NEW DRESS CODE SEES SMOOTH START

Marcus Brotherton., staff reporter

Anticipated disputes over clothing were minimal Sept. 7 as Battle Ground School District students returned to classes with a new dress code in effect.

School board members approved the code last spring after a committee of students, parents, community members and staff studied the issue for more than one year.

The new policy, named the No Bare Zone, allows students to dress anyway they please as long as cleavage and underwear can't be seen and skirts, shorts and dresses reach mid-thigh. Clothes that display lewd sayings and alcohol or tobacco advertisements are also banned. The policy affects students of both genders, K-12.

Letters explaining the code were mailed to each of the District's 12,000 students over the summer, administrator Diana Gilsinger said. The District also beefed up security at high schools the first week of school and purchased cover-up style T-shirts to be loaned to students as needed for the first few days of classes.

Spokesperson Kelly Keister visited half the District's 16 schools Sept. 7 and said the dress code issue overall was "really quiet," a contrast to last spring when television crews showed up at board meetings when the code was voted in.

Keister said one possible reason for reduced media coverage is that several Portland schools also adopted a code this year.

Implementing the code in Battle Ground is left up to each school's principal.

Battle Ground High School principal Tim Lexow is enforcing the code using a ticket system. Non-complying students are handed a ticket as a warning device, then taken to the office and reminded of code specifics. Two tickets in one day equals a call home or possible detention. Three tickets is considered defiance, with suspensions possible.

About 100 tickets were handed out the first day of school, Lexow said. The 9-12 school has some 2,000 students.

One issue that received leniency the first week due to interpretation issues was width of shoulder fabric on t-shirts, Lexow said. Halter-tops are not allowed under the new code, but sleeveless t-shirts are.

Lexow directed his staff to be "consistent and fair" when enforcing the new code, he said.

Prairie High School principal Jason Perrins visited about 30 classrooms Sept. 7 and described the majority of students' attitude to the new code as "favorable and responsive."

Perrins said some interpretation was required to enforce a no-bare midriff section of the code which states that midriffs must be covered while sitting, standing, bending and reaching.

Perrins said no flagrant code violations were reported.

Prairie associated student body vice president Kristin Murphy, 17, said most students say they favor the code, especially compared to other years when more casual attitudes toward dress were permitted.

Murphy, a senior, stood at the school's entryway with other student representatives and welcomed students on the first day of classes. Murphy said she didn't see any obvious violations. Several cheerleaders wore sweatpants underneath their uniforms.

A few students Murphy spoke with the first day said they did not want any clothing policy at all, Murphy said, but overall, "school started smoothly."

MIXED REVIEWS FOR BUMPS IN YACOLT

Bill Myers, staff reporter

Petitions signed by 54 people critical of recently-installed speed bumps were delivered Sept. 7 to the Yacolt mayor at a town council meeting.

Bumps intended to slow in-town traffic and protect school children were approved Aug. 2 by the council.

Public works director Paul Tester purchased five bumps for about $1,800. In August, he bolted three across Yacolt Rd. and two across E Railroad Ave. He also placed 10 portable bump signs, two at each bump location, to warn motorists.

Yacolt citizen and former council member Jim Messer delivered the petitions to mayor Jim Robertson.

Messer said people aren't happy with the design of the bumps. He said warning signs are necessary to alert motorists. A main criticism is that the bumps are not sufficiently sloped and too severe.

"A lady lost a muffler when she went over one," said Messer. School bus drivers don't like them either, he added. "Kids in the rear of buses go into orbit when buses go over them," he said.

Tester said the bumps are 2 and one-half inches high.

A citizen said she contacted the bump manufacturer and learned the bumps are designed to stop motorists, not just slow them down.

Council member Joe Warren said he learned that area paving companies can provide less severe bumps. Such bumps slow traffic to about 25 miles per hour and cost about $400 each for orders of 10. The price gets lower with a larger order.

Council member Jim Weldon said, "Our own citizens barrel down our streets and they complain if an officer is there."

"Some do 60 miles per hour through town," said Robertson and added that something had to be done to slow traffic. More Sheriff's deputies will cost town residents more money.

Robertson said no one in town has applied, in spite of his encouragement, for a reserve deputy post with the Sheriff's Office. A reserve deputy could write traffic tickets and slow speeders, he said.

Robertson said he has heard "lots of positive comments" from citizens about the speed bumps, and that he could not ignore the petitions.

Trucking company employee Harry Branch said he hears several complaints about the bumps from truckers.

Robertson said he and city employees have called the Weyerhaeuser Company several times to complain about heavy-footed log truck drivers speeding through town with 80,000 pounds of logs on their rigs.

The bumps were installed after citizens requested them, said Robertson.

Vandalism and thefts

After installations, both speed bumps on Railroad Ave. were torn from mountings.

Tester said it appeared that someone with a heavy truck intentionally locked up rear wheels and pushed the bumps loose. Tester removed center portions of each bump and salvaged portions covering each lane.

Council members agreed to hold a workshop on the speed bump issue on Mon., Sept. 27, 7:30 p.m. in the town council chambers.

