Stories for July 15, 2011

State program will extend reach of electric vehicles based in Clark County

New charging stations bolster a growing trend

A first-time Nissan Leaf driver, Wayne Nelson is still building his confidence in the all-electric car. He can’t take it to the beach just yet. He’s driven as much as 110 miles on a single charge, but typically doesn’t venture far outside Vancouver, with charging stations few and far between in Washington. That will soon change — a series of nine new high-powered charging stations is slated to be installed along Interstate 5 and Highway 2 by the end of the year. With stations planned for every 40 to 60 miles on stretches of I-5, Clark County will land in range of the new network.

Salt and Pepper: Not just a passing fancy

Shaker collectors have a good time, but they’re serious about their hobby

Don’t mention condiments if you happen to meet members of the Novelty Salt and Pepper Shakers Club in Vancouver this weekend. It’s one thing to collect the unusually shaped containers — but putting salt or pepper in them? That’s just wrong, said Louise Davis, chairwoman of the international club’s 2011 convention taking place at the Red Lion at the Quay. Davis, who lives in Portland and is a member of Northwest Shakers Will Travel, has 2,500 sets of novelty shakers. But you won’t find any on her kitchen table. “At home I use Tupperware or cardboard shakers. Salt is corrosive.”

Ferrero to play Andujar in Mercedes Cup final

STUTTGART, Germany (AP) -- Juan Carlos Ferrero rallied past Federico del Bonis of Argentina 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 Saturday and will play fellow Spaniard Pablo Andujar in the final of the Mercedes Cup.

Ferrero beats del Bonis to make Mercedes Cup final

STUTTGART, Germany (AP) -- Juan Carlos Ferrero rallied past Federico del Bonis of Argentina 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 and reach the final of the Mercedes Cup.

School districts deal with state budget cuts

SEATTLE (AP) -- When the Legislature finished its work this year, pay cuts for teachers dominated most discussions about the state budget, but school districts across Washington say nothing is ever simple when it comes to the budget and many teachers will not have their pay cut.

Soderling to face Ferrer in Swedish Open final

BASTAD, Sweden (AP) -- Robin Soderling of Sweden will play David Ferrer of Spain on Sunday in a Swedish Open final between former champions.

Soderling routs Berdych to make Swedish Open final

BASTAD, Sweden (AP) -- Robin Soderling of Sweden routed Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic 6-1, 6-0 Saturday to advance to the Swedish Open final.

Clarke leads heading to final round of Open

SANDWICH, England (AP) -- Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland shot a 1-under 69 Saturday and takes a one-stroke lead to the final round of the British Open.

NH police: 2 men kidnapped boy, glued mouth shut

MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) -- Police in Manchester, N.H., say two men held a 15-year-old boy at knifepoint, glued his lips shut and burned him while filming the incident with an iPod.

Panthers sign 2010 pick Gudbranson

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) -- The Florida Panthers have signed defenseman Erik Gudbranson to an entry-level contract.

Gunmen kill 7 passengers in northwest Pakistan

PARACHINAR, Pakistan (AP) -- A government official says gunmen have killed seven bus passengers in an ambush in northwest Pakistan.

Five North Koreans positive at women's World Cup

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) -- A FIFA source says five North Korean players tested positive for steroids at the women's World Cup.

Clark County at Work: Butcher Brothers

Economy means people buy cheaper cuts.

Woman arrested; she allegedly tried to sell a newborn boy for $500

3-day-old offered for $500 in a Taco Bell, sheriff’s deputies say

A 36-year-old woman is in the Clark County Jail tonight after she allegedly offered to sell her 3-day-old son to another woman for $500 in a Taco Bell restaurant in Hazel Dell. Heidi Knowles was arrested Thursday night for previously issued warrants, according to a bulletin that sheriff’s Sgt. Phil Sample issued Friday evening. Deputies later will ask deputy prosecutors to consider charging Knowles with attempted child selling, which is a class C felony.

