Pollard leads in local poll

If the elections were held today, Royce Pollard would retain his seat as mayor of Vancouver with 33% of the votes to his principal challenger’s, Councilman Tim Leavitt’s, 27%. Challenger Charlie Stemper had 19% of the vote while undecided made up 21% of votes.

“The results show that this is a very close race,” says Jim Mains, pollster with Kmac and Associates. “There are a good number of people who still have to make up their minds, and the candidates have a chance to drastically change the results by the primary next week.”    

The four main poll questions covered a wide range of issues facing Vancouver and its residents, including tolling on a new I-5 bridge. When asked if residents would support tolls if it is the only way for a new bridge to be built, 58% said “no.”  

Seventy percent, when voters were asked about building a Las Vegas style casino in Northern Clark County, were against the idea, leaving 29% supporting the effort. 

The final question asked voters to rate the current City Council’s job performance. The majority at 41% responded “fair,” while 33% responded “poor,” and only 21% believed the City Council was doing “excellent.” “This shows that most people polled are content with our current city council,” said KMac’s president, Kathy McDonald, “although most of those polled who are undecided on a mayor felt that the City could do better and weren’t happy with those at the helm.”

Extreme big air motorcycles at Clark County Fair

Extreme big air motorcycles and mix challenge show takes place this evening at 7:30 p.m., in the Clark County fair grandstands. The first 1,000 people through the gate will receive a free gift from Sobe Lifewater.

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.

Northwest Antique Airplane Club celebrates 50th anniversary at Pearson Airport this weekend

The Northwest Antique Airplane Club is celebrating its 50th anniversary fly-in show noon to 5 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 14, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Aug.15 and 16, at Pearson Airport. There will be hundreds of antiques, classics and experimental aircraft on the field for the public to view.

The show will be launched by Mayor Royce Pollard at noon on Friday. Other events include the Port of Portland providing free ice cream noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, along with an Orville and Wilbur lookalike contest starting at 1 p.m. hosted by Drew Carney of KGW. There will also be various food vendors available and a Buick car show until 4 p.m. on Sunday.

Admission costs are $8 for Adults, $7 for Seniors, $5 for Children 6-12 and children under are free. Check the website www.nwaac.com for further information.

Volunteer puppeteers needed

Kids on the Block is an educational program that uses puppetry to help children understand and accept differences in one and another and to learn skills to stay safe and healthy in their community. The program is currently looking for volunteer puppeteers. Experience is not necessary. An orientation meeting is being held Sept. 8, and training starts on Sept. 15. For further information, contact Lynette Jelinek at 433-5675 or email Lynette@powerfulpuppetry.org.

Southwest Washington Humane Society to host dinner and auction

The Humane Society for Southwest Washington is hosting a dinner and auction event, Home Sweet Home, to provide well-equipped facilities, medical supplies, high-quality food and well-trained staff for animals.

The Home Sweet Home dinner and auction is at 5 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 3, in the Hilton Vancouver, 301 W 6th Street. For more information about this event contact Eileen Reilly at 750-0847 or visit http://www.southwesthumane.org.

Temporary trail closures at Whipple Creek Regional Park

Several trails inside Whipple Creek Regional Park will be temporarily closed for improvements beginning Monday, Aug. 17.

The closures are necessary to remove and replace two culverts with foot bridges, which will take approximately three weeks to complete. Signs will be posted on the trails that are closed.

More information about this park is available online at www.clark.wa.gov/parks-trails/whipplecreek.html. For more information about the trail improvement project, please contact Brian Zahora at 619-1150.

People

Certified general appraiser Peter Van Nortwick today announced he will be a candidate for Clark County Assessor at the next general election.

Calendar

Johnny Limbo and the Lugnuts play from 6 to 8 p.m. tonight, 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. <> The groundbreaking for the new Vancouver Community Library takes place at 1 p.m., Friday, Aug. 14, intersection of Evergreen Boulevard and C Street. <> The Vancouver Community Concert Band performs 5:30 to 8 p.m., Friday, Aug. 14, at the Friendship Center, 1600 W 20th Street. Admission is $3 per person and $5 for couples. For more information, call 750-4752.

Thursday on the air

Vancouver Planning Commission (7-28)—4:59 p.m. CVTV

Clark County Animal Control Hearings (7-8)—5:59 p.m. CVTV

Fun Wagon Promo (8-28)—6:49 p.m. CVTV

City and County Telecommunications Commission (8-5)—6:59 p.m. CVTV

New York at Seattle Mariners (live)—7 p.m. FSN, KFXX

City Council Workshop (8-10)—7:44 p.m. CVTV

Election 2009: East County Primary Election Candidates’ Forum (7-28)—10:14 p.m. CVTV

Election 2009: Primary Video Voters’ Guide—11:24 p.m. CVTV

Community Calendar Links

• Southwest Washington Center for the Arts

• Greater Vancouver Chamber

• City of Vancouver Calendar

Thursday, August 13, 2009 Headlines

 

Links to news of local & national significance

Baird apologizes, announces meetings--Columbian, Mark Bowder

Ballots slowly trickle in for primary election--Columbian, Jeffrey Mize

Lawmakers to suare off on softball field--Columbian, Jeffrey Mize

Guitar legend Les Paul dies at age 94--USA Today, Jim Cheng

Stocks manage to extend gains to second day--Oregonian, AP

Retail sales unexpectedly dip in July--Washington Post, Yian Q. Mui

PGA Leaderboard