After the meeting, Tester said that soon after installations, two warning signs were hit by motorists who tried to drive around the bumps. He said he was able to salvage one and then placed concrete barriers at roadsides to discourage more sign destruction.

Three other bump signs were stolen over Labor Day weekend, said Tester.

"The speed bumps have really slowed everyone, including truck drivers," said town clerk Brenda Finnegan.

Tester, when asked about the bump design, said he bought the best bumps the town could afford.

Finnegan said only 21 of the 54 signers on petitions live in town.

BEAR CAUGHT MUNCHING ON ALLWORTH RD.

Heidi Wallenborn, news director

Cara and Pete Marquez's place on the 2100 block of Allworth Rd. north of Battle Ground seems to be a mecca for wildlife.

In addition to several deer that romp on their 5 acres and enjoy fallen autumn apples, the place has been frequented by a porcupine they named Hippie Dude, and most recently by a big black bear.

"The bear was huge!" Cara Marquez said. "He was the size of a cow!"

Over Labor Day weekend, Pete gathered a truckload of dropped apples into a pile and moved it to the back of their property near a grove of trees, Cara said.

The next morning as she readied herself for her daily walk around the property, Marquez saw a "large shadow" from her back window near the apple pile about 50 yards away from the gray and white farm house.

"I realized it was a bear, a really big bear," she said, laughing. "This was not a cub-ette!"

Marquez grabbed her video camera and watched the bear munch until something spooked it into the trees. After a moment the bear came out to dine again until a coyote scampered by and the bear lumbered back into the treeline.

The couple have lived in that home for about eight years and have never seen a bear, although a neighbor across the road spoke about some he'd seen in the hills not far away a few years back, Cara said.

The bear now joins family lore along with their "infamous porcupine" Hippie Dude, Marquez said.

"Hippie Dude wandered around the yard and climbed the trees for about three or four months," she said. "He just looked like a hippie guy with his quills all parted down the middle."

BG TO GET THIRD NEW OFFICER

Heidi Wallenborn, news director

A plea from Battle Ground police chief Ron Johnson to council members Sept. 7 resulted in approval for one more officer prior to 2005 budget approval.

The matter surfaced in an Aug. 23 study session when Johnson asked council to consider letting him hire another officer in advance of next year's budget approval.

Johnson said he was only authorized to hire two this year, and had only recently found officers to fill those slots.

In the study session, Johnson said good officers are hard to find, and that he had found one he would like to make an offer to in advance of his official request for the next year.

Money wasn't an issue, as there was already enough in this year's budget to finance another officer's salary and start-up equipment for one year.

At the initial request, deputy mayor Sandra Barnes said she was uncomfortable approving any expenses before even seeing the next year's forecast and wanted more information.

Johnson came to the meeting with statistics.

In comparison to 18 other Washington cities of comparable size, Battle Ground rates 17th in officer coverage for the population, with 19 officers responding to 12,220 citizens.

"As you can see, we're next to the bottom," Johnson said. "According to this, we should have 25 officers." The department has 19, after two more were hired in the last six weeks.

Washougal was lowest, with 14 officers for a 10,770 population, he said, but they share a border and some police services with the Camas police department.

Tumwater, with a population of 12,850, has 25 officers. Kelso has 26 officers assisting 11,800 citizens.

"Our calls for service are the most telling," Johnson added. "That shows the amount of times someone called saying `I need a cop.'"

In 1994, there were 3,277 calls for help. Last year, there were 7,092 calls for officer assistance.

Without any discussion, council members unanimously carved out a third officer position for this year.

Next year, the chief will likely be authorized for one officer hire rather than the two he planned to ask for, city manager Eric Holmes said later.

POLICE NET SEVERAL IN CROSSWALK STING

First week of school catches violators

Heidi Wallenborn, news director

"No stop," "Didn't even slow down," "Left before Mike was out of the crosswalk," are all notes taken by community services officer Robert Scott during a recent crosswalk enforcement in Battle Ground.

The "sting" took place Sept. 8, 7-9 a.m., during the first week of school.

Det. Mike Molzahn, dressed in light-colored, civilian clothing, stepped into crosswalks on N Parkway and E Main St. Orange cones were placed on each side of the road at 160 feet from the crossing area. When a car reached the cone, Molzahn put his foot into the roadway.

There were a few close calls when drivers came within a foot or two of hitting him, said Molzahn. He just "kept moving and got out of the way."

According to Scott's notes, several people looked at Molzahn and just kept going. One driver even accelerated.

When they did, there were six police "chase" cars ready to pull them over. Officers reported that some drivers gave a one-fingered greeting in passing.

"We have a serious problem in this city with people failing to yield to pedestrians," said chief Ron Johnson.

State law says that vehicles must stop and remain stopped as long as a pedestrian is on the road in a marked crosswalk on one-half of the half of roadway where the vehicle is traveling or turning. "Half the roadway" means all traffic lanes carrying traffic in one direction of travel and includes the entire width of a one-way road.

In other words, on a two-lane road, the car must remain stopped until the pedestrian reaches the sidewalk on the other side.

