YACOLT YOUTH PERISHES AT SCHOOL

Heidi Wallenborn, news director

Justin Hanson 10, collapsed during a gym class May 14 at Yacolt Primary School.

Hanson, a fourth grade student, was taken by ambulance to Southwest Washington Medical Center where he was pronounced dead, said Kelly Keister, Battle Ground School District spokesperson.

According to Keister, Hanson had a known heart problem and wore a pacemaker, but was not under doctor's restrictions regarding activity.

School officials were aware of the heart problem and doctor's report, Keister said.

Hanson collapsed during a routine mile run in the gym while in Debbie Cushing's class and with other students and classes, Keister said.

Staff attempted to revive him and could not, she said.

Hanson is the son of Todd and Denise Hanson of Yacolt.

One more hearing set before decision reached on surface mine

Marcus Brotherton, staff reporter

A second hearing was held May 13 regarding a proposal to rezone land near the East Fork Lewis River for gravel mining purposes.

Applicant J.L. Storedahl & Sons, Inc. wants to begin new surface mining operations at their site near Daybreak Park.

At the first hearing April 29, proponents of the plan spoke for most of the allotted time.

Supporters believe the mine will become a crucial gravel provider for state and area roads and concrete projects, as well as provide additional family-wage jobs in the area.

At the May 13, opponents had their chance to speak. Opponents, mostly environmental group representatives and mine neighbors, believe the site will irreparably damage fish habitat in the East Fork as well as harm groundwater resources.

Hearings examiner Daniel Kearns is weighing the case.

His decision will become final unless the matter is appealed to Clark County commissioners.

If approval is granted, no other legal formalities are required for mining to begin. The process has taken six years so far. Some 587 exhibits regarding the case are currently on record.

Storedahl representatives want to mine aggregate from a low terrace situated above the 100-year floodplain. Expansion would occur on about 178 acres of their 292-acre site.

Permits would allow mining to continue for 25 years, but Storedahl representatives believe the project will be complete in 15-20 years, and perhaps as few as 12 years because of current and projected market conditions.

The site would be mined in seven phases. With completion of each phase, the site would be reclaimed and replanted. When all mining is finished, the site will be donated to a conservation group. A $1 million endowment will monitor and manage the site for fish and wildlife and light recreation uses.

Federal agencies have already approved the plan. County planners are recommending approval.

Opponents speak

Ridgefield resident David McDonald, attorney for the environmental group Friends of the East Fork, led the testimony against the proposal by introducing a team of 11 speakers to address various alleged flaws in the Storedahl plan.

McDonald's team included attorney for the environmental group Fish First, Svend Brandt-Erichsen, fishing advocate Gary Loomis, Jack Kaeding, executive director of the environmental group Fish First and Dick Dyrland, head the Friends of the East Fork.

A hand-count showed about 40 other people desired to speak against the plan as well.

Brandt-Erichsen spoke first for more than one hour of a regulated three-and-one-half hour meeting.

Brandt-Erichson accused County staff of doing a cursory review when adopting federal environmental statements. Although staff may have followed code, Brandt-Erichsen believes closer study was needed because of the sensitive nature of the site.

One theme coming through from other testimony was that the mine poses an irreparable threat to the East Fork Lewis River.

Critics argue that Storedahl's practices will create a river that runs too broad and as such, too shallow. When a river runs too shallow it runs too warm, thus harming fish stocks, they argued.

Another fear is that additional silt from mining activity will go into the river, especially if the river changes course and washes over part of the Storedahl site, say critics.

Too much silt can become a problem for several reasons, most notably that it can plug holes where cool, underground water bubbles up into the river. When those holes are plugged, the river heats up, harming fish stocks, say critics.

Scott Rose, who has lived for 16 years on Bennett Rd. next to the Storedahl site, remembers how floods affected the area in 1996. He advocated further ground water studies.

Jim Malinowski, a member of the Clark County Endangered Species Act Advisory Committee, submitted written testimony recommending that the County reject Storedahl's proposal entirely.

Malinowski called Storedahl's plan "inconsistent with the County's and state's salmon recovery goals," and listed several examples of state officials overruling and disavowing scientific data and testimony.

"Storedahl & Sons has a terrible environmental record," Malinowski wrote. "State and county officials in the past have consistently failed in the past to enforce mining and clean water act regulations on the company's operations. Why should the public have faith that this extremely poor steward of the land can be trusted to implement [habitat conservation] terms and monitor [its] operation for compliance?"

Another hearing is set for Tues., June 1, 7 p.m., Public Service Center, 6th floor, 1300 Franklin St., Vancouver.

For more information, contact County planner Josh Warner, 397-2375, ext. 4898.

BIA EXTENDS COMMENT TIME ON DOCUMENT

New deadline June 16 for public comments on environmental assessment

Bill Myers, staff reporter

A Cowlitz Indian Tribe attorney said at a May 13 public meeting that federal Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) officials added 30 days to a comment period on an Environmental Assessment of land at I-5 and NW 319th St.

Attorney Stephen Horenstein said the extension moved the deadline for comments from May 17 to June 16.

Several public officials, including congressman Brian Baird, Clark and Cowlitz County commissioners, and city leaders of Woodland and La Center, requested the extension.

La Center city council members Richard Curtis and Dale Smith lobbied for more time May 10 and 11 in Washington, D.C. after city council members approved $3,000 for the trip.

Curtis and Smith visited offices of senators Maria Cantwell, Patti Murray, Baird and other representatives. They also sought help from a special assistant to president Bush.

Baird had already requested an extension. In a May 6 letter to the BIA, Baird said he had been assured by a BIA official that concerns of community leaders, "even those representing non-jurisdictional municipalities," would be considered.

Baird said in his letter that citizens need more time to analyze and understand the Environmental Assessment.

