Port of Ridgefield hits paydirt

The Washington State Department of Transportation and the Port of Ridgefield have reached an agreement that will permit excess soil from the construction of a new interchange at I-5 and SR-501 to be used for fill at the Port’s waterfront cleanup and redevelopment site on Lake River.

Randy Mueller, director of business development for the Port, says bringing the excess soil to the riverfront site will save hundreds of thousands of dollars in the construction of the interchange and will provide huge benefits for the Port.

We estimate says Mueller, that over 150,000 cubic yards of fill will be brought to the Lake River site, stockpiled and later used for capping and filling of the area as our cleanup and redevelopment move forward.

To purchase this much clean fill for our cleanup and redevelopment project would have cost us millions of dollars, says Mueller.

Landlords asked to accept vouchers for veterans housing

Vancouver Mayor Royce Pollard is asking landlords in the community to accept special rental vouchers when approached by veterans seeking a place to rent. The Vancouver Housing Authority has received 70 special vouchers from the joint HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing program to help homeless veterans and their families in Clark County.

The HUD-VASH collaboration pairs housing choice vouchers for veterans with Veterans Affairs case management and supportive services.

"Veterans have served our country and we now have an opportunity to offer the veterans our hand of support," says Pollard.

Landlords can further show their support of veterans by waiving move-in deposits, which is a major obstacle for homeless veterans. Landlords with rents that exceed VHA standards could also reduce the rents for the veterans participating in the program. Seventy landlords designating one unit for the program would help to fully use the 70 vouchers.

Council to review police study in televised meeting

The Vancouver City Council will review and discuss the Vancouver Police Study, which was prepared by Matrix Consulting Group, during a two-hour workshop session from 4 to 6 pm, Monday, Aug. 10.

Open to the public, the session will be televised live on CVTV cable channel 23. As is the usual practice during workshop sessions, there will be no time for public testimony or comment.

The full report presented by Matrix Consulting Group is available on the City of Vancouver Web site at www.cityofvancouver.us/vpdreport or the Vancouver Police Department Web site.

Vancouver teacher named region's teacher of the year

Kenneth Roberts, a teacher at Fort Vancouver High School, has been named the Educational Service District 112 Regional Teacher of the Year for 2010. Roberts is one of nine finalists from Washington nominated for the Washington State Teacher of the Year Award. One teacher will be selected to represent Washington state in the National Teacher of the Year Program.

Roberts has taught English in Barcelona, Spain, was a teacher for the Head Start Program in Arizona, and taught high school Spanish for the Battle Ground School District where he developed the districts first Advanced Placement (AP) Spanish class.

Roberts is currently teaching Spanish at Fort Vancouver High School and also runs CONEVyT, an online program from Mexico, that helps students with limited English to speak more proficiently. Roberts is also co-founder of La Plaza, a community learning center for Vancouver's Latino community that allows adults to take on-site and off-site classes through a partnership with Clark College.

"I am very proud of my work at Fort Vancouver High School and La Plaza," says Roberts, "but it has only just begun. I will continue to find ways to help a community in need because everybody deserves a chance to get ahead."

Late Night with Leavitt

On Friday, August 7, from 7:30 to 11 p.m., a benefit event is being held for Leavitt4Mayor. The event is at 1220 Main. There will be music, hors d'oeuvres, and a no-host bar.

RSVP is not required but is appreciated. For more information or to RSVP, call 609-4846, email Leavitt4mayor@gmail.com, or visit www.Leavitt4Mayor.com.

August Road Show and Retro Fair at Marshall Center

The Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation Department is hosting the August Road Show and Retro Fair, Saturday, August 22. The car show will begin at 10 a.m., and awards will be presented at 4:30 pm. At 6 p.m., participating vehicles will "cruise the Gut," traveling up Broadway, circling around Main Street Dairy Queen, and down Main Street. The cost is $15 per car. To register for this event, call 487-7100.

News Brief

The City of Vancouver is seeking applicants for a vacancy on the Vancouver Planning Commission. The appointment is for a partial term that ends on December 31, 2010. Applicants for this position must be city residents, with an interest and experience in community planning, urban design or housing development, who are active in business, neighborhood or community affairs. For further information or to request an application, contact Terry Lenhart at 487-7955, or fax 487-7965. Online applications are also available at www.cityofvancouver.us/planningcommission. Applications must be submitted by 5 p.m., Friday, Sept. 4. <> The Fort Vancouver National Trust is now accepting entry applications for the 23rd Annual Celebrate Freedom Veterans Parade presented by the Lough Legacy. Parade applications are available online at www.fortvan.org, at the Fort Vancouver National Trust office in the O.O. Howard House, 750 Anderson Street, or by calling the Trust at 992-1808. Application deadline is Thursday, Sept. 24.

Calendar

City of Vancouver presents the Terry Lee, Attorney Noon Concert, noon to 1 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 5th at Esther Short Park. <> The Water Resources Education Center is having science and nature activities from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 5th, at Esther Short Park. <> Food, produce and music will be available at Turtle Place Market from noon to 7 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 5, at 7th and Main Streets. <> WSU is having a workshop on Flickr, 6 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 5th, at the WSUV Campus. Pre-registration is mandatory  and costs $25. For further information, call 694-2588.

Tuesday on the air

 

Seattle Mariners at Kansas City (live)—5 p.m. FSN, KTRO

Clark County Board of Commissioners (live)—6 p.m. CVTV

Vancouver Code Enforcement Appeal Hearings (7-23)—9 p.m. CVTV

Lunch with the Governor (7-23)—9:30 p.m. CVTV

Election 2009: East County Primary Election Candidates’ Forum (7-28)—10:30 p.m. CVTV     

 

Community Calendar Links

• Southwest Washington Center for the Arts

• Greater Vancouver Chamber

• City of Vancouver Calendar

Tuesday, August 4, 2009 Headlines

 

Links to news of local & national significance

North Korea: 2 US journalists pardoned--Columbian, Jean H. Lee

U.S. agency plans meeting on distracted driving--New York Times, David Stout

Senate leader expects to extend 'Cash for Clunkers'--New York Times, Mathew L. Wald

Homeland Secretary Napolitano predicts severe flu epidemic for fall--USA Today, Steve Sternberg

Boeing looking at Everett, other sites for second 787 production line--Seattle Times, Dominic Gates