ESD 112 receives $1.4 million grant for childhood prevention efforts

Educational Service District 112 (ESD) is the recipient of a federal grant to fund a sweeping childhood prevention program. The grant will focus on healthy childhood development while averting violence, alcohol and other drug abuse for children and families in Cowlitz County.

The Safe Schools/Healthy Students (SS/HS) Grant will provide $1,421,284 each year for the next four years. ESD 112 was one of 27 organizations throughout the nation to receive the grant, but the only agency to receive the funds in the state of Washington.

While ESD 112 will serve as the lead agency in administering the grant, officials say the endeavor is highly collaborative.

"We are pleased to be a partnering agency in this project and we look forward to engaging in the work ahead. We know this is a very significant and meaningful opportunity for all of us working with children in Cowlitz County," says ESD 112 superintendent Dr. Twyla Barnes.

Sandy Mathewson, ESD 112 Director of Prevention and Intervention Services, will serve as the SS/HS project lead. She says the plan will focus on five elements, including:
* Safe school environments and violence prevention activities.
* Alcohol and other drug prevention activities.
* Student behavioral, social, and emotional supports.
* Mental health services.
* Early childhood social and emotional learning programs.

Mark Hottowe, Executive Director of Student Services and Human Resources for the Kelso School District, says the grant is a wonderful opportunity to collaborate with administrators from other county organizations whose work will be significant in making the project successful. "We're all really excited about the healthy programs that will be developed as a result of the grant resources," he says.

CREDC expands recruitment capabilities, adds new staff

The Columbia River Economic Development Council announced the addition of Jeanie L. Ashe and Pat Mobley to its staff.

Ashe is the CREDC’s new director of business recruitment. Her responsibilities include developing and executing domestic and international business recruitment initiatives. She brings extensive marketing and economic development experience to the position, both as a private consultant, and in the positions of director of marketing and manager of business development for the Nevada Commission on Economic Development. Ashe holds a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Speech Communications from the University of Nevada.

Mobley joins the CREDC as its new manager of investor relations. The new position is focused on managing communications for more than 170 CREDC public and private investors and public sector contracts, including the rebuilding of the organization’s electronic media communications. Mobley has significant sales and marketing experience with Inmark Communications and Dell. He recently earned a master’s degree in Public Administration from Portland State University.

Correction

Congrats once more to Miss Rodeo Washington 2008 Jessica Crouch. Unfortunately, we didn’t fare too well in the word rodeo and wrangled a few of the little doggies right out of the arena during the “cut-n-paste” competition. Our apologies. Let’s try this again:

Vancouver woman wins state rodeo title

Jessica Crouch of Vancouver has been named Miss Rodeo Washington, 2008.  Friday night’s announcement at the PRCA Rodeo in Ellensburg followed a week-long competition. Jessica swept the categories of horsemanship, speech, personality, appearance and photogenics.

Jessica, the 21 year-old daughter of Jeff and Sharon Crouch of Vancouver, is a 2004 graduate of Skyview High School. She will receive her B.S. in Equine Business Management from West Texas A & M University in

December. A scholar athlete, Jessica competes on WT’s varsity Equestrian and Horse Judging teams, and is a member of Student Ministries, the Horseman’s Association, the Ag Ambassador program and Delta Nu Delta Sorority.

As Miss Rodeo Washington, Jessica will travel throughout Washington and across the United States promoting the sport of rodeo as well as the State of Washington. To help with her anticipated travel expenses, Jessica is accepting sponsorships, cash donations and/or auction items.

Calendar

Community Choices 2010 will host the “Moving Clark County from Good to Great” forum as part of its “Building Healthy Community Forums” on October 23, 10:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. The theme of the forum is: “Walkable Communities: Can we get there from here?” The program will include national pedestrian advocate, book author and host of PBS television’s “America’s Walking” Mark Fenton. He will address issues and the need for community and public-policy support for building and sustaining walkable communities. The fee is $25. Registration is required. Call 360-567-1067 or send email to cc2010admin@vancouverusa.com. After October 16, the registration fee is $30.

Headlines Friday, Sept. 6

Sausage Fest all about community—Columbian, Christopher Luna

Local events will remember terrorist attacks—Columbian, Kelly Adams

August a record month for new visitors center—Columbian, Paul Craig

Fire crews pull together for teen—Columbian, John Branton

Sex offender moves to Image neighborhood—Columbian, Kelly Adams

Vets to install helicopter at Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center—Columbian, Dean Baker

Bush, South Korea president spar—MSNBC.com

No overt threat in Bin Laden’s newest video, according to official—USA Today

Congress approves student loan overhaul—New York Times