Governor Gary Locke declined to request an extension. Locke spokesperson Bill Alkire said Locke has refused to get involved in fee-to-trust application issues. Alkire said the governor will be involved if the tribe requests a gambling compact with the state.

Baird asked tribal leaders to hold meeting

Horenstein said he and Cowlitz tribal attorney Dennis Whittlesley scheduled the May 13 meeting at Baird's request. It was attended by about 100 citizens.

Horenstein, Whittlesley and Lewis & Clark College professor Stephen Beckam fielded questions about the Assessment and a tribal application for trust status on 151 acres at the I-5/NW 319th St. junction.

Acceptance of the land into trust for the tribe by the Department of Interior could pave the way to gaming at the site.

Tribal officials insist they have not yet decided how to use the land. They have said gaming is the proposed land use in their trust application because gaming would require maximum environmental scrutiny.

In recent meetings, Whittlesley has said gaming is "likely."

Horenstein said the Environmental Assessment is a draft that will be finalized after all comments are received. "We're open to ideas and comments," said the attorney.

Both attorneys gave assurances that a Memorandum of Understanding executed with Clark County is enforceable because tribal leaders agreed to a limited waiver of tribal immunity. "A subsequent tribal council can't change the rules," said Whittlesley.

Beckham said there is substantial evidence of Cowlitz history in the area. He said there is no legal requirement that a tribe prove aboriginal origins in its application to Department of Interior for trust status.

Initial reservation

Wittlesley said he requested that land at the junction be acknowledged by the Secretary of Interior as "initial reservation."

Responding to a question from Smith, Whittlesley said if the land is acknowledged as "initial reservation," the tribe may conduct gaming as an exception under federal law.

Federal Indian gaming regulations (U.S. Code, Title 25, Chapter 29, Section 2719) prohibit tribes recognized after 1988 from conducting gaming on land except under certain conditions.

One condition is when the Secretary of Interior determines that gaming on newly acquired lands would be in the best interests of an Indian tribe and would not be detrimental to a surrounding community.

This condition requires approval by a state governor.

An alternative condition allows gaming when lands are taken into trust as part of "the initial reservation of an Indian tribe..."

Estrangement

When a La Center resident asked why tribal and city leaders couldn't reach an agreement, Whittlesley said he tried to reach out to city leaders, but they never attempted to contact him.

Whittlesley said he attended three meetings in the area, but city council members insisted on opposing tribal efforts.

La Center mayor Jim Irish said the city opposed, in a businesslike manner, development of a casino that would have negative impacts on city citizens.

Visibly incensed, Smith said, "We're not opposing the tribe. We oppose a non-conforming development that will hurt the economy of our city."

Environmental opposition

Some residents near the East Fork of the Lewis River fear run-off from pavement at a casino site will pollute the river and destroy what they consider a threatened eco-system.

La Center city officials fear economic consequences of gaming at the site would strip the city of essential tax revenue collected from four existing card rooms.

La Center city council members on May 12 approved spending up to $75,000 to hire the Mentor Law Group, a Seattle law firm with expertise in tribal issues, to guide resistance to tribal gaming efforts.

At the meeting, Dan Kearns said a BIA official will attend a June 9 city council meeting to answer questions about federal procedures related to tribal requests.

WATER QUALITY FINE AT CHIEF UMTUCH

Battle Ground School District officials had drinking water tested May 7 at Chief Umtuch Elementary School after a parent with a sick child wondered if lead might be present in the water.

The school is on Battle Ground city water.

Seattle-based consultants from Nowicki and Associates used two procedures to test the water in five locations at the school and found water quality good with no action required on the District's part.

A similar complaint was raised in early May at Lewisville Middle School. Water was tested May 3 and deemed safe.

District representatives are formulating a plan for District-wide water-quality testing, said communications consultant Kelly Keister.

Marcus Brotherton, staff reporter

Disagreement over a confederate flag on a student's notebook has spiraled into a suspension for a freshman at Battle Ground High School.

The student's mother, Sherry Holcomb, and Vancouver attorney Louis Byrd Jr., raised the matter May 11 at a school board meeting.

The situation began when freshman Tuesday Boyd was asked by a school administrator to remove the flag due to interpretations of the District's dress code by the school administrator, said Kelly Keister, who handles District communications for matters pertaining to legal issues.

Generally, the District's dress code prohibits students from wearing items considered disruptive to educational environments, such as t-shirts with beer slogans, Keister said.

Keister said school officials believed the confederate flag was disruptive because the flag has become known in some areas as a symbol for white-supremacy and hate crimes, in addition to its traditional roots of representing southern culture and heritage.

The student refused to comply with the school official's request and reacted with defiance, which is what the suspension was based on, not the issue of wearing a flag, Keister said.

By phone May 13, Boyd said she is neither racist nor wanted to offend anybody, but displayed the flag because she is originally from Texas and wanted to honor her heritage. She didn't see any problem with the flag because she has a cousin at another school who is "half black" who wears the flag regularly on his belt.

Boyd said she put the flag on her notebook partially because she had previously seen a teacher remove a similar flag from another student's notebook without consulting the student first.

Later, when Boyd questioned the teacher, the teacher told her "if she didn't like it she could find another school to go to," Boyd said.

"She had no reason to say that," Boyd said. "They say we have freedom. I just want everybody to have equal rights."

Byrd, the attorney, represents the matter because he believes the situation violates first amendment laws, he said.

Because confederate flags are not specifically prohibited in the District's dress code, the student was within her rights, said Byrd.

"Are we educating children to be conformists?" Byrd said. "This young lady is in the top 10 percent of her school's academic requirements. She's just the type of person who would question something not adding up."

Keister said the matter has been referred to the school's principal, Tim Lexow, with attempts made to resolve the issue at a school level.

POLLOCK TAKES TO THE SKIES

Prairie grad, paralyzed from waist down, goes skydiving

Marcus Brotherton, staff reporter

It's not every day Robbie Pollock, 20, gets to fly.

