OFFICIALS RENEW COYOTE GUIDELINES

In response to reports of a coyote biting people in Bellevue earlier this month, Clark County officials have issued guidelines to discourage human interaction with coyotes.

Teri Wilson of Clark County Animal Protection and Control offered rules for people who live near natural habitat areas and green belts:

** Never provide coyotes with a source of food. Some attacks are related to coyotes losing their natural fear of humans once they associate humans with food.

** Make sure outdoor trash bins are secured. Those who compost should used enclosed bins and never include animal matter, such as meat, bones, fat or fish scraps in compost.

** Keep children's play areas free of fruit and bird seed. Keep wild bird feeders elevated or hanging above ground.

** Fence yards from green space to prevent entry by wild animals.

** Do not leave small children unattended in the yard or let them go unsupervised into wooded areas where coyotes have been seen.

** Never approach or run from a coyote.

** Make loud noises, throw rocks or sticks, or spray a garden hose toward a coyote in the yard.

Officials estimate that at least 50,000 coyotes live in Washington. While there have been no reports of coyote attacks on humans in the county, some pets have been injured or killed.

County officials have issued a booklet on being safe near coyotes. The county has a contract with state officials for the trapping of bothersome coyotes.

Clark County Animal Protection and Control can be reached at 397-2488.

TASK FORCE TO CONTINUE I-5 ANALYSIS

The Columbia River Crossing Task Force will meet Wed., May 17, 4-6:30 p.m., to continue its analysis of ways to improve the flow of traffic through the I-5 corridor at the Columbia River bridge in Vancouver.

The meeting is open to the public and will take place at the state Department of Transportation, 11018 NE 51st Circle, Vancouver, near SR 500 and NE 112th Ave.

At its April 26th meeting, the Task Force, headed jointly by Hal Dengerink of Washington State University Vancouver and Portland attorney Henry Hewitt, advanced one of 23 alternative plans for future evaluation, dropped eight alternatives from further consideration, and took no action on 14 other plans.

The decisions were in line with consultant recommendations which were based on how well each alternative achieved objectives dealing with traffic, transit, freight, safety, bike/pedestrian uses and seismic stability of the existing structures.

Among the alternatives dropped were all plans dealing with new corridors, such as the so-called I-605 western highway and bridge between the ports of Portland and Vancouver, and a crossing in the vicinity of 33rd Avenue in Portland.

While new corridors were eliminated, so-called "supplemental crossings" were retained for future evaluation.

Supplemental crossings are bridges that would be constructed next to or near the existing I-5 bridge, either upstream or downstream. Traffic could be configured as southbound on the supplemental bridge and northbound on the existing bridge, officials said.

Also dropped were an alternative dealing with I-205 improvements, and a plan to elevate the existing bridge and remove the lift span. The latter was determined not to be feasible.

The Task Force advanced alternative 23 (RC-23), a plan that would make improvements to the I-5 bridge and construct a new river crossing between downtown Vancouver and Jantzen Beach. The new bridge, however, would not connect directly to I-5 either north or south of the river.

Officials said RC-23 would provide increased travel capacity and accommodate transit. They predicted, however, that I-5 traffic demand would still increase by at least 15% by 2020, resulting in 6-7 hours of afternoon, peak period congestion.

Of the 14 alternatives awaiting action, six involve replacing the existing bridge with a new structure. Of those, two would be moveable bridges, and four would be fixed structures of either mid or high level.

The six proposed supplemental structures are also postulated as moveable, mid- level or high-level.

Consultants recommended against the four high-level options because the bridge would encroach into Pearson Airpark airspace, presenting a safety flaw.

The Task Force also did not act on a plan for a tunnel under the river to supplement the existing I-5 bridge, and a plan for a tunnel to replace the I-5 bridge.

Consultants recommended against the replacement tunnel idea, predicting out-of-direction travel for both traffic and transit, and the need for an "elaborate frontage road network."

A tunnel to supplement the existing bridge, however, gained consultant approval.

Task Force spokesperson Linda Mullen said members discussed whether the existing I-5 bridge can be successfully retrofitted to meet seismic and other safety standards. While consultants recommended further consideration of alternatives that involve seismic improvements to the existing bridge, their report stated that "It is not known at this point whether the existing bridges can be retrofitted to meet current seismic design standards."

