Bull Riding Championships at Clark County Fair

Bull riding championships begin at 7:30 p.m. this evening, in the Clark County Fair grandstands.

Fair hours are 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. tonight through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, Aug. 9-13, and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Aug. 14-15. Carnival opens at noon daily. Admission is $9 for adults, $7 for seniors 62 and up, $5 for children 7-12, and children under 7 are free. Cost for parking is $5.

For further information, please visit http://www.clarkcofair.com/.

SW Washington Congressional delegation to celebrate Terminal 5 dedication

Both Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, and U.S. Rep. Brian Baird, will be featured speakers at the Port of Vancouver USA’s Terminal 5 dedication and groundbreaking from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 13, at the new marine terminal.

The port will be dedicating its new Terminal 5, formerly Vancouver’s Alcoa Aluminum smelter, and celebrating the groundbreaking for the West Vancouver Freight Access rail project’s unit train loop track, which is expected to be completed in the summer of 2010.

Evergreen High School names new principal

Evergreen Public Schools has named Lisa Emmerich as principal of Evergreen High School. Emmerich was recently an associate principal at Union High School, a position she held since 2007. Prior to Union High School, she spent four years at Heritage High School, initially as a language arts teacher, then as an associate principal.

Emmerich came to Evergreen Public Schools in the fall of 2003 from Junction City High School in Junction City, Oregon, where she worked 12 years teaching English and drama. A national board certified teacher in English Language Arts and Adolescence and Young Adulthood, Emmerich holds a master's in education from Western Oregon University and a bachelor's in journalism from University of Oregon.

Volunteers needed for Stepping Stones Program

Stepping Stones, a children's bereavement program for Hospice Southwest at Southwest Washington Medical Center, currently needs volunteers to provide support for bereaved children, teens, and their families. Volunteers are trained to assist families in a support group setting.

Training sessions will be held from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10, 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 12. Attendance is required at all sessions.

There is no fee for the training; however, volunteers are asked to make a minimum commitment of one year to the program. Registration is required. To register for the training or for more information, please call 696-5120.

Vancouver Public Schools
adopts 2009-10 budget

The Vancouver School District board of directors unanimously adopted a $213,683,711 budget for Vancouver Public Schools for the fiscal year 2009-10.

“I am pleased that this budget ensures adequate staffing to provide a high quality instructional program that supports improved student achievement,” says superintendent Steve Webb. “This budget also reflects our commitment to educating the whole person.  We are not reducing the arts, physical education, or elective programs.”

State wants help
to count bicyclists

Volunteers are being recruited across the state to help count the number of people who walk or bike to their destinations. The information being gathered this fall will be used to track progress toward the state’s goal of increasing bicycling and walking in Washington and reducing the number of vehicle miles driven.

Those who are interested in helping can learn more by visiting the Washington State Department of Transportation ’s web site, www.wsdot.wa.gov/bike/Count.htm, or by calling 206-957-0689.

Free family activities this weekend at Fort Vancouver

Fort Vancouver National Historic Site is featuring five free family activities at Fort Vancouver this weekend. Activities include the following: Waltz Through Time, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14, at the porch of General O.O. Howard House, 750 Anderson Street; Fort Vancouver Stockade Tour, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 15-16, at the Reconstructed Stockade, Fort Vancouver NHS, 1001 E. 5th Street; picnic and 1860s vintage baseball game, 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, at the Parade Ground, 1501 E. Evergreen Boulevard; cannon firing at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, on the east end of the Parade Ground; five-minute sneak peek of Ken Burns's new PBS series The National Parks, America’s Best Idea, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15.

For more information about the waltz event, please visit www.nps.gov/fova/parknews/free-programs-on-officers-row-continue.htm.

For more information on all other activities, call the Visitor Center at 816-6230.

News Brief

The Vancouver Police Department is holding two informational meetings this month to discuss the hiring process for entry level police officer. Meetings are 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28, and 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 29, at the Firstenburg Community Center, 700 NE 136th Avenue. These meetings are open to the public and no RSVP is required to attend one of the sessions. For additional information, contact 487-7400, or email Richard.Rich@ci.vancouver.wa.us or Laura.Andersen@ci.vancouver.wa.us.

Calendar

Johnny Limbo and the Lugnuts play from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 13, at Esther Short Park as part of the Six to Sunset Concert series. <> The Design Review Committee meets at 4 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 13, in the 4400 Building, 4400 NE 77th Avenue, Conference Room A. <> Turtle Place Market will have produce, food and music until 7 p.m. tonight.

Wednesday on the air

Port of Vancouver Board of Commissioners (8-11)—4:30 p.m. CVTV

Portland Beavers at Round Rock (live)—5 p.m. KKAD

Chicago at Mariners (live)—7 p.m. FSN ESPN

Clark County Planning Commission (7-16)—7:30 p.m. CVTV

Vancouver Land Use Hearings (8-6)—10 p.m. CVTV

Lunch with the Governor (7-23)—11:15 p.m. CVTV

 

Community Calendar Links

• Southwest Washington Center for the Arts

• Greater Vancouver Chamber

• City of Vancouver Calendar

Wednesday, August 12, 2009 Headlines

 

Links to news of local & national significance

Sales a mixed bag for fair vendors--Columbian, Julia Anderson

Lawmakers to hear Mount St. Helens feedback--Columbian, Erik Robinson

Clark County displays options for old WSU research station--Columbian, The Columbian

Tom Koenninger muses on rural roots--Columbian

NASA cannot keep up with killer asteroids--USATODAY, AP. Seth Roberstein