Stories for November 25, 2010

Vancouver man hurt in Gearhart, Ore., crash

Here is a press release from the Oregon State Police:

NYC regulators want new dress code for cabbies

NEW YORK (AP) -- New York City's taxi regulators are planning a new dress code for cab drivers that requires them to "present a professional appearance."

Murray State edges Stanford 55-52 in 76 Classic

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) -- B.J. Jenkins scored 15 points, including two free throws in the final 25 seconds, as Murray State held on for a 55-52 victory over Stanford on Thursday night in the first round of the 76 Classic.

Thankful for new family members

Family of five adopts two brothers from Bulgaria.

Firefighters battle two Vancouver chimney fires

Officials remind residents chimneys need to be cleaned

Vancouver firefighters responded to two chimney fires late Wednesday night and early Thursday morning.

No. 20 Iowa rallies past James Madison

PLAYA DEL CARMEN, MEXICO (AP) -- Kachine Alexander scored 18 points, and Kamille Wahlin added 10 points and 11 rebounds in No. 20 Iowa's 67-61 comeback victory over James Madison on Thursday night in the Cancun Challenge.

McNutt leads 12th-ranked Hoyas over Georgia Tech

ST. THOMAS, Virgin Islands (AP) -- Monica McNutt scored 24 points to help No. 12 Georgetown beat Georgia Tech 67-58 on Thursday night in the Paradise Jam.

Volunteers at church, Chronis’ Restaurant help others enjoy Thanksgiving

As families across Clark County began Thanksgiving dinner preparations, hundreds of volunteers were busy serving up free meals and delivering turkeys with all the fixin’s. Chronis’ Restaurant opened its doors at 10 a.m. to several people waiting in the chilly weather for a hot meal.

San Diego drug tunnel had railcar, tons of pot

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- U.S. authorities say more than 20 tons of marijuana was seized in connection with a cross-border tunnel that was equipped with a rail car -- the second discovery of a major underground drug passage in San Diego this month.

Cost of Freedom wins at Hollywood Park

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) -- Cost of Freedom beat Gato Go Win by a length Thursday in the $100,000 Vernon O. Underwood Stakes at Hollywood Park.

Tuskegee beats Alabama State in Turkey Day Classic

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) -- Joshua Harris threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Stephen Clements in the fourth quarter to help Tuskegee beat Alabama State 17-10 on Thursday in the Turkey Day Classic.

Notre Dame rallies past Georgia, 89-83 in 2OT

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) -- Tim Abromaitis had 25 points, Tyrone Nash scored 18 and Notre Dame rallied from 12 points down at the half for an 89-83 double-overtime victory over Georgia on Thursday night in the opening round of the Old Spice Classic.

Simmons, No. 4 Tennessee cruise past Missouri

ST. THOMAS, Virgin Islands (AP) -- Meighan Simmons scored 14 points to lead a balanced Tennessee offense in the No. 4 Lady Volunteers' 82-44 victory over Missouri on Thursday night in the Paradise Jam.

Thees opens skeleton World Cup season with win

WHISTLER, British Columbia (AP) -- Former world champion Marion Thees of Germany won the first World Cup women's skeleton race of the season Thursday at the track used for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

Redskins place Portis on injured reserve

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) -- Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis was placed on injured reserve Thursday because of a torn muscle in his lower abdomen.

Black Eyed Peas to perform Super Bowl halftime

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- The Black Eyed Peas will be the featured halftime performer at the Super Bowl.

4 inmates missing from Sheridan work camp

SHERIDAN, Ore. (AP) -- Authorities are looking for four inmates who are missing from the Federal Prison Camp in Sheridan, Oregon.

Capello to help England's push for 2018 WCup votes

LONDON (AP) -- England coach Fabio Capello will draw on contacts cultivated during almost 50 years in soccer to help the country's late scramble for votes in the 2018 World Cup contest.

Dangerous KingCo shooting suspect still at large

SEATTLE (AP) -- King County sheriff's deputies are still looking for a shooting suspect described as extremely dangerous because of her mental health, and she's armed.

KingCo shooting suspect called extremely dangerous

SEATTLE (AP) -- The King County sheriff's office says the woman accused of an unprovoked shooting in the Skyway area south of Seattle is extremely dangerous because of her mental health issues.

Police seek woman in Seattle-area shooting

SEATTLE (AP) -- King County sheriff's detectives say a woman involved in a shooting in the Skyway area south of Seattle is armed and extremely dangerous.

Bolte leads No. 19 Iowa State past Virginia

ST. THOMAS, Virgin Islands (AP) -- Kelsey Bolte scored 13 of her 15 points in the first half to help No. 19 Iowa State beat Virginia 66-48 on Thursday in the Paradise Jam.