On a four-lane road, the car must remain stopped until the pedestrian is past the vehicle-occupied lane plus one lane more, said Johnson.

In the two-hour event, 16 people were ticketed for crosswalk violations, two for not wearing a seat belt, two registration violations, one for a modified exhaust and one to someone driving while their license was suspended or revoked.

In addition, 19 drivers were given verbal warnings. There were nine drivers that got away because of "manpower constraints," wrote officer Sean Hendrickson in a report.

The event was funded by a grant that paid for police overtime and is also enough for one more sting this year, said Sgt. Carl Mullen. The entire event was videotaped and put away for evidence.

RIDGEFIELD TACKLES BLACKBERRIES, NOT KNOTWEED

Alice Perry Linker

staff reporter, Knotweed along Gee Creek may have the upper hand, at least in the short run, but the noxious weed's days are numbered.

Ridgefield public works director Justin Clary hoped to contract with a professional to remove the fast-growing weed, but he was disappointed.

"We'll not be able to do the knotweed this fall," Clary said. "The bids were higher than the grant money."

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation awarded the city $12,500 to get rid of knotweed and blackberries, but the bids came in at about $30,000 and more.

Clary said knotweed eradication is a fairly new process and "everybody is just learning about stem injection."

The preferred eradication method is to inject each stem of the knotweed with a poison that does not spread from the plant.

City public works employee Nick Crockford will become certified to do stem injection Clary said. City staff hopes to contract with a non-profit group, such as AmeriCorps, to do the work next spring.

Meanwhile, Clary will depend on Ridgefield's volunteer energy to get rid of blackberries.

A city-sponsored work day is set for Sat., Sept 25, 9 a.m.-noon, at Abrams Park.

Volunteers are asked to meet at the park to help cut away the berry bushes. Clary suggests volunteers wear long sleeves and gloves and bring pruning tools.

COUNTY WELCOMES NEW HEALTH DIRECTOR

Alice Perry Linker, staff reporter

The new Clark County Health Department director is quick to praise Vancouver's revitalized downtown. In fact, it's one reason he took the job.

The atmosphere of the whole community was a major factor when John Wiesman decided to leave his job with public health in King County and move to Clark County, he said.

"The agencies and hospitals are easier to engage here," Wiesman said, referring to Clark County's lower population. "For example, we'll have only two hospitals. Fewer hospitals makes it easier for us to work with each other."

The quality of the county's Health Department staff attracted Wiesman as well. He said the staff "has a good reputation."

In July, Wiesman replaced Kay Koontz who retired after 24 years as director. When he left King County, Wiesman was the manager of the public health prevention division, overseeing a staff of 210.

Clark County's total Health Department staff is about 150, he said.

Weisman and his partner have moved into the downtown Vancouver area.

"Living downtown is not only a personal choice, but is important to me from a public health perspective that embraces built environments where people can increase their physical activity, reduce their reliance upon cars, and create healthy, diverse communities," Weisman wrote in a letter to public health partners.

"I like living among services that you can walk to," he said during an interview. "[Downtown] is so wonderful, so down to earth."

Weisman grew up in Horicon, WI, a town of about 3,000 people.

"That's where I got my sense of community," he said.

One of seven children, Wiesman left Wisconsin after completing his bachelor's degree in biology at Lawrence University in Appleton. He holds a master's degree in public health from Yale University.

Weisman first became interested in public health in the early 1980s when he "read a Time magazine article about the disease detectives."

Weisman's love for the Pacific Northwest started several years ago while he was a residence hall director for Western Washington University in Bellingham.

"I fell in love with the water, the mountains and the people," he said.

After spending his youth in snowy Wisconsin, Wiesman was happy that "you could drive to the snow if you wanted the snow and if you didn't, you could stay home."

Wiesman's 13 years in public health have been spent in Greenwich, CT, and Pierce County, as well as King County.

"I'm taking the first three months [in Clark County] to get a sense of the community services here," he said.

Weisman has spent time meeting with school officials, health care providers, county department staff, hospital representatives and organizations that he calls "stakeholders," including the Public Health Advisory Council.

Weisman will also meet with the leaders of the county's smaller communities to get an idea of any needs for additional outreach, he said.

The staff is the "strength" of the health department, he said. "The staff is passionate about their work."

Weisman believes the health department has an important role in helping families.

"We, along with others, help support kids," he said. "Definitely we have a role in education, getting information to folks about risk and protection from disease and injury."

Commenting on the time and energy needed to lead a health department, Weisman said, "it's a big job, but it's fun."

WATER LEAK TO BE FIXED

Marcus Brotherton, staff reporter

A persistent water leak in the east parking lot of Battle Ground High School will soon be fixed.

For some time, neighbors have noticed a wet spot on the asphalt even in dry weather.

The water line is part of a system built in 1939 that feeds the Central building, said District facilities director Kevin Jolma. It has been patched several times.

School officials applied for a permit from city staff to fix the problem in early September.

Plans call for the old line to be capped, with the warehouse fed from a new line located closer to the building. The District is on city water, although a District-owned, inactive well is located on high school property.

