Employers adding jobs, but
unemployment rate goes up

Washington employers continued to create jobs in September, with 4,100 new jobs added over the month, says Employment Security commissioner Karen Lee.

At the same time, according to Lee, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in the state inched up one-tenth of a percentage point to 5.3 percent. The jobless rate increased at the same time that jobs were added because more unemployed people began looking for work.

Health services and finance led the growth in September, according to Lee.

In Clark County, the number of employed workers declined by 200 in the last month, to 188,900, as measured by the state’s unadjusted numbers. Total employment a year ago September was 500 persons more than this September.

The county’s unadjusted unemployment rate for September was 6.1 percent, compared to 6.7 percent in August, and 6.2 percent in September 2005.

Special law enforcement team
averaging four collars a day

Formed 14 months ago, Vancouver’s Career Criminal Apprehension Team this month arrested its 1,007th career criminal, reports Kim Kapp, Vancouver Police Department information officer.

The C-CAT, as it is known, is composed of officers from the city police department, the Clark County Sheriff’s office and the state Department of Corrections.

According to Kapp, repeat offenders commit a disproportionately large share of the crime within the Vancouver area.

While averaging four arrests a day, officers seized 71 dangerous weapons, completed 181 drug busts, during which 80 percent of drugs seized were methamphetamines, cleared 1,309 arrest warrants, and followed up on 55 predatory sex offenders. C-CAT officers monitor high-risk parolees who are believed to be involved in narcotic dealing or serial crimes, such as robbery and burglary, frequently observing a targeted criminal commit a crime and making an immediate arrest.

C-CAT investigators define career criminals as habitual felony or serious misdemeanor offenders, persons with previous felony convictions and a current pattern of criminal behavior, persons whose livelihood is based on or supported by criminal activity, and parolees and probationers, who upon release from confinement return to crime.

Janet Harte to address
Camas-Washougal Chamber

Janet Harte, director of the Washington Small Business Development Center in Vancouver, will be the keynote speaker at the noon Thursday, Oct. 19, meeting of the Camas-Washougal Chamber of Commerce in the Orchard Hills Golf & Country Club.

The state small business center is part of anationwide network of centers providing technical business management assistance.

The luncheon is $12 for members of the chamber of commerce, $14 for nonmembers. Reservations may be had by calling 834-2472.

News brief

The Oregon Chamber Players opens its 12th season with Rameau’s Les Fetes D’Hebe, Rossini’s Sonata III, Paulenc’s Mouvements Perpetuels and Boccherini’s Sinfonia, Opus 37, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21, in the All Saints Episcopal Church, 4033 SE Woodstock Boulevard, Portland. General admission is $15. For further information, call Victoria Racz, (800) 627-8788.

Calendar

The League of Women Voters of Clark County presents its general election Candidates Night at 6:30 p.m. this evening in the 6th floor hearing room in the Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin Street. The event will be cablecast live by CVTV, Channel 23. Candidates will be arriving at 6 p.m. to meet voters. League president Jane Van Dyke moderates. n Clark County commissioners meet in an informal session at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 18, in conference room B in the Public Service Center.

 

Tuesday headlines

Higher parking rates could bring in a half million dollars to the city--Columbian, Jeffrey Mize

Third-generation Cougar named college regent--Columbian, Howard Buck

Log truck accident today snarls traffic on I-205 that reverberates to 1-5, Highway 14 and downtown Vancouver--Columbian, Kelly Adams

Clark County retail sales soar by nearly 10 percent--Columbian, Jonathan Nelson

Cirque du Soleil coming to Rose Garden--Columbian, Brett Oppegaard

Vancouver opened to Portland taxis--Oregonian, Allan Brettman

Want to work for the Gates Foundation?--Seattle Times, Kristi Heim

Eli Lilly buying Seattle's Icos for $2.1 billion--Seattle Times, Luke Timmerman

Judge vacates conviction of the late Kennety Lay, former Enron boss--USA TODAY, AP, Juan A. Lozano

North Korea says sanctions are 'declaration of war'--Washington Post, William Branigin

North Korea may be preparing for 2nd nuclear test--New York Times, Choe Sang-Hun and John O'Neil