Stories for June 3, 2011

NASCAR announces qualifying order changes

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) -- The qualifying order for the NASCAR Sprint Cup series will be set only on the first practice session, starting with next week's race in Pocono.

CONCACAF suspends acting president Austin

NEW YORK (AP) -- The CONCACAF soccer confederation has provisionally banned acting president Lisle Austin of Barbados for allegedly violating rules.

Havret out of Wales Open after death of father

NEWPORT, Wales (AP) -- U.S. Open runner-up Gregory Havret has pulled out of the Wales Open following the death of his father.

Maradona attacks FIFA leadership 'dinosaurs'

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- Diego Maradona says corruption and match-fixing scandals that have hit FIFA will continue as long as the sport's governing body is run by "dinosaurs."

Palestinian leader accepts French invitation

RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) -- An aide to the Palestinian president says the Palestinians have accepted a French invitation to come to Paris as part of an effort to relaunch Mideast peace talks.

Artful education

Inspired art teacher transforms La Center High School into a gallery.

Wind River Canopy Crane ends its journey above the trees

WIND RIVER EXPERIMENTAL FOREST — Suspended from the arm of a construction crane in a bright yellow gondola, to which we are securely attached with climbing harnesses, we rise swiftly from the ground, leaving the dark, moist forest floor behind. “‘We’re down here in a nice, cool, verdant forest,” says Ken Bible, a University of Washington forester and site director at the Wind River Canopy Crane, who is serving as our tour guide. “As we ascend, the environment will change. You’ll see the change almost immediately. And everyone gets a window seat.”

FIFA probes Argentina's thrashing in Nigeria

ZURICH (AP) -- FIFA is investigating Argentina's 4-1 loss in Nigeria after betting patterns suggested it was targeted by match fixers.

Police: Bomb blast kills 6 in NW Pakistan

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) -- Police say a bomb has exploded at a bus stand in northwest Pakistan, killing six people.

Official: Al-Qaida militant killed in Pakistan

DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan (AP) -- A Pakistani intelligence official and a militant group say that top al-Qaida militant Ilyas Kashmiri has been killed in an American drone strike.

Official: Al-Qaida militant targeted in Pakistan

DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan (AP) -- An intelligence official says top Pakistani militant leader Ilyas Kashmiri was believed to have been the target of an American missile strike that killed nine militants close to the Afghan border.

Police: Pakistan security forces kill 26 militants

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) -- Police say Pakistani security forces have killed 26 Islamist militants in a troubled tribal region near the Afghan border.

Body found in marsh in February identified as Vancouver man

He drowned accidentally, police say

Vancouver police detectives have used genetic tests and other methods to identify a man whose body was found in a marsh on Feb. 15. The body was that of Ronald A. Doyle, 26, of Vancouver, who was reported missing on Dec. 22, according to a bulletin from Detective Sgt. Scott Creager with the Vancouver police Major Crime Unit.

Hatchet defendant gets 7 years

One of two transient men implicated in a hatchet attack in northern Clark County in December was sentenced Friday to seven years in prison. Meanwhile, prosecutors said they didn’t have enough evidence against his codefendant, Andre D. Kennedy, to go forward to trial and dismissed attempted murder charges against him.

Ambitious Weiner sees media strategy backfire

NEW YORK (AP) -- It's been a tough week in the tabloids for Rep. Anthony Weiner, the congressman once thought to be one of the most media-savvy lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

Pope heads to croatia with pro-EU message

ROME (AP) -- Pope Benedict XVI has departed for Croatia for a weekend trip aimed at boosting the Balkans nation's aspirations to join the European Union.

John Edwards indicted in mistress cover-up case

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) -- John Edwards acknowledged he has "done wrong" and hurt others but strongly denied breaking the law after federal prosecutors charged him Friday with using $925,000 in under-the-table campaign contributions to hide his pregnant mistress during his 2008 run for president.

Body found in Vancouver WA marsh is identified

VANCOUVER, Wash. (AP) -- Vancouver, Wash., police say a body found Feb. 15 in a marsh is that of a Vancouver man reported missing last December.

Mile of Seattle viaduct to come down early

SEATTLE (AP) -- Gov. Chris Gregoire says the southern mile of the aging, earthquake-vulnerable Alaskan Way Viaduct in Seattle will be torn down six months ahead of schedule. The Washington Transportation Department says that will mean a net savings to taxpayers of $900,000.