Sure, the Dollars Corner resident likes to zip around town in his customized Subaru wagon. He is known for cruising the rows of his parent's nursery in a souped up Harley Davidson golf cart. But flying--that's something else.

In early May Pollock got his chance. A group of friends made plans for a trip to Mollala, OR, to the Skydive Oregon Center. The goal was to jump out of an airplane. Was Pollock interested?

"I wasn't too crazy about it at first," Pollock said, "but I didn't know what to expect. In the end it was completely amazing. I never thought I'd be doing that."

Pollock was paralyzed from the waist down in a Jeep accident when he was a junior in high school.

After months of rehabilitation he came back to Prairie High School in 2001 where he graduated one year later. He kept his grades, learned to drive a car with hand controls, and tried to live as fully as possible, he said.

Today he attends Portland Community college and is thinking about becoming an art therapist. He volunteers as a Young Life club leader at Prairie and is set to work as a skate park attendant this summer at a camp in Oregon.

The skydiving experience was like none other, said Robbie's friend since childhood, Zack Uhacz, 20, who also made the jump.

"It was kinda scary at first," Uhacz said. "Once we jumped it was not that bad--it was really fun actually."

Skydive Oregon representatives had no problem with Pollock making the jump, they told him, but asked him to bring a permission slip from a doctor just to cover their bases. All group members jumped while strapped together, tandem-style, with an experienced jumper.

The first thing group members did when they arrived at the center was sign a stack of release forms, Uhacz said. Basically, if anything bad happened, none of the jumpers or their descendants for generations to come could sue. Instructors walked the group through a brief orientation session, group members donned flight suits, then they all crowded into an airplane.

"That was one of the scariest parts," Pollock said. "Little planes tend to move around a lot, and we were sitting in the plane's tail. It was shifty."

The group climbed to 13,200 feet. Pollock watched the altitude with a gauge on his wrist. When jump-height was reached, the group put on goggles and the plane's door opened. Pollock was set to be the first to jump.

An instructor strapped Pollock's legs together, swung him over the side of the plane, and out they went.

"It's really sudden," Pollock said. "You're just falling. It takes a minute for your brain to catch up to your body."

The ride up took 12 minutes. Coming down, Pollock and his instructor had 47 seconds of free fall and reached about 125 m.p.h. Once their chute opened, it took another five minutes to reach the ground.

Video tape taken by other jumpers shows Pollock during the experience. In the plane he looks tough and nervous. On the way down, he's whooping, grinning like a snowboarder flying through the air, and giving thumbs up to anyone who comes near.

The landing was fairly uncomplicated, Pollock said. The instructor tucked into a type of roll, and the two touched down without a hitch. Center representatives brought Pollock's chair over immediately and congratulated him.

Another try?

"Skydiving was definitely one of the coolest things I've ever done," he said. "I'm planning to go again."

LEAD GETS OUT OF CITY HALL

Search for city manager underway

Heidi Wallenborn, news director

Work began early Monday morning to remove unsafe levels of lead dust from inside Ridgefield city hall.

The building closed about two weeks ago when five of nine areas tested inside were found to have up to six times more lead dust than the Environmental Protection Agency says is safe.

The dust likely coated inside city hall when lead paint was reportedly improperly removed from the front of the structure in June 2002 under the direction of former city manager Randy Bombardier.

Global Pacific Environmental Inc. of Vancouver submitted the winning bid last week of about $24,000 to remediate the building.

On Monday, crews set up a negative air chamber inside to prevent lead dust from escaping into the street once work begins in earnest, said Fred Crippen, public works supervisor.

Work is expected to be finished in seven to 10 days, said interim city manager George Fox.

When the crew is finished, a certified industrial hygienist will inspect the building to make sure it is safe to occupy, Fox said.

Meanwhile, advertisements for a permanent city manager have gone out, with a closing date of May 28.

So far, four people have sent in applications, although the city has received "tons" of phone calls about the position, said city clerk Kay Kammer.

Although names cannot be released to the public yet, she said two applicants are from this state, and two are from Oregon.

Once the field is narrowed, Fox expects to begin an extensive interview process that will include the community as well as city council members and staff.

"We want a lot of input," Fox said. "This will be a wide open process."

At a May 13 council meeting, council member Gary Holmberg suggested a visit to the town the applicant hails from.

Mayor Gladys Doriot also suggested a background check before "we hang our hat" on someone only to find out about an unsavory history.

Fox said that is already taken care of.

"We recently adopted a policy for criminal and driver's license background checks for department heads," Fox said. "In the application, they will have to sign a waiver for us to do that."

"Good," Doriot said. "We don't want any problems...you know."

"Yes," Fox said. "I know."

SHERIFF DEPUTY RESERVES NEEDED

The Clark County Sheriff's Office is currently seeking to fill slots in the Reserve Deputy Program.

Those who have an interest in law enforcement are welcome to apply.

Positions are part-time and volunteer with full law enforcement duties and responsibilities such as responding to emergency calls, helping at crime scenes, and responding to disasters and community events.

An informational meeting addressing questions about the program, testing, hiring and attending a law enforcement academy will be held Thurs., May 20, 7 p.m., at the Washington State University-Vancouver campus in Salmon Creek.

A written test will be held Sat., June 5, 9 a.m., also at the University.

For more information, call Sgt. Peg Prather, 397-2104 or check online at www.CCSOReserves.com

REWARD OFFERED FOR VALUABLE QUILTS

Heidi Wallenborn, news director

Deb Coates, the owner of Cottons quilt store in Battle Ground, is heartsick over the loss of $4,100 worth of unique, hand-stitched quilts.

Coates is offering a cash reward for the return of the quilts, no questions asked, or for information leading to recovery of the quilts.

Four quilts and one quilt top were stolen from her store between 6 p.m. May 8 and 10 a.m. May 10, according to a Battle Ground police report.