Deron Williams says he signs with Besiktas

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) -- New Jersey Nets point guard Deron Williams says on Twitter that he has officially signed with Turkey's Besiktas.

Report: Pilot hit tree while flying low to stay below controlled airspace

Was awaiting air traffic instructions

A pilot who crash-landed his small plane in a gravel pit July 5, putting himself and a passenger in a hospital, had just taken off from Grove Field in Camas and was flying low intentionally — and that led to hitting a tree, an official said. Pilot Steven Leigh Emerson, 54, of Camas later told investigators he was flying low over the hills around Larch Mountain while trying to stay below the controlled airspace of Portland International Airport.

Summer chinook fishing closes beginning Monday

Retention to be prohibited downstream of Bonneville Dam

Police seek child molestation suspect

Joshua Berry accused of assaulting stranger

Vancouver police are seeking a 30-year-old Vancouver man, Joshua Berry, on accusations of first-degree child molestation. According to a news release, police believe Berry to be homeless or “couch-surfing” at a friend’s house somewhere in the metro area. He is known to ride C-Tran.

Fire damages back porch

Barbecue may have been cause

Vancouver firefighters are on the scene of a fire that has damaged the back porch of a home.

911 caller alleges woman offered to sell newborn

HAZEL DELL, Wash. (AP) -- A Vancouver, Wash., woman accused of offering to sell her 3-day-old son for $500 in a Taco Bell restaurant in southwest Washington has been arrested on previously issued warrants.

National Site unveils restored Artillery Barracks

A partnership of local agencies on Friday got to show off the results of a renovation project aimed at restoring the building to as original a layout as possible.

West Ruler wins Hollywood Park feature

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) -- West Ruler defeated Real Housewife by a half-length to win Friday night's $68,546 feature at Hollywood Park.

Portland police think they've found Yashanee Vaughn's body

Body found near Rocky Butte

Portland police have recovered the body believed to be that of a 14-year-old girl missing since March.

Father, son killed in WA plane crash ID'd

EVERETT, Wash. (AP) -- A father and his young son from Elk, Wash., in Spokane County have been identified as the two people killed last weekend in a small plane crash in rugged terrain in Snohomish County.

Bank robber from Vancouver sentenced to federal prison

A prolific bank robber from Vancouver was sentenced Friday to 12 years, seven months in federal prison for his third robbery in Oregon.

Sunshine will give way to rain for weekend

Sunday looks a little nicer

Don't let today's anticipated sunshine fool you: Sadly, the rain will return just in time for the weekend, forecasters predict.

Ex-NFL player pleads no contest to misdemeanor

MALIBU, Calif. (AP) -- Prosecutors say former NFL running back Corey Dillon has pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor reckless driving charge in Malibu.

Clark College's server down after cyberattack

A cyber attack on Clark College's Web server interrupted fall registration for three hours Friday morning.

Lewis, Rangers shutout Seattle in 4-0 victory

SEATTLE (AP) -- Colby Lewis pitched four-hit ball over eight innings and Texas got a trio of sacrifice flies plus an RBI single from Michael Young in winning its ninth straight, 4-0 over the Mariners on Friday night.

APNewsBreak: Feds end criminal probe of O'Donnell

DOVER, Del. (AP) -- An attorney for former Delaware Senate candidate Christine O'Donnell wants federal prosecutors to investigate the head of a group that filed a complaint last year alleging O'Donnell had illegally spent campaign money.

Guillen returning to Tigers after knee injury

DETROIT (AP) -- Carlos Guillen is returning to the Detroit Tigers after missing 11 months with a left knee injury.

Battle Ground school days shifted 30 minutes later

Officials hope to benefit drowsy students

There’s been a great run in pop culture, lately, for zombies of all kinds. But, Battle Ground school leaders don’t want to see them in classrooms every day. So, they’ve agreed to push school start times back 30 minutes for the upcoming school year, the district has announced.