District maintenance supervisor David Klemetsrud estimates the total project cost at $8,000. The project should be completed by the end of September.

Dedication set for Mon., Sept. 27

Heidi Wallenborn, news director

The Cresap family of Battle Ground, stemming back to the original area patriarch Robert V., will be honored with a park and an engraved boulder in the southeast quadrant of Battle Ground.

The ceremony, hosted by city council and staff, will be held Mon., Sept. 27, 6:30 p.m., on the east end of SE 18th Way, in the New Tradition Homes subdivision north of NE 199th St.

The site is close to where Robert Cresap blazed a trail from the Crawford area near Battle Ground Lake, to his wife's (Phoebe VanAtta Cresap) family's place in Brush Prairie in the 1870s.

The current site of Battle Ground is about halfway up that old wagon trail, which followed a then unnamed Woodin Creek north to a valley northeast of the lake and up to Bell's Mountain.

The site Cresap chose to raise his family is where the infamous battle that never took place in 1855 would have occured. That would-be battle is what gave Battle Ground its name.

Ft. Vancouver soldiers followed a group of Lewis River Titon-napam Indian escapees to the place, then let them go after Chief Umtuch was accidentally killed by one of his Indians. The Indians returned to the Fort a few days later.

In 1866, Cresap, a Civil War veteran, and four other men filed homestead claims in the area referred to as "the old burn."

In later years, Cresap was the mail carrier on that trail for northern Clark County post offices down to Orchards.

Cresap's oldest son, Ed Cresap, was Justice of the Peace in Crawford from 1904-1936. He performed 17 marriages, mostly at homes. He held court trials in his home. He was also Deputy Assessor from 1919 until 1952 and traveled on foot all over the area, staying at people's homes.

A businessman as well, Ed traded beef for lumber at area mill camps and was instrumental in re-opening a cheese factory and dairy plant in 1922 and 1923. The facility later became the Battle Ground Dairymen's Co-operative Association on E Main St. near present-day Wilco Farm Stores on E Main St. After it opened, he provided milk from his herd to make cheese.

Another relative Thomas Cresap ran a ferry across the North Fork of the Lewis River until 1903, about one mile downstream from the present-day Yale Bridge. Cables were used to haul settlers and their goods into remote areas of the fledgling county.

Other Cresap descendants left their mark as well. In the book Battle Ground In and Around, edited by Louise Tucker, John Cresap remembered hauling several loads of feed and flour in the fall from a mercantile in order to prepare for winter. He said winter roads were too poor for any trips.

In 1922, Frank, John and Bob Cresap helped pave the road from Battle Ground to Hockinson. At the time, Bob was on the first Battle Ground High School football team.

In 1930, John bought Battle Ground Trucking Service. Bob owned Cresap Garage on the corner of E Main and Clark Ave. Also in that year, Phoebe Cresap and her sister-in-law Mary Cresap Stoddard walked from Battle Ground to Vancouver and back in one day. The trip took nine hours and 20 minutes.

"I believe it is important to name parks after people who contribute to the community," said mayor John Idsinga. "This family has contributed nearly 150 years to the founding of this city. This is a great way to commemorate that."

For more information about the ceremony, or directions, call city hall at 352-5000.

MORRIS GRIMACES; LAND PLAN APPROVED

Battle Ground officials blast process and result

Bill Myers, staff reporter

Majority ruled at a Sept. 7 hearing as Clark County commissioners approved an ordinance updating the county's 20-year comprehensive plan.

Pushing aside arguments from commissioner Betty Sue Morris, commissioners Craig Pridemore and Judie Stanton approved the update within minutes after hearing two hours of legal jousting over the rights of rock and gravel mining companies east of Vancouver.

Approval by the commissioners ended a 5-year, often contentious planning saga-- unless appeals come.

At the end of the day, the focal product of the process was a map, hotly contested by Battle Ground officials and some private landowners. The map outlines new boundaries and zoning of urban growth areas in cities throughout the county.

Pridemore and Stanton, contending that taxpayers won't shoulder tax burdens to support expansions sought by Battle Ground and Vancouver officials, reduced proposed urban growth areas in the cities.

The two commissioners argued that the late submission of capital facilities data by Battle Ground planners forced their hands. They removed more than 1,000 acres from a proposed Battle Ground urban growth area.

Morris disagreed with the amputations of proposed Battle Ground growth areas. No one even opened a transportation facilities plan delivered by Battle Ground planners at the 11th hour while the record was still open, said Morris.

Morris voices opposition, predicts plan failure

In a prepared speech after the commissioners voted, Morris said the planning process, against her wishes, became an effort to hold urban growth boundaries as tight as possible.

Morris said a "discovery corridor" which the commissioners discussed earlier this year and would have placed industry along I-5 from Vancouver to La Center, isn't on the new map.

Less land will force property prices up, said Morris. She said using a 1.69 percent growth projection for the update ignores decades of growth at more than 3 percent.

Morris said people who should be "cheering us on to speedily cross the finish line" have started preparing legal briefs instead.

