boo!

Street Law, insightful, challenging
course in Vancouver high schools

Lewis and Clark and Skyview High Schools have joined Hudson’s Bay High School in offering Street Law, “a compelling, insightful and intellectually challenging course for high school students,” according to Jon Lauderbaugh, who teaches the course at Lewis and Clark High School.

Clark County district court judge James Swanger helped start the program at Hudson’s Bay, his alma mater, and it has been expanded to the other high schools with the help of county district court commissioner Kelli Osler.

Osler is no stranger to the Street Law concept. She taught the class to high school students while a student at the University of Puget Sound Law School.

Swanger and Osler take turns teaching one day a week at each high school, teaming up with teachers to provide students with a practical education about law, democracy and human rights.

Street Law covers a broad range of topics, for example, the different levels of the court, the criminal justice system, crimes, how a trial works, how to appeal a decision, what a jury does, Constitutional law, including search and seizure, and freedom of speech, and rights not included in the Constitution, such as right to die, and the right to privacy, according to Osler.

Started in 1972 at Georgetown University Law School, Street Law is sponsored locally by the Washington Judges Foundation. Of eight schools in the state teaching Street Law, three are in the Vancouver School District.

Bank of Clark County one of the fastest
growing, says Puget Sound Business Journal

The Bank of Clark County has been named one of the Top 100 Fastest Growing Private Companies in Washington State by the Puget Sound Business Journal.

Growth criteria included revenue increases and employee increases in the three years ending with 2005. The Bank of Clark County has 67 employees.

Auctions, wine tasting and dinner
to benefit early childhood learning

Educational Opportunities for Children and Families is holding a benefit event including, silent and live auctions, wine tasting, dinner and live music at 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4, in the Parker House Restaurant, 56 S 1st Street, Washougal.

The 40-year-old organization benefits Head Start of Clark, Pacific, Wahkiakum and Cowlitz Counties, Early Head Start, Early Childhood Education & Assistance Program of Clark County, Infant Toddler Early Intervention Program, Protective Payee Program and HotShots Youth Sports Program.

For further information about the $75 per person event, call Cheryl Hangsleben, 567-2705.

News briefs

Legacy Salmon Creek Hospital admitted an average of 73 persons a day to its emergency department in the first month of operation in August 2005, compared to an average of 116 admissions a day in August 2006. The Daily Insider’s poorly written recent story about Legacy Salmon Creek Hospital’s first year. failed to make it clear that those were daily admissions. Southwest Washington Medical Center admitted 6,526 emergency department patients in June, 6,950 in July and 6,614 in August. Legacy Salmon Creek Hospital admitted 3,311 emergency patients in June, 3,543 in July and 3,566 in August. n The Port of Vancouver commissioners will conduct a workshop session on the port’s proposed 2007 budget at 8 a.m. Friday, Nov. 3, in port administration offices, 3103 Lower River Road.

Calendar

Clark County commissioners meet in an informal session at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 1, in conference room B in the Public Service Center. n A free conflict resolution workshop sponsored by the Vancouver’s Community Resolution program, “How Can We Co-Parent When We Can’t Even Communicate?” is 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 2, in the Fisher’s Landing Transit Center. Seats are still available. Register online at www.CenterpointResolution.net or call 892-2992.

Tuesday headlines

Father figure laid to rest--Columbian, Dean Baker

Forty apply to succeed Vancouver police chief Brian Martinek--Columbian, Jeffrey Mize

Cougar's Qwest Field games in Seattle not meeting expectations--The Evergreen, Nick Eaton

Open house to offer thoughts on Delta Park I-5 widening--Columbian

Fox presents his side in Ridgefield hearing--Columbian, Jose Paul Corona

Fired city manager wants his job back--Oregonian, Holley Gilbert

Local school districts coming up short--Columbian

U.S. troops agree to leave Baghdad checkpoints--New York Times, Kirk Semple

N. Korea agrees to rejoin nuclear negotiations--New York Times, Joseph Kahn

NASA plans mission to repair Hubble--New York Times, John Holusha

Kerry remark draws sharp criticism--Washington Post, Bill Brubaker