White Sox rout Verlander, Tigers 8-2

DETROIT (AP) -- Gavin Floyd allowed six hits into the eighth inning, outpitching Justin Verlander and leading the Chicago White Sox to an 8-2 win over the Detroit Tigers on Friday night.

Ruby Tuesday restaurant closes its doors

Vancouver restaurant shuttered due to slumping sales

Indians extend Orioles' skid to 9 with 6-5 victory

BALTIMORE (AP) -- Asdrubal Cabrera and Grady Sizemore homered, Lonnie Chisenhall singled in the tiebreaking run in the sixth inning, and the Cleveland Indians defeated Baltimore 6-5 Friday night to extend the Orioles' losing streak to nine games -- matching Buck Showalter's longest skid as a big league manager.

LF Vernon Wells a late scratch for Angels

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- Angels outfielder Vernon Wells is ill and has been scratched from the lineup against the Oakland Athletics.

Boston's Crawford plays in first rehab game

PAWTUCKET, R.I. (AP) -- Carl Crawford has tested his strained left hamstring in his first rehabilitation game, going 1 for 2 while playing five innings Friday for Triple-A Pawtucket.

Giants put OF Burrell on DL, promote C Sanchez

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- The San Francisco Giants have placed outfielder Pat Burrell on the 15-day disabled list with a foot injury and purchased the contract of catcher Hector Sanchez from Triple-A Fresno.

North Carolina's McDonald suffers torn ACL

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) -- North Carolina reserve guard Leslie McDonald has torn the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and could miss the coming season.

Woman, 67, dies in Spokane WA house fire

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) -- Fire officials in Spokane say they found the body of a 67-year-old woman when they responded to a fire at a double-wide manufactured home.

Older woman found dead in Spokane WA house fire

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) -- Fire officials in Spokane say they found the body of an older woman when they responded to a fire at a double-wide trailer home.

Remains found at Seattle recycling center ID'd

SEATTLE (AP) -- The King County medical examiner's office has identified the remains found July 8 on a moving conveyor belt at a Seattle recycling plant as those of a 53-year-old Seattle man.

Giants hire Riggleman as special assignment scout

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- The San Francisco Giants have hired former Washington Nationals manager Jim Riggleman as a special assignment scout.

Older couple found dead in Pierce County WA home

EATONVILLE, Wash. (AP) -- A Pierce County sheriff's spokesman says the deaths of an older couple found in their home north of Eatonville, Wash., home appear to be a homicide-suicide.

Energy Northwest wins nearly $49M judgment

YAKIMA, Wash. (AP) -- A federal court has awarded the operator of the Northwest's only commercial nuclear power plant nearly $49 million in damages from the U.S. Energy Department.

Something’s funny at Slocum House

Vancouver theater lightens up summer months with comedy festival

The stage at Slocum House typically goes dark in the summer, but not this July and August. The theater is hosting its first comedy festival, featuring improvisation acts drawing inspiration from sources ranging from Shakespeare to documentarian Ken Burns to B-movies, as well as stand-up comedians, musicians and magicians.

US trustee objects to Dodgers financing plan

DOVER, Del. (AP) -- A U.S. bankruptcy trustee objects to the Los Angeles Dodgers' proposed bankruptcy financing, saying the team has not disclosed enough information about its loan arrangement with a hedge fund.

Brewers and Rodriguez rework contract option

DENVER (AP) -- The Milwaukee Brewers and newly acquired reliever Francisco Rodriguez have reworked his contract to alter the terms of a $17.5 million option for next year.

Governors talk education during gathering in Utah

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Governors from around the country are meeting for three days in Salt Lake City to discuss ongoing economic challenges, education and how to compete in a global market.

Actor Wagner leads Tahoe celebrity golf tourney

STATELINE, Nev. (AP) -- Self-described "pip-squeak" actor Jack Wagner made seven birdies Friday to jump out to the first-round lead at the American Century Celebrity Golf Championship at Lake Tahoe.

