Alex Montoya named Clark College
dean of enrollment services

Alex Montoya, director of financial aid at Clark College and, for the past year, interim dean of enrollment services, has been appointed dean of enrollment services.

Montoya is a graduate of Evergreen High School, Lower Columbia Community College and Evergreen State College. He earned a master of science degree in management communication from the University of Portland. Montoya is a former Marine.

Montoya, who has 11 years’ experience in higher education, is a member of the Washington State Financial Aid Council and the Washington Association of Financial Aid Administrators. He is a former president of the Washington State Multicultural Student Services Directors’ Council and a former member of the Washington State Latino Caucus. For the past two years he has been head coach of a Longview Youth Soccer Association team.

Breakfast seminar on how to get
the most out of business editors
offered by the Vancouver chamber

“Power Breakfast with the Business Editors,” sponsored by the Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce from 8 to 9:30 a.m. Thursday, May 31, in the Hilton Vancouver Washington, is designed to provide attendees with tips on how to get the most out of business editors, according to moderator Katlin Smith, principal of UrbanWords Group.

The event, which includes a continental breakfast, is sub-titled “How to Increase Your Media Coverage.”

Panelists are as follows: Julia Anderson, The Columbian, Jessica Swanson, Vancouver Business Journal, Rob Smith, Portland Business Journal, Justin Stranzl, Daily Journal of Commerce, Kristian Folden-Vencil, Oregon Public Broadcasting, Ben Santarris, The Oregonian, and Joe Smith, KGW-TV.

Pre-registration deadline is Wednesday, May 30. Chamber members will be charged $20, all others, $25. To register, call 694-2588.

Crime victims to get notification
of offenders’ jail releases

The Clark County sheriff’s office, working in partnership with the state Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs, is now notifying crime victims of the release of offenders from the Clark County jail, reports county sheriff Garry Lucas.

According to Lucas, notification can be made by telephone or email. Victims can also confirm whether an offender is still in jail.

According to Lucas, most offenders are eventually released from jail by posting bail, by promising to appear at future court dates, after completing their sentence, or as a result of jail overcrowding. In a time of limited jail space and scarce drug, alcohol and mental health programs, offenders are often released early.

Baird and Murray introduce legislation
To bring federal court house to Vancouver

U.S Rep. Brian Baird (D-3rd) and U.S. Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) introduced identical legislation in the U.S. House and Senate that is the first step in bringing a United States district courthouse to Vancouver. The only federal courthouses in western Washington are in Seattle, Tacoma and Bellingham.

A federal courthouse in Vancouver would ease the caseload in Seattle and Tacoma and would make it easier for southern Washington residents and law officers to access the federal legal system.

Baird says he believes that the process to get a federal courthouse here will be long.

People

U.S. Army Specialist Joseph Tranchsel returned from a nearly year-long combat mission in Afghanistan early this morning. Tranchsel was one of 60 soldiers from the Oregon Army National Guard’s 41st Brigade Combat Team who were flown into the Portland Air National Guard base. Tranchsel helped train members of the Afghan National Army and the Afghanistan Police Force.

Calendar

A limited number of tickets are available at the door for this weekend’s performances of Seussical presented by the Christian Youth Theater in the Columbia Arts Center, 400 W Evergreen Boulevard. The musical is being performed at 7 p.m. this evening, 3 and 7 p.m. Saturday, May 26, and 2 p.m. Sunday, May 27. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for kids. <> Monday, May 28 is officially observed as Memorial Day. Governmental offices, banks and many businesses will be closed. The Insider will not be published. <> U.S. Rep. Brian Baird (D-3rd) will discuss the impact of current Congressional initiatives on southern Washington businesses at a Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 29, in the Gaiser Student Center at Clark College. Breakfast is $20 for chamber members, $30 for non-members. Call 694-25887 for further information. <> Clark Public Utilities’ commissioners meet in regular session at 9 a.m. Tuesday, May 29.

Friday, May 24 Headlines

La Center 'adamant' against casino, but mayor and two council members will talk to the Cowlitz Tribe--Columbian, Jeffrey Mize

Russell Newberry, 'star' of Discovery Channel's Deadliest Catch, catches up with Vancouver friends--Columbian, Jeffrey Mize

Foster families made a difference in Andrew Harrington's life--Columbian, Kelly Adams

Silent hybrid cars pose danger to blind pedestrians--Columbian, Brett Oppegaard

Washington casinos among 18 scammed for millions; Seattle mayor's son indicted--Seattle Times, Christine Clarridge and Jennifer Sullivan

Stocks rise ahead of holiday weekend--New York Times, AP

Shiite cleric al-Sadr resurfaces, demands U.S. get out of Iraq--New York Times, John F. Burns

After victorn on Hill, president shifts tone on Iraq--Washington Post, Michael Abramowitz

Iraq Coalition Casualties