County discount prescription
drug cards available to all

Discount prescription drug cards, offering holders an average discount of 20 percent on drugs that are not covered by insurance, are available to all residents of Clark County through an arrangement between the Clark County Public Health and the National Association of Counties.
Sample discount prescription card
available to all county residents really
works.

The cards are free. One card will be issued to each person or family. There isn’t even any paperwork to fill out.

The cards currently are available at the Center for Community Health, 1601 E Fourth Plain Boulevard, and the Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin Street. As supplies become available, the cards can be picked up at city halls in the county, at Fort Vancouver Public Library branches, and from some pharmacies.

The program is administered by Caremark.

The Insider tested the cards by going to the company’s Web site, https://naco.advance.rx.com. We found one prescription drug for which there was no discount, but found another there for which the savings was over 50 percent when the drug is ordered from Caremark.

More than 90 percent of pharmacies in Clark County are participating in the program, according to Maureen Taylor, Health Access Program. health educator. For further information, call Taylor at 397-8000, extension 7308.

Clark Public Utilities may
increase water rates in 2007

While Clark Public Utilities’ commissioners are not considering any electric rate increases for 2007, the same may not be true for the nearly 30,000 utility water customers.

Utility commissioners will consider one of three alternatives when the final budget is presented at a 9 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 12. The most costly alternative for residential consumers would be an increase of about 13 percent, to $26.70 per month.

Currently Clark Public Utilities’ water rates are the lowest in the county, except for those within the Camas city limits, based on 1,400 cubic feet of water use. Clark’s residential charge is $23.50 a month. Vancouver’s water rates range from $23.56 within the city, to $35.34 outside the city.

The commissioners will also be considering tiered water rates to discourage water use during summer months.

Handel’s Messiah opens
Bravo! Vancouver season

Bravo! Vancouver opens its 13th season with its traditional presentation of George Frideric Handel’s Messiah at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3, in St. Joseph Catholic Church, 400 S. Andresen Road. Featuring the sixty-voice Bravo! Chorale, the Washington Chamber Orchestra and soloists, the Christmas holiday musical extravaganza is one of the best attended holiday concerts in the Portland-Vancouver metropolitan area.

The Messiah, one of Handel’s best-known compositions, was first performed in Dublin in April 1742. The oratorio tells the story of the Messiah, the birth narrative of Jesus, through the death and resurrection of Christ.

Reserved tickets are $20 and are available by calling 906-0441, or by going to www.bravoconcerts.com.

Clark County chamber to present
3rd annual Best-in-County Awards

The Clark County Chamber of Commerce will make its Best-in-County Awards during a 7-to-9 a.m. meeting Tuesday, Dec. 12, in the Hostess House, 10017 NE 6th Avenue.

The awards to local businesses are based on innovative business practices, including visibility, networking, public advocacy, business services, training and entrepreneurship.

The event, open to the public, is free. Refreshments will be served. For required reservations, call 258-1181.

News brief

For up-to-the-minute snow and ice information, C-TRAN passengers may call 695-0123 or go to the C-TRAN Web site at www.c-tran.com. Motorists may call 5-1-1 from any phone to get timely updates on road conditions.

Calendar

The first of two public hearings being held jointly by the Board of Clark County Commissioners and the Clark County Planning Commission on the proposed county growth management plan is at 6:30 p.m. this evening in the Public Service Center. The second joint public hearing is at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 29. n Clark County commissioners meet in an informal session at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 29.

Tuesday headlines

State can't afford to rest on its economic laurels--Columbian, Don Brunell

More Nutcrackers than at first thought--Columbian, Alita Bowder

Clark County has head start on parting out old television sets--Columbian, Erik Robinson

OSU gets call to Sun Bowl--Oregonian

Power swings to Sen. Patty Murray--Seattle Times, Alicia Mundy

Copyright Office rules that cell phone owners can unlock their phones in favor of other carriers--Seattle P-I, Phuong Cat Le

Existing home prices post record decline, and more drops to come, economists say--USA TODAY, Noelle Knox

Bush pledges continued U.S. presence in Iraq--Washington Post, Michael Abramowitz and William Branigin

Pope backs Turkey's bid to join European Union--New York Times, Ian Fisher and Sabrina Tavernise