Judge denies motion to halt NV wild-horse roundup

RENO, Nev. (AP) -- A federal judge has refused to grant an emergency injunction to halt a government roundup of about 1,700 wild horses from the range in eastern Nevada.

National Guard demands repayment of bonus

SALEM, Ore. (AP) -- A National Guard soldier from Oregon says she's being asked to repay $10,000 from a signing bonus the military says it shouldn't have offered her.

X Games star Pastrana 22nd at New Hampshire

LOUDON, N.H. (AP) -- X Games star Travis Pastrana finished 22nd in NASCAR K&N Pro Series East on Friday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Twins OF Span cleared to start rehab assignment

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Minnesota Twins outfielder Denard Span has doctor's clearance to begin a minor-league rehabilitation assignment, five weeks after suffering a concussion.

Sabres agree to deals with Persson, Turnbull

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) -- The Buffalo Sabres have reached agreements to re-sign defenseman Dennis Persson and forward Travis Turnbull each to one-year contracts.

Portland police: Remains found in search for teen

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- Police say they have found remains in their search of a Portland hill for a slain teenager. But they say it may take a few days to make a positive identification.

Bautista sits with sore ankle

TORONTO (AP) -- Blue Jays slugger Jose Bautista was not in the lineup for Friday night's game against the New York Yankees because of a sore right ankle.

Coax Liberty wins Belmont's Sometime Thing Stakes

NEW YORK (AP) -- Coax Liberty rallied past the pacesetting Savvy Supreme to win the $60,000 Sometime Thing Stakes for 3-year-old fillies by two lengths on Friday at Belmont Park.

Oilers sign D Chorney, C O'Marra to 1-year deals

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) -- The Edmonton Oilers have re-signed defenseman Taylor Chorney and center Ryan O'Marra to one-year deals.

Flames re-sign F Morrison to 1-year, S1.25M deal

CALGARY, Alberta (AP) -- The Calgary Flames have re-signed forward Brendan Morrison to a one-year deal.

UCLA's Trevor Bauer wins Golden Spikes Award

SECAUCUS, N.J. (AP) -- UCLA right-hander Trevor Bauer has won the Golden Spikes Award as the top amateur baseball player.

Altidore headed for Dutch club AZ Alkmaar

NEW YORK (AP) -- American forward Jozy Altidore is headed to the Dutch club AZ Alkmaar.

Bubble bursts at WSOP; survivors get at least $19K

LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Players have hit the money at the World Series of Poker main event, with each of the 693 top finishers getting at least $19,000 each.

Play gets tense at WSOP as money bubble approaches

LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Players are getting anxious and intense about each hand at the World Series of Poker as the money bubble approaches -- the line between a payday for a week of poker or nothing for a $10,000 entry.

3rd border activist may get life in prison in Ariz

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) -- A third border activist convicted in the killings of a southern Arizona man and his young daughter in a 2009 home invasion may have avoided the death penalty.

Mets add Igarashi from Triple-A after K-Rod deal

NEW YORK (AP) -- The New York Mets have promoted right-handed reliever Ryota Igarashi from Triple-A to fill the roster spot left by the trade of closer Francisco Rodriguez.

Rockies recall OF Fowler

DENVER (AP) -- The Colorado Rockies recalled outfielder Dexter Fowler from Triple A on Friday and inserted him at the top of the lineup playing centerfield against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Houston Rockets add 4 assistants

HOUSTON (AP) -- The Houston Rockets have officially announced the additions of four assistants to Kevin McHale's staff, including former college coach Kelvin Sampson.

Muslim woman makes history at weightlifting event

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) -- Kulsoom Abdullah has become the first woman to compete in the U.S. weightlifting championships while wearing clothing that covers her legs, arms and head.