Doug Ficco, director of the entire Columbia River Crossing project, said the feasibility and cost of seismic improvements to the existing bridges would require three to six months to complete.

Task Force members have not yet evaluated 14 mass transit alternatives developed by staff.

Consultants have recommended dropping eight transit alternatives including heavy rail, high speed rail, ferry service, monorail and personal rapid transit.

Consultants recommended further consideration of six other transit plans, including light rail, street car, and four plans involving buses. The bus alternatives include buses traveling in restricted lanes.

Public input questioned

Clark County commissioner Betty Sue Morris, who has recently joined the Task Force as a representative of C-TRAN, questioned whether the public has been consulted sufficiently on the proposed alternatives.

"One meeting in Clark County, I don't believe, is adequate," said Morris. "I don't think they've allowed for the right amount of public input."

Morris said those studying the Columbia River Crossing alternatives should hear from people around the county, not just those in downtown Vancouver.

More information about the Columbia River Crossing project is available from Linda Mullen who can be reached at 816-2161, or (206) 269-5041.

CHARLIE THE CONURE ENJOYS MORNING COFFEE

Wesley Groh of Battle Ground sits quietly at the end of the counter at Starbucks inside the Albertson's store, sharing his coffee with a "friend."

The friend is Charlie, a three-year-old Jenday-Conure, easily mistaken for a parrot.

Groh said Charlie eats and drinks about anything. While he has a regular diet of bird mix, Charlie enjoys fruit of all kinds, steak, mushrooms and chicken. "He had turkey last night," said Groh.

Skittles candy is Charlie's favorite, along with orange pop. He doesn't like dill pickles.

Groh said that he eats with Charlie on his shoulder. Whatever Groh puts in his mouth, Charlie reaches around and takes a bite right out of his mouth. Charlie drinks out of Groh's mouth as well.

Groh takes Charlie pretty much everywhere, including stores where merchants will allow. Groh is working to potty train Charlie and tries to have Charlie relieve himself before entering a business. Groh's shirt was clean where Charlie sits.

Groh described Charlie as very friendly and cuddly. "I train my pets to be like family members," said Groh, who also has six parakeets and two cockatiels in his "bird room" at home.

Groh and his wife, whose asthma is aggravated by dogs and cats, also have a turtle, tortoise and 100 gold fish at their Battle Ground home. The family also includes two sons.

Charlie, acquired at a cost of $500, sleeps with family members. His wings are clipped.

Groh said conures live about 50 years. "He will speak someday," said Groh.

"Musical Magic" will be the theme of this year's Battle Ground entry in the Portland Grand Floral Parade, set for Sat., June 10.

The float follows the Portland parade theme of "In Grand Style," featuring a rotating grand piano atop a pedestal, and a ribbon of black and white piano keys trailing the entire length of the 35 foot float.

Several of the keys will go up and down as if being played, while piano music, created by Rich Rubin, emanates from the float.

The black seeds from Niger thistle are used to cover the piano and black piano keys, while rice is used on the white keys.

Red roses will outline the keyboard; larger-scale red roses will be decorated with painted rice.

Marlene Brown, who co-chairs the Rose Float Committee with her husband, Don, said volunteers are always needed, especially early in the construction and decorating process.

The construction crew works Mondays and Wednesdays, 6-9 p.m., and Saturdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Decoration volunteers work Mon.-Fri., 1-4 p.m., and Saturdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Four princesses dressed in red will ride on the float. They are Rachel Wiese, a junior at Prairie High School, and Julia Martin, MacKenzie Strong and Kristen Marini, juniors at Battle Ground High School.

Fred Cavazos heads the construction crew. Steve Streissguth constructed the baby grand piano.

Marla Polos chairs the decorating crew.

The rose float is sponsored by the Battle Ground Chamber of Commerce.

Battle Ground has entered the Portland parade each year since 1955 when a horse and buggy entry earned an honorable mention.

The Battle Ground High School band will again accompany the float in the Portland parade. Both float and band will also appear in the Battle Ground Harvest Days parade on July 15.

Volunteers are needed now, said Brown, to cut oasis, make artificial flowers for the Harvest Days parade, do seed work and paint items.

Former rose float princesses, city officials, and former float committee members are especially urged to take part, said Brown. City council member Alex Reinhold is a member of the construction crew.