Smokey Lonesome wins Hollywood Park feature

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) -- The favorite Smokey Lonesome beat Blue Chagall by a half-length to win the $60,000 feature at Hollywood Park on Friday night.

Section of waterfront trail closed due to flood damage

A stretch of Vancouver’s Waterfront Renaissance Trail was closed Friday due to erosion near Tidewater Cove, marking the first report of damage resulting from the Columbia River’s climb into flood stage.

Officials: Saudi king mediates a Yemeni cease-fire

SANAA, Yemen (AP) -- Yemeni ruling party officials and rebel tribesmen say Saudi King Abdullah has mediated a one-week cease-fire between the warring forces of President Ali Abdullah Saleh and the anti-government opposition.

Weaver beats Yankees for firs win since April 25

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) -- Jered Weaver tied for the AL lead with his seventh victory -- 39 days after getting his sixth one -- and No. 9 hitter Peter Bourjos singled home the go-ahead run for the Los Angeles Angels in a 3-2 victory over the New York Yankees on Friday night.

DeMichele homers in 9th to lft Arizona State

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) -- Joey DeMichele hit a three-run home run one out in the bottom of the ninth inning to give Arizona State a 4-2 victory over New Mexico on Friday night in the NCAA Tempe Regional.

40 years for forcing teen into prostitution

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- The U.S. attorney for Oregon says a 39-year-old man has been sentenced to 40 years in prison for taking a 15-year-old girl from Seattle and forcing her to work as a prostitute in Portland.

Zimmer, Balog lead San Francisco past UCLA

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Kyle Zimmer struck out 11 in a four-hitter and Nik Balog had four hits and two RBIs in San Francisco's 3-0 victory over UCLA on Friday night in the NCAA Los Angeles Regional.

Kenyan Mosop breaks 30k world record

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) -- Kenyan Moses Mosop broke the world record by running the 30,000 meters in 1 hour, 26 minutes, 47.4 seconds on Friday night at the Prefontaine Classic meet.

Lawyer: agency to pay $7.3M in foster abuse case

SEATTLE (AP) -- The Washington state Department of Social and Health Services has agreed to pay $7.3 million to three former foster children who were abused for years by their foster parent.

Toronto activates Lind from DL, option Thames

BALTIMORE (AP) -- The Toronto Blue Jays have activated first baseman Adam Lind from the 15-day disabled list and plan to start him as the designated hitter in Saturday's game against the Baltimore Orioles.

Wheatcroft shoots 11-under 60 Nationwide event

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) -- Steve Wheatcoft birdied the final five hole for an 11-under 60 on Friday in the Nationwide Tour's Melwood Prince George's County Open, missing a chance for a 59 when his 22-foot eagle putt from the fringe on No. 18 curled right and settled about 15 inches from the hole

Labatt's sponsorship deal with NHL in doubt

TORONTO (AP) -- The most lucrative sponsorship deal in NHL history is in doubt after an Ontario judge ruled in favor of Labatt's claim that the league reneged on its agreement with the beer company.

Gray pitches Vandy past Belmont

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Sonny Gray scattered three hits over six innings as Vanderbilt cruised to a 10-0 victory over Belmont in the Nashville Regional on Friday night.

Arrest in Ore. beauty salon owner's slaying

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- Police investigating the slaying of a beauty salon owner in the Portland suburb of Gladstone have arrested a 54-year-old woman who lives in the same town.

Equine herpes outbreak appears to be contained

State vet recommends easing transport restrictions

Washington horse owners can begin to breathe a little easier, as it appears the recent outbreak of the neurological form of Equine Herpes Virus 1 (nEHV-1) has been contained.

Officials stress water safety as weather warms

Looking at the long-awaited sunshine graphics shining brightly in this weekend’s forecast, you might think it’s time to break out the swimsuits. Well, according to the experts, it’s not. At all. “All the water is very cold right now,” said Sgt. Fred Nieman of the Clark County Sheriff’s Office. “It looks inviting, especially if it’s 85 degrees, but it’s not water you just want to jump into. You can get hypothermia real quick.

Rockies De La Rosa undergoes Tommy John surgery

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Colorado pitcher Jorge De La Rosa underwent Tommy John surgery in Los Angeles on Friday, officially ending the left-hander's season.

Snodgrass, Hankins lead Austin Peay past Ga Tech

ATLANTA (AP) -- Jack Snodgrass pitched seven strong innings, Jordan Hankins hit a go-ahead home run in the seventh and Austin Peay stunned Georgia Tech 2-1 in the Atlanta Regional on Friday night.