The update ignores Battle Ground's needs and "ripped" 4,500 jobs from the city's proposed growth boundary, said Morris.

Morris said calculations of future jobs during the planning effort were "really just smoke and mirrors." The county will be 67,000 jobs short of need by 2023.

A majority of savings projected from a lower growth rate comes from fewer schools, said Morris. Such costs are largely born by the state, she added.

Morris said the plan underestimates growth "miserably," and will produce seriously undersized and underfunded capital facilities. Actual growth will force county and city leaders back to the planning process within three years, said Morris.

"This dog just won't hunt and I don't want to buy it," Morris said.

Addressing Morris, Stanton said, "it was evident all along that we see things differently."

Conversions of agricultural lands near Ridgefield will create jobs, and the plan provides for realistic growth, said Stanton.

Stanton said county taxpayers must support school expansions by paying for more bonds and higher utility costs.

Pridemore cited crowded schools and traffic for his decision.

"If we keep always doing what we've done, we'll always get what we've gotten," said Pridemore.

Pridemore said crowded schools and roads make it clear that [county leaders] have become addicted to growth to fund county needs.

Pridemore said the new map shows a "discovery corridor" concept with industrial/commercial areas designated near Ridgefield and La Center.

The update anticipates more job growth in Clark County than since the days of World War II, said Pridemore.

Tighter boundaries will cause urban areas to develop as intended, and the plan is as balanced as it can be, said Pridemore.

Pridemore said he wants to see a rural population growth of zero and hopes that future Boards will work toward that goal.

Blasts from Battle Ground

At a council meeting held later that evening, Battle Ground city council members appeared furious after the commissioner's action.

Council members Lisa Walters and Bill Ganley ceremoniously crumpled copies of plan summaries and tossed them on the floor.

Mayor John Idsinga said Battle Ground planners, faced with shifting map boundaries, tried to get the job done right.

A firm boundary was needed before accurate capital facilities planning could be done, said Idsinga.

"It's ludicrous to plan before [boundaries are fixed]," he said.

Idsinga complimented city planners.

"We did it right," he said. "They're the ones who changed the map."

Walters echoed Idsinga's praise for city staff, as did deputy mayor Sandra Barnes.

"We can't have accurate planning information without an accurate boundary," said Barnes. "What a waste of taxpayer's money!"

Council member Alex Reinhold described the update as a "miserable process."

Ganley said county failure to work with the city produced a flawed plan. He described the process as a "march of folly."

Idsinga summed up the group's frustration.

"We spent over $1 million--$71 per person living in the city limits--and for what?" he said. "What a waste of time!"

Map, text, effective Sept. 21

County civil attorney Chris Horne said the ordinance containing the plan update, including map and text language will be effective Sept. 21.

Appeals must be filed with the Western Washington Growth Management Hearings Board within 60 days of the effective date.

Brian Carrico, Battle Ground assistant city planner, said he's not sure yet if the city will appeal.

"That hasn't been assessed yet," he said. "We'll take it to the city council for direction."

IMPATIENT BABY ARRIVES IN AUTO

Bill Myers, staff reporter

Battle Ground mom Amy Adams became her own midwife Aug. 29 in a Chevrolet Suburban at the Southwest Washington Medical Center parking lot.

Adams delivered her fourth child, an impatient baby girl, in the front seat of the family auto.

The Adams adventure began in their home north of Battle Ground at about 2:30 a.m. when Amy started having labor pains. She and her husband Mike, with experience gained from three previous stork visits, knew Amy would soon deliver their child.

Mike and Amy packed their 5-year-old son Caleb in the back seat of their Chevrolet Suburban and headed for the Medical Center.

Amy said that as they headed south on SR-503, she told Mike, "The baby's coming."

"No it's not," ordered the nervous father.

When Mike stopped the car in front of the Medical Center emergency entrance, Amy told him to "please hurry."

Mike raced into the emergency area, approached the counter and explained the plight of his wife. He asked for a wheelchair.

In what Amy estimates was about five minutes, Mike returned to the car, pushing a wheelchair in front of him. He found his wife in the car, still sitting in the front seat. In her arms, she cradled their new daughter, 8-pound Kileah Paige.

Hospital emergency personnel tended to Amy and gave the baby special attention. They soon had Kileah bellowing as only new babies do. Amy and the baby stayed at the Medical Center for two days.

Mom, baby, dad, sisters and Caleb, who said he "prayed hard in the back seat," are doing just fine.

"They've done really well and we're really proud of that," said Mary Vagner, superintendent of the Ridgefield School District in response to the strong showing of Ridgefield students in latest standardized tests administered last spring.

Ridgefield fourth, seventh and tenth graders scored near the top in all subject areas when compared to neighboring school districts.

The Ridgefield District also achieved the "Adequate Yearly Progress" goal, as did eight of 11 area districts.

Vagner said the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) testing process allows the district to provide greater assistance to specific students, and to "grow the skills of our teachers."

Vagner said test results cam be analyzed by classroom, allowing for teacher counseling and the assignment of teachers to their skill areas.

