Richard Curtis named ranking Republican
on Local Government Committee

State Rep. Richard Curtis (R-18th) has been appointed Ranking Republican on the Local Government Committee in the state House of Representatives.

The Local Government Committee considers issues relating to the operations and financing of counties, cities, and special districts, other than school districts. The committee also considers issues relating to the Growth Management Act and related land use issues, such as local permitting, the subdivision of property, and property rights.

Curtis, elected to his second term in the House in November, is a former La Center City Councilman. A fire captain-paramedic for the Vancouver Fire Department, Curtis is also the owner of a business which teaches advanced cardiac life support at Southwest Washington Medical Center.

In June Curtis received an award from the Gus Forbes VFW Post 1927, Woodland, for his continued support of veterans and veteran issues in Southwest Washington.

The 105-day 2007 legislative session begins Monday, Jan. 8.

Republican chiefs seeking re-election

Both the chair and vice chair of the Clark County Republican Party today announced they are candidates for re-election.

Anna Miller and Ryan Hart, chair and vice chair, will seek re-election at the party’s organizational meeting on January 6, 2007.

Miller says: “While 2006 proved to be a big year for Democrats nationally, Republican candidates did much better in Clark County than in other areas. Every Republican incumbent on the ballot in Clark County was re-elected in 2006. This shows that the Clark County Republican Party remains strong.”

Would you believe it's almost time
to make picnic shelter reservations?

The Vancouver-Clark Parks & Recreation Department reminds us that it will begin processing 2007 picnic shelter reservations in January. Reservations are required for Lewisville, Vancouver Lake and Leverich Parks.

Reservations may be made by telephone, 696-8041, beginning at 7 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 2. Reservations in person will be accepted beginning at 6 a.m. the same day in the Luekpe Center, 1009 E. McLoughlin Boulevard. Further information on county parks is available by going to www.vanclarkparks-rec.org.

News briefs

The Southwest Washington Workforce Development Council has received a $100,000 state grant from the state Employment Security Department to update its computer system. Other workforce councils in the state received similar grants. n State Rep. Deb Wallace (D-17th) is holding a briefing on the 2007 legislative session for 17th legislative district residents at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 6, in the Firstenburg Community Center, 700 NE 136th Avenue. For further information, call Autumn Shafer at 260-6110.

Calendar

The Fairgrounds Neighborhood Association meets to elect officers at 7 p.m. this evening in the community room of the Church of Christ, 400 NE 179th Street. Also on the agenda are by-law changes and the 2007 agenda. n The NE Hazel Dell Neighborhood Association’s annual Kids Christmas Party is at 6 p.m. this evening in the Sarah J. Anderson Elementary School, 2215 NE 104th Street. n Herringbone, the one-man musical starring Taylor Askman, is being presented by the Arts Equity Theatre at 7:30 p.m. this evening and Friday, Dec. 15, and Saturday, Dec. 16, in the Main Street Theatre, 606 Main Street. Tickets are $8 to $24. For further information, call 695-3770.

Thursday, Dec. 14 headlines

Big windstorm on the way today--Columbian

Katu Storm Alert blog

Poll for Columbia Crossing study group shows that 68 percent of Clark County respondents favor extending light rail to county--Columbian, Don Hamilton

Cost of war causing federal 'earmark' cuts hurting county--Columbian, Kathie Durbin

Local tax accountants remind taxpayers to act by Dec. 31 to qualify for 2006 tax benefits--Columbian, Eric Apalategui

Sales tax deduction is welcome '06 bonus--Oregonian, Holley Gilbert

Cruise ships profits; Port of Seattle isn't in on the largess--Seattle Times, Kristen Millares Bolt

Democratic U.S. senator improving after surgery--USA TODAY, Kathy Kiely

Dow tops 12,400 for first time--USA TODAY, AP, Madlen Read

Gun battle leads to closure of Egypt-Gaza border crossing--USA TODAY, AP

Joint chiefs advise change in war strategy--Washington Post, Robin Wright and Ann Scott Tyson