E. coli bacteria found in C. Ore. resort's water

BEND, Ore. (AP) -- Deschutes County health officials say the drinking water at a Central Oregon resort has been contaminated by E. coli bacteria.

Debt face-off shifts to Congress, bargain in play

Negotiations to increase the nation's debt ceiling shifted to Congress where Republican and Democratic leaders were assessing the mood of their members even as an intricate but potentially face-saving deal to avoid an unprecedented government default was taking shape in the Senate.

Litter reporting line loses in Wash. budget cuts

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) -- Washington's "Litter and It will Hurt" campaign has hurts of its own.

Vikings owner meets with gov to discuss stadium

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Minnesota Vikings owner Zygi Wilf met with Gov. Mark Dayton on Friday, telling him that now is the time to discuss a new stadium since the outlines of a state budget deal are finally in place.

Orioles DH Guerrero sidelined with hand injury

BALTIMORE (AP) -- Orioles designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero has a fractured bone in his right hand, an injury that will force him to miss Friday night's game against Cleveland and could land him on the disabled list.

Reds put RH Jose Arredondo on DL with sore arm

CINCINNATI (AP) -- The Reds put right-handed reliever Jose Arredondo on the 15-day disabled list before the start of their weekend series against the St. Louis Cardinals.

USADA bans cyclist Joshua Webster 2 years

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) -- The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency says cyclist Joshua Webster is accepting a two-year suspension after he tested positive for multiple banned stimulants.

In Our View: Keep Gorge Grand

Majestic slice of land must continue to be preserved for future generations

Sometime in the future, be it 10 or 50 or 100 years from now, our descendants will travel east from Vancouver and take in the wondrous scenery of the Columbia River Gorge. And they will be thankful. Thankful that a slice of nature that helps define the Pacific Northwest has been preserved. Thankful that their ancestors saw fit to ensure that preservation. Thankful that growth and sprawl have not been allowed to sully the scenery.

State: Fewer people without SSNs seek WA licenses

SEATTLE (AP) -- The state Department of Licensing says fewer out-of-state people who can't provide a Social Security number have sought to obtain a driver's license in Washington.

Downtown group unveils three initiatives

Vancouver’s Downtown Association on Thursday unveiled three initiatives aimed at revitalizing the city’s core.

McCord's eco-friendly Toyota showroom opens

McCord’s Vancouver Toyota has opened its $12.5 million showroom and service center.

Library is open invitation to discovery

When public explores facility, it will find far more than shelves of books

Nearly two years after construction began on the new Vancouver Community Library, the 83,000-square-foot, $38 million facility will open its doors to the public on July 17. Following an outdoor opening ceremony featuring library leadership, as well as local and state elected officials and other guests, the public will be invited to explore the five-story glass, concrete, steel, terra-cotta and wood structure, which was designed by Vancouver native Adin Dunning of the Seattle architecture firm Miller Hull Partnership.

Camas Farmer's Market gains foothold

Focus on locally grown, fresh foods has made it a Wednesday destination

CAMAS — On a delightful early evening, pedestrians reclaim a downtown patch of Northeast Fourth Avenue. Young singles peruse produce and other edibles for sale. Someone softly plays acoustic guitar, lending to the mellow mood.

Eric Johnson lets his music flow free

Less-cautious approach in studio brings flavor of live performance

For 20 years, Eric Johnson had been well served by his approach to making records, a meticulous process of recording songs instrument-by-instrument — sometimes even note by note. It made for perfectly rendered music that is technically brilliant, has been eagerly embraced by fans, and is plenty enjoyable for the casual listener as well. But Johnson’s methods were also a major reason why his albums have often arrived five or more years apart.

Talking Points: Low rating for All-Stars

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

Commissioners prohibit pot-growing facilities

Moratorium will give county time to address new law

A new state law going into effect next week may allow gardens with up to 45 marijuana plants for medical use, but the Clark County commissioners aren’t going to allow it. At least not right away.