The method of entry is unknown, but there were no visible signs of forced entry. Coates told police she noticed a spare key to the store was missing.

The stolen quilts are not "just blankets."

Each is a unique, personal design created by Coates, a professional quilter. Each piece was painstakingly hand-stitched and quilted.

One, called Old Maid's Patience, won a national award and was featured on the cover of a Better Homes and Gardens magazine, as well as inside the magazine book, Quilt Shop Tour, which featured Cottons as well. The quilt is valued at $2,000, Coates said.

"These are all my personal designs," she said. "They were all created with wool or vintage fabrics. They are one-of-a-kind."

The theft is under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call the Battle Ground Police Department at 342-5100.

"CAT KILLER" LURKS IN SOUTHWEST BG

Cash reward offered by neighbors

Heidi Wallenborn, news director

Kitten, a 3-year-old charcoal-gray, short-haired cat, was lucky.

In late November 2002, someone shot her with a pellet gun. The pellet lodged in her shoulder.

"The vet said she was probably taking a step when she was hit," said Kitten's owner Twila Ostro who lives in the Robinwood subdivision in Battle Ground. "He said if she hadn't, it would have gone into her heart."

The pellet is still deep in the cat's shoulder because taking it out would have been more harmful, Ostro said.

Other neighborhood cats, Elliott and MC, weren't so fortunate.

Last week, someone shot MC in the head and Elliott in the heart and stomach.

When the bodies were found, it appeared they were trying to head home, said their owner, Dana Evans.

MC, a black and white shorthair, was found facing home, lying against a fence in a neighbor's yard. Elliott, a silver tabby, was shot in Evans' backyard.

Evans said her veterinarian believes Elliott was shot in the stomach first, headed home, and then shot through the heart after he reached the backyard.

This isn't the first time Evans lost a pet to a pellet gun.

The family's Siamese cat, Chrysler, was killed after a shot to the lungs in February last year.

The family lives within two blocks of the Ostros in the Winchester Ranch subdivision. A marshy area is easily accessible from the properties, where neighborhood cats sometimes roam.

Epidemic?

A search of Battle Ground police records found few reports regarding cat shootings in the neighborhood over the last two years, but not anything to raise suspicion.

However, Ostro said 15 or more cats have been killed near the area, likely unreported.

"People don't always want to call the police because they are afraid they will think it's no big deal," she said.

Evans said other pet owners who mysteriously lost cats came forward after a February 2003 article in The Reflector about the cat slaying.

Information Evans gathered since last spring found at least 10 cats have been shot to death.

The most recent case is under investigation, said Lt. Roy Butler of the Battle Ground police department.

The Ostros are offering a cash reward to anyone who can identify the shooter or has information which leads to his/her apprehension.

According to Butler, shooting a firearm of any kind, including pellet and BB guns, within the city limits is a misdemeanor with a maximum penalty of 90 days in jail and/or a $1,000 fine.

Animal cruelty, which includes willfully or recklessly killing or injuring any pet animal, is a gross misdemeanor with a maximum penalty of one year in jail and/or a $5,000 fine, plus a $500 fine for each pet animal killed or injured.

Evans believes the shooters are adolescent boys she has seen with pellet guns several times in the neighborhood, and has given that information to police.

The death of her cats concerns Evans, but even more disturbing is the connection between adolescent youths who harm animals and go on to more serious crimes, she said.

Looking for facts to back her suspicions, Evans contacted Ann Rule, nationally renowned author of criminal fiction.

A flurry of e-mails ensued between Evans and Rule's daughter Leslie. The Rules are cat lovers as well, and very interested in this case, Evans said. And yes, there is the association Evans feared.

"There is definitely a connection between boys who abuse animals and serial killers," said Ann Rule to Evans.

Patterns change

After Chrysler was killed and Kitten shot, families changed patterns.

The Ostros have three cats, one for each child who has left home. Those cats stay inside now after the most recent shootings.

Although Kitten survived, her personality changed, Ostro said.

"She used to be such a sweet cat who loved to be held and petted and would sit on my lap," she said. "Since the shooting, she's in a bad mood all the time, doesn't want to be picked up, is a loner and growls a lot."

The Evans family have two remaining cats which are being kept inside.

In a letter to neighbors alerting them of the recent killing, Evans said her family are animal lovers who inherited a crooked, deformed cat named Gimp about four years ago. Gimp was pregnant when they got her and soon gave birth to Elliott, MC and another cat still living.

"We are animal lovers and even though we didn't want that many cats, we vowed to raise them as a family and always keep them with their mom," Evans wrote.

Because Elliott and MC were "littermates," they slept, ate and played together to the delight of the family.

Evans said the cats were spayed or neutered, and wore florescent flea collars and leather collars with large identification tags. The cats were brought in at night and stayed inside during bad weather.

"We took very good care of them and loved them as if they were our children," Evans said.

Another family blow is that their son is serving in Iraq and lost a friend killed in action by a hand grenade the same week the two cats were killed.

"[Our] son loved these pets very much and [we] can't tell him what happened because he is already experiencing so much stress," Evans wrote. "[We] miss our pets terribly and wish [the shooter] who did this could understand the pain [we] are feeling."

Anyone with information, is asked to call Battle Ground police officer Jason Perdue at 342-5100. To donate cash for the reward, call the Ostros at 666-9808.

There are no city ordinances requiring cats to be licensed or limiting the number of cats per household.

Marcus Brotherton, staff reporter

Candace Morgan, associate director of the Fort Vancouver Regional Library District, is retiring after 21 years on the job.

Morgan is one of four associate directors who share second-in-command positions under executive director Bruce Ziegman.

The District has 13 branches and provides services to about 400,000 southwest Washington citizens in Clark, Cowlitz, Klickitat and Skamania counties.

