Clark trustees meet today
to decide fate of president

Following a 5 p.m. executive session, the Clark College board of trustees will meet in open session at about 6:30 p.m. and are expected to announce whether they will extend president Wayne Branch’s three-year contract, which expires in August.

Branch, whose dynamic style has been considered abrasive by some, initiated a string of changes in the 73-year-old institution—the third largest community college in the state—including co-admission agreements with four regional universities, the opening of a Clark College building on the Washington State University Vancouver campus, and sustained enrollment in an environment where other community colleges are experiencing a decline in enrollment.

Branch’s style generated a 90 percent no-confidence vote from the faculty. The faculty union presented their findings to the five-member board of trustees in May.

Last week, the board held at least two closed-door meetings with Branch.

At stake is renewal of Branch’s contract, which ends in August.

The College today issued the following notice: “In accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act, Clark College announces that its board of trustees will hold a special meeting on Wednesday, July 19, 2006, at 5:30 p.m. in the Clark Baird Board Room [1800 McLoughlin Boulevard]. The Board will convene the meeting into executive session at 5:30 p.m. to discuss the evaluation of a public employee Pursuant to RCW 42.30.110(1)(g). The board of trustees expects to return to an open board session for discussion and possible action regarding the president’s contract at approximately 6:30 p.m.”

JD White hires biology scientist

Jennifer Pickar, a biologist, has been hired as a member of the JD White Company’s natural resources team.

For the past seven years Pickar has worked on wildlife, habitat and environmental management projects throughout the United States. She worked with the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Oregon Metro Parks and Greenspaces. Most recently Pickar was with Kurhashi and Associates, Beaverton.

Pickar is a Willamette University graduate

East Precinct opens Saturday

A ribbon-cutting ceremony, along with other grand opening trappings, will signal the opening of the Vancouver Police Department’s East Precinct and an adjoining neighborhood park at NE 155th Avenue and Mill Plain Boulevard at 1 p.m. Saturday July 22.

In addition to tours being offered, specialty police department units will be displayed.

The east Vancouver project is a partnership among three city departments, Police, Parks and Public Works. The site includes a 27,000 square foot police precinct facility, the first Vancouver facility specifically designed for use by the police department, and a two-acre neighborhood park. Approximately 8,500 square feet of the building will temporarily house Vancouver Construction Services until the police department grows into the space.

County chamber begins
local business issues series

The Clark County Chamber of Commerce, presenting a series of monthly meetings on Clark County business issues, has scheduled Janet Harte, director of the WSU Small Business Development Center, and Mike Bacon, co-chairman of the Vancouver SCORE chapter, as speakers at its 7-to-9 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 8, meeting in the Aero Club banquet room, 9901 NE 7th Avenue, Building C-200. The topic is “Coaching Small Business.”

There is no charge for the series of meetings, which are open to the public. Refreshments will be provided.

Call 258-1181, or send an email to info@ClarkChamber.com for required pre-registration.

Calendar

Artists Equity Theatre’s 2006 opening production, the one-man musical Herringbone, opens at 7:30 p.m. this evening in the Main Street Theatre, 606 Main Street. Tickets are $10. For further information, call 695-3770.

 
Taste of Vancouver, Aug. 17-20, Esther Short Park--Join the Fun!
     

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

Wednesday on the air     Brian Baird Town Hall Meeting (7/5)--6 p.m. CVTV    Evergreen Schools Annexation Meeting (7/12)--6:30 p.m. CVTV    Portland Beavers at Tucson (live)—7 p.m. KKAD    Clark County Commissioners Workshop (7/18)--7:08 p.m. CVTV    Thompson Oxford House Dedication (6/27)--8:30 p.m. CVTV    Columbia River Crossing Task Force (7/12)--11:31 p.m. CVTV

Town Tabloids and the weather Ray and Irma Wallway also joining the A-list. n Colin Dunn right on schedule. n Bruce Hagensen electioneering in hallowed halls. n Marge Martel setting schedule. n Greg Shine calls game on account of sun. n Betty Sue Morris looking for barn. n Wednesday, sunny, 85. Thursday, sunny, 89. Friday, sunny and hot, 99.

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