Deb Wallace named chair of the
House Higher Education Committee

State Rep. Deb Wallace (D-17th) has been elected chair of the House Higher Education Committee. During the last session, Wallace was vice chair of the Transportation Committee and served on the Economic Development, Agriculture & Trade, the Education, and the Technology, Energy & Communications Committees.

The Higher Education Committee considers issues relating to the state’s public and independent colleges and universities, public community and technical colleges, and private career schools. Issues include governance and coordination of higher education, financial aid, tuition, distance learning, and the licensing of private colleges and career schools.

Line-up of potential police chiefs
set for next Wednesday in City Hall

A public reception for candidates for the office of Vancouver chief of police will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 13, in City Hall. A permanent chief to succeed Brian Martinek, who resigned earlier this year and is taking a position with the Portland Police Department, is expected to be made after city manager Pat McDonnell  conducts final interviews Thursday, Dec. 14.

In the running are the following: Mitchell K. Barker, Vancouver’s acting chief; Eric W. Buske, deputy chief of the Criminal Investigation Bureau, Omaha; Clifford R. Cook, deputy chief, Operations Support Bureau, Fort Worth; and Ronald C. Ruecker, superintendent, Oregon State Police.

The Vancouver Police Department has 202 officers and 35 civilian employees.

Commissioners adopt $958.8 million
biennial budget for 2007-2008

Clark County commissioners yesterday approved a nearly one-billion-dollar budget for the two years, 2007 and 2008.

The budget calls for increasing the local portion of sales tax to pay for beefing up the county’s sheriff’s department and fighting methamphetamine.

County Commission chair Marc Boldt said Wednesday: “The County is in good financial condition, with all existing services fully funded in the new budget. We have recognized the need to make major investments to combat crime and confront the effects of widespread use of methamphetamine.”

The budget also calls for an overall increase of 98 full-time county employees.

The budget for the next two years is $956.8 million, up $72 million from the 2005-2006 budget.

Christmas ships set sail tonight

The annual parade of Christmas ships on the Columbia River begins with a cruise of Hayden Bay and the I-5 bridge area this evening.

The ships, about 50 in all, assemble at the James M. Gleason Boat Ramp at NE 42nd Avenue and Marine Drive at 7 p.m. each evening.

Cruises to the Hayden Bay, I-5 bridge area will also be on Monday, Dec. 11, Wednesday, Dec. 13, and Monday, Dec. 18.

The Christmas ships sail the Washington side of the Columbia River on Tuesday, Dec. 12, Thursday, Dec. 14, and Wednesday, Dec. 20.

A similar size fleet cruises the Willamette River in Portland through Wednesday, Dec. 20.

News brief

The Dave Friesen Quartet will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, in St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 426 E Fourth Plain Boulevard. The quartet includes Vancouver drummer Gary Hobbs. Tickets are $15 and may be purchased at the door or reserved by calling 606-0181.

Calendar

The Columbia River Economic Development Council and the Southwest Washington Workforce Development Council are holding an open house from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. today in their new joint office space in suite 412, 805 Broadway. n Doors open at 6 p.m. this evening for the 7 p.m. performance of the Vancouver Youth Theatre’s musical, A Christmas Madrigal, in the First Congregational United Church of Christ, 1220 NE 68th Street. The show continues at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8, and Saturday, Dec. 9. Admission is $15. Catered seating is $15. Forfurther information, call 993-5835. n Herringbone, the one-man musical by Arts Equity Theatre is being presented at 7:30 p.m. this evening and Friday, Dec. 8, and Saturday, Dec. 9, in the Main Street Theatre, 606 Main Street. Tickets are $8 to $24. For further information, call 695-3770. n Author, photographer Chuck Williams, a Cascade Indian and enrolled member of the Grand Ronde Tribes, will deliver a lecture, “We Were Here When the Pioneers Arrived:American Indians at the End of the Oregon Trail” at 7 p.m. this evening in the Clark County Historical Museum, 1511 Main Street. Galleries and the museum shop will be open. There is no admission charge. n A poetry workshop led by Rivkah Loewus is at 7 p.m. today in the young adult section of the Vancouver Community Library, 1007 E Mill Plain Boulevard. n Clark County commissioner Steve Stuart will discuss county issues facing businesses in east Vancouver at the Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce East Forum at 7:30 a.m. Friday, Dec. 8, in Nautilus, Inc., 16400 SE Nautilus Drive. Non-members are encouraged to attend. The breakfast is $10. For reservations, call 694-2588.

Thursday, Dec. 7 headlines

Between 300 and 360 reservists with Vancouver based 104th Division will be sent to Iraq next year to help train Iraqi police and soldiers--Oregonian, Alan Brettman

County OKs sales tax hikes to combat meth, add deputies--Columbian, Jeffrey Mize

Housing Authority's Hummer for sale--Columbian, Courtney Sherwood

Battle Ground's George Bennett remembers Pearl Harbor--Columbian, Dean Baker

No appeal on casino ruling--Columbian, Jeffrey Mize

LSW Architects complete plans for eastside Clark College building--Columbian, Cami Joner

2007 Parade of Homes to be in Ridgefield--Columbian, Pat Stephens

Puget Sound home-sale inventory up, buyers down in November--Seattle Times, Elizabeth Rhodes

Gasoline prices likely to go higher again--USA TODAY, Barbara Hagenbaugh

Bush, Blair assess Iraq Study Group's report--Washington Post, William Branigin