Morgan, 62, has been responsible for overseeing all branches except downtown Vancouver. She has also coordinated several large-scale operations of the District including young adult services, children's services, circulation and technical services.

Two people will fill Morgan's role when she leaves in early June, library associate Doreen Turpen and a yet-unannounced second person.

Morgan, 62, said she decided to shift gears to devote more attention to teaching. She currently instructs public policy research for Portland State University master's of public information program, and information ethics for a satellite branch of Kansas Emporia State University.

Morgan will also maintain her responsibilities as co-editor of the American Library Association Intellectual Freedom Manual.

"I'll stay busy," Morgan said, "but not as busy as I am now."

Morgan also hopes to backpack and hike with her husband, Douglas, and spend time with her 3-year-old grandson, Morgan Brink. The Morgans also have two grown daughters.

Morgan has a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of California at Riverside, a master's degree in library services from Columbia University in New York, NY, and a master's degree in public administration from Lewis and Clark College in Portland.

She worked for various libraries for 17 years in California, the midwest and east coast before coming to Vancouver in 1983.

Morgan helped facilitate several large-scale projects within the District including the recent opening of the La Center branch, opening the Vancouver Mall branch in 1983 and moving it three times, tripling the Goldendale branch in the mid 1980s, opening the Ridgefield branch in 1994, opening the Cascade Park and Woodland branches in 1996, expanding the White Salmon branch in 2000, and bringing bookmobile services to Yale and Cougar.

The District covers about 4,000 square miles and makes available about 768,000 volumes and 98,000 magazine issues.

Morgan has always appreciated the diversity of each day on the job, she said, and never considered looking for another job while working for Vancouver. She enjoys working alongside library staff and people she encounters in the various communities the District serves.

Traffic delays expected

Bill Myers, staff reporter

Work on utility lines near Hwy 99 and NE 134th St. began May 17 in advance of road work that will realign Hwy 99 and widen NE 134th St.

According to Clark County Public Works project manager Matt Hall, road work will start in June.

Construction phasing will help reduce traffic impacts, but delays are likely in the heavily traveled area.

County officials say the project will improve safety by providing better access to existing streets and business driveways.

The project is the first phase of a multi-phase, regional transportation plan to improve circulation in the Salmon Creek area.

During the first phase, workers will realign about 2,300 feet of Hwy. 99 onto NE 20th Ave. between NE 129th and NE 138th streets.

The project will widen NE 134th St. between NE Hwy 99 and NE 20th Ave. to accomodate additional vehicles and turning lanes.

Hall said federal and state funds will each pay about 39 percent of the $9.6 million construction job. County road funds will pay 18 percent of the cost and Clark Public Utilities will pick up 4 percent of the tab for water line and conduit movements.

The new NE 20th Ave. will be wider, with travel lanes in each direction. Sidewalks and bicycle lanes will be constructed on each side of the road.

The project will include widening of the NE 20th Ave. bridge over I-205 to include turning lanes and bicycle lanes.

Workers will install street lighting and signal/intersection improvements at NE 20th Ave. and NE 134th St.

Hall said Hwy 99 will remain open as a local access road.

Hall said future phases over several years will include relocating the Park and Ride facility, the southbound I-205 off-ramp and the northbound I-5 on-ramp. The long-range plan is to construct a diamond interchange at I-5 and NE 134th St.

Completion of the road portion of the first phase project is expected this fall, said Hall. Improvements to the NE 20th Ave. bridge should be finished during spring 2005.

TRAIN MEETS PICKUP IN WOODLAND

A motorist in the Port of Woodland escaped injury May 7 after losing a race with a slow-moving freight train.

Longview motorist Thon Van Huynh, 58, Longview, reportedly struck the train while attempting to cross rail tracks on Schurman Way.

According to a Woodland police report, Huynh was second in a line of northbound traffic waiting at a non-barred rail crossing to allow a slow-moving Burlington Northern & Sante Fe freight train to pass.

Officer Brad Gillespie said Huynh accelerated around the vehicle in front of him and attempted to cross the tracks as the train reached the crossing.

Gillespie said the train, pulling about six cars, was visually guided by a conductor and moving at about 4 or 5 miles per hour.

After the collision, Huynh's pickup, with him inside of it, was dragged about 30 feet alongside the train engine.

CHARGES DISMISSED AGAINST WOODLAND OFFICER

A Clark County District Court judge on April 29 dismissed three charges of assault and a charge of harassment against Woodland reserve police officer Ryan Patrick Wilson.

Wilson, 24, was charged with assaulting three youths with pepper spray during an altercation near his Vancouver residence.

Wilson contended he used the spray on an adult male who threatened him as he attempted to remove his wife from the scene of a neighborhood brawl. He said others in the area may have been touched by over spray.

Former Woodland police chief Grover Laseke said an internal affairs investigation convinced him that charges were not justified.

Charges were dismissed without prejudice after Wilson showed certifications demonstrating a professional knowledge of sprays.

Closing ceremonies will take place Sat., June 12, 1 p.m., as the current Salmon Creek Elementary school building faces demolition.

Construction of a new school building on the site is nearing completion and will be ready for use by fall.

The current building has served Salmon Creek students since 1954. It is the sixth building serving Salmon Creek elementary students over the past 150 years.

One former school building burned down, while others have been torn down. The actual location of the school and changed over time.

Citizens helping to plan the closure of the existing school are selling bricks which will be engraved and then installed as a sidewalk to the new building.

Brick sale organizer Connie Hays said the deadline for brick purchases is May 30, with about 250 bricks sold so far.

Some bricks will bear the names of students and teachers from the early days of the school, purchased by their descendants.

Hays said bricks will bear the names of former teachers, such as Hester A. Goddard (1853) and Minnie Robb Molyneux (1926-27), and former students such as May Hanson (Goddard), 1897-1905, George Goddard, 1854-1862, Marianna Goddard, 1925-1933, and Laura Orville Erickson, 1924-34.

