Only a few on primary ballot, which
will be in the mail in six weeks

Primary election ballots will be mailed to all Clark County registered voters within six weeks. The primary election has been moved to Tuesday, August 21, approximately a month earlier than in the past 60 years, and voters will begin marking primary ballots as early as the August 1 target date for the elections department to begin mailing ballots to registered voters.

There is only one contested primary in Vancouver and that is for Position 5, held by Larry E. Smith, who is a candidate for re-election, and challengers Charles P. Stemper and Donald N. Yingling.

The primary ballot will include three names for the council-at-large position in Camas. They are Richard Arnold IV, Dan Chaney and Clifford A. Duncan. Liz Pike, who has held that post for the past four years, is a candidate for mayor. She will be on the general election ballot with incumbent mayor Paul Dennis.

Also making a primary race are La Center City Council, Position 4 candidates Chris Forzano, Mike Nolan and Ron Ostrander. That position had been held by Dale Smith, who is not running for re-election.

Three Ridgefield candidates are running for the position on the city council held by Gladys Doriot, who is also mayor. Doriot did not file for re-election. The August candidates are Randy Mueller, Jeff Sjodin and David P. Taylor. Also three are running for the Position 3 on the Ridgefield City Council held by Gary Adkins, who is not a candidate for re-election. The candidates for Position 3 are Michael Hefflin, Scott Jeschke and Lee E. Wells.

There are four candidates for mayor of Woodland, including incumbent Douglas A. Monge. The challengers are Chuck Blum, John JJ Burke and Walt Hummel.

Also on the primary ballot is six-year levy that would raise $78 million for the Port of Vancouver. The purpose of the levy is to buy the former Alcoa riverfront industrial property, approximately $48 million, and $30 million for railroad improvements. Port commissioners had unanimously approved the levy but a citizens’ group collected well over 9,659 valid signatures on a petition to force the levy issue to a vote.

Port of Camas-Washougal moves
ahead on waterfront development

Port of Camas-Washougal commissioners have given a green light to the development group RiverWalk on the Columbia, LLC to begin developing a master plan for a mixed-use $300 to $400 million project on the Columbia River in Washougal.

The approval was based on the recommendations submitted by the port-appointed Waterfront Advisory Committee.

The 65-acre waterfront mixed-use project would be near port offices and the Parker House Restaurant, south of Highway 14.

Sustainability conference and
trade show picking up steam

Southern Washington’s first Sustainability Conference and Trade Show, Thursday, June 21, and Friday, June 22, in the Hilton Vancouver Washington, is attracting participants from throughout the region, reports Geoff Knapp, Clark County Public Affairs and Communications spokesperson.

Not only has the conference attracted world-class national and local speakers, it has attracted the attention of local wine and food producers, according to Knapp. And, he says, the there are continuing credit hours available for participants.

The two-day event is sponsored by the county, City of Vancouver and Clark Public Utilities. Headlining the list of speakers are the following: L. Hunter Lovins, president and founder of Natural Capitalism Solutions, Inc.; Alan Durning, founder of Sightline Institute; Mark Anielski, president and CEO, Anielski Management, Inc.; Joe Lstiburek, Building Science Corp.; and state Sen. Craig Pridemore, (D-49th).

The special wine and food tasting event is 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, June 21, at Propstra Plaza in Esther Short Park. The tasting event features wines from three of Clark County’s wineries as well as food from a dozen local producers. The cost of the tasting event is included in the $190 registration fee for the conference, although it will also be opened to the public for $10 a person, according to Knapp.

For further information on the conference and the tasting event, call Knapp at 397-2130, or go to http://sustainability.clark.wa.gov.

News briefs

A new blood donor center operated by the Puget Sound Blood Center’s Southwest Washington Blood Program has opened at 9320 Van Mall Drive. Nearly 300 people must donate blood through the Southwest Washington Blood Program each week to meet the needs of local patients, according to Dave Leitch, director of donor and volunteer resources. Although walk-in donors are accepted, donors may schedule an appointment by calling (800) 398-7888. <> Portland International Airport officials warn that additional aircraft noise may be expected through Friday, June 29, during which time visiting U.S. Marine Corps F18/Hornet jets will be part of training exercises being conducted by the 142nd Fighter Wing of the Oregon Air National Guard.

Calendar

Clark County commissioners’ public hearing on amendments to the county growth management plan continues at a special 6 p.m. meeting this evening. If necessary, the public meeting will be continued at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 20; otherwise the commissioners will meet in an informal session at that time. <> The NE Hazel Dell Neighborhood Association meets at 7 p.m. this evening in the Clark County Public Works community room, 4700 NE 78th Street. <> The Proebstel Neighborhood Association meets at 7 p.m. this evening in the Proebstel Evangelical Free Church. <> A free seminar offering insights into investment fraud is being presented by the American Association of Retired People from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 20, in the Red Lion Hotel at the Quay. Lunch is included in the free package, co-sponsored by the state Department of Financial Institutions. For further information, call John Erskine, (206) 517-9345. <> An open house from 3 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, June 20, will celebrate the opening of Vancouver’s Development Review Services, Transportation Services, and Information Technology offices in a new location, 4400 NE 77th Avenue. <> The Vancouver Lake Watershed Partnership meets in a regular business meeting at 4 p.m. Wednesday, June 20, in the Port of Vancouver administrative offices, 3101 NW Lower River Road.

Headlines Tuesday, June 19

City adopts downtown development rules--Columbian, Jeffrey Mize

Four suspicious fires reported in Hazel Dell--Columbian, Kelly Adams

Comcast and Qwest in some kind of hassle over customer switches--Columbian, Courtney Sherwood

Vancouver police reveal details of Saturday's fatal shooting--Columbian, Kelly Adams

Gunman knew police were there, Vancouver chief says--Oregonian, Holley Gilbert

Pickup truck lands in Columbia River; rescuers revive driver--KATU

Truck bombing kills scores at Shiite mosque in Baghdad--New York Times, Alissa J. Rubin

South Carolina warehouse firekills 9 firefighters--USA TODAY

Iraq Coalition Casualties