Palmer to start for Bengals, 4 DBs inactive

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- Cincinnati quarterback Carson Palmer is active and will start for the Bengals against the New York Jets after being hobbled by a sore left foot earlier in the week.

BNSF: Woman killed by train in Seattle

SEATTLE (AP) -- Burlington Northern Santa Fe says a woman has been struck and killed by an Amtrak train in northwest Seattle.

Mexico grows, with migrants' numbers falling

MEXICO CITY (AP) -- Mexico's census shows the population has grown more quickly than expected, in part due to a drop in the number of people leaving to seek work.

Portland company makes high-tech wooden bikes

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- In his Southeast Portland workshop, Ken Wheeler crafts road, touring and mountain bikes -- out of wood.

Grizzlies center, girlfriend charged with assault

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -- Police say Hamed Haddadi of the Memphis Grizzlies and his girlfriend have been charged with assault following an altercation between the two.

Indictment: Calif man threatened Obama in letter

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- An indictment filed by a federal grand jury accuses a Northern California man of sending a letter threatening to kill President Barack Obama.

Fourth-generation becomes doctor

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- It is a hectic afternoon at Metropolitan Pediatrics on the edge of Southeast Portland and Clackamas County.

Gates sore after limited practice with Chargers

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- San Diego Chargers star tight end Antonio Gates was in pain as he tried to practice in a limited role Thursday.

Man hurt in Oregon armored car crash

MONMOUTH, Ore. (AP) -- Oregon State Police say a 22-year-old employee of an armored truck company was badly injured when the truck he was in went off the road and rolled near Monmouth.

Woman locates birth certificate

MEDFORD, Ore. (AP) -- Medford resident Vanessa Driskell has finally located her long-lost birth certificate.

Warriors' Lee medically cleared to do conditioning

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- Golden State Warriors forward David Lee has been medically cleared to resume light conditioning a week after undergoing a second procedure on his left elbow to treat an infection.

Canucks F Rypien on indefinite leave of absence

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) -- The Vancouver Canucks have granted forward Rick Rypien an indefinite leave of absence.

Leuer scores 16 points to lift Wisconsin, 50-35

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) -- Jon Leuer scored 16 points and Josh Gasser added 12 as Wisconsin overcame a lackluster start to beat Manhattan 50-35 Thursday in the opening round of the Old Spice Classic.

Crash partially blocks I-5 offramp

A single-vehicle crash on an Interstate 5 offramp Thanksgiving morning partially blocked the ramp and sent the driver to the hospital. Vancouver resident Naomi Gadea, 25, was driving a 2001 Ford Windstar southbound on Interstate at 10:50 a.m. She lost control of the vehicle while taking the offramp to Highway 14 East and struck the wall multiple times before the vehicle came to a stop, according to the Washington State Patrol report.

Contador again pleads his innocence over doping

MADRID (AP) -- Alberto Contador has reiterated his innocence over his failed doping test at the Tour de France in an emotional television interview.

Paine Field project completed

EVERETT, Wash. (AP) -- Snohomish County officials say a huge project to improve the main runway and a taxiway at Paine Field is finished after more than two years.

Ali and Repella help West Virginia past TCU

ST. THOMAS, Virgin Islands (AP) -- Madina Ali had 16 points and 10 rebounds to lead No. 10 West Virginia to a 62-49 win over No. 21 TCU on Thursday in the opening game of the Paradise Jam.

Bush back for Saints after missing 8 games

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- Reggie Bush is back for the New Orleans Saints.

Offensive coordinator back at work with Titans

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Tennessee offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger is back at work and will call the plays Sunday when the Titans visit the Houston Texans before starting his treatment for cancer.

Motorist sentenced in N. Idaho cyclist death case

SANDPOINT, Idaho (AP) -- A Washington state motorist has been sentenced to a year in prison following a crash that killed a cyclist and injured a runner competing in a relay race in northern Idaho last summer.

Endless Circle wins Big A's Fall Highweight

NEW YORK (AP) -- Endless Circle rallied to beat Jack On the Rocks by two lengths Thursday in the $100,000 Fall Highweight Handicap at Aqueduct.

Landry, Torain out for Redskins against Vikings

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) -- Washington Redskins safety LaRon Landry and running back Ryan Torain have been ruled out for Sunday's game again the Minnesota Vikings.

Jackson scores 21 to help BC beat Texas A&M 67-65

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) -- Reggie Jackson scored 21 points and Joe Trapani added 14 to lead Boston College past Texas A&M 67-65 Thursday in the opening round of the Old Spice Classic.

Bills CB McGee questionable after re-injuring knee

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) -- Buffalo Bills starting cornerback Terrence McGee missed practice a day after aggravating a knee injury, leaving him questionable to play against the Pittsburgh Steelers this weekend.

