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The Clark County Historical Museum exhibition, Native Perspectives on the Trail: A Contemporary American Indian Art Portfolio, continues through Wednesday, May 31, in the museum at 1511 Main Street. Click on the buffalo blanket above for more details

WEDNESDAY MARCH 22, 2006

Cathlapotle House focal point of one of
the final Lewis and Clark commemorations

A re-created plankhouse near Ridgefield, visited by Lewis and Clark as they made their way from the Pacific Ocean back to Missouri in March 25, 1806, is one of the final commemorative events of the local Lewis and Clark Bicentennial.

The planthouse, one mile north of downtown Ridgefield in the Carty Unit of the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, was one of many planthouses seen by the Corps of Discovery 200 years ago. Carbon dating suggests that the village of Cathlapotle existed for at least 2,000 years.

When the Americans arrived at Cathlapotle, they found Chinook and other Indian tribes that had been trading with Europeans for at least a dozen years before the Lewis and Clark explorers discovered them by an overland route.

Activities begin at 10 a.m. and continue through 6 p.m. Cameron Smith, Portland State University adjunct professor, will discuss the “Archaeological Significance of Cathlapotle in a Global Context” at noon. At 2 p.m. Pat Courtney Gold, a Wasco-Chinook native, will discuss the clash of cultures between the Chinookans and the Corps of Discovery. The final presenter is Barb Kubik, Vancouver lecturer and author, who, at 4 p.m., will describe the importance of the California condor, which can still be found in Clark County.

There is no charge for the event. For further information, call Peter Gebhardt, 887-4106.

County adds another
1,100 jobs in February

Clark County employment rose to 205,200 for the month of February, up 1,100 jobs from January, and up 2,300 from February 2005, when the unemployment rate was 7.4 percent. The unadjusted unemployment rate for last month was 6.2 percent, not quite as good as it was in January when it stood at 5.7 percent.

But not to worry about unemployment rates, according to the state Employment Security Department, which keeps tabs on these sorts of things.

Statewide, the unemployment rate rose from 4.6 to 4.8 percent in February, although the number of jobs increased by 10,100 during the month. The department’s commissioner, Karen Lee, says, “It’s more good news for the state’s economy.”

The unemployment rate measures only the people out of work who are actively seeking work.

“People see that employers are consistently adding jobs, so they are coming out to look for work,” Lee says. She concludes, “The work force in our state is thriving.”

Lewis and Clark Bicentennial resulted
in over $17 million in local capital projects

More than $17 million is being invested in capital projects in Clark County as a result of the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial that is ending this spring.

Construction of the most costly single project, the land bridge connecting Fort Vancouver and the Columbia River waterfront, designed by architectural artist Maya Lin, is to begin within weeks. The tab is $13,5 million. The bridge is part of the overall Confluence Project, commemorating sites in Washington and Oregon for which over $20 million has already been raised from governmental and public sources.

Development of the regional Captain Clark Park at Cottonwood Beach in Camas-Washougal cost more than $2.3 million. The Cathlapotle House at Ridgefield cost over $625,000, not counting thousands of volunteer hours. The cost of the Tapestry project, which used 19 miles of yarn, was $50,000, not counting an estimated 100,000 volunteer hours.

News briefs

Clark County auditor Greg Kimsey has scheduled three town hall meetings in April to discuss changes in the way Clark County citizens are voting as a result of recent federal laws. The meetings will be held in Vancouver, Camas and Dollars Corner. n Written comments about the cable television service being provided by Comcast are being accepted through Friday, March 24, according to the City/County Telecommunications Commission, which is conducting its annual review of the cablevision supplier. Comments may be sent by email to tracie.looney@ci.vancouver.wa.us, or mailed to Clark-Vancouver Television, P.O. Box 1996, Vancouver, WA 98668-1995. n Evergreen Public Schools’ student volunteers are conducting a telethon through Thursday, March 30, on behalf of the Evergreen School District Foundation. Contributions made during the telethon will be used to strengthen literacy skills throughout Evergreen Public Schools.

Calendar

The Columbia River Crossing Taskforce is reviewing suggested plans for increasing the capacity of the I-5 Interstate bridge from 4 to 8 p.m. today in the Washington State Department of Transportation offices at 11018 NE 51st Circle. n Port of Ridgefield commissioners meet in regular session at 6 p.m. this evening in port offices at 111 W Division Street.  

Headlines at home and from around the world:
(Click on the headlines below for the rest of the story)

washingtonpost.com NCAA Tournament tracker

Erickson's landmark farm to evolve into 142 home-site planned development--Columbian, Thomas Ryll

Brian Baird 'resolutely neutral' on Cowlitz Casino Resort project, says he doesn't believe casinos are good for communities--Columbian, Jeffrey Mize

U.S. Sen. John McCain looking to change Indian gambling regulations, 'has not and will not take a position on the Cowlitz Tribal project--Columbian, Jeffrey Mize

Oregon Indian casinos opposing Cowlitz project, as well as Warm Springs proposal for a casino in the Columbia Gorge--Columbian, Kathie Durbin

Battle Ground School board says Lloyd's Grill can sell a beer with a burger but not while school is in session--Columbian, Margaret Ellis

Traffic congestion slows Vancouver Fire Department responses--Columbian, Jeffrey Mize

Graduates thankful to be alive--Columbian, Kathie Durbin

Green Mountain Golf Course may become site for homes--Columbian, Jonathan Nelson

Pierce Transit may land Lynne Griffith during special meeting Friday--Oregonian

New Tradition Homes raises bar on energy efficiency--Vancouver Business Journal

Human Society seeks expansion to cope--Columbian, Kelly Adams

Southwest Washington Medical Center's Gene Johnson retiring--Columbian, Julia Anderson

Timberline Lodge looking to the future envisions a gondola connection with Government Camp--Columbian, Tom Koenninger

Seattle council set to eliminate the sky cap--Seattle Times, Bob Young

Ferry sinks off B.C. coast; all 101 aboard rescued--Seattle Times, AP

Bush staunchly defending war program--USA TODAY, AP

GM and auto workers agree on $35,000 buy-out packages affecting 105,000 hourly workers--Washington Post, Sholnn Freeman

Mount St. Helens VolcanoCam updates every
five minutes--USDA Forest Service, Mount St. Helens
National Volcanic Monument
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