Man accused in fatal beating of Ore. woman

GRESHAM, Ore. (AP) -- A suburban Portland man accused of beating a 58-year-old woman so severely that she later died of her injuries has been charged with aggravated murder.

Arencibia, Blue Jays slam Orioles 8-4 to halt skid

BALTIMORE (AP) -- J.P. Arencibia hit his first career grand slam, Rajai Davis had three hits and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Baltimore Orioles 8-4 on Friday night to end a two-game losing streak.

Ore. sleeping bag death: 4th man sought

ALBANY, Ore. (AP) -- The Linn County sheriff says his officers are looking for a fourth person in the death of a man found fatally beaten in a sleeping bag off Interstate 5 near Harrisburg, Ore.

Juengel, Gonzalez power Texas A&M past Wright St.

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) -- Matt Juengel and Kevin Gonzalez each hit three-run homers and Texas A&M cruised to an 11-0 victory over Wright State in the College Station Regional on Friday night.

Hinske enters after scary injury, hits deciding HR

NEW YORK (AP) -- Eric Hinske came into the game after a scary injury to rookie Jordan Schafer and later hit a tiebreaking home run in the ninth inning Friday night that sent the Atlanta Braves over the New York Mets 6-3.

Gonzales pitches Rice past Alcorn State 14-2

HOUSTON (AP) -- Abe Gonzales allowed two runs in his first career complete game to lead Rice to a 14-2 win over Alcorn State in the Houston Regional on Friday night.

Finally, a sunny day in Vancouver

It still was pretty cool -- mid 50s -- at 10:15 when this photo was snapped but Esther Short Park in downtown Vancouver was already beginning to come alive on one of the first pretty, sunny days here. Expect the temperatures to get into the 70s today. Have any outdoor plans?

Hight leads Funny Car qualifying at SuperNationals

ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. (AP) -- Robert Hight topped Funny Car qualifying Friday night in the NHRA SuperNationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.

Florida State beats Bethune-Cookman 6-5

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- Mike McGee hit a tiebreaking single in the bottom of the eighth and Florida State beat Bethune-Cookman 6-5 in the Tallahassee Regional on Friday night.

Pedregon takes top Funny Car qualifying spot

ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. (AP) -- Cruz Pedregon was the fastest qualifier in Funny Car on Saturday for the NHRA SuperNationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.

Dunne dominant as 'Bama downs Baylor 3-0

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Kelsi Dunne pitched six spotless innings, Whitney Larsen and Kaila Hunt had RBI singles and second-seeded Alabama moved into the Women's College World Series semifinals by beating Baylor 3-0 on Friday night.

South Carolina, Roth hold off Georgia Southern 2-1

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- Michael Roth allowed two hits in seven innings and defending national champion South Carolina opened the NCAA tournament with a 2-1 victory over Georgia Southern on Friday night.

Sayers challenges NFL players to assist retirees

NOVI, Mich. (AP) -- Pro Football Hall of Famer Gale Sayers says NFL players should be shamed if they don't help the pioneers of the game who played for peanuts.

Tacoma deaths: mother, son in homicide-suicide

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) -- Police say they continue to look for a motive in the homicide-suicide that claimed the lives of a 55-year-old woman and her 18-year-old son at a Tacoma home.

OF Greg Halman gets call to Seattle

SEATTLE (AP) -- Greg Halman played just nine games at Triple-A this season, but he apparently showed enough that the Seattle Mariners felt he was their best option to spell Franklin Gutierrez in center field.

A-Rod OK with MLB ban on cousin

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) -- Alex Rodriguez defended having the cousin who supplied him with performance-enhancing drugs visit while the New York Yankees were on road trips.

Fantasy lives in real-world games

Players meet regularly, find a kind of fun that computers screen out

Surrounded by books, staring down at odd-looking maps strewn across a large white table, St. Vladimir realized he had a problem. “Are there any space/time portals around here?” he asked, looking hopefully across the way at Sean McGill, a silver-haired, wizard-like man who was strangely dressed as a librarian.

Ariz. Little Leaguer killed after pitch hit chest

PHOENIX (AP) -- A 13-year-old Arizona boy has been killed after a baseball hit him in the chest as he tried to bunt the ball.

Brothers captures poles for Six Hours of The Glen

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (AP) -- Ricky Taylor wont he Daytona Prototype pole for the Six Hours of The Glen on Friday, while his younger brother Jordan took the pole in the GT class.

