John White honored today
with 2007 First Citizen Award

John D. White today is being formally presented with the 2007 First Citizen Award from The Community Foundation, the Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce and The Columbian.

White’s qualifications are impressive: former chairman of the board of the Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce, former chairman of the board of trustees of Southwest Washington Medical Center, member of the advisory council, Washington State University Vancouver, member of the board of trustees of Clark College, member of the board of directors of the Columbia River Economic Development Council.

White formed a land use planning company just over 30 years ago in Vancouver, now known as JD White, a division of BERGER/ABAM Engineers. During those years White was a participant on a long list of sometimes unknown community programs: Vancouver Firefighters Coat Drive, Adopt an Island in Vancouver, Clean Up Cottonwood Beach, Sunset Elementary first grade classes, Family YMCA of Clark County fund drive, Columbia Springs Environmental Education Center, Firstenburg Community Center, among them.

The annual award, according to Nancy Hales, executive director of the Community Foundation, is based in part on the recipient’s effectiveness in leadership roles, raising community standards and expectations, exemplary giving of time, self and resources, and strengthening of community identity and civic pride.

The awards ceremony begins at 4 p.m. this afternoon in the Hilton Vancouver Washington. The presentation begins at 5:15 p.m.

Clark Regional Waste Water District, Clark
Public Utilities begin merger conversation

The full boards of Clark Regional Waste Water District and Clark Public Utilities today in CRWWD offices carefully discussed the possibility of a merger of the waste water district with the countywide electric and water district.

Nancy Barnes, president of CPU’s board of directors, said afterward, “We will certainly follow through by studying the recommendations.”

CRWWD board chairman Norm Harker said that his board’s first concerns are for its own customers: “We aren’t projecting our concerns to possible future customers.” But Harker also said that he and his board are sincere about following through with further study of a CPU-CRWWD merger.

Neither organization was spearheading this proposed merger or another one expected to surface later this year between CRWWD and the City of Vancouver. CRWWD and Vancouver are jointly financing a similar study of a merger between the two. That report is due in August.

A report from consultants CH2M HILL, discussed today, outlined expected efficiencies of scale from a merger that could save current CRWWD customers $4.04 to $4.53 a month.

Clark Public Utilities was not a participant in the study, which was paid for by the waste water district and Clark County.

Clark County Public Works Director Pete Capell explained the genesis of the merger studies as the desire by the county to bring all sewer service agencies together as a single organization.

Clark County residents are served by CRWWD, the City of Vancouver, The City of Battle Ground, the City of Ridgefield and the City of La Center.

Apart from the City of Vancouver sewer services, CRWWD, formed as the Hazel Dell Sewer District in 1958, is the oldest and largest in the county.

County gains a few more
employees statistically

While the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate inched up slightly, 4.4 percent for April to 4.6 percent in May, Clark County continued to add a few new jobs, at least statistically.

Local county employment is measured in unadjusted terms, which means that all kinds of jobs are counted, including self-employed and part-time jobs. According to the state Employment Security Department, the number of jobs in Clark County rose by 100 in May, to 196,400. This was 4,800 more jobs than were counted in May a year ago.

Calendar

The C-TRAN board meets at 5:15 p.m. this evening in Battle Ground City Hall, 109 SW 1st Street. <> The Clark County Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a 2007 Legislative Review at 6:30 p.m. this evening in the Water Resources Education Center, 4600 SE Columbia Way. Moderators are Clark County auditor Greg Kimsey and former State Sen. Dean Sutherland. There is no charge. For reservations, call 258-1181. <> Clark County commissioners meet in an informal session at 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 13, in conference room B in the Public Service Center.

Headlines Tuesday, June 12

Raid on Portland plant uncovers hundreds of illegal workers--KATU, AP

Proud to be a Penguin--Columbian, Howard Buck

McLoughlin Middle School dress code approved by 3-2 vote--Columbian, Howard Buck

Room for more in Clark County, state says--Columbian, Michael Andersen and Jeffrey Mize

Construction of Andersen Construction's Barberton Industrial Park underway--Columbian, Jonathan Nelson

Ridgefield's Perkins Pacific on tremendous growth curve--Columbian, Courtney Sherwood

Namesake ship visits city--Columbian, Tom Vogt

Alcohol, food sales rise with smoking ban in Washington restaurants--Seattle Times, AP

After 17 complaints, alleged bad drive caught--Columbian, Kelly Adams

Columbian's list of high school graduations

Public donates to US scientist to fund backward-in-time research--Seattle P-I, Tom Paulson

Jack LaLanne in great shape at 92--Washington Post, Sally Squires

Civil war rages in Gaza Strip--USA TODAY, AP

Dow drops nearly 130 points to 13,295--USA TODAY, AP

Iraq Coalition Casualties