Individual Learning Plans are developed for ninth grade students who did not pass the WASL in the seventh grade. Those plans are communicated to parents, said Vagner.

Vagner said one area of special effort recently has been non-fiction comprehension skills. Teaching strategies have been implemented in this area, she said.

Ridgefield principals work with teachers in small teams, said Vagner, to strengthen district teaching is specific subject areas.

Vagner said the WASL testing system is well worth the effort required, and helps districts understand expectations.

Hockinson students score

Maggie Bates, assistant superintendent in the Hockinson School District said Hockinson officials are "very happy" about the WASL results, especially the considerable improvement in fourth grade reading.

Bates said the Hockinson District has completed the fourth year of a five year, $1 million Gates Reinvention Grant which has been used to strengthen student achievement.

"We have really taken a long and hard look at the teaching and learning going on in our classrooms," said Bates, whose Hockinson District has been among the tops in southwest Washington for several years.

"We believe (fourth grade reading score) is the result of changes we have undertaken and changes that were hard to do."

Bates said the change process was a collaborative effort. "We have become a group of people who look at data and use data," Bates said the WASL results and information from other sources. "It's a good systems check," she said of WASL data.

"We owe thanks to the hard-working students and parents in this District," said Bates.

Hockinson's new 10th grades also scored well on the test, the first year that a 10th grade test was administered in the new Hockinson High School.

"They worked hard, and the teachers worked hard," said Bates, who noted that District officials hold the high school to a high standard.

Similarly to Ridgefield, the Hockinson School District places an emphasis on reading non-fiction materials. "They read challenging materials," said Bates, "and they write often."

Most make adequate yearly progress

The WASL testing system includes an evaluation of whether school districts make "adequate yearly progress" in student achievement.

To make adequate yearly progress, all categories of students in a district must meet a proficiency target.

This is the second year that adequate yearly progress has been assessed.

Each year the proficiency target will be increased so that in 10 years, standards in all subjects will be 100 percent.

Three districts--Battle Ground, Evergreen and Washougal--failed to make Adequate Yearly Progress, and all three for the same reason: low graduation numbers.

State calculations show that fewer than xx percent of students in the Battle Ground School District earned a diploma in four years at the school. Battle Ground filed an appeal on this calculation with the state Superintendent of Public Instruction, arguing that some students married, changed their names, and completed the degree programs with a different name.

Battle Ground officials also argued that their alternative high school--Summit View--attracts students who are not actually pursuing a degree.

Kim Schmanke of the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction said 300 appeals have been filed by districts and schools across the state. She did not know how many appeals involved the graduation requirement issue.

Schmanke said school districts were given preliminary test results in August and the 300 appeals were filed by the Sept. 7 deadline.

Schmanke said 84 of 296 school districts in the state did not make the Adequate Yearly Progress benchmark. Of those, 34 districts will face consequences, said Schmanke, because they failed to achieve the yearly progress goal in two consecutive years.

Consequences for not making adequate yearly progress include prepare an improvement plan, accept state technical assistance, and take other steps.

Between 2003 and 2004, state officials lowered the achievement standards in several grade and subjects categories.

For example, officials lowered the proficiency standard in fourth grade math from 34 to 33, in fourth grade reading from 28 to 27, seventh grade math from 41 to 38 and seventh grade reading from 34 to 32.

Lowering the standards resulting in higher test scores than would have been the case had the standards remained the same. Thus it is not possible to compare WASL results from 2003 with those of 2004.

Schmanke said a committee of 180 educators, assessments experts, parents and others spend three weeks studying the 2003 WASL reading, writing and mathematics.

Those people, said Schmanke, made decisions on such things as what a seventh grade math student should know.

Their opinions were averaged, resulting in the lowering of testing standards.

Schmanke said test results increased as much as 10 percentage points because numerous students were near the previous standards.

Schmanke said this was the first review of testing standards in several years.

MARJORIE LARSON

Marjorie E. Larson, 72, died Sept. 8, 2004 in Vancouver.

Larson was born Oct. 5, 1931 in Madison, WI, worked as a medical assistant and then as an instructor at Portland Community College for over 30 years, and lived in Vancouver since 2000.

Larson was a member and past president of Multnomah County Chapter of the American Association of Medical Assistants. She enjoyed traveling and had driven through 49 states. She had traveled abroad.

Survivors include widower Donald J. Larson, at home in Vancouver, daughters Marci Fristad of Kalama, Maureen Hursh of Vancouver and Dawn Adams of Oregon, eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at a later date, with Hamilton-Mylan Funeral Home, Vancouver, in charge of arrangements.

ISABELLA WILDER

Isabella C. Wilder, 70, died Sept. 11, 2004, in Vancouver.

Wilder was born Dec. 22, 1933 in Tacoma, and last lived in Amboy.

Wilder attended high school in Hollister, CA. She attended the Nazarene Church in Amboy. She enjoyed playing bingo, crocheting and gardening.