In a special tribute to the late Florence Robison, who was active with the float project for years, laurel will be cut from Robison's yard and used to cover much of the platform of the float.

Hundreds of fourth grade students from Captain Strong and Maple Grove schools in Battle Ground visited the float project last week to learn about float construction and decoration, and do hands-on work.

The "Battle Ground Bee," a 3-foot bumblebee, will ride on the grand piano bench. The Bee has appeared on the float annually since 1990.

Donations of food are invited to sustain volunteers during work sessions. Anyone willing to donate food, or money to buy food, is urged to call Barb Rowe, 687-9178.

The float is funded primarily by the sale of fireworks at the Fourth of July, and by the sale of Rose Float pins, offered at $3 each by the princess court and at the construction site, which if at Fairgrounds Park, 912 E Main St., Battle Ground.

Brown can be reached at 921-7029.

KINDERGARTEN ROUND UPS UNDERWAY

Bill Myers

staff reporter

Wide-eyed children holding the hands of parents are common sights at area primary schools as kindergarten registration gets underway.

School officials are asking parents to make every effort to register students before closures for summer recess to avoid a crush of enrollment activities in the fall.

In the Battle Ground School District, registration is underway at Chief Umtuch, Glenwood Heights, Maple Grove, Pleasant Valley and Yacolt primary schools.

** Chief Umtuch Primary, 700 NW 9th St., Battle Ground, 885-6450.

District spokesperson Kelly O'Brien-Keister said 140 new kindergarten students are registered for the fall, about half of the current population of 282 kindergarteners.

Parents are encouraged to register children by June 22, before summer recess.

School officials will host an ice cream social at the school for newcomers and parents on Thurs., Aug. 31, 6-7 p.m.

** Glenwood Heights Primary, 9716 NE 134th St., Vancouver, 885-5250.

O'Brien-Keister said there are 139 kindergarten students at Glenwood now, and 83 new students are registered for the fall. She said the last day for registration before the school closes for summer is June 22.

** Maple Grove Primary, 12500 NE 199th St., Battle Ground, 885-6750.

Assistant secretary Roxie Calvells said 109 kindergarten students have registered thus far, with more expected. The school currently has 180 kindergarten students.

Calvells said registrations are encouraged before school closes June 22.

** Pleasant Valley Primary School, 14320 NE 50th Ave., Vancouver, 885-5550.

School secretary Heidi Black said 59 new kindergarten students are registered. She said the count should grow to at least 80. Current enrollment is 86 students.

The school will host an orientation for new kindergarten students and their parents at the school media center on Wed., May 24, 1:30-2:45 p.m., said Black.

Black said parents are encouraged to register children by school closure on June 29.

** Yacolt Primary, 406 W Yacolt Rd., Yacolt, 885-6000.

O'Brien-Keister said 59 new kindergarten students are registered for fall, with orientations set May 16-17. Parents are encouraged to register children by July 6.

There are 169 kindergarten students now attending Yacolt school.

In the Hockinson School District, Hockinson Heights Primary officials are encouraging registrations by school closure for summer recess at the end of June.

School secretary Marsha Jones said 18 new kindergarten students are registered, with more to come. She said 149 kindergarten students are currently enrolled in the school at 20000 NE 164th St., Brush Prairie. Telephone is 448-6420.

In the La Center School District, La Center Elementary School principal Carol Patton said 85 new kindergarten students are registered.

Judging from history, about 120 new kindergarten students are expected, said Patton. There are currently 121 kindergarten students, she said.

Patton said parents are encouraged to register children before a June 14 closure for summer recess.

The school is located at 700 E 4th St., La Center. Telephone is 263-2134.

In the Ridgefield School District, two primary schools are now registering new kindergartners.

** South Ridge Elementary, 502 NW 199th St., Ridgefield, 619-1500.

School secretary Jodi Rust said the school currently has 51 kindergarten students, and already has 49 new registrations for fall.

Rust said more registrations are sure to come. She said that with all the new construction in Ridgefield and Salmon Creek areas, it is impossible to predict how many more.

Parents are encouraged to register children before school closure for summer recess at the end of June.

** Union Ridge Elementary, 330 N 5th Ave., Ridgefield, 750-7600.

School secretary Barbara Gibbon said 43 new kindergarten students have registered with more sure to come. There are 80 kindergarten students at the school now, she said.

