Please 
VOTE FOR LIBRARIES

 

Libraries are needed and wanted. They are

porn-free, modern, and connected to the world,

and now much more affordable due to the generosity  of local philanthropists.

Elie G. Kassab
Prestige Development
Office 993.0010
Cell 503.781.1699
http://www.prestigedev.com

Port commissions giant crane,
inks exclusive contract

Port of Vancouver officials last week, accompanied by state and national brass, commissioned what they believe to be the largest mobile harbor crane in North America. Later Friday, they followed up by announcing that an exclusive contract with Vestas, the world’s largest manufacturer of wind turbines, to be the American port of entry for all Vestas wind turbine parts.

The crane, now in operation unloading 129-foot-long wind turbine blades, 21-ton wind turbine hubs and 29-ton wind turbine nacelles for Puget Sound Energy’s wind turbine farm near Ellensburg, will have created 15,000 hours of longshoremen’s work by the time the project is completed by the end of the year.

The Vestas contract is for three years.

The heavy-life crane weighs 500 tons. Its tower is 116 feet high, and the crane can reach out as far as 100 feet. It moves on 80 wheels on 20 articulated axel sets, allowing it to move in any direction.

According to port executive director Larry Paulson, the crane  brings a whole new dimension for cargo handling in the Columbia River: “We already handle several large wind turbine projects and this additional capability will open up new markets for the region to handle heavy and oversize equipment, generators and components for large scale projects in the energy and transportation industries.”

Corps of Engineers holding scoping
session on Port’s Columbia Gateway

A public session conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will gather information as part of the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement on the Port of Vancouver’s Columbia Gateway expansion north of the Vancouver Lake flushing channel, from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 2, in port offices at 3103 NW Lower River Road.

At 5:30 p.m. an informal discussion is scheduled, at which time questions and comments from the public will be accepted.

The Corps of Engineers will accept written comments through Tuesday, Sept. 26. For further information, call  port community relations manager Katy Brooks, 992-1128.

Different spokes for different folks

Jim Mansfield, Clark County Public Works waste reduction specialist, wrote the headline for this story, to announce the Clark County Community Share Fair annual holiday bicycle drive.

Clark County’s Community Cycling Center store will be collecting bicycles, parts and accessories during the annual drive from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 17th in Clark Public Utilities’ 8600 NE 117th Avenue office.

According to Mansfield, all repairable bicycles, from those with trainer wheels on up will be accepted.

In addition to bicycles the Community Share Fair will also accept other usable items, including clothing, cell phones, sports equipment, furniture, computers and canned food. For further information, call 397-6118, extension 4352.

News brief

The 142ndth Oregon National Guard Fighter Wing will be conducting F-15 fighter night flying exercises this evening through Thursday, Sept. 14. The exercises are scheduled to be completed by 9 p.m. each night.

 Calendar

The Vancouver City Council meets in a short session at 4 p.m. today and is expected to approve a three-year labor agreement between the city and the Joint Labor Coalition that includes a 2.4 percent cost-of-living increase for 2006. n Fort Vancouver Regional Library District trustees meet in regular session at 6 p.m. this evening in the CAM School, 715 Onsdorff Boulevard, Battle Ground. n The Neighborhood Associations Council of Clark County meets at 7 p.m. this evening in the Public Works conference room, 4700 NE 78th Street. n The first of four informational meetings on the Clark County draft Environmental Impact Statement, regarding the county comprehensive plan revisions, is at 5 to 7:30 p.m. this evening in Battle Ground City Hall, 109 SW 1st Street. The next meeting is 5 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 12, in the Camas Fire Station, 43221 NW Parker Street. n Clark Public Utilities commissioners meet in regular session at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 12. n Clark County commissioners meet in regular session at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 12, in the Public Service Center.

Monday headlines

Remembering Sept. 11, five years later--Washington Post

Vancouver nurse Raelene Jarvis remembers 9/11 after
disaster-response team stint--Columbian, Tom Vogt

Service for First Citizen, former Vancouver councilwoman Ethel Lehman, Saturday--Columbian, Justin Carinci

Washougal combines police, fire jobs--Columbian, Dean Baker

Sausage Fest: smaller crowd, fewer headaches, more money--Columbian, Erik Robinson

Fifth Street hillside burns, firefighters save houses, apartment--Columbian, Erik Robinson

Aerospace promotes Northwest Exports--Columbian, Julia Anderson

Rentals' demand, costs climb, Columbian, Cami Joner

Clark County students ahead of the average--Oregonian, Holley Gilbert