Wilder was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer Wilder, in 1987, son Roy Wilder and daughter Kay Hoxworth. Survivors include daughter Wanda Wilder of California, sons Daniel Wilder of California and Mark Wilder of Vancouver, sister Darlene Pieper of Amboy, brothers Art Ramsdell of North Carolina and Tom Ramsdell of Nevada, and seven grandchildren.

Davies Cremation & Burial Services, Vancouver, was in charge of arrangements.

Naomi Ruth (Bush) Collins, 78, died Sept. 12, 2004 in Vancouver.

Collins was born June 20, 1926 in Scott City, Kansas, worked as a nursing assistant and as an accounting clerk at Clark College, and lived in Clark County for 66 years.

Collins was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Credit Women's International Clark County Branch, Democratic Women's Club, and National Organization of Women. She enjoyed bowling, golfing, reading mysteries and watching television. Collins was preceded in death by sisters Emily Peake in 1983, Martha Eaton, and Harriett Runabear in 1987, and brother Jim Bush in 1991. Survivors include son Michael Collins of Vancouver, sister Donna Hughes of Oregon, "adopted" sister Beverly Hooten of Vancouver, and numerous nieces and nephews.

A Rosary will be held Thurs., Sept. 16, 6 p.m., at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 404 S Andresen, Vancouver, with a service Fri., Sept. 17, 1:30 p.m., also at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Interment will be at Washougal Cemetery, with Hamilton-Mylan Funeral Home, Vancouver, in charge of arrangements.

JULIE HOLT

Julie Ann (Kortman) Holt, 62, died Sept. 11, 2004 in Vancouver.

Holt was born Sept. 28, 1941 in Vancouver, and was a longtime resident of Ridgefield and Woodland before moving to Vancouver 2 1/2 years ago. She had worked for Peace Health of Longview.

Holt was a member of the Vancouver Community Church. She enjoyed horseback riding including barrel racing, gardening, knitting and camping at the beach.

Holt was preceded in death by grandson Josh in 1988. Survivors include widower Paul Holt, daughters Annette Winkler of Toledo, April Gapsch of Vancouver and Angie Holt of Woodland, son Brian Holt of Woodland, father and step-mother Joe and Jean Kortman of Vancouver, sisters Jo Lynn Pierce of Colorado and Heidi Jacobs of Montana, and 12 grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held Sat., Sept. 18, 3 p.m., at Vancouver Community Church, 10800 NE 76th St., Vancouver, with Layne's Funeral Home, Battle Ground, in charge of arrangements.

DANIEL BOKOVITZ

Daniel Louis Bokovitz, 55, died Sept. 3, 2004 in Vancouver.

Bokovitz was born Nov. 19, 1948 in Cleveland, OH and lived in Clark County 14 years, last in Battle Ground.

Bokovitz worked as an industrial cutting tools salesman, and was a member of the Moose Lodge at Dollars Corner.

Bokovitz enjoyed music, camping, reading, and eating, especially home-cooked food. He liked keeping up on sports statistics and watching sports. He also enjoyed watching John Wayne movies and making people laugh.

Bokovitz is survived by his mother, Mildred Bokovitz of Parma, OH, son Daniel Bokovitz of Battle Ground and brothers Robert Bokovitz of Fort Collins, CO and Martin Bokovitz, Jr. of Parma, OH.

Private memorial services were held with Layne's Funeral Home of Battle Ground in charge of arrangements.

Rosalie Mae (Blair) Dodd, 84, died Sept. 7, 2004, in Vancouver.

Dodd was born Jan. 24, 1920 in Alton, IL and lived there for 44 years before moving to Battle Ground eight years ago.

Dodd was a homemaker who enjoyed ice skating, embroidery, gardening, house plants, watching game shows, doing picture puzzles and going to the coast.

Dodd also enjoyed music, humming and singing, and being with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Dodd was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Dodd, in 2004 and her daughter, Marie Francis Dodd in 1943.

Dodd is survived by daughters Florence Delvo of Battle Ground, Frances Knight of Alton, IL and Charlotte Smith of Spanaway, sons James Dodd of Las Vegas, NV and Edwin Dodd and William Dodd, both of Alton, IL, sisters Ruth McNelly of Dow, IL and Louise Street of Alton, IL. Dodd had 17 grandchildren, 38 great-grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren.

Memorial services were held Sept. 11, 2004 at Mallard Landing Assisted Living Community in Battle Ground. Layne's Funeral Home of Battle Ground was in charge of arrangements.

Dorothy Marie (Waser) Fry, 76, died Sept. 5, 2004 in Amboy.

Fry was born April 6, 1928 in Kelso, and lived in Clark County for 50 years, last in La Center.

Fry was a lifelong homemaker who enjoyed gardening, dancing socializing, attended Ridgefield Church of the Nazarene and loved to travel.

Fry was preceded in death by her husband, Edward "Ed" Fry, in 1982.

Fry is survived by daughter Carol Balkus of Farmington, NM, son Ed Fry., Jr. of La Center, sisters Jane Wilson and June McKee, both of Amboy, brothers Ray Waser of Amboy, Albert Waser of Battle Ground, Ed Waser of Milwaukie OR and John Waser of Vancouver, half-brother Bobby Duerr of Vancouver and two grandchildren.

