Major planning effort underway for Highway 99

Clark County planners have set a series of neighborhood meetings and guided tours of the Highway 99 planning area this month. Following the tours, an all-day community planning workshop will be held on September 27.

The “Highway 99 Sub-Area” takes in about 2,400 acres, extending from the Chelatchie Prairie Railroad bridge near northwest 63rd St. to I-5, NE 134th St., and the Bonneville Power transmission line right-of-way.

Van tours of the area will take place on September 20 and 21, beginning at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. in the Starbucks parking lot at the corner of NE 78th St. and Highway 99. Call Jeff Niten at (360) 397-2280 ext. 4909 to reserve a seat for the tour. Go to the Clark County Web site at http://www.clark.wa.gov/hwy99/index.html for access to a self-guided tour and additional Highway 99 information.

Vancouver woman wins state rodeo crown

Jessica Crouch of Vancouver is the new Miss Rodeo Washington, 2008.  Friday night’s announcement at the PRCA Rodeo in Ellensburg followed a week-long competition.

Crouch, 21, is the daughter of Jeff and Sharon Crouch of Vancouver. She is a 2004 graduate of Skyview High School. She will receive her B.S. in Equine Clark College Corporate and Business Management from West Texas A & M University in December. A scholar athlete, Crouch competes on WT’s varsity Equestrian and Horse Judging

Crouch swept the categories of horsemanship, speech, personality, appearance and photogenics. teams, and is a member of Student Ministries, the Horseman’s Association, the Ag Ambassador program and Delta Nu Delta Sorority.

Continuing Education launches new online enrollment management system, CampusCE

Clark College Corporate and Continuing Education has launched a new online enrollment management system, CampusCE, in preparation for the fall quarter of 2007.

The new user-friendly system allows students to search class schedules, see space availability, and register and pay for classes in a secure online environment.   In addition to online registration, the new system gives students access to their account information from home Prospective students can browse the new online catalog and register at www.at-campus.net/Clark.

“This e-system is great news for our students and customers,” says executive director Todd Oldham.  “It’s flexible and convenient.”

Oldham adds, “People are used to doing their banking online and buying items online.  It’s not surprising that they want to be able enroll in professional development and continuing education courses through the Internet as well.” 

Plans are already underway to expand the system to include online event registration, customized learning resources and portals, and training solutions for corporate training clients.

Applications due September 14 for 2008 historical promotion grants

Each year the Board of Clark County Commissioners awards grants to encourage historic preservation and programs, including the preservation of historic documents. Applications for 2008 grants must be received by the Historical Promotion Grants Advisory Committee by September 14.

Applications are reviewed by the advisory committee in the fall in order to submit recommendations to the board in November. Final grant awards will occur in December and funding will be available in January 2008.

Applications are available at www.clark.wa.gov/bocc/current_issues/documents/HPGPapplication08.pdf (PDF 42KB) or by contacting Kelly Sills at (360) 397-2232 or kelly.sills@clark.wa.gov. The deadline for submitting applications is 5 p.m., Friday, September 14.

Cool to be a Coug: WSU logo sales top UW for first time

For the first time ever, WSU logo wear and products beat out sales of the Husky logo for the 2006-2007 year according to Collegiate Licensing Company.

Mel Taylor, WSU director of special projects and external affairs, offered a variety of explanations for the buying blitz, including plain and simple fashion.

“You know crimson and gray are a lot easier on the eye than purple and gold,” Taylor told The Daily Evergreen in Pullman.

He also suggested the boost in sales could be explained by a powerful and serendipitous combination: enthusiastic alumni snapping up products from around the globe, a winning basketball team and new marketing efforts.

News brief

The West Coast Bank Vancouver Downtown branch continues to hold its school supply drive for Clark County school children. Items still needed include tissues, back packs, pencil boxes, watercolor paint sets, and glue sticks. These and other supplies can be dropped off during business hours at 500 East Broadway, Suite 100, until Friday, September 7.

The school supplies will be divided between Hough Elementary, Fruit Valley Elementary, and Open House Ministries. Contact Branch Manager Kristy Weaver at 360-906-4270 for more information.

Calendar

9/6: InterACT is hosting a forum titled, “What Now in Iraq?” on Thursday, September 6^th from 12-1 p.m. in the Board Hearing Room at the Clark County Administration Building.  For more information, please visit
 http://interactclarkcounty.org/modules.php?name=What_we_do.<> 9/13:Vancouver’s Downtown Association meets September 13 at 904 Main St. Divine Consign at a new time: 7:30 a.m. sharp. <>9/13:The public is invited to provide input on the Clark College facilities master plan update during a community meeting on Thursday, September 13 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.  The forum will be held in Rooms 258 B& C in the Penguin Union Building. Public parking for the meeting will be available in the college’s green #1 parking lot. Clark College is located at 1933 Fort Vancouver Way. For additional information, contact Jim Green, Director of Plant Services, at 360-992-2336.<>10/25: Save the date! The Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce is hosting a “Fall Real Estate & Development Forum” Sponsored by Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt, Gramor Development, Norris, Beggs & Simpson & West Coast Bank. The event will take place on Thursday, Oct. 25, 12 - 1:30 p.m. at Red Lion Hotel at The Quay. The forum is billed as “a real estate informational forum on law, leasing, finance and development, plus a local real estate exposition.” Registration opens at 11:30 a.m. Cost: TBA. Call 360-694-2588 or go to www.vancouverusa.com to register.

Headlines Wednesday, Sept. 5

Former Rep. Jennifer Dunn has died—Columbian, AP

Crash victims’ kin make quiet plea—Columbian, Stephanie Rice

First day for students, new buildings—Columbian, Howard Buck

Commissioners may end Salmon Creek building ban—Columbian, Michael Anderson  

Indoor Farmer’s Market may not close after all—Columbian, Jeffrey Mize 

Lumber company will apply to build Skamania wind farm—Columbian, Kathie Durbin

German police arrest three in terrorist plot—New York Times, Mark Landler

U.S. Open: Davydenko knocks out Haas—New York Times, Ray Krueger

Fossett still missing—The Guardian, Tom Gardner