School officials hope parents will register new students by start of summer recess at the end of June.

At the Woodland School District, 90 new kindergarten students are registered at Woodland Elementary School, 600 Bozarth St., said school secretary Danielle McLendon.

McLendon said she expects the final tally will at least match a 2005-06 enrollment of 130 students.

Parents are encouraged to register children before the school closes for summer recess at the end of June. Telephone number is (360) 225-9472.

Seven kindergarten students attend Yale School, said school spokesperson Randi Isselhardt.

A Registration Day at the school for new students was held May 15.

The school at 11842 Lewis River Rd., Ariel, will close for summer recess on June 16, said Isselhardt. Telephone number is (360) 231-4246.

STUDENTS LEARN TOLERANCE FROM CIVIL RIGHTS TOUR

Larry Martinez

staff reporter

Students from The Gardner School in Salmon Creek learned civil rights lessons first-hand during a field trip to Birmingham and Montgomery, AL March 31-April 7.

The trip was a culmination of a three-month study of civil rights taught by Jackie Taylor and historian parent Ron Silver.

The students specifically learned about Project C, a children's march that turned violent, and the Montgomery Bus Boycott on-site.

They met Johnnie Carr, Rev. Robert Graetz and others involved in the civil rights movement during the 1950s.

The tour included a visitation to Martin Luther King's house and his Dexter Avenue Baptist Church.

Taylor and Silver wanted students to stand in places they learned about and hear first-hand accounts from the people involved, Taylor said.

First stop Birmingham

Students first traveled to Birmingham and the 16th Street Baptist Church, which was a notable site for civil rights activities in the past, including Project C.

"[Project C] was a children's march from the church to Kelly Ingram Park," student Corey Silver said, "The `C' stands for Confrontation. The children were shot with fire hoses in the park...some were only 5 or 6 years old."

Youths ages 5 to high school were involved with the march because adults were not. The adults had too much to lose and were too afraid to participate, Taylor said.

The students learned the church was also the site of a 1963 racial bombing where four girls died and another lost an eye, Taylor said.

The group met Col. Stone Johnson and had a photo taken with him in Kelly Ingram Park, which is set up as a Project C memorial now, Taylor said. They heard the story of how Johnson organized the gathering at the church and ushered the march.

On to Montgomery

In Montgomery, they met with Rev. Graetz who set up a meeting with a long-time friend of Rosa Parks, 95-year-old Johnnie Carr.

They dined at The Friendly Supper Club, an "integrated" establishment where those who believe in equality can dine together.

A club criteria, which Carr set up in the 1980s, is that patrons should bring a friend of a different race, Taylor said.

Carr worked with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and Martin Luther King's Montgomery Improvement Association which spearheaded the Montgomery Bus Boycott. She took over as president after King was assassinated.

Carr spoke only for a couple of minutes, Taylor said. She said how much it meant to her that relations in Montgomery have changed for the better, and how great it is to see children learning about something so important.

"[Carr] was very modest and humble about what she has done," Taylor said.

Graetz met with the students over two days, Taylor said, including time alone with Graetz and his wife during lunch.

Graetz was a white minister leading an all-black Lutheran congregation during the movement. He helped during the bus boycott by carpooling, student Curtis Grant said.

"And they tried to bomb him, but the dynamite didn't go off," Grant said. "Then the [Ku Klux] Klan threw more dynamite over the fence to try to set off the big pile and that didn't work."

Grant said that Graetz told him "God had made a circle of love around him and his family to protect them from anything."

Last stop Selma

In Selma, students visited the Wall of Tolerance at the Southern Poverty Law Center and met Tommy Giles, a former FBI agent who is known for his photography of racial abuses at the Montgomery Greyhound bus terminal.

Giles was a Freedom Rider--a student protestor who drove people of color in organized buspools in 1961 to test segregation laws.

Giles told students he transported some black people who were "beaten to a pulp" to the hospital, and was mobbed when trying to protect protestors at a church.

Later at the Wall of Tolerance, the group pledged in a questionnaire to maintain civil tolerance and entered their names in a database.

The 50-foot by 14-foot wall displays the names of people who have made the pledge of tolerance, Taylor said.

Alice Perry Linker

staff reporter

Shonny Bria had a nightmare.

