County appeals to defend growth boundary changes
Clark County is appealing to the Washington Superior Court to in order to defend changes made to its urban growth boundaries in 2007.
The county filed the appeal June 12, seeking to overturn a decision and order of the Western Washington Growth Management Hearings Board, which found that Clark County was out of compliance with the state Growth Management Act when it brought previously agricultural lands into urban growth areas in 2007.
Port moves future Olympic freight
The Port of Vancouver’s mobile harbor crane June 11 moved its largest cargo to date – 444 metric tons of gondola cable for construction of an Olympic ski lift.
The ski lift will connect the peaks of Whistler and Blackcomb mountains for use in the 2010 Olympic winter games in Vancouver, British Columbia. It is expected to be the longest free-span lift in the world and the only gondola of its kind in North America, according to the port.
Port crews worked through the night to discharge five reels of cable from the Star Indiana, which left a factory in Vlissingen, Netherlands, April 19.
The cargo move was coordinated by New York-based Omnitrans and its European partner General Transport.
BIA makes political endorsements
The Building Industry Association of Clark County’s board of directors announced its endorsements for local and state political races. Endorsements were based on candidates’ support and track records regarding the BIA’s position on industry issues.
The board voted to endorse Brad Lothspeich for Clark County commissioner, District 1, incumbent Marc Boldt, for Clark County commissioner, District 2, and BIA Government Affairs Director Steve Madsen for Cowlitz County commissioner.
At the state level, Republican Dino Rossi was endorsed for governor and Republican Sam Reed was endorsed for secretary of state. The BIA endorsed Republican Rob McKenna for attorney general and Democrat Brad Owen for lieutenant governor. Democrat Brian Sonntag got the nod for auditor, as did Republican Doug Sutherland for commissioner of public lands.
For the state legislature, endorsements went to Republicans Bruce Chandler, Dan Newhouse, Don Benton, Joe Zarelli, Jaime Herrera, Ed Orcutt and Independent Mike Bomar.
Columbia Bancorp ranks nationally
Columbia Bancorp was ranked 21st in U.S. Banker magazine’s top 200 mid-tier banks in the nation.
The Dalles-based financial holding company for Columbia River Bank was ranked among banks with assets between $1 billion and $5 billion. Ranking was based on banks’ three-year average return on equity. Columbia Bancorp posted a 17.56 percent average.
Columbia Bancorp has 22 branches in Oregon and Washington, including sites in Vancouver and the Tri-Cities.
Gas prices change county work week
Road and parks crews of Clark County Public Works have a new summer schedule to cut fuel costs.
As of June 16, about 125 county employees will work four 10-hour days a week rather than five eight-hour days. The change should lower gasoline and fuel use by 10 percent, saving the county about 6,500 gallons of fuel and $26,000.
Commuting county workers are expected to save about 20 percent on fuel with the schedule.
Public Works does not foresee reduced services with the change. Workers will likely return to a five-day schedule during the fall’s shorter daylight hours.
Blue Bird Transfer joins relocation network
Vancouver-based Blue Bird Transfer Inc. has become an agent of Atlas Van Lines, one of the nation’s largest relocation networks.
Blue Bird Transfer provides packing, crating, protected storage and transportation services and joined the Atlas network May 1.
Atlas Van Lines is the largest subsidiary of Atlas World Group, an Indiana-based company with 700 employees and 2007 revenues of $943 million.
Clark College honors supporters
Clark College honored its large supporters at its annual Savoring Excellence banquet May 29.
The L.M. Hidden Charitable Trust received the 2008 Presidential Award of Excellence. The trust is managed by the family of Monte and Naomi Hidden, and has provided scholarships to more than 100 students in 14 years.
Portland-based Legacy Health System was honored for its role in developing a medical radiography program at the college in 2005.
Camas Days seeks vendors
Vendor applications are being accepted for the 2008 Camas Days event.
The July 25 and 26 event will be in downtown Camas, featuring artisan and food vendors, nonprofit informational booths and community events throughout the day. Attendance is projected between 12,000 and 15,000.
Interested vendors may contact the Camas-Washougal Chamber of Commerce at www.cwchamber.com or 360-834-2472.
OnPoint celebrates expansion
Portland-based OnPoint Community Credit Union held grand opening events at its three new branches inside Vancouver Safeway stores June 14.
The celebration, marking OnPoint’s expansion into Washington, included a “Supermarket Sweep” contest at each branch. Its winners earned a total of $5,769 in groceries and an equal amount went to Seattle-based Northwest Harvest, which supports Washington food banks.
Pajama Bowl event raises $28K
Sleep Country USA raised $28,238 for foster children at its Pajama Bowl at Big Al’s Family Entertainment Center in Vancouver.
Funds raised at this year’s event were up 40 percent from 2007 and more than 300 people participated.
Sleep Country USA is headquartered in Kent, Wash., and has more than 60 locations in Washington and Oregon.