Mister Marti Gras wins feature at Churchill

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) -- Mister Marti Gras caught pacesetter Lonesome Street in the final yards to win the $55,143 feature by a neck Friday at Churchill Downs.

Braves CF Schafer fouls bunt off face, leaves game

NEW YORK (AP) -- Atlanta Braves rookie Jordan Schafer fouled a bunt off his face in a scary scene Friday night and was helped off the field.

Hagan pitches St. John's past ECU 2-0

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) -- Sean Hagan pitched into the eighth inning and got plenty of defensive help as St. John's beat East Carolina 2-0 in the first round of the Charlottesville Regional on Friday night.

Freshman leads UNC past Maine 4-0

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) -- Kent Emanuel threw eight shutout innings in his NCAA tournament debut, leading North Carolina to a 4-0 victory over Maine on Friday night in the Chapel Hill Regional.

Leyland powers UC Irvine past Fresno State

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Jordan Leyland hit a three-run homer in UC Irvine's five-run first inning and finished with five RBIs and three runs in the Anteaters' 12-6 victory over Fresno State on Friday in the opening game of the NCAA Los Angeles Regional.

Charlotte beats Arkansas 3-2 in Tempe Regional

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) -- Corbin Shive hit a two-run homer in Charlotte's three-run second inning and Andrew Smith limited Arkansas to a run on five hits in 7 1-3 innings to help the 49ers beat the Razorbacks 3-2 on Friday in the first game of the NCAA Tempe Regional.

White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko late scratch

CHICAGO (AP) -- Paul Konerko was a late scratch from the Chicago White Sox's lineup Friday night after having a minor medical procedure to dislodge a loose fragment in his left wrist.

Dufek leads Creighton past Georgia in Corvallis

CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) -- Jonas Dufek threw a five-hitter and Scott Thornburg and Anthony Bemboom had consecutive RBI singles in the seventh inning in Creighton's 2-1 victory over Georgia on Friday in the opening game of the NCAA Corvallis Regional.

Hafner to begin rehab from injury

CLEVELAND (AP) -- Indians designated hitter Travis Hafner, who has been sidelined with an oblique injury, will swing off a batting tee Saturday.

Florida rolls Manhattan 17-3 in NCAA regional play

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) -- Preston Tucker drove in five runs, Daniel Pigott knocked in three and Florida handled Manhattan 17-3 in the NCAA tournament's Gainesville Regional on Friday.

Shelter shares its pet peeves

Many exotic animals adopted by people end up at humane society

Not long ago, on one of the back streets of Clark County, an escaped 2.5-foot-long African land tortoise netted its owner a warning for “running at large.” Call it an unusual penalty for the typically slow-moving creature, but it’s far from the strangest tale told by the folks at Clark County Animal Protection and Control and the Humane Society for Southwest Washington.

La Stella's 2 HRs help Coastal beat UConn 13-1

CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) -- Tommy La Stella homered twice and Hayes Orton went 5 for 5 with three RBIs for Coastal Carolina in a 13-1 rout of Connecticut in the Clemson Regional on Friday.

Timberwolves' Tolliver leads camp for Joplin kids

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Timberwolves forward Anthony Tolliver plans to hold a basketball clinic next week for children affected by the tornado that devastated Joplin in his native Missouri.

Tigers' Inge lands on DL with mononucleosis

CHICAGO (AP) -- Detroit Tigers third baseman Brandon Inge was placed on the disabled list Friday with mononucleosis and catcher Omir Santos recalled from Triple-A Toledo.

Ore. boosts next year's university tuition, fees

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- Oregon students face higher college tuition and fees next year, with big jumps at the biggest schools.

Sabres re-sign RW Stafford to multiyear contract

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) -- The Buffalo Sabres have re-signed forward Drew Stafford to a multiyear contract, keeping their second-leading goal-scorer last year from becoming a free agent.

E. Oregon town hit by minor flooding

HEPPNER, Ore. (AP) -- The town of Heppner in Eastern Oregon was hit by minor flooding that covered some bridges and briefly caused the evacuation of one school.

Rivera, Ray take Troy past Oklahoma State 9-2

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- T.J. Rivera drove in three runs and Troy beat Oklahoma State 9-2 in the opener of the Nashville Regional on Friday.

Dallas Baptist tops Oklahoma in 10th inning

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) -- Jason Krizan's infield hit in the 10th inning scored Tyler Robbins and gave Dallas Baptist a 3-2 victory over Oklahoma in the Fort Worth Regional on Friday.