The Battle Ground School District superintendent dreamed that the proposed new elementary school north of Hockinson was packed with portable classrooms, and buses were transporting children from the southernmost end of the district.

"It was scary," she said.

Bria described her nightmare to the Clark County commissioners during a public hearing concerning the development of 1,100 acres between NE 119th and NE 99th streets. The hearing on May 9 was continued until Tues., May 16, when the commissioners were to discuss an ordinance removing the acreage from urban holding and opening it up for residential development.

The commissioners plan to vote on the ordinance Tues., May 23, but there were no indications May 9 that development would be denied.

The district has estimated that urbanization of the section east of NE 87th Ave. would generate 1,481 new students in Battle Ground schools.

The closest school to the area is the Glenwood Heights-Laurin school complex that is served by a septic tank and can accept only four additional portable classrooms.

"We'd need to add 59 portables (under the proposal)," said Lynn Hicks of the Battle Ground District. "We're caught in the middle. We're looking for partners to help."

Under the proposed ordinance, an agreement between the school district and developers would be required. The ordinance sets the base rules for agreements.

Commissioner Betty Sue Morris assured the district that Battle Ground schools would get "more than an inch" if development increases. "I'm inclined to give schools a yard," she said.

Morris suggested strengthening the ordinance to require developers to work with schools to find suitable land for new schools, increase the minimum payments from developers, and support voter-approved bonds needed to build new schools.

Morris also suggested adding an additional requirement: providing a public sewer system to the Glenwood-Laurin school complex.

Pointing to the Battle Ground district's large geographical area, Morris said, "Battle Ground has a difficult problem getting students around. This could become a crisis situation."

After the May 9 meeting, Bria said the district had met once with developers to discuss an agreement.

She said she was "thrilled" with Morris's plan to include a sewer system for the Glenwood-Laurin school.

"That was a new thought," she said. "It's not something we've discussed."

Morris also asked that the ordinance require developers to participate in agreements involving transportation. The original ordinance recommended, but did not require, development agreements.

The area involved has been in urban holding, a designation that does not allow development but is instead "held" for the future. The county has been studying the process of lifting the urban holding designation, a move that would permit residential and commercial development if infrastructure such as sewer and water can be provided.

WAL-MART SUPERCENTER COMING TO WOODLAND

Alice Perry Linker

staff reporter

It's official. Wal-Mart plans to open a supercenter in Woodland.

Jennifer Holder, spokesperson for the giant retailer, said construction would take nine to 10 months with another two or three months needed to outfit the store.

When construction can begin depends on the speed of the state Environmental Policy Act process. Nancy Malone, the city's planning assistant, said that the city has 120 days from the time the company filed its application to decide whether to approve or deny.

The proposed location on Dike Access Road near the interchange with I-5 is zoned freeway commercial, appropriate for the proposed use. Therefore, no hearing on the land use is required.

People may comment, however, on the application and the environmental review process, the second step in the application.

Appeals of the environmental review would go to the city's hearings examiner for a public hearing.

If the process proceeds without appeals, construction could begin as early as fall.

One downtown retailer is concerned about the impact of Wal-Mart on the community. Pat and Bob Nelson own Big Deals on Goerig Street.

The Nelsons' concerns are that Wal-Mart will "destroy Woodland like it's destroyed many towns."

Pat Nelson spoke recently to the Woodland Downtown Revitalization Association about her fears.

"This isn't about competition. It's about doing away with competition and instead letting one big player do all the business and call all the shots," Nelson said in a written statement. "I plan to do whatever I can to keep Wal-Mart out of Woodland, either as a member of a group or by forming one myself."

Pat Nelson said she had been hearing rumors about Wal-Mart for some time and learned in early May that the rumors probably were true.

"I've had five days of intense research," Pat Nelson said.

"My goals are to help people make an informed decision and look long-range to see what will happen," she said.

Bob Nelson said he's concerned about the loss to local businesses, including Big Deals.

"We have a business here that we put money into," he said. "Everything we earn stays in the community. We're looking at it from a personal view, but we're also concerned about the community. We've learned Wal-Mart can destroy a small community."

Neither the Chamber of Commerce nor the Downtown Revitalization Association has decided whether to take a position on the issue.

Sharon Knight of the Chamber said the business organization may discuss the issue at its board meeting.