Community pride design nominations open

Nominations are now being accepted for the 15th Community Pride Design Awards.

Voter registration deadline looms

Washington residents have until Monday to submit mail-in or online registration forms to vote in the Aug. 16 primary election.

Letter: Consider candidates' stand on issues

Now that both Attorney General Rob McKenna and U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee, D-Bainbridge Island, are seeking the governor’s office in 2012, it made me think about the significance of this race for the women and families of Washington, especially in regard to the implementation of health care reform. It’s important to keep in mind that the Affordable Care Act will protect Washington residents with pre-existing conditions who will be guaranteed coverage, and protect women against gender discrimination by private insurers. It will allow the more than 100,000 women in this state in need of improved access to family planning services the ability to get the care they need, including cervical and breast cancer screenings and contraception.

Letter: Leave the big bangs to professionals

A significant measure to reduce complaints on the annual fireworks issue would be to abolish the sale and use of airborne fireworks devices. This would be similar to restrictions now in place in Oregon.

Letter: Transition to renewable energy

There has been a very effective propaganda campaign denying climate change and the fact that humans contribute to the problem. Meanwhile, storms become more severe, glaciers rapidly melt, sea levels rise and flooding worsens, costing us dearly in treasure and lives. I believe this issue is just as major as civil rights, child labor, women’s suffrage and slavery. Many were ridiculed for speaking out on these issues. Now thousands of well-meaning scientists, with solid evidence, are being condemned, just like Copernicus was.

Letter: Increase for eastern line is negligible

My favorite letter writer, Cheryl Brantley, is at it again, playing fast and loose with the facts about the proposed Bonneville Power Administration’s Interstate 5 corridor 500kv transmission line project. In a June 30 letter, “Use existing power corridors,” she states simply that an eastern route would result in much higher electricity bills. About the only thing that BPA, Clark Public Utilities and all of the groups asking for a line built at the far eastern part of the county completely agree on is that the overall costs of the project will result in very minimal increases in electricity rates. Therefore, any additional funds spent on an eastern route will have negligible effects on what we will pay for electricity.

Letter: Constituents victimized

We the people of Washington state are being victimized by the “Herrera Beutler legislation” of all Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Camas, “yes” votes in Congress. I suggest she resign before it’s too late.

Letter: Transit issue merits discussion

I applaud Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler’s, R-Camas, principled stance demanding the current Columbia River Crossing funding plan be put to a vote. The measure deserves attention and thorough discussion. Such a discussion we have not had since well before the misconception of light rail as the high-capacity transit mode of choice in 2006.

First Independent posts $2.8M quarterly profit

First Independent Bank reported Thursday second-quarter income of $2.8 million, compared with a $709,000 loss in the second quarter of 2010. For the year to date, the privately held Vancouver bank’s earnings now stand at $7.4 million.

Bits 'n' Pieces: Camas photographer featured in Portland exhibit

Photography isn’t just a visual experience for Gina Williams, 42, of Camas. It’s a way to travel into a smaller, more subtle world.

Letter: Gain strength by believing in peace

For more than a few years, a group of 70 to 80 nonprofits have come together to shout the praises of peace through justice, telling how we believe peace is achieved in our particular organization. It’s all nonpolitical, as we know politics to be. We simply state in our exhibits how we strive to make peace possible in our time. From 9 to 5, we meet and greet people and tell the good news of peace.

Vital statistics

Births, marriage dissolutions and applications and court sentencings.

Death notices

A list of daily death notices

Bits 'n' Pieces: Command performance for the royals

When former Vancouver resident José Rubio agreed to sing the national anthem at an event at the Santa Barbara, Calif., Polo & Racquet Club, he had no idea that he’d be performing for royalty. A few weeks before the charity polo match, which took place Saturday, Rubio learned that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge would be in attendance, and that Prince William would be playing in the match.