Conn. pet food company recalls some pig ears chews

VERNON, Conn. (AP) -- A Connecticut pet food company is recalling some boxes of its pig ears chews because of a possible salmonella risk.

Wolves say they're keeping No. 2, for now

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Minnesota assistant general manager Tony Ronzone says the Timberwolves are leaning toward keeping the second overall pick in this month's NBA draft.

Investigators probe early morning fire

Arson investigators are looking into an early Friday arson near the intersection of West 19th and Washington streets, a block from Main Street in the Hough neighborhood.

Brownlee, Pollorena lead Miss. St. past S. Miss

ATLANTA (AP) -- Brent Brownlee hit a two-run single, Luis Pollorena pitched six scoreless innings and Mississippi State beat Southern Mississippi 3-0 in the Atlanta Regional on Friday.

Police say death of Ore. girl, 11, is homicide

SHERWOOD, Ore. (AP) -- Police say the suspicious death of an 11-year-old Oregon girl in the Portland area is now being investigated as a homicide.

Verrett pitches Baylor past Cal 6-4

HOUSTON (AP) -- Logan Verrett threw 7 1-3 innings to lead Baylor to a 6-4 win over California on Friday in the Houston Regional.

Seton Hall over Arizona 4-0 in NCAA tourney opener

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) -- Jon Prosinski threw a six-hit shutout Friday, leading Seton Hall past Arizona 4-0 in the opening came of the College Station regional.

Frazier says Vikings coaches side with owners

BROOKLYN CENTER, Minn. (AP) -- Minnesota head coach Leslie Frazier says Vikings coaches stand firmly behind their owners in the NFL labor dispute and were not consulted before the NFL Coaches Association filed a brief supporting the players.

Wild Bout Tiffany wins Monmouth feature

OCEANPORT, N.J. (AP) -- Wild Bout Tiffany scored a two-length victory over Belarus in the $50,000 first-level allowance feature Friday at Monmouth Park.

Marlins' Cousins speaks out about Posey injury

MIAMI (AP) -- Florida Marlins rookie Scott Cousins has been receiving death threats despite repeatedly apologizing for a collision with San Francisco Giants star Buster Posey.

Kyron Horman task force to disband

A year later, no arrest and no body

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The formal task force investigating the year-old disappearance of a 7-year-old Oregon boy will disband as of July 1.

Oregon jury finds police did not retaliate

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- A federal jury has decided that Portland police did not retaliate against a recruit after she filed complaints of alleged crimes and misconduct against her training coach.

Employers added 54K jobs, rate ticks up to 9.1 pct

WASHINGTON (AP) — Employers in May added the fewest jobs in eight months, and the unemployment rate inched up to 9.1 percent. The weakening job market raised concerns about an economy hampered by gas prices and the Japanese nuclear disaster.

Mistakes help Kent St. top Texas St. in 11

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- Kent State took advantage of a throwing error and a passed ball to score twice in the 11th inning and beat Texas State in the opener of the Austin Regional on Friday.

Assisted suicide advocate Kevorkian dies at age 83

DETROIT (AP) — Jack Kevorkian, the retired pathologist who captured the world's attention as he helped dozens of ailing people commit suicide, igniting intense debate and ending up in prison for murder, has died in a Detroit area hospital after a short illness. He was 83.

Royals place RHP O'Sullivan on DL

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- The Royals have put right-hander Sean O'Sullivan on the 15-day disabled list with biceps tendinitis and recalled Jesse Chavez from Triple-A Omaha.

Ava K. wins Belmont's Wandering Cloud Stakes

NEW YORK (AP) -- Ava K., the 3-5 favorite, held off Miss Valentine by a half length Friday in the $60,000 Wandering Cloud Stakes for New York bred 3-year-old fillies at Belmont Park.

Rangers option OF Borbon to Round Rock

CLEVELAND (AP) -- The Texas Rangers have activated outfielder Julio Borbon from the disabled list and optioned him to Triple-A Round Rock.

Commentary: Shaq has lasting impact on local family

Matt Calkins: Commentary

Connar Oberst has known Shaquille O'Neal for eight years and have always got together when the former NBA player was in Portland.

Girls basketball coaching jobs filled

Battle Ground, Mountain View, Ridgefield hires

Joe Potter is moving from a Class 2A program to a 4A program, Carl Click will go from 1B to 2A, and Mountain View has a new high school girls basketball coach, too.

Timbers willing to gamble on offsides, despite calls

Spencer: ‘You’ve got to let forwards be forwards’

Law 11 is among the shortest in the soccer rule book. But the offside infraction is often a source of consternation and long debates among fans and players.

