Around the Area Dec. 31

CLARK COUNTY

Nighttime hunt snares 186 seat-belt violators

A three-week police crackdown on nighttime seat-belt violators in Clark County netted 186 drivers who received tickets of about $124.

The emphasis, called Click It Or Ticket, ran from Nov. 17 through Dec. 7 and fielded more officers than usual, according to a bulletin from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission. Officers have been focusing on nighttime violators because the death rate is higher in crashes at night.

Typically, a sergeant will stand at a well-used road or ramp and, when an unbuckled driver is spotted, will radio officers waiting nearby in marked patrol cars and motorcycles.

As usual, other violations were found in the traffic stops:

-- Police and state troopers made 11 DUI arrests and arrested five people for previously issued felony warrants and four for misdemeanor warrants. Seven people were arrested for drug-related violations.

-- Also ticketed were three aggressive drivers, four reckless drivers, 10 speeders, 26 motorists who had no insurance, 30 with suspended or revoked driver’s licenses and 13 people for child passenger safety violations, the bulletin said.

For more information, visit the safety commission’s Web site at www.wtsc.wa.gov.

Hazel Dell

Business course offered for farm entrepreneurs

If you’re thinking of starting a small farm or agriculturally related business, or expanding your current business, you may be interested in a new 11-week course offered by the local extension service.

Agricultural Entrepreneurship and Business Planning will be offered to the first 20 participants who sign up with Washington State University-Clark County Extension. Cost is $75 per farm or family. Class is held each Thursday, beginning Jan. 15, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the old WSU Agricultural Research Station at 1919 N.E. 78th St. in Hazel Dell.

Call Erin Harwood at 360-397- 6060, ext. 7720 to register. Deadline for registration is Jan. 9.

CLARK COUNTY

Free citizens academy teaches fire, life safety

Curious about how fire departments work, in detail?

Clark County Fire & Rescue, which protects the Ridgefield, La Center and Battle Ground areas, is offering a free evening citizen academy.

It will be held from 7 to 9:30 p.m. beginning on Feb. 5, and will continue on Thursday nights through March 12 at Station 21, 911 N. 65th Ave. in Ridgefield.

The class, limited to 12 students, will cover fire-service history, department organization, training, equipment including fire engines, incident command, fire safety and prevention, and emergency medical services, according to a bulletin.

Applications must be submitted to Station 21 by Jan. 22. The fax number is 360-887-0862. Applicants’ backgrounds will the checked.

To obtain an application, visit www.clarkfr.org, call 360-887-4609 or e-mail tamara.bailey@clarkfr.org.