Pat Lee named to head new
county land conservation office

Pat Lee has been appointed manager of Clark County’s new Office of Conservation Lands Management. The office will work with public and private organizations with similar goals for the protection of lands for habitat, scenic corridors, low-impact recreation and other qualities that enhance local environment.

Lee has been with the county since 1999 and has served as the county’s long-range planner. Lee is a graduate of Whittier College and holds a masters degree in forest science from Yale University.

Prior to joining Clark County, Lee worked for the Oregon Water Resources Department, where he developed Metro’s Greenspaces master plan for the region surrounding Portland, including Clark County.

According to county commissioner Steve Stuart, who headed study group activities during the past year that resulted in the creation of the new office, Lee’s office will begin its work with a series of forums with conservation groups, public officials and landowners.

Baird and Messmore to appear at
League of Women Voters meeting

U.S. Rep. Brian Baird (D-3rd) and his Republican opponent in the Nov. 11 election, Michael Messmore, are among the candidates expected to participate in the League of Women Voters of Clark County’s Candidates’ night at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 17, in the 6th floor hearing room of the Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin Street.

Candidates will begin arriving at 6 p.m. to meet voters, according to league president Jane Van Dyke, who will moderate the event.

Candidates will make opening and closing statements and will accept questions.

Citizens group to facilitate information about
Camp Bonneville cleanup and redevelopment

A 12-member citizens advisory group is being formed by Clark County to facilitate communications among the community and the county on the cleanup and redevelopment of Camp Bonneville.

Approximately 3,000 acres of the former U.S. Army training camp northeast of Vancouver has been turned over to the county for development after the area has been cleared of possible unexploded military ordnance. The U.S. Army has allocated $27 million for that process, expected to begin early in 2007.

While parts of the former military training area, created in 1909, is heavily forested, a large portion would be transformed into a large regional park. Other possible uses include a U.S. military cemetery.

Persons interested in membership on the county committee are urged to submit a letter of interest and a resume by Friday, Nov. 3, to the Board of Clark County Commissioners, P.O. Box 5000. Vancouver, WA 98666-5000.

Smoke-free rental housing preferred

A survey of 400 renters in the Vancouver-Portland metropolitan area reveals that, all things being equal, 75 percent would prefer smoke-free housing. Forty-two percent of the renters said they are not comfortable living where neighboring tenants smoke.

The survey was conducted by Portland-based Campbell DeLong Resources, Inc. The survey showed that only one in five renters are daily smokers. John Campbell, owner of the research firm, said that, “in the minds of many tenants smoke-free housing is an idea whose time has come.” He adds, “Landlords who wish to attract a large number of quality applicants will gain a distinct competitive advantage by offering housing that is smoke-free.”

Theresa Cross, health educator with Clark County Public Health’s Tobacco Prevention and Education Program, says the department has created a guide to smoke-free housing in Clark County. The guide is available by calling 397-8000,extension 7378.

Tourism award program to boost local
awareness of economic importance of tourism

Clark County commissioners have created a tourism awards program aimed at creating a greater local awareness of tourism and its impact on the community, reports Kelly Sills, Clark County Economic Development manager. 

Awards in five different categories will be presented in 2007, according to Sills. Deadline for nominating individuals and organizations is December 31. For further information, call Sills at 397-2232.

Calendar

Harold Pinter’s Birthday Party is being offered by Arts Equity Onstage in the Main Street Theatre, 606 Main Street,, at 7:30 p.m. this evening through Sunday, Oct. 15, with a 2 p.m. matinee Sunday. Tickets are $8 to $24. n The “In the Mood” hangar dance sponsored by the Valery P. Chkalov Cultural Exchange Committee to raise money for a 70th anniversary celebration of the Russian flight over the North Pole to Vancouver’s Pearson Field in 1937, is at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14, in the Pearson Air Museum, 1115 E 5th Street. Admission is $20. For further information, call Doug Lasher at 576-9783. n The National Electric Radio Controlled Unlimited hydroplane races are being held Saturday, Oct. 14, at Horseshoe Lake Park in Woodland. The day-long event will draw 1/10th scale models of 30-foot-long, 15-feet wide unlimited hydroplanes. In addition, a new regional race, the Cascade Cup, will be run.  

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