Prep notebook: Clark County represented in all-state

Eight baseball players from Clark County have been named to the Washington Coaches Association’s Class 4A and 3A all-state teams.

In Our View: Pay for the Cleanup

Camp Bonneville project must resume with commitment from Army officials

Clark County commissioners remain correctly focused on a simple concept: Whoever made the mess at Camp Bonneville needs to clean it up. That would be the Army, which for eight decades used the 3,840-acre site in east county as an artillery range and training area. A dangerous mix of munitions remains buried on the grounds. If only the cleanup were as simple as the concept. County leaders have been unable to convince Army officials that it’s long past time to agree on a new cleanup contract. This week the county commissioners got a little tougher; they gave recalcitrant Army officials a July 14 deadline to commit to continue funding the cleanup. “The negotiations with the Army have always been difficult,” said Pete Capell, director of Clark County Public Works, in a Thursday Columbian story. “It’s not our responsibility to clean up their mess. We don’t have the resources to do it in the first place.”

Riverview Community Bank earns philanthropy award

Vancouver-based Riverview Community Bank has been named as a Top 75 Corporate Philanthropist in Washington for 2011 by the Puget Sound Business Journal. Riverview was the only Southwest Washington-based company to receive the honor. The bank was ranked 15th among medium-sized companies with more than $200,000 in corporate and in-kind giving in Washington.

Talking Points: Marketing of Dirk

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

City honored for tree partnership

Vancouver — Friends of Trees, the Portland-based nonprofit agency that’s contributed to a widespread greening of the area through volunteer tree plantings, presented the city of Vancouver with a leadership award at a luncheon on May 19.

Learn about housing at Monday seminar

Vancouver — The Southwest Washington Community Land Trust will hold a seminar Monday on its model for sustainable, affordable housing.

Regional sewage partnership moves forward

$10 million state loan to Ridgefield boosts effort to work with B.G., county agencies

A “seriously discussed” regional sewer partnership between Ridgefield, Battle Ground and two county agencies took a step toward fruition this past week when the state government provided Ridgefield with a $10 million loan for a major sewer project. Ridgefield’s regional sewage trunk line and pump station would connect the city to the Salmon Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant, thus making the city more attractive to prospective businesses along the Interstate 5 corridor. The project’s total price is estimated at close to $40 million, Ridgefield city manager Justin Clary said.

Letter: Try the sound approach

The trouble with the sea lions seems so easy to fix with an underwater speaker producing sounds of orca whales.

Letter: Remember our democratic ally

The federal government's foreign aid totals about $55 billion, ($44 billion economic aid and $11 billion in military aid), which is less than 2 percent of the entire U.S. federal budget. I spell that out because most Americans think we spend 30 percent of our federal budget on foreign aid, and probably think 10 percent would even be fair.

Letter: Lest we forget

June 8 is the 44th anniversary of the attack on the USS Liberty during the 1967 Six-Day War. With bombs, napalm and torpedoes, 34 Americans were killed, 171 wounded and the lightly armed ship was damaged beyond repair.

Clark College honors police officer

Scott Bieber will receive Outstanding Alumni Award

Scott Bieber, technical services commander for the Vancouver Police Department and an officer with the force for more than 20 years, is the recipient of the 2011 Clark College Outstanding Alumni Award. Bieber will be honored June 9 during the college’s annual Alumni-Student Dinner, presented by the Clark College Alumni Association with support from Riverview Community Bank.

Letter: Protect our seniors

I remember standing up at a town hall meeting with Brian Baird after he voted to keep our military forces in Iraq.

Letter: Regard finally given to local cemetery

Over the years I've been a regular visitor to the Lewisville Cemetery. After my daughter's death in 1995, I spent a lot of time hauling my lawn mower back and forth to mow the area around our family plots. I was able to keep that area reasonably nice by hauling water and by fertilizing in late summer.

Letter: Quick fixes only hold 'til next election

U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler's May 30 letter, 'Work to change course has just begun,' closes with the statement, 'With your continued involvement I believe we can change course.'

Lionbridge to move in with Nautilus, HP, PeaceHealth

Lionbridge Technologies Inc. has leased a 34,000-square-foot space in the giant Columbia Center, an east Vancouver office building that houses Nautilus Inc. and will soon be the home of PeaceHealth’s corporate headquarters and Hewlett-Packard’s local operations.