Joy Haasl of the downtown association said that organization plans to wait until a public hearing is over to decide on a position.

MUSIC MAN TO RETIRE AFTER 29 YEARS OF WIELDING BATON

Alice Perry Linker

staff reporter

Woodland's own Music Man is retiring.

After 29 years as the high school music teacher, Paul Cline will retire at the end of the school year.

Cline said he and intermediate school music teacher Steve Smith have worked closely over the years to build a competitive music program.

"When I first came, there was no choir and the band was small," he said. "There were only three music classes total."

Cline credits the students for the success of the program.

"Any achievements all involve kids," he said. "We've had a lot of great performers. Our music touches the lives of other people."

Cline has built a program that includes an 18-member jazz band and 21-member jazz choir. Musicians must try out for the jazz groups.

The concert band taught as a class has 55 members.

"We've had as many as 85," he said.

Smith, the intermediate school music teacher, praised Cline's program.

"He's a modest and humble man, but in truth he's been a remarkable leader with great vision," Smith said. "He's accomplished this step by step, little by little."

Cline came to Woodland almost by accident. He was headed for Ilwaco for a job interview and stopped to apply for the Woodland opening. The rest is history.

"The town was a little smaller then," Cline said. "I like the family atmosphere. It's grown, but it still has that family feel."

Woodland District Superintendent Bill Hundley also praised Cline's achievement.

"When I came to Woodland six years ago, I heard about the music program," he said. "When I first heard our high school jazz band play, I was amazed. Paul has built a program at the high school level that is outstanding."

Cline's community contribution reflects his love. He's a volunteer EMT-firefighter for Cowlitz Fire District 7 in the Yale area where he lives.

He started as a volunteer with the Woodland Fire Department the year after he arrived. After five years, he became a volunteer with District 7.

"I'm still a volunteer; I go on calls," he said. "I'll complete 25 years there and retire."

Cline meets early every morning before school with the members of the jazz band and choir. The students wanted to practice every day, he said, and they now get a credit for their music.

The jazz groups have performed as far away as Disneyland where they have been part of the Magic Music Days.

"It's kind of a rewarding time for the kids," he said. "I've had a lot of kids who have done so well."

One of his favorite classes was a theory-based computer music writing class.

"That was a fun class," he said. "It was a small class of seriously-minded musicians. I taught it a couple of times."

Although he's giving up teaching, Cline won't entirely give up music. He's the choir director at Pleasant View Community Church. He leads weekly rehearsals.

"We have a little worship band," he said.

Cline's older daughter, Bryana, has inherited her father's love of music. She is a student at Washington State University, Pullman, where she's a member of the vocal jazz group and plays baritone sax for the marching pep band.

Son Jeremy has followed his father's firefighting example and is a professional firefighter-paramedic in Vancouver.

Younger daughter Jessica, 19, is a student at Ecola Bible School in Cannon Beach, OR.

Cline's wife, Cheryl, is the gift manager at the Oak Tree Restaurant.

The school district has not yet hired a high school music teacher to replace Cline, Hundley said.

EXTENT OF NEW ORLEANS DISASTER SURPRISES SISTERS

A pair of north Clark County sisters travel often, visiting points of interest, but their February trip to New Orleans brought them a new perspective.

Maxine Lester, 78, of View, and Barbara Hagedorn, 80, of Fargher Lake, visited Lester's late husband Howard's family in the New Orleans area.

Lester recorded her visit in a series of written reports.

"Miles of traveling through New Orleans is like a ghost town as businesses and homes are deserted," she wrote.

They began to realize the extent of the city's loss as they got off the airplane. They were arriving during Mardi Gras and Lester said the airport is usually crowded at that time.

"It was so eerie," she said. "There were about 30 people in the airport."

Even after seeing reports on television and reading about Katrina's devastation, Lester said, "There was more damage than we expected to see."

Lester had planned to visit Howard Lester's family last June, but surgery--and later Katrina--delayed her departure.

Even the most expensive homes were destroyed, she said.

"Big mansions were all gone but the foundations and steps," she wrote. "We saw one house that had been blown across the highway, clothes, tarps, plastic bags, a boat, clothes basket, etc., hanging in the trees."

Lester said she was struck by the piles of household goods on the sidewalk of an upper middle-class section.

"Imagine having to go into your own home wearing protective clothing from the contamination of the water," she wrote.

