Washington state and local taxes
rated 29th lowest in the country

State of Washington state and local taxes were 29th lowest in the country during fiscal year 2004, according to figures just published by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Mike Gowrylow, spokesman for the state Department of Revenue, says that state and local taxes were $106.27 per $1,000 personal income, compared to the U.S. average of $110.43 per $1,000. Washington rated 10th lowest in the 13 western states, he said.

Washington ranked 18th among the states in taxes per capita at $3,452, only $5 above the national average and the closest Washington has been to the national average since 1982.

Washington also ranked 28th nationally in property taxes.

“Sing 4th” annual competition
opens 4th of July celebration

The third annual “Sing 4th” high school singing competition opens the Comcast Presents 4th of July at the Historic Reserve, at 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 4, in the main stage on the Vancouver Barracks parade grounds.

Hosts are Bruce Sussman, KGW-TV weather man, and 13-year-old Kyra Smith, who has co-hosted the competition since it began in 2004.

Competing for scholarships and other prizes are the following: Mary Rose Allred, Vancouver School of Arts and Academics, Sara Currie, Battle Ground High School, Chelsea Jordan and Moriah Lemire, both of Camas High School, Tanner Kingston and Julie Rupert, both of Mountain View High School, Catherine Kohl, Clark College Running Start, Barbara Richardson, Prairie High School, Asia Smith, Heritage High School, and Larry Taylor, Columbia River High School.

ID theft subject of free Greater
Vancouver Chamber forum Friday

Linda Kasinger, a fraud and identity theft expert at US Bank, leads a seminar on fraud prevention presented by the Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday, June 23, in Chamber offices at 1101 Broadway.

The free seminar is open to nonmembers as well as members of the Vancouver chamber. Registration is required. For further information, call 694-2588.

Clark County Chamber hosting
2006 legislative review Thursday

The Clark County Chamber of Commerce is presenting a 2006 legislative review at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, June 22, in the Water Resources Education Center, 4600 SE Columbia Way.

Legislative presenters are state sens. Craig Pridemore (D-49th) and Joseph Zarelli (R-18th) and state reps. Bruce Chandler (R-15th), Richard Curtis (R-18th), Jim Dunn, (R-17th), Bill Fromhold (D-49th), Ed Orcutt (R-18th), and Deb Wallace (D-17th).

Moderators are Clark County auditor Greg Kimsey and former state senator Dean Sutherland.

There is no charge for the event, and nonmembers as well as members are invited to attend. For further information, call Marlene Berg, 258-1181.

News brief

Three neighborhood presentations by the Columbia River Crossing Project are being made this evening. The first is at 6:30 p.m. before the Rosemere Neighborhood Association, the other two at 7 p.m. at the Meadow Homes Neighborhood Association and the Hough Neighborhood Association.

Calendar

Former Vancouver mayor Bruce Hagensen kicks off his 2006 campaign for Clark County Commissioner, District 3, with a fund-raising rally from 5 to 7 p.m. this evening at Club Green Meadows, 7703 NE 72nd Avenue. Hagensen is running as a Republican for the seat held by incumbent Steve Stuart. Coffee, soft drinks, hors d’oeuvres will be served, and a no-host bar is available. For further information, call 254-5365. n The NE Hazel Dell Neighborhood Association meets at 7 p.m. this evening in the Clark County Public Works community room, 4700 NE 78th Street. n Clark County commissioners meet in an informal session at 1:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 21, in conference room B in the Public Service center. n Clark County commissioners will hear a report from Clark County school districts, led by Evergreen Public Schools, regarding ways to mitigate the financial impact of growth on the school systems in the county, at 3 p.m. Wednesday, June 21, in the 6th floor hearing room in the Public Service Center.  

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

Tuesday on the air         Clark College Orchestra Spring Concert—3:30 p.m. CVTV    Clark County Close Up (6/4)—5:30 p.m. CVTV    Clark County Land Use Hearings (live)—6 p.m. CVTV    CWS: Miami vs. Oregon State (live)—6 p.m. ESPN2, KUIK    Miami Heat at Dallas Mavericks (live)—6 p.m. KATU    Seattle Mariners at Los Angeles Dodgers (live)—7 p.m. FSN, KFXX

Town Tabloids and the weather David Ballew awarded Class H license. n Julie Dawson showing off pictures. n Pat McGary doing lawyer trick. n Jim Sanders keeping burglars at bay. n Byron Hanke almost, but not quite, admiring yellow tie. n Roy Koegen bringing in quorum. n Tuesday, clouds to filter most of the sun, 72. Wednesday, mostly sunny, 75. Thursday, warmer and sunnier, 78.

Accounting Caley & Associates, James Caley CPA, 695-0065 Peterson & Associates, P.S., Certified Public Accountants, 574-0644 Tax Advisors, PLLC, CPAs Property Tax/Cost Segregation 750-6884 Attorneys Miller Nash LLP. Steve Horenstein, 699-4771 Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt, Lisa Lowe, 694-7551 Banks Bank of Clark County, 993-2265 First Independent Bank, 699-4200 West Coast Bank, 695-3439 Beauty and Wellness Iduhair & Company Salon Retreat, Celinda Rupert, 735-1249 Charitable Gift Planning Barbara Chen CFP, Clark College Foundation, (360) 992-2659 David DiCesare, The Community Foundation, (360) 694-2550 Jim Forkner, FAHP, SWMC Foundation, (360) 514-3182 Elson Strahan, CFRE, President, Historic Reserve Trust (360) 992-1835 Cosmetic and Family Dentistry Earl C. (Duke) Simpson, DDS, PS, 993-0300 Construction Management and Development Andersen Construction Co., Inc. Bob Durgan, (503) 720-5234 RSV Construction, Ron Frederiksen, 693-8830 Credit Unions Columbia Credit Union, 891-4000 iQ Credit Union, 992-4242 Development/Investments Killian Pacific LLC, 567-0625 Prestige Development, Elie Kassab, 993-0010 Engineering, Planning and & Surveying Mackay & Sposito, Jon M. Yamashita, 695-3411 Human Resources Consultation O'Neill & Associates, Paula Johnson, 606-2961 Insurance Services Keenan Insurance Services, Brandon M. Keenan, 213-1500 Investment and Retirement Planning First Pacific Associates, Mark Martel, CFP, (360) 254-2585 Public Relations Hunt Communications Tom Hunt, 693-8180 KMac & Associates LLC, Kathy McDonald, 607-8059 Rocky/Hill & Knowlton, Krista Hildebrand, (503) 248-9468 Real Estate Coldwell Banker Commercial Wally Hornberger, 699-4494 Norris Beggs & Simpson, Roger Qualman, 699-7181 Retirement and Inheritance Planning Andy Nygard, CFP, (360) 695-6431 Signs Security Signs, Designed to inform and sell! Carol Keljo, 817-9959 Speaking and Training Kathy Condon, Career Communications, 695-4313 Window Washing Quality Window Washing, Dave Beecher, 256-7370