Mentor, mentee named tops in Washington

Richard P. Collins, vice president, sales and general manager,Thin Film Devices Group at Kyocera Industrial Ceramics Corp., and Jordan Workman, 13-year-old Gaiser Middle School student, were named the outstanding mentor/mentee pair for the state of Washington by Washington State Mentors.

The local mentoring program is delivered by 4Results Mentoring, Columbia River Mental Health Services. It is co-sponsored by the Clark County Department of Community Services and the U.S. Department of Education.

As a reward, Collins and Workman will spend a day with the Portland Trail Blazers and head coach Nate McMillan.

West Coast Bank ranks high in SBA loans

West Coast Bank was named the number one  in processing Small Business Administration 504 loans in Washington and Oregon reports Xandra McKeown, the bank’s executive vice president, commercial banking.

The bank was also named number two in the region for processing SBA 7(a) loans and number three in the region in processing SBA express loans.

SBA loans provide special flexibility for businesses for purchase or construction of a commercial building, business expansion or acquisition or the purchase of other assets.

The bank’s parent, West Coast Bancorp, reported quarterly earnings of $8.1 million, or $.50 per diluted share for the second quarter of 2007, compared to second quarter 2006 earnings of $6.9 million or $.45 per diluted share. Year-to-date earnings per diluted share growth and return on average equity, tangible, were 11 percent and 17 percent. respectively.

Bridge planners offering
one-on-one meetings

Columbia River Crossing Project planners will meet with members of the public individually during three public meetings scheduled this month and in August.

The proposed $2 to $6 million project calls for improvements and/or replacement of the twin Interstate 5 Columbia River bridges to improve safety and mobility. Planers expect to recommend one of four plans by this November and to call for a draft Environmental Impact Statement to be completed in the spring of 2008.

The public meetings will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 25, in the Hayden Island Yacht Club, 12050 N. Jantzen Drive; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 4, at the Vancouver Farmers Market just west of Esther Short Park; and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 11, outside the mall area at the Jantzen Beach SuperCenter, 1405 Jantzen Beach Center.

Maili Morrison and Midge Dobbs elected vice presidents
of Oregon Chapter of Meeting Professionals International

Maili Morrison has been elected vice president of finance, and Midge Dobbs has been elected vice president of membership, of the Oregon Chapter of Meeting Professionals International.

Morrison, who is with North Pacific Management, Vancouver, was also honored by the MPI with the Torchlight Award for professional support of the organization.

Dobbs is with the Southwest Washington Convention and Visitor Bureau.

Wildfire risk calls for action

A few rainy days won't resolve the risk of wildfire in the Vancouver area, but the cooler temperatures are conducive to making headway on important wildfire prevention tasks around homes and in yards, says Vancouver fire marshal Jim Crawford.

Crawford says the Vancouver Fire Department and Fire District 5 have mailed safety fliers to 3,100 homes and businesses where vegetation, terrain and other safety factors put owners at the most risk from wildfire.

The fliers urge residents to create a safety zone around homes that is free of brush, debris and other combustible items. The flier also urges residents to protect themselves with proper address signage and a practiced evacuation plan.

Calendar

The Bi-State Coordination Committee meets at 7:30 a.m. Thursday, July 19, in the 6th floor training room in the Public Service Center. The agenda includes an update on the I-5 Delta Park to Lombard project and a discussion of the Columbia River Crossing project schedule and decision making process.  

Headlines Wednesday, July 18

Vancouver police officer shot during standoff near Mountain View High School at 9:45 a.m. this morning; the injury did not appear to be life-threatening--Coulmbian, Tom Vogt

Police officer shot during possible hostage standoff in Vancouver--KATU, Nick Winkler (includes updated video)

Camas gets high rating but might have gotten higher rating with more sunshine--Columbian, Dean Baker

State Association of Realtors back simple majority for school levies--Columbian, Kathie Durbin

Washington and Oregon divided over salmon--Oregonian, Michael Milstein

Neighborhoods weighing in on Interstate Bridge planning--Oregonian, Allan Brettman

Sao Paulo plane crash may haunt Brazilian government--Columbian, AP Stan Lehman

Seattle named 'one of the most beautiful' cities--Seattle P-I, Gordy Holt

Dems fail to overcome GOP filibuster on Iraq--USA TODAY, Kathy Kiely

Subprime jitters snap stock rally--USA TODAY, AP

Iraq Coalition Casualties