Stories for March 26, 2010

W-hawks tie playoff series with Spokane

Road team has ruled best-of-7 series so far

Chris Francis scored twice and set up another on Friday as the Winterhawks beat the Spokane Chiefs 4-2, tying the best-of-7 Western Hockey League playoff series at 2-2.

GEARed UP for college

Program helps get middle school students thinking about higher education.

Document: Blazers fired Penn without cause

Allen said there was “good reason” to let former VP go

Tom Penn, former Portland Trail Blazers vice president of basketball operations, received a formal notice of termination from the team this week stating that he was fired without cause, sources told The Columbian on Friday.

Police: Secure doors and windows, even in warm weather

To avoid signaling an easy target to would-be burglars, the Vancouver Police Department says residents should keep their doors and windows secure at night and when they’re at work.

Man found at Clark County wastewater plant died of heart attack

The Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office identified a 44-year-old Kelso man found dead at the Salmon Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant north of Vancouver Wednesday.

Firefighters watching over smoldering fire in Camas house

A two-alarm house fire reported at 5:29 a.m. caused extensive damage to a Camas home and forced the closure of Northeast Third Avenue, a roadway that connects Camas and Washougal.

Stars of the Day

High school stars from Thursday's action

Women to take county stage

Amphitheater to welcome first U.S. stop on revival tour of Lilith Fair

Clark County fans will be the first in the United States to see the return of Lilith Fair. The all-women music festival will open the U.S. portion of its summer trek — its first since 1999 — on July 2 at The Amphitheater at Clark County near Ridgefield. Canadian singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan will headline the concert, which features a lineup of 10 artists and groups and includes musicians such as Sheryl Crow and Sugarland. Lilith Fair is the first confirmed show at the amphitheater this season.

Cathlapotle Plankhouse: Another side to history

Lewis and Clark re-enactor will address expedition’s effect on American Indians

Tom Wilson sees the irony. And the 54-year-old Astoria, Ore., man, a retired elementary school teacher who’s made a venerable second career as a Lewis and Clark living history re-enactor and educator, doesn’t sugarcoat it: “If you are Native American, this is not good history,” Wilson said. Which is why, as part of the Cathlapotle Plankhouse’s March 28 seasonal opening at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, he plans to talk to children (and their parents) not only about the what ifs of the Lewis and Clark voyage, which changed the course of U.S. history, but also about the at-the-time thought processes.

Milam encores as interim symphony director

He will focus on getting organization back on firm financial footing

After taking several months off to start a business, the Vancouver Symphony’s former interim executive director has returned, again on a temporary basis. Scott Milam took the reins of the nonprofit organization after former President Celia Gesting resigned in May. Milam, a 50-year-old Vancouver resident who’s been on the Vancouver Symphony board since 2008, assumed leadership of the organization in June and continued through late November.

Many local legislators decline per diem payments for special session

Most legislators representing Clark County have declined the $90 per day payments available to lawmakers during this month’s special session. The per diem payments are intended to cover housing, meals and other living expenses incurred by citizen legislators while they are in Olympia doing the public’s business. But many lawmakers have taken time away from Olympia over the past week as Democratic leaders have struggled to find agreement on a 2010-11 budget and revenue package.

Baird received threats early in health care debate

Southwest Washington Rep. Brian Baird was an early target of threatening remarks last year after he compared the heated political climate surrounding health care reform debate to the climate in the spring of 1995, when Timothy McVeigh was plotting the Oklahoma City bombing. “Brian … You think we’re all Timothy McVeigh types, huh?” a caller said in a message left on Baird’s Washington, D.C., office phone on Aug. 11, 2009. “I’d keep a close eye out for those Ryder rental trucks if I were you. You never know when one might show up. Bye.”

In Our View: Herding Cats

The hopeless meandering continues as Legislature’s special session grinds on

Whether in Washington, D.C., or in Olympia, Wash., they say that getting Democrats to agree on anything is like herding cats. This is an insult to cats. We suspect achieving the near-impossible fusion of feral felines would be much easier than trying to scratch out any progress in the state Legislature. The special session is almost two weeks old and, as of press time Thursday evening, with little hope of any meaningful breakthroughs in resolving the state’s $2.8 billion budget deficit. What makes this $18,000-a-day impasse even more frustrating for taxpayers is that it’s not Democrats battling Republicans. It’s Democrats arguing with each other, the political equivalent of herding cats with a bunch of argumentative wranglers.