"A lawyer who works in (niece Brenda Lester's) office lost everything and now just stares into space at work, she can't concentrate," Lester wrote.

Lester and Hagedorn ate breakfast in a New Orleans pancake house, one of the few restaurants that had reopened.

"As we left the restaurant there was a line a block long outside waiting to enter the restaurant," she wrote.

Lester and Hagedorn rode through a business area that remained closed.

"Few business have come back and what few are open only stay open a few hours, only a few customers, but hours increasing as time passes," she wrote.

The sisters also visited the lower ninth ward, site of the greatest hurricane and flood destruction.

"The area was deserted and made you wonder how many people were swept out to sea," Lester wrote. "When we were there, the people had not yet been allowed back into the area."

Lester began to realize the extent of the damage the second day of her visit.

"Brenda (Lester) drove us through a business area of the city where everything was vacated, no people, no cars, no businesses open but one...," she wrote. "It will be a long time before New Orleans will be restored."

RIDGEFIELD EYES RAIL OVERPASS

Bill Myers

staff reporter

Ridgefield officials see an overpass spanning rail tracks and a bridge over Lake River in the city's future.

It will take about $2.4 million and lots of public participation to determine where the overpass and bridge should be located.

Port of Ridgefield director Brent Grening said $1 million was earmarked in the federal budget last year to begin studies of the roadway project. He said senators Patti Murray and Maria Cantwell, and congressman Brian Baird, helped to earmark the funds.

Port officials are seeking another $1.4 million in federal funds for environmental assessments and preliminary designs needed to identify the best location.

Grening said completion of the project, which officials hope can be done by 2010, will provide safe passage for traffic to the Port, waterfront and National Wildlife Refuge.

The development of a rail overpass would allow closures (except during emergencies) of three, at-level rail crossings which officials consider dangerous, said Grening.

Grening said uses of at-level rail crossings at Division St., Mill St. and Refuge Road require passing trains to slow and blow whistles, causing more air pollution and bothersome noises.

Economic benefits listed in a funding request produced last year by Port and City officials included improved freight mobility through the Portland-Vancouver area.

Grening said all overpass/bridge location options are still on the table.

A conceptual drawing in the funding request shows one alternative--an extension of Pioneer St. to an overpass and bridge over Lake River.

Grening said his best current guess is that the project will cost $25 to $30 million.

Interviews with affected property and business owners have started, said Grening. He said project-specific open houses will start this summer.

Heidi Wallenborn

news director

Erin Taylor is the only child of Gene Lorenz.

Although her parents divorced when she was 4 years old, the Ridgefield woman has kept exceptionally close to her dad.

"He was a weekend warrior," she said with a laugh.

Taylor describes her relationship with her dad as an exceptionally good one, where the two are so much alike it's uncanny.

Lorenz is co-owner with his daughter of Bruno School Photography. Since she was about 9 years old, Taylor has worked alongside her father in his business.

"As soon as I could comprehend what a camera was, I had one in my hand," Taylor said. She remembers building cameras out of coffee cans alongside her father.

But on May 3, the 59-year-old man was nearly torn from her life when they were on the job at Pleasant Valley Middle School.

At about 7 a.m., Lorenz was setting up a light stand in the library and had a heart attack.

Taylor caught his fall and clumsily began CPR, she said; she didn't know much about it.

Taylor yelled to school secretary Pat Pisarczyk to call 911. Assistant principal Chris Rust was already at Taylor's side taking over CPR duties. Eighth grade teacher Curtis Costanza came and assisted Rust while Taylor relayed information to the emergency dispatcher.

Within the nearly 10 minutes before medics arrived, Lorenz, unconscious and convulsing, had been resuscitated four times, Taylor said.

Medics stabilized Lorenz into a steady pulse and breathing pattern using a defibrillator, Taylor said.

Emergency personnel said that under normal circumstances in a sudden heart attack, the patient usually doesn't survive, said Kelly Keister, Battle Ground School District spokesperson.

"If [we] had not started CPR when we did, not only could my father have died, but if the paramedics could have revived him, he would have suffered severe brain damage--or possibly been brain dead," Taylor said. "It was the immediate action of the staff members that saved my dad's life."

"These people have given me a gift that no other could," she added. "The gift of seeing my father another day, the gift of life to my father, and the privilege my father will have of taking pictures at yet another school."

