day, Tob Mac, Kutless, 2 p.m. Saturday, May 26; John Mayer, 7 p.m. Friday, June 1; and Rush, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 21. For further information, go to http://www.amphitheateratclarkcounty.com/schedule/index.php. n In another example of a regional approach to regional happenings, the health departments of Clark, Multhomah, Washington and Clackamas this week jointly issued a news release about the coming mosquito season and the possibility of West Nile Virus infections. Reported incidences of the disease carried by mosquitoes which have fed on infected birds have so far been rare in the northwest and most people who become infected do not become ill. However, about one in 150 can develop a severe reaction. There is no effective treatment for West Nile Virus infection. Last year, five infected birds were found in Multnomah County, one in Washington County, and in Clark County one person was found to be infected. The best protection, according to the news release, is to prevent mosquito bites. Drain sources of standing water, health officials advise.

Calendar

Eugene O’Neill’s The Long Voyage Home, directed by Llewellyn Rhoe, is being presented by Arts Equity On Stage at 7:30 p.m. this evening and Saturday, April 7, in the Main Street Theatre, 606 Main Street. Admission ranges from $8 to $24. A package, which includes a three-course dinner in the Restaurant at the Historic Reserve, can be had for $55. For further information, call 695-3770. n The Executive Directors Network meets at noon, Monday, April 9, in the YWCA Clark County, 3609 Main Street. There is no charge, but a $6 donation is required for lunch. To make reservations, go to network@npnnw.org. n The board of trustees of the Fort Vancouver Regional Library District meet in a retreat setting at 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Monday, April 9, and 9 a.m. to noon Tuesday, April 10, in the White Salmon Valley Community Library. A public meeting is scheduled for 6 to 7:30 p.m. Monday.

Friday, April 6, Headlines

State audit raps Ridgefield but seeks no criminal probe--Columbian, Don Hamilton

Camas High School plans advanced science, math, technology studies--Columbian, Howard Buck

Nutter Corp. celebrates 500,000 hours without a workplace injury by taking everyone on Las Vegas holiday--Columbian, Jonathan Nelson

Building boom a boon for Oregon factories--Oregonian, Jonathan Brinckman

Oregonian's Allen Brettman reviews Provecho Mexican Grill in Uptown Village

Gonzales aide who refused to testify resigns--New York Times, David Stout

Jobless rate drops to 4.4 percent--Washington Post, Howard Schneider

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