Search on in NY for missing Pa. college student

CLAY, N.Y. (AP) -- Nearly 100 law enforcement officers and volunteers are searching a Syracuse, N.Y., suburb for a 20-year-old college student who went missing a week ago after she returned home for Thanksgiving break.

Snowy holiday weekend for much of Washington

SEATTLE (AP) -- The National Weather Service says travel will be tough this holiday weekend on Washington highways.

Oregon technology pioneer Norm Winningstad dies

NEWPORT, Ore. (AP) -- Oregon technology pioneer Norm Winningstad has died at the age of 85 at his Newport, Oregon, home.

Backyard Brawl now all about the defenses

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Pat White and Steve Slaton of West Virginia couldn't prevent a seismic shift in the Backyard Brawl. Neither could LeSean McCoy and Dion Lewis of Pittsburgh.

Tom Brady active after being listed questionable

DETROIT (AP) -- New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was active against the Detroit Lions on Thursday after being listed as questionable with an injured right shoulder and foot.

UW researchers take closer look at Seattle schools

SEATTLE (AP) -- The Seattle schools improving the most in recent years are nearly all in neighborhoods north of Interstate 90, away from the areas where most poor kids in Washington's largest school district live.

CAS imposes 2-year ban on German swimmer Schoeber

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) -- German swimmer Sonja Schoeber has had her ban for testing positive for testosterone doubled to two years by sport's highest court.

Spanish steeplechase runner fails doping test

MADRID (AP) -- Spanish steeplechase runner Jose Luis Blanco says he is under investigation by his country's athletics federation after a failed drug test.

SAmerica to vote for Spain-Portugal for 2018 WCup

ASUNCION, Paraguay (AP) -- A senior official for the South American football federation says its three votes for the 2018 World Cup will go to the joint bid from Spain and Portugal.

Seattle's run defense struggling last 5 weeks

RENTON, Wash. (AP) -- This is not the best week for Seattle to suddenly be questioning the problems with its run defense.

Relax, Alabama: The heat's all on No. 2 Auburn

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) -- The heat is on No. 2 Auburn in this Iron Bowl.

Federer tops Soderling, into semis at ATP Finals

LONDON (AP) -- Roger Federer beat Robin Soderling 7-6 (5) 6-3 Thursday to earn a spot in the semifinals of the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals.

Israel train line plan draws Palestinian ire

JERUSALEM (AP) -- An Israeli plan for a new train line linking its central region to settlements deep in the West Bank is drawing criticism from Palestinians.

Ex-PM: Israel should suspend West Bank building

JERUSALEM (AP) -- A former Israeli premier says he would agree to the U.S. demand that Israel extend its halt to West Bank settlement construction, despite the current leader's hesitation.

Nebraska, Colorado wrap up Big 12 tours

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) -- Colorado and Nebraska will meet one more time as members of the Big 12 before they head off to different leagues.

Georgian deputy PM defends protest of Sochi Games

PRAGUE (AP) -- The deputy premier of the former Soviet republic of Georgia has defended plans to mount a campaign against the 2014 Winter Olympics in the nearby Russian city of Sochi.

College notebook: Prairie grad Klettke garners All-America status at NAIA meet

Lewis-Clark State runner places 11th at nationals

A junior at Lewis-Clark State College of Lewiston, Idaho, Kelsey Klettke finished 11th at the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics cross country championships Saturday at Fort Vancouver National Site.

Scottish strike won't halt Premier League matches

GLASGOW, Scotland (AP) -- The Scottish Football Association says all Premier League matches in Scotland will go ahead as planned this weekend despite a strike by referees.

Washington to reconsider barbless hook decision

Oregon does not want to change regulations for Columbia River

A sad milestone: All smelt dipping is banned

A population once harvested in the millions of pounds now is endangered

Volunteers build trail at Beacon Rock State Park

Route will connect East Hardy Ridge, Hardy Creek

Fishing report 11/25

Sturgeon fishing in lower Columbia River as cold as the weather

Mount Hood ski areas hitting full stride

Mount Hood Skibowl, Cooper Spur to open; Mount Hood Meadows adds night skiing

Przybilla hopes to return Friday

Virus latest setback for center after year of rehab on knee

According to Portland coach Nate McMillan, Joel Przybilla woke up Wednesday with a stomach virus and was receiving IV fluids early in the day.

Out & About

Items about the Vancouver Wildlife League meeting, a sturgeon fishing seminar in Portland and new signs in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest

CBs shore up secondary for No. 5 Wisconsin

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Just being solid is a compliment to Wisconsin's secondary.

Talking Points 11/25

What’s the buzz from the world of sports? Here are some items that will have people talking:

Give book, be angel in holiday charity effort

You can be a “book angel” and get the world of reading into the hands of a child this holiday season.

