vvCounty-Cowlitz MOU declared invalid

Concluding that the memorandum of understanding between Clark County and the Cowlitz Indian Tribe, adopted in 2004, which stipulated in lieu-of-tax agreements, payments for interchange improvements on I-5, and a host of other matters, is invalid because it was adopted without sufficient public input, the Western Washington Growth Management Hearings Board declared the entire memorandum of agreement invalid.

Opponents of the Cowlitz Tribe’s proposed casino resort east of Interstate Highway 5, near La Center began arguments in court in July 2004 that the MOU was invalid because it amended the county’s Comprehensive Growth Management plan.

Opponents now argue that the environmental impact statement in the petition by the tribe to the Bureau of Indian Affairs to take the land into trust for the tribe so that it could build and operate a casino, is flawed because it is based largely on an invalid memorandum of understanding.

Clark County board of commissioner’s chairman Steve Stuart said after a preliminary review of the hearings board’s decision that the county has three options: start fresh; let it be; appeal the decision.

Stuart said the board of commissioners likely will meet next week in executive session to decide what course of action to take.

Teresa Ainsworth appointed investment
management associate at First Independent

Teresa Ainsworth has been named an investment management associate at First Independent, reports Brett Bryant, executive vice president.

Ainsworth is a registered investment advisor and holds Series 7 and Series 66 licenses and has 11 years’ experience in investment management.

Ainsworth is a native of Vancouver and attended Nazarene College.

One in ten Washington State University
alumni live in the greater Vancouver area

Of 157,000 Washington State University alumni, just over 10 percent, 15,600, live in the greater Vancouver area; and of those, 6,000 are graduates from Washington State University Vancouver, a 2007 university profile shows.

Chancellor Hal Dengerink describes the university as follows: “Washington State University is a premier, non-residential research university with access to the breadth and depth of resources of the WSU System.”

Although WSU began offering courses in southern Washington in 1983 as part of the Southwest Washington Joint Center for Education, it was not until 1989 that the university was formally established. The university moved to its present 350-acre campus at Salmon Creek in 1996.

Enrollment at the academic year just ended was 2,300 students, 62.4 percent of whom were female.

Free Clinic elects officers

Karey Schoenfeld has been elected president of the Free Clinic of Southwest Washington. Schoenfeld is an attorney with Ferguson & Schoenfeld, PLLC. Ann Wheelock, president and CEO of Clark United Providers, is vice president and treasurer. Ron Bertolucci, First Independent, is vice president and treasurer.

New board members are as follows: Stephen Ebert, Chalonnes Hoover, Alan Melnick and Sally Williams.

The Free Clinic provides free basic health care for children and adults who are otherwise unable to access such services. For further information, call Shirley Gross, 313-1390, extension 1397.

County Corrections Services
moving to District Court

Clark County’s Corrections Services, a part of the county Department of Community Services and Corrections, is being transferred to the jurisdiction of Clark County District Court, county administrator Bill Barron announced today.

Corrections Services monitors and supervises offenders’ compliance with court orders. The move, effective

July 1, is being made to strengthen the collaboration among local law and justice programs, Barron said.

Kenneth Eiesland, presiding judge of Clark County District Court, said: “In recent years we have introduced a number of innovations to make the courts more effective in addressing the causes of crime. Now we are welcoming this opportunity to be more close association with corrections. This will help the county move forward with community safety, meeting the needs of victims, and demonstrating the best practices to support positive changes in behavior.”

Corrections Services will continue to monitor and supervises programs involving education, electronic home confinement, employment, investigations, screening court appointed attorneys, and work crews.

Growth management hearings to
continue at least through July 5

Clark County commissioners have scheduled three more hearings on recommended updates in the county’s 20-year Comprehensive Growth Management Plan. Commissioners believe they can adopt the plan this year.

Hearings are scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 26, Wednesday, June 27, and 10 a.m. Thursday, July 5. All hearings are in the Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin Street.

Further information is available by calling 397-2280, or going to www.clark.wa.gov/longrangeplan/review.

News brief

Jessica Crouch and Eileen Bryne are the top two Clark County Fair Association scholarship winners this year. Crouch, a Skyview High School graduate, is attending West Texas A&M University. Bryne, a Ridgefield High School graduate, is attending the University of Washington. Each received $4,000 scholarships. Kathleen Mintz, Western Washington University, and Brian Suchy, Washington State University, each received $2,500 scholarships. Other scholarship winners are as follows: Michelle Anderson, Concordia University; Allegra Bisbee, St. Johns College; Elizabeth Dyche, Oregon State University; Nicole Lamphear and Rebecca Mintz, both at Western Washington University; Erin Stuhlsatz, Whitman College; Elane Taylor, Washington State University; and Kathleen Walker, Pacific University.

Calendar

Steve Martin’s Picasso at the Lapin Agile, directed by Llewellyn Rhoe, is being presented at 8 p.m. this evening through Sunday, June 24, in the Main Street Theatre, 606 Main Street. Tickets are $10 to $24. Theater packages, which include a three-course dinner at the Restaurant in the historic Reserve are available for $55 each. For further information, call 695-3770. <> Vancouver Mayor Royce Pollard, city manager Pat McDonnell and Columbia River Economic Director Bart Phillips are featured speakers at the Portland City Club Friday, June 22. The city club meets in the Governor Hotel, 614 SW 11th Avenue. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. Member tickets are $16. Non-member tickets are $20. The City Club meeting will be broadcast on KOPB radio, (91.5) at 7 p.m. Friday, June 22. <> Commencement exercises for the School of Piano Technology for the Blind are at 5 p.m. Friday, June 22, in Sherman Auditorium in the Washington State School for the Blind. A reception follows in the school commons.

Headlines Thursday, June 21

YWCA's million dollar bonanza--Columbian, Tom Vogt

Capt. George Vancouver's 250th birthday to be celebrated by museums in Vancouver and England--Columbian, Tom Vogt

Environmental sustainability can be reality say speakers at Vancouver's first Sustainability Conference--Columbian, Michael Andersen

Sheriff says alcohol and fair a dangerous mix--Columbian, Michael Andersen

Incoming WSU president hits the ground running--Columbian, Isolde Raftery

U.S. to hold direct talks in North Korea on arms--New York Times, David E. Sanger and Norimitsu Onishi

Vancouver-based Wacom buys Texas company that makes computers that respond to touch--Columbian, Courtney Sherwood

Vancouver event in Vancouver Friday will promote gun safety--Oregonian

Oregon legislators double aid for college students--Oregonian, Janie Har

White House close to shutting down Gitmo--Seattle Times, AP, Matthew Lee

Boeing, Airbus demonstrate differences of opinion--Seattle Times, Dominic Gates

14 U.S. troops killed in Iraq in two days--New York Times, Alissa J. Rubin and Graham Bowley

Top Iraqi officials growing restless--Washington Post, Joshua Partlow and Robin Wright

Lawmakers: Open trade, lift travel ban with Cuba--USA TODAY, AP

Iraq Coalition Casualties