You're Hired: Architect of his future

After being laid off, a prepared David Commeree launches his own architecture firm

David Commeree was a product development manager for Vancouver-based New Tradition Homes when the national and local recession hit in 2008. As demand slowed for the company’s new-home subdivisions, New Tradition reduced Commeree’s work hours. He used the off time to plan his own start-up architecture business and launched it in June 2009, shortly after he was laid off. Commeree’s business, DLC Architecture LLC offers architectural design services and planning and project management consulting for public and private projects. BIGGEST CHANGE, SO FAR: The biggest change for me is having to do everything, in terms of running a company, from finding the work to paying the bills. That’s been the biggest challenge for me. At this point, I’m a one-man show with aspirations to grow the company.

Correction, March 26

Rural centers: Fargher Lake Grocery store owner Bill Doty attends meetings of the county’s rural lands task force but is not a member. The photo caption accompanying a story about Clark County’s rural centers on Page C1 Thursday misstated Doty’s role with the task force.

Correction, March 26

Dining out: Happy Family Restaurant’s phone number is 360-253-7655. A Dining Out story in today’s Weekend section lists an incorrect number. Also, the restaurant is in Vancouver’s Burton area. Some editions list an incorrect neighborhood. It is The Columbian’s policy to correct errors. Call Mary Ricks at 360-735-4550.

Music, message drive Citizen Cope

His eclectic style hasn’t resulted in quick stardom, but instead yields a slow-growing ‘genuine’ popularity

Citizen Cope has never been an artist who enjoyed much radio play or even a big push from his record companies, though he has spent his entire career up to now on major labels. Yet, he is in the enviable position of being an artist who can play large clubs and theaters and, as his current tour attests, sell out multiple nights in cities such as Boston and Philadelphia. To Cope, his ever-expanding popularity is largely the result of having created a sound that is uniquely his with a message that feels authentic and honest.

Vital Statistics, March 26

Births, marriage announcements and court sentencings in Clark County.

Heavy drinkers shun overall health, Kaiser study shows

Regional survey finds moderate users fare better than abstainers

People who drink heavily are worse at taking care of their overall health than other categories of drinkers, according to a new Kaiser Permanente study that included some Clark County residents.

Event offers hands-on activities for Hazel Dell Elementary students

Hazel Dell Elementary School students on Thursday pounded together the sides of wooden birdhouses. They chowed on freshly made corn tortillas and whipped up some nasty-looking artificial snot. They pried apart electrical equipment, donned firefighting gear, and checked out volcanoes, stars of the universe and microscopic life.

Bits 'n' Pieces: Vancouver painter lands first art show

After taking several years off from painting to focus on school, Vancouver’s Lindsey Swanke has returned to art. Now she’s about to have her first art show. Swanke, a 22-year-old recent graduate from ITT Tech in Portland, will have an art sale and reception at Gotham Tavern from 4-8 p.m. Saturday. She’ll have five pieces on display at the Portland restaurant and bar through the end of May.

Possible lead exposure at gun club probed

Results of tests by county expected as soon as today

Clark County health authorities are looking into possible lead exposure at an indoor rifle and pistol club after learning about elevated lead levels in the blood of young members of the Orchards-area club. This week, the health department took voluntary blood samples from about 40 members of the Vancouver Rifle and Pistol Club at 12212 N.E. 76th St.

LOCALS launches campaign April 13

Around the area, March 26

Biffle’s car to visit farmers market

Death notices, March 26

Clark County death notices

Companies showing interest in county

Development council has courted 20 firms in 2 months

The Columbia River Economic Development Council in the past two months has courted 20 companies from outside the area interested in moving to Southwest Washington. That’s compared with 55 companies in discussion with the council for the entire year past year, Bart Phillips, president of CREDC told business leaders attending a quarterly luncheon event Thursday at the Heathman Lodge in Vancouver.

Happy Family offers flavor appeal

Chinese-American restaurant has recently expanded to second site

Why: Happy Family Restaurant, which serves Chinese and American cuisine, broadened its reach with the opening of a second location in November in the former Firkin and Frog Restaurant and Pub. Happy Family’s owner, Patricia Chan, said the restaurant’s Pong Pong Chicken sets it apart from other Chinese restaurants in the area. American dishes are limited to burgers, sandwiches, salads and Chicken Fried Steak.

Our Readers' Views

Tax break for Oregonians is wrong My family and I moved to this area last June due to being transferred for work purposes. We thought that it is a nice area to live and work until just recently.

High School Scoreboard 3/26

Thursday's high school results