New trails manager to push for
cross county trail along rail line

Kelly Punteney, left, leaving Vancouver after 35 years as  trail
boss, is being succeeded by Lisa Goorjian

Lisa Goorjian, newly named Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation trails and greenway manager, has been assigned the task of completing the study for a 35-mile, cross-county multi-use trail from the Columbia River near Vancouver Lake to Yale Lake in northeast Clark County.

Goorjian is succeeding landscape architect Kelley Punteney, who is going into the private sector after some 40 years of public service, including over 35 with the City of Vancouver.

One of Goorjian’s first projects is to work in partnership with Clark County Transportation, Community Planning, the Chinook Trail Association and the City of Battle Ground to guide the year-long Chelatchie Rail/Trail Alignment Study. The study is being funded by a grant from the state Department of Transportation Enhance Program.

The trail would be an adjunct to the county-owned Chelatchie Railroad system that runs from the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railway near the mouth of Burnt Bridge Creek in Vancouver Lake, through Battle Ground, and northeast through Battle Ground to Chelatchie Prairie. The trail would extend beyond Chelatchie Prairie to Yale Lake.

Goorjian, also a landscape architect, has been with the city since 2002, and for the past 18 months as project manager for Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation. She is a graduate of the University of Oregon and earned a masters degree in landscape architecture from the U. of O.

Special February election to decide
fate of school districts, Washougal

Voters in Washougal and the Battle Ground, Camas and Ridgefield School Districts will be asked to provide bond issue approvals or special levy approvals at a special election Tuesday, Feb. 6.

The City of Washougal is asking voters to approve a $7.5 million bond issue, the proceeds of which would be used to build a new civic campus that would include a city hall, public library, senior room and community room.

The Battle Ground School District is asking for approval of a three-year, $38.3 million special levy for maintenance and operations. Voters in the Ridgefield School Districts are being asked to approve a three-year replacement levy for maintenance and operation of nearly $10.3 million.

The Camas School District is placing a $90 million bond issue before its voters. The bonds would provide for construction of two new elementary schools, and expansion of Camas High School and several other schools in the district.

Free giant-size bags help
with wrapping removal

To help residents get rid of wrapping paper and recyclable boxes, the Clark County Solid Waste Program is offering giant-size recycling paper bags. The bags, which may be left beside recyclable containers for curbside pick-up, can be obtained from most public buildings, including city halls, libraries and fire stations.

Boy Scouts will be collecting retired Christmas trees on Saturday, Jan. 6. A $5 donation should be attached to each tree.

Jim Dunn promoting Seattle
Flight Museum scholarships

Three all expense-paid scholarships, from each legislative district in the state, to the Seattle Museum of Flight are being offered through the Washington Aerospace Scholars Program, reports State Rep. Jim Dunn (R-17th).

The Washington Aerospace Scholars Program, offered to high school juniors, consists of an online curriculum that is concluded by a week-long summer program at the Museum of Flight.

Deadline for applications is Friday, Jan. 12. For further information, call Dunn at 786-7996, or call Bonnie Dunbar at the Museum of Flight, (206) 764-5866.

Calendar

The one-man musical Herringbone, starring Taylor Askman and directed by Llewellyn Rhoe, concludes the Arts Equity Onstage 2006 schedule with performances at 7:30 p.m. this evening and Friday and Saturday, Dec. 29 and 30, in the Main Street Theatre, 606 Main Street. Tickets range from $8 to $24. For further information, call 695-3770.

News brief

Columbian publisher Scott Campbell is among 12 area business executives who are launching a new four-county economic development effort. Details of the organization are to be announced next week. Campbell said he sees the local Columbia River Economic Development Council as Clark County’s key recruiting organization, but that a program dealing with regional issues and economic goals fills in a “missing piece.” Counties represented by the group are Clark, Clackamas, Washington and Multhomah.—The Columbian

Thursday, Dec. 28 headlines

Martyn Butler remembers President Gerald Ford--Columbian, Kathie Durbin

Hockinson zip code boasts fourth highest median income in metro area--Columbian, Cami Joner

East county levy failure to be costly to ambulance users--Columbian, Kelly Adams

Vancouver director Beth Harrington is also 'History Detective'--Columbian, Brett Oppegaard

State legislature getting requests for money to help build basketball arena in Seattle--Seattle Times, Jim Brunner

Five more U.S. troops killed in Iraq; more than 100 have died so far in December--USA TODAY, AP

Eating the same beef over and over: FDA says cloned meat safe to eat and no labels are required--Washington Post, AP. Libby Quaid