Open on Thanksgiving: Stores offer a head-start on Black Friday

Sears, Walmart locations in Vancouver look to get a jump on the competition

Black Friday selling will start a day early this year at some area retailers — and not just at grocery stores looking to benefit from eleventh-hour food sales. Some specials will be on display as early as Thursday at chain stores like Sears and Walmart, as the retailers try to beat out the competition by staying open on Thanksgiving Day.

Weather Eye: More surprises might be ahead in December

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Boy, what a November we have had weatherwise. A little bit of everything eh? Remember back when it was 72 degrees just three weeks ago?

Facing cuts, Clark County health department seeks to educate public

Clark County Public Health keeps the behind-the-scenes work of community health behind the scenes. Currently facing a funding crisis due to across-the-board state cuts, Director John Wiesman was asked this week by county commissioners to help the public understand what the department does in order to justify its budget request.

Your identity for sale online

Thieves sell credit numbers, more on members-only sites

When it comes to identity theft, experts say many of us have no idea of the Internet Goliath we’re facing. Sure, we knew there’s an underworld of thieves out there who, hunkered over their computers, hack into ours — or those of major corporate or government data systems — and steal folks’ personal information, sometimes in big chunks.

Several sites offer free Thanksgiving meals

Free Thanksgiving meals will be offered at these sites today: • Auto’s Pub, noon,16209 S.E. McGillivray Blvd., Vancouver: Free Thanksgiving meal until the food is gone. For more details, call 360-253-6253.

Holiday closures

What's open and closed on Thursday and Friday.

Death notices

A list of daily death notices

Correction: Drug dosage

Drug dosage: Debb Snyder, a Vancouver woman who faces a reduction in her state Medicaid benefits, takes 0.5 milligrams of the anti-seizure drug Klonopin six times daily. A front-page story Sunday misstated the dosage.

Correction: Final election results

Final election results: Clark County released final certified results from the Nov. 2 election on Tuesday. A Page C3 item Wednesday stated an incorrect day.

Rockfall work to delay travel on Highway 14

Motorists should expect 20-minute delays on state Highway 14 next week near Dog Mountain, as contractors stabilize a steep slope above the highway.

Snowfall closes last six miles of Highway 504

Snowfall in the Cascade foothills prompted the Washington Department of Transportation to close the last six miles of Highway 504 near Mount St. Helens.

Humane Society for Southwest Washington sets holiday adoption sale

Forget Black Friday. How about “Bark Saturday?”

Vital statistics

Marriage dissolutions and court sentencings

Ask the gardening expert

I’d like to redesign my landscape this fall, including the removal, transplanting and planting of new shrubs. Early this spring I purchase a balled magnolia (Royal Star). Fall is the best time to plant from what I have read. I haven’t planted it yet. Should I have planted it during the growing season? It does not look very good, so would it be OK to plant this magnolia now, in late fall? I also understand the area should be wind protected and full sun.

The Garden Life: Give thanks for simple joy that is the garden

Ihave to admit that I am enjoying the onset of the autumn and the lull in garden expectations that come with this season. In the past two weeks, there have been days when I have done nothing more than wander through my garden. I did not prune, deadhead or pull one weed. I love this time of introspection, of looking deeply into the heart of this garden I have created. I try my best to remain a beginner in the world of gardening. To garden as if I am a beginner allows me to approach the task at hand with a lighter heart. It frees me from the compulsion of focusing only on perfect results. If the purpose of gardening is to improve our lives, one of the goals of gardening is to enjoy the process. For now, I am happy knowing that all my work up to this point has prepared my garden for the upcoming winter season.

Our readers' views

Letters to the editor

Garden calendar

Send information to homeandgarden@columbian.com at least 10 days prior to publication date.

There’s still time to make that table beautiful

Tweaking traditional Thanksgiving decor doesn’t have to be spendy

For much of America, Thanksgiving is one celebration not to be messed with. Those who try to jettison the candied yams or who forget grandma’s gravy boat might have the family to answer to. And if it’s been a chrysanthemum centerpiece since your husband was a baby, it may be difficult to try something new.

Energy Adviser: Shop smart when buying an electric space heater

Are the new portable electric heaters being advertised as good as they sound? Each year when the ads crop up, our phones start ringing about these “new” portable electric space heaters. Actually these heaters have been on the market for several years now — along with their high prices and outrageous claims of energy savings.

In our view: Giving Thanks

The best American holiday has evolved since that first feast at Plymouth

Thanksgiving is perhaps America’s best holiday. It’s not overly commercial, nor is it either secular nor identified with a particular religion. The Detroit Lions aside, today is rich with tradition for many families. Quietly, we bond with one another without text messaging or Facebook. That’s enough to give thanks for right there.