Bulletin: An F-15 jet fighter from the 142nd Fighter Wing Oregon Air National Guard went down off the Oregon coast approximately 35 nautical miles west of Cannon Beach at around 1:35 p.m. today. The F-15 jet fighter was from the Portland Air Base on a training mission. The aircraft was carrying 1 pilot. The USCG out of North Bend and Astoria are conducting search and rescue operations at the location of the crash site. The cause of the accident will be under investigation. As soon as additional details become available, they will be provided. The 142d Fighter Wing's Alert Mission is not affected.--FlashNews.Net

Portland-Vancouver move step
closer to 2008 presidential debate

The Portland-Vancouver metropolitan area has moved a step closer to a 2008 presidential debate, reports Clark College president Bob Knight.

Representatives of the Commission on Presidential Debates and the U.S. Secret Service met today in Portland with representatives from Oregon and Washington, including Knight, Vancouver Mayor Royce Pollard, Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire’s southwest Washington representative, Jim Jacks, Associated Students of Clark College president Patrick Mehigan and Clark College executive director of communications and marketing Barbara Kerr.

A possible site for the debate is the Oregon Convention Center, Memorial Coliseum or the Rose Quarter. Related activities would be planned for Clark College.

The lash-up between Oregon and Washington, using Clark College as the key, was developed earlier this year by representatives from both Washington and Oregon.

A 90-minute presidential debate would attract 3,000 international news media representatives, according to Knight.

“Hosting the debate would offer great teaching and learning opportunities for our students and faculty,” Knight said.

Clark College’s Jennifer Grove named
to international leadership program

Jennifer Grove, Clark College operations manager, has been selected as a participant in a year-long leadership program offered by the National Institute for Leadership Development’s LEADERS program, an international program for administrators and faculty in higher education.

Headquartered in Arizona, the National Institute for Leadership Development was founded in 1981 to advance women into college presidencies. Participants in the LEADERS program are chosen for their professional abilities, their interests in advancement in higher education and the quality of their proposed projects.

Most of the program will be conducted in Vancouver. Grove will be mentored by Clark College president Bob Knight and Micki Caskey, associate professor in the Graduate School of Education, Portland State University. Her projects, designed to benefit Clark College, focus on individual professional growth.

Grove joined Clark College in 2006. Previously she was with Oregon Health and Science University and Concorde Career Institute. Grove graduated cum laude from San Jose State University and earned a masters degree in educational policy from Portland State University, where she is a doctoral candidate in educational leadership.

Columbia River Crossing Task Force to
discuss supplemental bridge today

Meeting at 4 p.m. today, the Columbia River Crossing Task Force will be discussing five crossing options on Interstate 5 between Vancouver and Portland. One of the options under consideration at the meeting in the Oregon Department of Transportation Region One Headquarters, 123 NW Flanders Street, Portland, is to do nothing.

New in discussions by the 39-member bi-state task force is a supplemental bridge. Whether the existing bridge is replaced or augmented by a second bridge, each has the option of including either light rail or bus rapid transit.

A draft Environmental Impact Statement considering each of the options is expected to be available for public review late this year or early in 2008.

Additional information is provided by the task force at a new website, www.columbiarivercrossing.org.

Port of Vancouver approves waterfront
lease; purchase of Alcoa property

Port of Vancouver commissioners today approved a lease to Columbia Waterfront LLC of 3.26 acres of property west of the Red Lion Hotel at the Quay. The property would serve as headquarters for the organization when it develops the 27-acre Boise Cascade Columbia River waterfront property it is in the process of buying.

A hotel and shops would also be built on the leased property. The 50-year lease, with two 15-year extensions, calls for an initial monthly payment of $16,492.

Port commissioners also approved—contingent on voter approval in August of a six-year, $72 million special levy, purchase of 107 acres of Columbia River waterfront property that formerly housed the Alcoa smelter facilities.

The purchase price is $23,750,000.

The special levy would also pay for major improvements in the port’s rail system.

Klineline Pond on Salmon Creek
contaminated, uses restricted

The county Health Department is advising that Klineline Pond, a popular swimming and fishing site on Salmon Creek near Interstate Highway 5 in Salmon Creek was been found to be polluted.

Health officials advise no swimming in the pond and avoiding contact with the water. Animals should be kept away, too.

Klineline Park, however, is open. 1

Calendar

The Columbia River Crossing Task Force meets at 4 p.m. today 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. <> The Clark County commissioners’ meeting on the updated growth management plan that began at 9 a.m. today likely will continue throughout most of the day. The commissioners have scheduled another hearing for 9 a.m. Wednesday, June 27, and yet another for 10 a.m. Thursday, July 5. <> The Clark County Board of Health is holding a hearing on proposed changes in septic sewage systems at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, June. 27. in the 6th-floor hearing room in the Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin Street. <> A barbecue dinner will honor retiring Parks Foundation executive director Phyllis Goldhammer at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 27, in the Firstenburg Community Center, 700 NE 136th Avenue. For further information and reservations for the $15 dinner, call 693-7050.

Headlines Monday, June 25

Beaver believers greet team--Oregonian, Brad Schmidt

County commissioners appeal ruling negating the memorandum of understanding between Cowlitz Tribe and county--Columbian, Michael Andersen

Building a new bridge: I-5 bridge process moves into fast lane--Columbian, Don Hamilton

Clark College faculty representatives tell trustees. for the record, that it objected to process of selecting new president--Columbian

City approves Riverwest parking pact--Columbian, Jeffrey Mize

Former Ridgefield police officer settles suit--Columbian, Jose Paul Corona

Vancouver's rich history underlies a forward-looking city--Oregonian, Allan Brettman

Senate votes to resume immigration debate--Washington Post, Jonathan Weisman

Fed unlikely to lower rates--Washington Post, Neill Henderson

Republican Lugar urges quick shift in Iraq War strategy--New York Times, Jeff Zeleny

iPhone matches most of its hype--New York Times, David Pogue

Iraq Coalition Casualties