Brick orders have been placed by three generation

Salmon Creek Elementary families, said Hays.

Bricks sell for $40 for existing students, and $50 for alumni.

The ceremonies on June 12 will start with Boy Scouts displaying the U.S. flag, the singing of the national anthem by a former Salmon Creek student, several speakers, and then the retiring of the flag that flew at the school. That flag will be saved, said Hays.

A display of old photos of the school and its students, organized by decade, will be part of the closing ceremony festivities, said Hays.

Alumni include former state senator Al Bauer and his children, the "Slob Sisters" now known as the "Sidetracked Home Executives," and pioneer families.

Hays can be reached at 573-6397.

The Clark County commissioners will conduct a public hearing Mon., May 24, 6:30 p.m., on the latest draft of the county's home business ordinance.

Some elements of the draft ordinance are intentionally left as options pending public comments.

The ordinance divides home businesses into four general categories--those that are exempt, those created before 1995, those defined as "minor," and those defined as "major."

As drafted, the ordinance applies a series of performance standards to all businesses, requiring home businesses to deal with noise, odors, glare, dust, smoke, vibration and radiation. While the ordinance requires these nuisances to be non-detectable at property lines, it does not explain how the rule will be applied or enforced.

The ordinance has been under preparation for almost three years. Once finalized, the ordinance will replace existing county rules that generally ban most larger types of home businesses.

Pre-1995 businesses

Gordy Euler, county staff person working on development of the home business ordinance, said leniency for pre-1995 businesses is designed to keep long-standing businesses in operation.

"Some business owners fear they won't be able to comply with the new ordinance," said Euler. "The commissioners don't want to shut down businesses, but want home businesses to be compatible with neighbors and neighborhoods."

Thus, he said, an accommodation for long-time businesses is part of the draft ordinance.

Pre-1995 businesses would still need to meet the performance standards and obtain a Type I permit.

Euler described a Type I permit as an over-the-counter document, requiring a 21-day review and costing $79.

On the other hand, said Euler, pre-1995 businesses will be "frozen" in size and would need permits to expand. Officials are undecided whether such businesses would be "frozen" at their 1995 size or as they operate today.

Exempt businesses

Certain businesses will be exempt from the county's new rules.

Exempt businesses in urban areas are those with no accessory structures or outside storage, no more than two employees, no on-site customers, no heavy equipment, no retail sales, and no more than one business-related vehicle.

Exempt businesses in rural areas are the same but can have an accessory structure of up to 400 square feet.

Permits are not required for exempt businesses unless two or more exempt businesses are operated on the same parcel of land.

Minor home businesses

"Minor" home businesses qualify for a Type I permit process unless located on a private road.

Minor home businesses in urban areas are those with an accessory structure of up to 400 square feet, maximum of two employees, up to six on-site customers per day, no outside storage, no heavy equipment, and no on-site retail sales. They operate within 7 a.m.-8 p.m.

Minor home businesses in rural areas are the same, except an accessory structure of up to 1,000 square feet is allowed.

Euler said minor home businesses located on private roads will have the choice to either obtain support from all neighbors on the road, or go through the Type II review process which includes neighbor notification and a hearing before a Hearings Examiner.

Major home business

"Major" home businesses are subject to a Type II review process.

Euler described a Type II process as including public notice to neighbors, 78 day review period, and costing $2,605.

A major home business in an urban area can have an accessory structure of up to 900 square feet, three employees, 12 customers per day, no outside storage or heavy equipment, no retail sales, operate 7 a.m.-8 p.m., and be located on a lot of at least 10,000 square feet.

A major home business in a rural area must conform to a matrix which specifies accessory structure size, number of employees, allowable outside storage, business vehicles, and heavy equipment based on property size.

For example, a parcel 10 acres in size could accommodate an accessory structure of 1,750 square feet, three employees, 1,000 square feet of outside storage, two business vehicles, two trailers and three pieces of heavy equipment.

Home occupations on parcels 20 acres or larger would be limited to five pieces of heavy equipment, four trailers and four business vehicles.

There is no provision in the ordinance for businesses operating with more than five pieces of heavy equipment, or for any such equipment to be based in urban residential zones.

Other issues

County officials had previously noted that buildings constructed for agricultural purposes and therefore without permits have been illegally converted to non-agricultural, business uses.

The draft ordinance does not include provisions for home business operators to obtain permits for such buildings.

Building industry responds

Matt Lewis, spokesman for the Building Industry Association of Southwest Washington, said his analysis of home business complaints shows that most are in urban areas, and auto repair businesses are the leading offenders.

Lewis said his organization had favored a performance-based solution rather than restrictive rules.

Lewis said complaints about home businesses could be resolved through medication and other means without county limitations. "We can solve complaints without going after businesses," said Lewis.

Lewis called the proposed rule limiting a business on five acres to one business vehicle "asinine."

Lewis did not object to new businesses facing more stringent rules than existing businesses. But he said new rules should not be imposed retroactively on existing businesses.

Hearing set

The public hearing will be held at Prairie High School, 11500 NE 117th Ave., Brush Prairie.

The draft ordinance is available at Clark County Community Development, 1300 Franklin St., third floor, Vancouver, or by calling Euler, 397-2375, ext. 4968, as well as on the county's web site:

www.clark.wa.gov

STOREDAHL PAYS SURVEYING BILL

The J.L. Storedahl & Sons company has paid Clark County nearly $3,000 for survey work done in error by county crews.

The Storedahl company operates gravel mining operations in the Daybreak area and elsewhere.

Kimball Storedahl, vice president of J.L. Storedahl & Sons, said he asked the county to conduct a survey before a fence was installed between Storedahl and county property. The county owns tracts of land in the Daybreak area contiguous to Storedahl property.