Correction: Incorrect name

Incorrect name: Dennis L. Wolter, a Vancouver man accused of stabbing his girlfriend, Kori Fredericksen, could potentially be only the second Clark County defendant to be charged with first-degree aggravated murder over the last several years. One sentence on Page C6 of Thursday’s Columbian mixed up the names of the defendant and victim.

Death notices

A list of daily death notices

Letter: State should have to pay for mistake

How can Alan Northrop ever make up the 17 years he had to spend in prison for a crime that he didn’t commit? (An April 3 story reported “A life interrupted: Freed after 17 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit, Ridgefield man works at starting over.”) Why wasn’t DNA used as soon as it became available? Who dropped the ball and let this man sit in prison?

Dining Out: Golden City shines as go-to for family

If you are looking for a go-to Chinese restaurant where cleanliness is a priority, flavors are fresh and a few out-of-the-ordinary dishes offer a bit of adventure, the Golden City may fit the bill. Unpretentiously situated in a strip mall shared by a martial arts studio and a Mexican restaurant, the Golden City offers family dining and authentic dishes.

The Airborne Toxic Event is soaring

Group came together in serendipity, is growing in artistic adventure

One rock and roll mystery that will probably never be solved is how the world of music was lucky enough that the likes of Paul McCartney and John Lennon crossed paths to form the Beatles. Some bands just come together out of a magical series of circumstances. The Airborne Toxic Event is one of those groups, and singer/guitarist Mikel Jollett says he’s actually heard people compare the magical union of McCartney, Lennon and the Beatles to the beginnings of his own band.

Bits 'n' Pieces: Instuctor puts yoga principles on paper

Dana Layon believes that the benefits of yoga extend beyond the mat or the studio and into all aspects of one’s life. “We can pretty much translate everything that’s on the mat into how we live our daily lives,” said Layon, a 42-year-old Vancouver resident and yoga instructor.

3 victims of NV small plane crash identified

RENO, Nev. (AP) -- Authorities have identified three people killed in a small plane crash north of Reno.

NASCAR Trucks series to hit 400 in Kansas

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) -- There have been 399 starts. And 399 checkered flags.

Bayne raring to go racing

JOLIET, Ill. (AP) -- Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne said he feels fine behind the wheel as he gets ready to resume racing following a long layoff caused by a mysterious illness.

Stetson erases big deficit, beats defeat NC State

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- Nick Rickles' RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning helped Stetson, which earlier trailed by five runs, defeat North Carolina State 8-7 in the Columbia Regional on Friday.

4 in US now linked to German E. coli outbreak

ATLANTA (AP) -- Health officials now say four people in the U.S. may be linked to the food poisoning outbreak in Europe.

Raptors F Amir Johnson has ankle surgery

TORONTO (AP) -- Toronto Raptors forward Amir Johnson has had surgery on his left ankle and is expected to be ready for training camp if there is no lockout.

Coroner: Jockey died of accidental overdose

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) -- Authorities in Kentucky say a jockey found dead in his car at Churchill Downs died from an accidental overdose of cocaine and a prescription pain medication.

Drivers skirt no-caution call at Charlotte

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) -- Sprint Cup drivers remained tightlipped rather than second-guess NASCAR for the no-caution finish at Charlotte Motor Speedway last week.

Lowery leads JMU past FIU 11-7

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) -- Jake Lowery homered and drove in three runs to lead James Madison past Florida International 11-7 on Friday in the opening game at the Chapel Hill Regional.

Roberts pitches Virginia past Navy 6-0

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) -- Will Roberts struck out a career-high 14 in a four-hitter, and Danny Hultzen drove in three runs to lead Virginia past Navy 6-0 in the NCAA tournament Friday.

Connell prison suicide had earned GED behind bars

CONNELL, Wash. (AP) -- The mother of a man who killed himself at the Coyote Ridge Corrections Center is standing in for him at a graduation ceremony to receive the GED he earned behind bars before his death.

Young players could be key for US women

SOMERSET, N.J. (AP) -- With 13 World Cup newcomers on the roster, the U.S. women's team could be considered too inexperienced. Yet the veterans on the squad believe those "rookies" will play a major role in the tournament that begins later this month.

Cardinals recall Carpenter, Hamilton

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- The St. Louis Cardinals purchased the contract of infielder Matt Carpenter from Triple-A Memphis and recalled first baseman Mark Hamilton from Memphis.

No fees during lockout for NFL DirecTV subscribers

NEW YORK (AP) -- Subscribers to the satellite TV package that allows them to see every NFL game won't have to pay for next season until the lockout is over.