Funeral services were held Sept. 9 at Layne's Funeral Home Chapel in Battle Ground, with committal following in La Center Cemetery. Layne's was in charge of arrangements.

GREGORY HAMMEL

Gregory Lynn Hammell, 35, died Sept. 4, 2004 in Vancouver.

Hammell was born June 19, 1969 at Medicine Lodge, KS and was a Clark County resident 14 years, last in Battle Ground.

Hammell was a business operator for a company dealing in sharpening hand tools. He was also a welder and operator in the Operating Engineer's #701 out of Portland. He was a good metal fabricator and welder.

Hammell enjoyed camping, riding and training horses, and riding bicycles with his daughter.

Hammell is survived by his father, John Hammell of Spokane, mother Donna Thrasher of Battle Ground, daughters Sky Hammell of Battle Ground and Summer Hammell of Anthony, KS, sister Marquita Campbell of California and brother Kevin Kent of Attica, KS.

Services were held Sept. 11, 2004 at Cowboys For Christ Church in Battle Ground, with Layne's Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Albert Leonard Hanson, 69, died Sept. 5, in Vancouver.

Hanson was born Oct. 13, 1934 in Farmington, MI, lived in Vancouver, and moved to Ocean City five months ago.

Hanson worked as a roller operator in the road construction industry and served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. He was a HAM Radio operator, enjoyed traveling, remote control airplanes, and was a pilot who owned several airplanes. He also enjoyed his dog, Ginger.

Hanson is survived by his widow, Dolores Hanson of Vancouver, daughters Theresa Hanson of Vancouver, Barbara Pederson of Kalispell, MT and Chanda Knoof of Big Lake, MN, sisters Mary Scheffler of Farmington Hills, MI, Bertha Cunningham of Pickford, MI and Margaret Hanson of New Hudson, MI, brothers Carl Hanson of Lummi Island, Frans Hanson of Battle Ground, William Hanson of Wixom, MI, Leo Hanson of Brush Prairie and James Hanson of Brush Prairie.

Hanson is also survived by 11 grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Private services were held with Layne's Funeral Chapel in charge of arrangements.

Inez Workman, 88, died Sept. 10, in Woodland.

Workman was born Dec. 26, 1915 in Littell, WA and lived in Centralia for 35 years. She lived in Woodland the last year and one-half at the Woodland Care Center.

Workman was a lifelong homemaker who enjoyed taking care of her family, working the yard and fixing up and decorating her home.

Workman is survived by her companion of 28 years, Cecil Sherwood of Centralia, a brother, Burt Workman of Bridgeport, daughters Judy Veazie of Kalama and Sheila Beck of Woodland, grandchildren Shown O'Connor of Buffalo, NY, Jewel Porter of Woodland and Richard Veazie of Kalama, and two great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held Fri., Sept. 17, 11 a.m., at the Woodland Nazarene Church with Green Hill Crematory of Kelso in charge of arrangements.

RAYMOND MOODY

The Rev. Raymond Waddell Moody, 89, died Sept. 2, 2004 in Vancouver.

Moody was born Aug. 26, 1915 in Roxbury, MA. He served in the U.S. Marine Corp, then worked as an officer at the Folsom State Prison in California before entering the ministry. He studied at Whitworth College in Spokane, graduated in 1947. He continued at Princeton Theological Seminary, graduating in 1950.

Moody served a pastorate position in Oklahoma City, OK, then at Manito Presbyterian Church in Spokane. He was on the board of trustees at Whitworth College for 21 years.

After retiring, Moody served at several churches as an interim pastor, ending up in Woodland where he became pastor emeritus of Woodland Presbyterian Church.

Moody was preceded in death by his son, Robert, who died at age 17. Survivors include widow Anita Moody, at home in Woodland, daughter Louise Wolsey of Vancouver, brother Donald Moody of New York, one granddaughter and many nieces and nephews.

Services were held at the Woodland Presbyterian Church, with Columbia Funeral Service, Longview, in charge of arrangements.

GRACE BARTH

Grace Nadine (Roane) Barth, 61, died Sept. 2, 2004, in Portland.

Barth was born March 16, 1943, in Lewistown, MT, and lived 45 years in Clark County, seven years in Woodland, and seven years in Ocean Park.

Barth provided foster care for the elderly. She was a happy person. She enjoyed collecting dolls and purses. She kept birds. She also enjoyed watching television.

Barth was preceded in death by sisters Lorraine Granger, Catherine Lane and Inez Roane, and brothers Don Roane, Ivan Roane and Larry Roane. Survivors include sons Lloyd Smith of Vancouver, and John Smith and Tim Smith, both of Long Beach, sister Joyce Zacharias of Ocean Park, brother Richard Roane of Vancouver, sister Joyce Manning of Oregon, 17 grandchildren, one great-grandchild and numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held Sat., Sept. 25, 2 p.m., at Horseshoe Lake Park in Woodland. The event will be a potluck.

Wherity Family Cremation & Burial Services, Tualatin, OR, was in charge of arrangements.