Pete Capell, who heads Clark County Public Works, said that when survey crews arrived to do the work, they learned the survey was along the road only, not elsewhere. Surveyors questioned whether the work was appropriate, "but not vigorously," said Capell.

Crews ended up surveying along both sides of Bennet Rd., J.A. Moore Rd., and NE 61st Ave., contiguous to Storedahl ownerships.

The survey work required about 96 staff hours plus supervision, said Capell.

Storedahl then constructed 9,500 feet of six-strand, barbed-wire fence designed to keep out people who dump garbage and cause vandalism.

Capell said a county employee authorized the survey work. "It was wrong," said Capell. "But what's done is done."

"I'm embarrassed," said Capell.

Capell said the matter was particularly sensitive because of the planned and controversial expansion of Storedahl mining activity in the Daybreak area.

Capell said Storedahl paid the full cost of fence construction and was asked to pay for the survey work.

"I figure if he sent me a bill, I should pay it," said Storedahl. "I think its fair."

"I haven't tried to beat anything out of anybody," said Storedahl.

"If it wasn't the right thing to do, they shouldn't have done it," said Storedahl.

Storedahl noted that the survey disclosed that parts of the road strayed from county right-of-way. Storedahl said he had no intention of moving the road, but rather will participate in making the current location of the road official.

FLAG, POLE INSTALLED AT WOODLAND CENTER

A U.S. flag measuring 10-ft. by 15-ft. now flies above the Woodland Community Service Center, atop a newly-constructed flag pole.

Tim Welch, chair of the board of the Woodland Community Service Center, said about $2,500 was raised in private donations to pay for the pole and flag.

Bob Kinghorn of Stellar J construction company was instrumental in design and construction of the pole, said Welch. Kinghorn also paid for the flag.

"The flag tells how we feel about this place," said Welch. "It's representative of what we're doing here."

The pole is designed to avert vandalism. Rope runs down the center of the pole instead of on the outside. A 1946 Ford axle was remodeled to form the top portion of the pole.

Welch said 14 yards of concrete were used to mount the pole.

The flag is lighted at night and will not come down except for ceremonial purposes, said Welch.

Bob Ripp formed the steel pole with assistance from Kinghorn.

Welch said plans call for the creation of a corner park near the Service Center, with the flag pole and flag forming the cornerstone of the park.

Welch described the future park as a peaceful place with benches, walkways and gazebo, where people can deal with stresses and troubles.

The Woodland Community Service Center is located at 736 Davidson, Woodland. 225-9998.

COUGAR REPORTED IN CITY LIMITS

Bill Myers, staff reporter

A Battle Ground resident said he saw a cougar May 12 near his home on SW 13th Ave., within one-quarter mile of businesses on W Main St.

Lester Warren said the animal weighed about 90 pounds and walked from a wooded area about 200 feet in back of his home.

"It looked at me for about 20 seconds, turned and walked about 100 feet, then turned to look again," said Warren.

Warren said he saw cougar tracks near his garage when it snowed in January and that he saw tracks in his garden a few weeks ago.

GUN MISHAP CLAIMS LA CENTER MAN

A La Center man died May 14 from a shooting accident near Sunset Falls east of Yacolt.

Joshua J. Zackary, 29, 31220 NE 59th Ave., was carrying a handgun which accidentally discharged when he fell while hiking in a wooded area, said Tony Lopez of the Clark County Medical Examiner's Office.

Zackary was reportedly with his 7-year-old son on a camping outing when the accident occurred. The boy ran to a rural home to seek help after the incident.

OBITS:

MERLYN CASTLE

Merlyn William Castle, 72, died May 15, 2004 at home in Woodland.

Castle was born Oct. 25, 1931 in Marshall, MN, served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War 1952-54, and lived in the Woodland area for 20 years.

Castle worked as a salesman for the Dana Corporation. He enjoyed sailing, fishing in the Great Lakes, him family, gardening and working with children on firearm safety. He was an avid outdoorsman.

Castle was a member of the Eastgate Masonic Lodge in Spokane, 32nd Degree Member of the Scottish Rite in Idaho, and a member of the Veteran's of Foreign Wars Post 1927 in Woodland. He was a lifetime members of the National Rifle Association and Wolverton Gun Club.

Survivors include son Bill Castle of Longview, daughter Deborah Rockwell of Pennsylvania, brother Lowell Castle of Yelm, sisters Doris Schrader of Portland and Darlene Holtby of Kent, four grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Graveside services will be held Fri., May 21, noon, at Frank Abel Cemetery, Woodland, with the Woodland Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

DORIS PENDELL

Doris E. (La Fountain) Pendell, 90, died May 15, 2004 in Ridgefield.

Pendell was born April 21, 1914 in Deer Island, OR, and lived in Clark County for 53 years.

Pendell loved to fish and hunt with her children and grandchildren. She painted pictures in her earlier years and spent her later years flower gardening and bird watching. At one time, she drove a log truck. She enjoyed oil painting, and yard and garden activities.

Pendell was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Pendell, in 1972, sons Norman Ballhorn in 1976 and Robert Ballhorn in 1996, step-daughter Judy Shattuck, sister Clara Taylor, and a great-great-great-grandchild. Survivors include daughters Arletha Braunberger of Woodland, and Donna Beard and Darline Clark, both of Oregon, sister Beulah Hamilton of Oregon, 15 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, 12 great-great-grandchildren, eight great-great-great-grandchildren, five step-grandchildren, 16 step-great-grandchildren and nine step-great-great-grandchildren.

Memorial services will be held Wed., May 19, 7 p.m., at Layne's Funeral Home Chapel, Battle Ground, with Layne's Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

JUSTIN HANSON

Justin Todd Hanson, 10, died of cardiac arrest May 14, 2004 at Yacolt Primary School.

Hanson was born April 17, 1994 in Vancouver. He was a fourth grade student at the school and had lived in Clark County his entire life.

