Marc Berg selected to head
Hospice Southwest

Marc Berg, interim director of Southwest Washington Medical Center’s hospice and home care programs, has been named homecare director.

Berg will be in charge of Southwest HomeCare, Hospice Southwest and the Ray Hickey Hospice House.

Berg has 25 years’ senior management experience in health care and business, and most recently was chief financial officer of Providence Home & Community Services, and director of business operations at Providence Home Services.

Hospice Southwest provides care for the terminally ill and their families in their homes, in adult family care homes and in extended care facilities. In addition, the Ray Hickey Hospice House bridges the gap between home and traditional impatient care for hospice patients.

Hospice Southwest also offers bereavement programs for children and adults through the Stepping Stones Grief and Bereavement  Center at Southwest’s Memorial Health Center.

Stacey Graham promoted to
senior VP at First Independent

Stacey Graham, who heads marketing efforts at First Independent, has been promoted to senior vice president.

Graham, a former senior vice president of Gard & Gerber, Portland, joined First Independent in 2005 as vice president and director of marketing.

Graham is a native of Stayton, Ore., and is a former interim executive director for the United Way of the Columbia-Willamette. She is a member of the board of directors of the Regional Arts and Culture Council and the Oregon Health Science University Center for Women’s Health. She is also a member of the Southwest Washington Medical Center Pink Power Committee and the Portland Business Alliance Marketing Committee.

Fireworks on sale Thursday

Fireworks in Vancouver and Clark County will be sold at licensed fireworks stands beginning at noon Thursday, June 28. Sales will continue through 11 p.m. Thursday, July 5.

Fireworks may be discharged 9 a.m. through 11 p.m. daily, between Thursday, June 28, through Thursday, July 5. An exception is that fireworks can be used through midnight, Wednesday, July 4

Kids invited to archaeological digging
at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site

Youngsters 8 through 12 will have an opportunity to do supervised archaeological exploring in the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site Saturday June 30, July 14, and October 6, reports Martin Adams, spokesperson for the National Park Service.

The “Kids Digs” excavations are at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Children work as a team, using excavating boxes filled with soil layers and artifacts that reflect the what has been found at Fort Vancouver archaeological site.

Advance registration is not required. Only 20 youngsters will be accepted for each session and these will be selected on a first-come, first-served basis.

Signup sheets will be posted at the Fort Vancouver front gate. There is no charge for digging, but admission is $3 per person or $5 per family. For further information, call 816-6256.

News briefs

Security Signs, an 82-year-old Portland company acquired by Tom and Carol Keljo, Camas, in 1997, has been rated as one of Oregon’s 100 fastest growing companies for the second year in a row by Portland Business Journal. The sign company was rated 80th for 2006, with a growth rate of 54 percent. Security Signs was rated 85th in 2005. The company designs, manufactures and installs interior and exterior signs. <> The Vancouver-based 39-restaurant chain Burgerville, has earned a 2007 Oregon Governor’s Community Service Award for restaurants in the large business category. The award is based on restaurants, community philanthropic activities.

Calendar

The Vancouver City Council meets in a workshop session at 4 p.m. today. On the agenda is a 4:45-to-5:30 p.m. joint meeting with the Vancouver Planning Commission. The council will also review its participation in the Riverwest project that includes a new community library. The council is expected to ratify a labor agreement with Vancouver firefighters. At 6 p.m. the city council will consider its participation on the $160 million Riverwest project at C Street south of Evergreen Boulevard. The nearly four-acre project will be the home of the new Vancouver Community Library. City participation could include financing a parking structure. <> The Clark County Board of Health is holding a public hearing on new rules for private septic tank systems at 6:30 p.m. this evening in the Battle Ground High School Cafeteria, 300 W Main Street, Battle Ground. <> Clark Public Utilities’ commissioners meet in regular session at 9 a.m. Tuesday, June 26. <> Port of Vancouver commissioners meet in regular session at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 26. On the agenda is a proposal to lease three-plus acres west of the Red Lion Hotel at the Quay as a headquarters and initial development site for development of the 28-acre Boise Cascade river front project. <> Clark County commissioners meet at 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 26, and will continue discussions leading to adoption amendments to the county’s 20-year Comprehensive Growth Management Plan. <> The Columbia River Crossing Task Force meets at 4 p.m. Tuesday, June 26, in the Oregon Department of Transportation Region One Headquarters, 123 NW Flanders Street, Portland, and will discuss newly developed alternatives in the environmental impact statement process.

Headlines Monday, June 25

Destination Vancouver--A special report by the Oregonian

Brazen coyotes have local pet owners howling--Columbian, John Branton

Future of county's farmland remains cloudy--Columbian, Michael Andersen

Battle Ground's $200 million project generating interest--Columbian, Cami Joner

New Battle Ground Library will give patrons room to roam--Columbian, Cami Joner

Peter DeFazio gets streetcar contract for Clackamas company--Oregonian, Frank Ryan and Brent Hunsberger

Dog jumps into owner's care, drives downhill and into river--KATU, AP

Judge Redden scolds BPA for "marketing error"--Seattle Times, AP

Wave of suicide bombings kills at least 40 in Iraq--Washington Post, John Ward Anderson

Romney's early push paying off--Washington Post, Dan Balz

California fire near Lake Tahoe burns more than 200 buildings, causes hundreds to flee--USA TODAY, AP Aaron C. Davis

Stocks give up big gains as nervous investors sell--USA TODAY, AP, Malden Read

Iraq Coalition Casualties