Sewer district, utility district to discuss
results of merger study Tuesday

Although no one in particular is promoting a merger of the Clark Regional Waste Water District with Clark Public Utilities, the two public boards are holding a joint meeting Tuesday to discuss the results of a recently concluded merger feasibility study.

The CH2M Hill feasibility study suggests there could be some financial savings for waste water customers if the waste water system became part of Clark Public Utilities.

But that isn’t the end of the story. A similar “merger evaluation” study, to be completed in August, was ordered to determine whether the waste water district should merge with the City of Vancouver.

The CH2M Hill study to be discussed Tuesday was paid for jointly by the waste water district and Clark County. Clark Public Utilities did not participate in the study. The second study is being paid for jointly by the waste water district and the City of Vancouver.

The catalyst for the studies is the waste water treatment plant, which is owned, not by the waste water district, but by Clark County. The county currently intends to keep the treatment plant unless the sewer district merges with a larger entity.

The waste water district, formerly the Hazel Dell Sewer District, has thousands of customers in the Hazel Dell, Lake Shore, Salmon Creek areas. Clark Public Utilities serves thousands of water customers in the same area. The City of Vancouver provides sewer and water services within the city and for customers in parts of the city’s urban growth boundary.

The Tuesday, June 12, meeting will be at 9 a.m. in the Clark Regional Waste Water District offices, 8000 NE 52nd Court.

Tommy O’s opening day lounge
profits go to Children’s Center

A ribbon-cutting ceremony at 4 p.m. today officially opens Tommy O’s Lounge next door to Tommy O’s Pacific Rim Bistro, 801 Washington Street.

All profits from the lounge opening will be donated to the Children’s Center.

Owner Tommy Owens opened Tommy O’s as a deli in 1994.After moving to Washington Street, Tommy O’s Pacific Rim Bistro evolved into a downtown Vancouver dining destination with a Pacific Island style. New menu items include are fresh fish and bloody Mary shrimp cocktails.

The Children’s Center provides mental health services for Clark County children. For further information, call 896-0891.

Southwest Washington Medical Center
gearing up for 150-year celebration in 2008

Southwest Washington Medical center, which traces its heritage back to Mother Joseph of the Sacred Heart, who was a member of the Sisters of Charity of Providence, which operated St. Joseph Hospital in Vancouver until the mid 1960s, and which continues to operate hospitals in the west, including Providence and St. Vincent Hospitals in Portland, is preparing to celebrate its first 150 years on June 7, 2008.

Southwest Washington Medical Center continues its charitable ways, according to medical center executive director and CEO Joe Kortum. According to Kortum, the medical center contributes more than $50 million a year in community benefits through charity care health education, medical training and a variety of outreach programs.

The medical center’s Founders Anniversary Committee is seeking photographs and other memorabilia and are asking that anyone who is willing to share those artifacts call 514-3065.

To learn more about the medical center’s evolution from a one-room hospital to a major regional medical center, six times, including this year, named a Top 100 Hospital in the nation, go to www.swmedicalcenter.org/timeline.

Calendar

John Patrick’s The Curious Savage is being presented by the Magenta Theater at 7 p.m. this evening, and Saturday, June 9, in the First Baptist Church, 108 W 27th Street. A matinee is at 3 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $10 to $13, and can be gotten by calling 635-4358. Tickets are slightly higher at the door. <> Steve Martin’s Picasso at the Lapin Agile, directed by Llewellyn Rhoe, is being presented at 8 p.m. tonight and Saturday, June 9, in the Main Street Theatre, 606 Main Street. A matinee is at 3 p.m. Sunday, June 10. Tickets range from $10 to $24. Dinner-theater packages at the Restaurant at the Historic Reserve are $55. For further information, call 695-3770. <> The Clark College Concert Choir and Concert Band present a spring concert at 7:30 p.m. this evening in the Royal Durst Theatre in the Vancouver School for Arts & Academics, 3101 Main Street. There is no charge, but donations for the college music scholarship fund will be accepted at the door. <> The Kalama Saturday Market and Antique Street Fair is 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 9, at the intersection of Frontage and King Streets. <> The Vista Meadows Neighborhood Park, on NE 29th Avenue near the Washington State University Vancouver Campus, will be dedicated at noon, Saturday, June 9. <> A Clark County Historical Society and Museum fund-raiser is being held in a 1,600-square-foot model train exhibit in Camas from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, June 9. To pay the $75 to attend and learn the location, call 993-5679. <> The Vancouver Police Department’s Casino Night, a benefit for the Special Olympics, is 6:30 to midnight Saturday, June 9, in the Heathman Lodge, 7801 Greenwood Drive. The lodge is offering special discounts on rooms for Casino Night participants. For further information on a limited number of $50 tickets, call 696-8169. <> The Daybreak Jazz Afternoon, headlined by the Tall Jazz, is 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, June 10, in the Hilton Vancouver Washington. Tickets are $50 each and may be gotten by calling 635-4120. <> The home opener for Vancouver’s newest baseball team, Vancouver Flyers, is at 6 p.m. Sunday, June 10, in Propstra Stadium at Hudson’s Bay High School. The first pitches for the Bank of Clark County Day game will be thrown by Vancouver Mayor, Royce Pollard, Bank of Clark County chairman Mike Worthy, and assistant superintendent of the Vancouver School District Steven Webb. A limited number of tickets remain and may be purchased at the gate or by calling Arch Miller, 992-4324.

Headlines Friday, June 8

District 5 employees cheer return of boss Marty James--Columbian, Jeffrey Mize

Portland's Randy Leonard sets off duct tape debate--Oregonian, Ryan Frank

Stephanie Rice sticks it to Portland Commissioner Randy Leonard--Columbian

Convergence Northwest conference-goers urged to pressure officials--Columbian, Kathie Durbin and Don Hamilton

$100 million investment in botthe factory at Kalama underway; will serve northwest wine industry--Columbian, Courtney Sherwood

Vancouvercenter units to convert to condos--Columbian

Late Clark County artist Basil Wolverton's fame continues to grow--Colmbian, Brett Oppegaard

Festival ships plan local ports of call--Columbian, Mike Bailey

Feds suspend passport rules for Canada and Mexico--Seattle Times, AP, Devlin Barrett and Jennifer Talheim

Gen. Pace to step down as chairman of joint chiefs--Washington Post, Josh White

Reading body language at the G-8 Summit--New York Times, Sheryl Stolberg

Heiress Paris back in county slammer--MSNBC, AP

Stocks make triple-digit gain after week's brutal sell-off--USA TODAY, AP

Iraq Coalition Casualties