Uncle Mo diagnosed with inflamed liver

WHITESTONE, N.Y. (AP) -- Uncle Mo has been diagnosed with an inflamed liver, although last year's 2-year-old champion could resume training this summer.

SEC caps football signees at 25, down from 28

DESTIN, Fla. (AP) -- The Southeastern Conference has capped football signing classes at 25, a move coaches voted against and one school presidents hope will be adopted across college football.

Red Sox place pitchers Matsuzaka, Hill on DL

BOSTON (AP) -- The Boston Red Sox have placed right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka on the 60-day disabled list amid reports he has decided to have reconstructive elbow surgery that could sideline him for at least 12 months.

ESPN analyst Barnaby served with protective orders

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) -- ESPN analyst and former NHL player Matthew Barnaby has been served with two new court orders following an argument with his estranged wife in upstate New York last month.

Miami beats Jacksonville 7-2 in NCAA opener

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) -- Rony Rodriguez drove in two runs, Corey Janson homered for the first time this season and Miami beat Jacksonville 7-2 in the opening game of the Gainesville Regional on Friday.

Pryor's guardian: QB will stay at Ohio State

JEANNETTE, Pa. (AP) -- Terrelle Pryor's godfather and legal guardian believes the embattled quarterback will finish his career at Ohio State.

NBA Game 2 rating up from last Heat-Mavs series

NEW YORK (AP) -- The television rating for Game 2 of the NBA finals was up 15 percent from the last time the same teams met in the championship series.

Alabama tops UCF 5-3 in NCAA regional play

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- Nathan Kilcrease tied a career high with 10 strikeouts, leading Alabama past Central Florida 5-3 in the Tallahassee regional of the NCAA baseball tournament Friday.

Canucks' Malhotra back at practice before Game 2

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) -- Center Manny Malhotra has returned to practice with the Vancouver Canucks, continuing his comeback from a career-threatening eye injury.

British singer Adele cancels tour due to illness

NEW YORK (AP) -- British singer Adele has canceled the remaining dates on her North American tour because of her laryngitis.

Wash. referees sue to use charity pink whistles

A high school football referee association is suing Washington state youth athletic governing bodies over the use of pink whistles for a cancer charity.

Rambis: Still no word on return with Wolves

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Kurt Rambis still doesn't know whether he'll be back as coach of the Minnnesota Timberwolves and is frustrated by being kept in limbo.

Kyle Busch says money not an issue with Raikkonen

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) -- Kyle Busch says money isn't an issue in whether former Formula One champion Kimi Raikkonen will drive more races for the NASCAR star's team.

Big names galore at Saturday's Prefontaine Classic

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) -- While her heart is in the 200 meters, Allyson Felix certainly doesn't mind the success she's recently had running 200 more.

Mets promote RHP Acosta from Triple-A

NEW YORK (AP) -- The New York Mets have promoted right-handed reliever Manny Acosta from Triple-A Buffalo.

Officer hit by lightning after Joplin tornado dies

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) -- A Missouri police officer who was struck by lightning while helping with rescues after a massive tornado ripped through Joplin has died.

Body found near Cle Elum was Seattle woman

ELLENSBURG, Wash. (AP) -- The Kittitas County sheriff's office says the human remains found last September on Suncadia Resort property near Cle Elum have been identified as a 22-year-old Seattle woman who disappeared in 1972.

Seattle judge shortens child molesting sentence

SEATTLE (AP) -- A man who was convicted of kidnapping and molesting a 6-year-old boy in 2001 in Kirkland had his 30-year sentence reduced to 21 years.

Suspect in Giants fan beating will remain in jail

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The man suspected of beating a San Francisco Giants fan into a coma at Dodger Stadium will remain jailed after a hearing with parole officials.

House adopts resolution on US role in Libya

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The House has adopted a resolution rebuking President Barack Obama for dispatching U.S. military forces against Libya without congressional approval.

Alaska, Wash. men reappointed to fisheries council

KODIAK, Alaska (AP) -- Two men from Alaska and Washington state are among 21 new and returning members appointed by the Commerce Department to the nation's eight regional fishery management councils.

McIlroy slips into 4-way tie for lead at Memorial

DUBLIN, Ohio (AP) -- Rory McIlroy had an even-par 72 in the second round of the Memorial that was anything but steady and didn't feature many pars until he finally settled into his round. He at least finished atop the leaderboard among early starters Friday.