Taylor said the Pleasant Valley staff have always felt like family to her, and it is the first and last school they go to during the year.

"I have felt for years that the folks were like family to me," she said. "I had no idea they felt the same about me and my dad."

"Had they not been there, my father would have died right before my helpless eyes and I would be burying him today," Taylor said.

OBITS:

LINDA BARNETT

Linda Sue Barnett of Galveston, TX, 47, died April 29, 2006 in Houston, TX.

Barnett was born May 19, 1958, in Palm Springs, CA. She attended Battle Ground High School for two years. She lived the last 15 years in Galveston.

Barnett owned Clean Corners in Galveston, a housecleaning service. She enjoyed visiting her grandmother each summer, fishing, camping, visiting the ocean, riding Harleys, and going to her favorite swimming hole in Rogue River, OR.

Family members said that when asked what she did for a living, she would smile and say, "I clean toilets." She is described as putting a smile on anyone's face, and that when she walked into a room, everyone was her friend.

Barnett was preceded in death by her father, Leslie W. Barnett, and "Uncle Cowboy". She is survived by mother, Mary Lamdbin of Missouri, son Shad Bjerke of Longview, grandmother Gladys Allen of Oregon, sisters Kathy Kropelinicki of Texas, Christina Silver-Sloan of La Center and Leslie Plowman of Missouri, granddaughter Keilie Bjerke, and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Rosewood Funeral Home of Pasadena, TX was in charge of arrangements.

HAROLD MILLEN

Harold R. "Hal" Millen, 86, died May 8, 2006, in Battle Ground.

Millen was born Oct. 7, 1919, in Los Angeles, CA, and lived in Vancouver and Battle Ground since 1973.

Millen spent 11 years as public information officer for the Vancouver School District, and had previously worked for 25 years as a newspaperman in Yakima and Auburn.

Millen graduated from Stanford University where he studied speech and drama. He had been involved in community theater in Yakima and Vancouver for 50 years. He played leading roles in musicals. He was also interested in oil painting and travel. He held two patents in the field of painting.

Millen was a lay reader at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Vancouver.

Millen flew 48 missions during World War II as a B-17 pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps.

Millen was preceded in death by his brother, Jack Millen. Survivors include sons Randall Millen of California, David Millen of Alaska and Steven Millen of Oregon, daughters Kimberly Brown of Ellensburg and Anne Hawkins of Yakima, six grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and longtime companion Audrey Kelly of Battle Ground.

Memorial Gardens Funeral Chapel, Vancouver, was in charge of arrangements.

DENNIS CARPENTER

Dennis Edward Carpenter, 77, died May 7, 2006, in Vancouver.

Carpenter was born Nov. 11, 1928, in Calgary, Canada, and came to the United States as a baby. He was adopted and lived in Washington most of his life, moving from Tacoma to Vancouver 6 1/2 years ago. His real parents remain a mystery.

Carpenter worked as a truck driver. He enjoyed gardening, nature and animals. He was a skilled horseshoe player. He was a member of the Lakewood Elks.

Survivors include widow Hazel Carpenter, at home in Vancouver, daughters Kylene Stengel of Camas and Terri Nosack of Ridgefield, half-sister Grace Jones of Tacoma, and five grandchildren.

A celebration of life ceremony will take place Sat., May 20, 11 a.m., at Northwood Park Chapel, 16407 NE Union Rd., Ridgefield, followed by a reception at the family home in Ridgefield.

Northwood Park Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

MARY DUNCAN

Mary Frances (Johnson) Duncan, 79, died April 26, 2006, in Spokane.

Duncan was born April 11, 1927, in Laramie, WY, lived in Woodland 1957-82, and moved to Spokane in 1982. She served as a minister's wife, and enjoyed reading the Bible, singing songs about Jesus, and helping others. She also enjoyed playing the piano.

Duncan was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Glenn Duncan, in 2000, and brother Kenny Johnson. Survivors include daughters Rosalie Parker of Spokane and Melodie Carroll of Vancouver, brothers Leonard Johnson and Victor Johnson, both of Wyoming, and four grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held Fri., May 26, 11 a.m., at the Woodland Presbyterian Church, 756 Park St., Woodland, with Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home, Spokane, in charge of arrangements.