SWMC opens after hours KidsPlace in ER

Southwest Washington Medical Center has opened an after hours six-room KidsPlace for children and their parents in the medical center's emergency department.

"KidsPlace," according to Jennifer Packer, director of emergency services at SWMC, "is a whole new way of reaching out to children and their families in emergency situations." She adds, "We want to make a potentially frightening experience less scary and perhaps even interesting or fun."

While the emergency department serves children 24 hours a day, KidsPlace will be open between 5 p.m. and 1 a.m., when many parents bring their children to the emergency department because their pediatricians' or family physicians' offices are closed, Packer says.

There are six separate KidsPlace rooms, each with a television set, DVD player, toys and games. KidsPlace is staffed with physicians and nurses trained in special pediatric advanced life support, according to Packer.

For further information, click on the KidsPlace banner just above today's Insider Headlines.

County study for next phase
of downtown campus begins

A study of future needs in the downtown Clark County governmental campus, with an emphasis on the county jail and county court space, is expected to begin this summer.

Specifically, the study will be focused on the the most efficient and affordable way to keep offenders in jail, ensure public safety and provide needed space for law and justice services through 2033. Also under study will be office space for the county prosecutor’s office, county clerk’s office, county law library, and related law and justice functions.

Input sought on in-fill
regulation changes

Clark County commissioners are asking county staff and the public to come up with recommended changes in the county’s 2002 in-fill ordinance. The ordinance promotes residential uses on vacant land in existing residential neighborhoods.

The county Community Development Department has scheduled a 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 25, meeting in the 6th-floor training room in the Public Service Center to solicit public input. For further information, call
Marlia Jenkins, 397-2375, extension 4405.

Dengerink Madarang and Kaw art
on display at WSU Vancouver

Art work by Erin Dengerink Madarang and an art exhibit titled “Second Leap Series II” by Ping Kaw are on display at Washington State University Vancouver. There is no charge for either exhibit.

One of Erin Dengerink Madarang’s pieces of art on
display at Washington State University Vancouver
 through mid August. 

Dengerink Madarang’s paintings are on display in the administration building gallery and board room through Monday, Aug. 13. Dengerink Madarang, trained at Western Washington University and San Francisco Art Institute, is a member of the board of the Sixth Street Gallery in Vancouver, and the WSU Vancouver diversity council arts committee. She teaches drawing for the Clark College extension program.

Malaysian-born Kaw began her training at the Malaysian Institute of Art and followed up at the Pacific Northwest College of Art, Portland. Kaw’s work is on display in the WSU Vancouver library and in the multimedia classroom building through Monday, Aug. 6.

Optimist Club puts a little dough in dough

The Optimist Club of Vancouver and the City of Vancouver are helping to celebrate Vancouver’s 150th birthday with a baking contest during the Saturday, Sept. 1 picnic in Esther Short Park.

Prices range from $20 to $100 in each of three categories, pies, cakes and cookies/cookie bars. There is, however, a $5 entry fee.

The deadline to obtain an entry form is 5 p.m. Friday. Aug. 24. For further information, call 487-7200, extension 8299. For additional details about the city’s 150th anniversary celebration go to www.cityofvancouver.us/150th.

News brief

Online child safety expert and author of the book Look Both Ways, Linda Criddle, is making an adults-only presentation from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., Monday, Aug. 6, at Washington State University Vancouver.  Criddle, formerly with Microsoft Corp., offers practical technical and policy based solutions to online predatory behavior. To register for the $10 presentation, call 564-9222. For further information, go to http://www.look-both-ways.com.

Calendar

The C-TRAN board of directors meet at 5:15 p.m. this evening in the La Center Community Center, 1000 E 4th Street. <> An open house discussion on plans for the Chelatchie Prairie rail and trail planning project, sponsored by the Vancouver-Clark Parks & Recreation and Clark County Public Works, begins at 6:30 p.m. this evening in Brush Prairie High School, 11500 NE 117th Avenue. A second open house begins at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 11, in the Yacolt Elementary School, 406 W Yacolt Road. <> Port of Vancouver commissioners meet at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 11. <> Clark County commissioners meet in informal session at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 11, in conference room B in the Public Service Center.

Headlines Tuesday, July 10

Neapolitan trio--Columbian, Tricia Jones

Exploding propane tanks put on late-night show in east Vancouver--Columbian, Kelly Adams

Battle Ground school construction proceeding apace--Columbian, Isolde Raftery

Parking and tree concerns emerge as eastside library planning proceeds--Columbian, Howard Buck

M's set to sign Ichiro to 5-year deal--Seattle Times, Larry Stone

Bush is firm as criticism over Iraq mounts--New York Times, David Stout and  Jeff Zeleny

Oregon Sen. Gordon Smith will lead Iraq withdrawal effort in Congress--Oregonian

McCain top aids quit struggling campaign--Washington Post, Dan Balz

The Cheney Vice Presidency--Washington Post Series

Stocks fall more than 140 points on profit letdowns--USA TODAY, AP

Iraq Coalition Casualties