Bob Knight number one candidate
for Clark College presidency

Bob Knight, who successively has served Clark College as acting president and interim president, is the top and, currently, only candidate for president of the community college, the college board of trustees decided yesterday.

“In the past nine months as acting president and in his current position as interim president, Bob Knight has demonstrated many of the qualities and leadership skills of a president,” Clark’s board of trustees chair, Rhona Senn Hoss, said as the board came to the conclusion that Knight should be the first person considered for the permanent post.

Knight, who was hired as vice president of administrative services by former Clark College President Wayne Branch, was essentially the number two person at the college when Branch left nearly a year ago. Shortly afterwards, Knight was appointed acting president.

Senn Hoss said that the board, with input from students, faculty, staff and the community, will further explore the viability of selecting Knight as permanent president.

During the next month Knight is to conduct a series of community forums to solicit input from various constituencies and to lay out his vision for the college if he were selected its leader.

“We realize that this process is a different path than we initially envisioned in terms of a national presidential search. However, we would be remiss in our responsibilities if we failed to consider a highly qualified person, who, quite frankly, is right in front of us. It is an opportunity that we strongly feel must be explored,” Senn Hoss concluded.

According to trustee vice-chair Addison Jacobs, Knight was named interim president after feedback from the college community that a president should be committed to student success, be a person of integrity, support collaborative decision-making, and bring a passion for the college and the community.”

Knight, a retired lieutenant colonel, and former commander of Vancouver Barracks, is no stranger to academia. He is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and has earned a masters degree in business administration from Golden Gate University, San Francisco.

Vancouver Farmers Market to celebrate
Cinco de Mayo with Tish Hinojosa

Austin, Texas folk recording artist Tish Hinojosa will headline a special Cinco de Mayo concert celebration at the Vancouver Farmers Market Saturday, May 5.

Hinojosa’s latest CD is A Heart Wide Open. She has toured and recorded with Joan Baez, Dwight Yokum, Kris Kristofferson and Nancy Griffith. Also appearing at the Cinco de Mayo concert are Sion, Spanish guitar billiardists, and a local folk duo There She Goes, which consists of Amy Wells and Christi Mangner.

The Farmers Market just west of Esther Short Park is open Saturdays and Sundays through the season. The May 5 concert begins at 10 a.m. There is no charge.

Maya Lyn land bridge work
to disrupt Highway 14 traffic

Construction of the 40-foot wide Maya Lyn land bridge connecting Fort Vancouver Historic sites and the Columbia River will be disrupting some Highway 14 traffic through Saturday, April 28, this week. Nighttime lane closures are scheduled through Friday, April 27. The southbound I-5 ramp to Highway 15 will be closed during the night Thursday, April 26, through Saturday, April 28.

The earth-covered bridge over Highway 14 will provide pedestrians, bicyclists and non-motorized vehicle operators a scenic passage with views of Fort Vancouver, the Cascade Mountains, Mt. Hood, and the Columbia River. The project, begun by Kiewit Pacific last August, is expected to be completed by November this year.

Designed by noted artist and architect Lyn, the project is one of several Confluence Projects created to celebrate the recently concluded Lewis and Clark Bicentennial.

News brief

First of all, it is illegal to harvest freshwater shellfish in this state. Worse yet, freshwater shellfish west of the former Vanalco plant on the Columbia River just west of Vancouver have been found to have especially high levels of PCBs, ranging from 382 to 3,500 parts per million, reports Alan Melnick, Clark-Skamania health officer. Shellfish containing 50 or more parts per million, while thought to be safe, should be eaten sparingly, according to Melnick. Multi-lingual signs warning of the danger are being posted along the Columbia River from Vancouver to Astoria.

Calendar

Clark County commissioners meet in an informal session at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 25, in conference room B in the Public Service Center. n The La Center City Council meets at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 25, and will discuss an update in the wastewater treatment plant planning. n A special election in the Town of Yacolt and Fire District 13 concludes at 8 p.m. today. Voters are being asked whether Yacolt should merge into Fire District 13.

Tuesday, April 24 Headlines

Eli Kassab to buy Vancouver's old police station south of Mill Plain; six-story mixed use building, Prestige Plaza to go up--Columbian, Jeffrey Mize

Local lawmakers bring home big bucks--Columbian, Kathie Durbin

Local high-tech gets legislative boost--Columbian, Courtney Sherwood

Clark College interim president Bob Knight gets shot at top job--Columbian, Tom Vogt

City manager gets a pair of raises--Columbian, Jeffrey Mize

Toyota tops G.M. in sales for the first time--New York Times, Keith Bradsher

Brother says military decision to award Cpl. Pat Tillman Silver Star was "utter fiction" intended to exploit death--New York Times, John Holusha

Bush denounced Iraq War timetable--Washington Post, William Branigin

Existing home sales plummet--Washington Post, Nancy Trejos

Iraq Coalition Casualty Count