Hanson was a member of the Old Apostolic Lutheran Church of Battle Ground and enjoyed the outdoors, hunting, fishing, basketball and loved his many friends.

Hanson is survived by his parents, Todd and Denise Hanson, brothers Jeremy and Nathan Hanson and sister Ellen Hanson, all at home in Battle Ground, grandparents James and Janet Hanson of Brush Prairie and Keith and Lynn Schlect of Battle Ground, and great-grandparents Art and Tekla Schlecht of Battle Ground and Dan and Doris Lee of Battle Ground.

Funeral services will be held Wed., May 19, 2004, 2 p.m., at the Old Apostolic Lutheran Church, 32320 NE Lewisville Highway, Battle Ground, with committal following in Elim Cemetery, Brush Prairie.

Layne's Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Kenneth "Skip" T. Spurling III, 54, died May 13, 2004 in Battle Ground.

Spurling was born June 8, 1949 in Fort Eustis, Virginia, worked as a machinist in the aircraft manufacturing industry, and lived in La Center for four months.

Spurling served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam era. He enjoyed computers. He loved the woods, music, Montana and storytelling. He played the saxophone and piano. He enjoyed his Harley-Davidson Sportster.

Spurling was preceded in death by his mother, Patricia Spurling, in 2003. Survivors include father Kenneth T. Spurling Jr. of La Center, son Kenneth "Tad" Spurling IV of Tacoma, sister Bonni Spurling Dodge of La Center, brother Brian Spurling of Texas, and six nieces and nephews.

Graveside services will be held Thurs., May 20, 10:30 a.m., at Willamette National Cemetery, Portland, with Layne's Funeral Home, Battle Ground, in charge of arrangements.

JENNIE PELLY

Jennie J. (Janacaro) Pelly, 84, died May 12, 2004 in Vancouver.

Pelly was born June 6, 1919 in Kansas City, MO, owned and operated a health food store in California, and lived in Ridgefield for 26 years.

Pelly worked in a press shop in Kansas City, cleaning and pressing clothing. She also worked in a bowling alley. She retired in 1977 and moved to Ridgefield. She loved music and played the guitar. She was a member of Sacred Hearth Catholic Church and enjoyed working at the church.

Pelly was preceded in death by her husband, John Pelly, in 1989. Survivors include three nephews and one niece.

Burial was at Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery, Battle Ground, with Layne's Funeral Home, Battle Ground, in charge of arrangements.

Minnie E. Wright, 83, died May 14, 2004 in Battle Ground.

Wright was born Jan. 10, 1921 in Rockland, Saskatchewan, Canada, and lived in Clark County for five years.

Wright enjoyed crocheting, knitting, cooking and baking for her family. She was known as Nana to her grandchildren. Her family was most important to her. Survivors include husband of 64 years Sidney Wright, at home in Vancouver, son Stanley Wright of Vancouver, daughter Shirley Gibson of Battle Ground, sister Irma Gross of Canada, five grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson.

No services will be held. Memorial Gardens Funeral Chapel was in charge of arrangements.

Nenita O. (Odiong) Penland, 37, died from injuries suffered in an auto accident May 11, 2004 in Washougal.

Penland was born June 11, 1966 in Gahoy Guiuan E. Samar, The Philippines, worked as a caregiver, and lived in Camas since 1993.

Penland loved people and taking care of people. She attended Hockinson Church of Christ. She enjoyed her children, gardening and crocheting.

Survivors include husband Allen Dean Penland, at home, mother Agripina Sumook of The Philippines, sons Jerimiah, William and John, all at home, and one sister and three brothers, all living in The Philippines.

Brown's Funeral Home, Camas, was in charge of arrangements.

GLADYS STAVAAS

Gladys (Berggren) Stavaas, 66, died April 30, 2004 in Lovelock, NV.

Stavaas was born Feb. 26, 1938 in Vancouver, grew up in Brush Prairie and attended Battle Ground schools. She graduated from Battle Ground High School.

She lived in Phoenix, AZ before moving to Lovelock in 1976.

Stavaas was a member of the Pink Ladies and Lovelock Fine Arats, and served on the Pershing General Hospital board of directors.

Stavaas worked as an administrative coordinator for Western Seed conference. She was employed at Lovelock Seed prior to working for 12 years for Coeur Rochester, a mining company.

Stavaas was preceded in death by brothers Walter (Bob) Berggren and John Berggren, and sister Marilyn Berggren Carr. Survivors include husband Chuck Stavaas, at home, sisters Rose Kopman of Brush Prairie, Helen Griffith of Portland and Carolyn Baker of Nevada, and numerous nephews and nieces.

DEAN RAMUS

Dean Ramus, 43, died May 9, 2004 in Wadena, MN.

Ramus was born Jan. 10, 1961 in Vancouver, attended Ridgefield High School and graduated from Hudson's Bay High School in 1980. He worked for Show Craft in Vancouver, Kalama Forest Products in Kalama, and Double J Feed and Tack in Ridgefield.

Ramus was an active member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Vancouver.

Ramus moved to Minnesota in 1997 where he worked in lawn care and snow removal, and was employed at the Bake Shoppe and Seip Drug.

Ramus loved bowling, and had his own team called "Dean's Destroyers." He celebrated his 40th birthday at the bowling alley.

Ramus was also active in civic and commerce events, library, community street dances, corn feeds and parades. In 2003, Ramus was grand marshall of the New York Mills (MN) parade.

Ramus was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church.

Survivors include parents Henry and Gladys Ramus of Minnesota, sister Deb Betts-Ramus of Minnesota, nephew Kenny Betts, niece Kristen Betts, and grandniece Cherry Lawson, all of Minnesota, step-grandmother Evelyn Ramus of Ridgefield, and many aunts, uncles and cousin.

Interment was at Greenwood Cemetery, New York Mills, MN, with Karvonen & Sun Funeral Home, New York Mills, in charge of arrangements.