Thank you 
 VOTING FOR LIBRARIES 

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

MacKay & Sposito taps Battle Ground
city manager as chief operating officer

    
        Eric Holmes                   Dennis Osborn

Eric Holmes, Battle Ground city manager, has been picked to be chief operating officer at MacKay & Sposito. Holmes, who has been with the City of Battle Ground since 1997, previously had been planning and development director for the City of Washougal. Holmes will begin his new duties on Nov. 6, according to MacKay & Sposito president/CEO Al Schauer.

Battle Ground deputy city manager Dennis Osborn has been named interim city manager, effective Oct. 16. Osborn has been with Battle Ground since 2002 and has served as deputy city manager, planning director and community development director.

At MacKay & Sposito, Holmes will oversee the firm’s administrative functions, including human resources, finance, marketing and technology.

Holmes, a University of Oregon graduate, holds a masters degree in public administration from Lewis & Clark College.

Vancouver-based MacKay & Sposito was founded in 1974. The company has 85 employees in offices in Vancouver, Kennewick, Wilsonville and Sherwood. The company offers civil engineering, land and construction surveying, land-use planning, landscape architecture and construction management services.

C-TRAN considering
schedule changes

Beginning an initial process of redesigning its transit system, C-TRAN is scheduling a series of public meetings to review routes, increased service frequencies and expanded routes.

The transit agency is considering proposals to expand service hours on highest ridership routes, increased service frequencies and new destinations, and eliminating service on some routes where ridership is low, according to interim executive director John Ostrowski.

C-TRAN hearings begin at 11 a.m., Monday, Sept. 25, in the Clark College Gaiser Hall cafeteria. The second public hearing is at 5 p.m. the same day in Battle Ground City Hall. Hearings continue at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 26, in the Washington State University Vancouver cafeteria, and at 4 p.m. the same day in Smith Tower, 515 Washington Street, Vancouver. The final meetings are at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 27, in Vancouver City Hall, and at 5 p.m. the same day in the Camas Police Department, 2100 NE 3rd Avenue, Camas.

First Independent Bank
becomes First Independent

The Ridgefield State Bank, which, after having been acquired by Ridgefield school teacher Ed Firstenburg in 1936 and becoming First Independent Bank, has changed its name again, this time to just plain First Independent.

In October, the $850 million institution will begin changing signs at its 20 branches to reflect a new logo.

“Building on a truly amazing heritage, begun by my father, E. W. Firstenburg, [who retired as chairman of the board last year,] we are launching a new brand and a new set of promises to our clients and our community,” says First Independent president and CEO, Bill Firstenburg.

Among banking changes, First Independent will offer business clients a remote capture service that will allow businesses to scan checks accepted for payment at their place of business and to scan the information directly to the bank.

News briefs

Free hot dogs, popcorn and soda pop are on tap for visitors at the annual Clark County Public Safety Complex open house, noon to 4 p. m. Saturday, Sept. 23, at 505 NW 179th Street, Ridgefield. The event is sponsored by the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, the Clark County Fire Marshall’s Office, and County fire districts 6, 11 and 12. n Vancouver’s Downtown Association quarterly meeting that begins with a social hour at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28, will discuss downtown projects, waterfront development and the Port of Vancouver rail system. For further information, call Celinda Rupert, 735-1249.

Calendar

Carol Keljo will be installed as chair of the Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce in ceremonies that begin at 6 p.m. this evening in the Hilton Vancouver Washington. n One-hour guided walking tours of Officers Row continue this evening leaving at 6:30 p.m. from the O. O. Howard House. Fees are $10 for adults, $5 for children 11 to 16. For further information, call 992-1800. n The U.S. Coast Guard is holding an open house and public meeting on changes in bridge lifts as they might be required by construction of a new bridge crossing the Columbia River on Interstate Highway 5. The meeting will be at 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 21, in the Washington Room in the Jantzen Beach Red Lion Hotel. n The Council for the Homeless is holding its annual Hope In Action Luncheon honoring those who have made outstanding contributions to ending homelessness in Clark County. The luncheon will be at 11:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 22, in the Hilton Vancouver Washington. For further information, call 993-9561. n The Forum at the Library presents a free forum, “Does Your Vote Count,” at 7 p.m. this evening in Library Hall in the Vancouver Community Library, 1007 E Mill Plain Boulevard. Guest speakers are Clark County Auditor Greg Kimsey and county Elections supervisor Tim Likness.

Thursday headlines

Five county park projects on hold, but Pacific Community Park gets go ahead--Columbian, Jeffrey Mize

Downtown scarecrow contest in full swing--Columbian

County Assessor shines light on system--Columbian, Courtney Sherwood

Kinsey says voters adjusting to party line--Columbian, Erik Robinson

Injured bicyclist goes home--Columbian, Kelly Adams

No better investment than schools--Columbian, Tom Koenninger

Congress comes out poorly in poll--USA TODAY, Adam Nagourney and Janet Elder

Wal-Mart says it will offer $4 generic prescriptions--New York Times, Michael Barbaro

Virgin's Richard Branson pledges $3billion to combat global warming--Washington Post, Deepti Hajela