2009 Parade of Homes
to be in Battle Ground

The 32nd annual Clark County Parade of Homes will be in Camellia in Battle Ground, August 14 through August 30, reports Ericka Carlsen, special events director for the sponsoring Building Industry Association of Clark County.

Only pre-sold homes are being shown in their year’s parade, according to Carlsen. Camellia is a gated development of one- to two-acre wooded lots surrounded by wetlands at the intersection of Highway 503 and NW 179th Street.

This year, Tamarack Homes, Craftbuilt Fine Homes and Achen Development are building homes for the show. However, other builders are invited to participate. Battle Ground has agreed to work with builders to expedite building permits. Fourteen one-acre-plus lots are available from $184,000 to $235,000.

For further information, call 694-0933.

Vancouver Public Schools seek
further public input on budget

The Vancouver School District is scheduling three workshop sessions, beginning next month, to address what the directors call the State of Washington’s “outdated public education funding structures.”

According to an open letter drafted by the Vancouver School District: “The district has been forced to reduce programs and services for the past seven years. The district relies on the state for approximately 70 percent of its general fund revenue. Until the state chooses to fix its [school-funding structure] Vancouver, will experience budget shortfalls.”

State legislators this year are dealing with an expected $8 billion shortfall.

A summary of the district’s financial woes will be posted on its website, http://www.vansd.org, by March 15.

Battle Ground School District
presents veterans’ diplomas

Twelve military veterans who left high school before graduating to serve in the Korean or Vietnam conflicts were presented high school diplomas this week in ceremonies conducted by the Battle Ground School District.

Four had attended Battle Ground High School: Robert Lee Adams, Eldon Ward Allen,  Ronald August Kangas and Donald Edward Bair.

Other veterans honored with high school diplomas were as follows: Glen Arthur Jones, Terrance Ray Mullis, Michael Allen Wilbur, Kelly Joel Hinton, Richard Eugene Allen, Joseph Neal Burdick, David Gene Watson and Thomas W. Skesavage.

Battle Ground High School principal Tim Lexow presented the diplomas before an audience of about 200 persons.

Federal grant to be used
to reduce diesel exhausts

Clark County Fire & Rescue has received $121,615 from a 2008 Assistance to Firefighters Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Homeland Security.

The money is to be used to purchase and install fully automatic, self-contained direct source capture systems on each of the department's diesel engines. The systems are expected to reduce diesel exhaust emissions, protecting firefighters, community members, and the environment.

49th, 18th District legislators holding
town hall meetings this Saturday

Clark County’s 49th District state legislators are holding a town hall meeting from 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday, March 14, in the Clark County Elections Department, 1408 Franklin Street.

Taking questions and reporting on the current state legislative session are the 49th District delegation, all Democrats: Sen. Craig Pridemore, and Reps. Jim Moeller and Jim Jacks.

The 18th District legislators, all Republicans, are holding Saturday town hall meetings at 10:30 a.m. in the Oak Tree Restaurant in Woodland, and at 12:30 p.m. in Battle Ground City Hall, 109 SW 1st Street. The legislators are Sen. Joseph Zarelli and Reps. Jaimie Herrera and Ed Orcutt.

People

Mark Stoker has announced that he is a candidate for election to the Vancouver School District board of directors. Stoker, a Vancouver attorney, was appointed to the board in 2007. Active in community organizations, Stoker has also served on the Vancouver School District Foundation, the Rotary Foundation , and I Have a Dream of Southwest Washington.

News brief

Port of Ridgefield commissioners are holding a special public meeting with staff and consultants to discuss planning for the Millers’ Landing Project from 1 to 4 p.m. Friday, March 13, in port offices, 111 W Division Street.

Calendar

The Clark County Urban Livestock Task Force meets at 6 p.m. this evening in the sixth-floor training room in the Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin Street. <> Clark County assessor Linda Franklin is holding the last of three meetings, in which she explains county tax statements and takes questions, at 7 p.m. this evening in the commissioners’ hearing room in the Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin Street. For further information, call 397-2391. <> The Fairgrounds Neighborhood Association meets at 7 p.m. this evening in the Community of Christ Church, 400 NE 179th Street. Special guest is chairman of the board of Clark County Commissioners Marc Boldt. <> The annual meeting of the Pleasant Highlands Neighborhood Association is at 7 p.m. this evening in the library in the Pleasant Valley Middle School. <> The Southwest Washington Blood Program is conducting a blood drawing from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. tomorrow, March 12, in the gymnasium of Lewis and Clark High School, 2901 General Anderson Avenue. <> The Building Industry Association of Clark County and the law firm of Schwabe, Williamson and Wyatt are presenting a seminar, “Strategies and Opportunities in a Challenging Market,” from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. tomorrow, March 12, in the Heathman Lodge. A $20 seminar fee includes lunch. For further information, call 694-0933. <> The Three Creeks Advisory Council meets at 10 a.m. tomorrow, March 12, in the Clark Regional Wastewater District offices, 800 NE 52nd Court. Topics are planning and zoning.

Community Calendar Links

• Southwest Washington Center for the Arts

• Greater Vancouver Chamber Community 

• City of Vancouver Calendar