In Our View: Cheers & Jeers

Cheers: To Cruise the Couve. When Cruise the Gut organizer Phil Medina said he wasn’t going to put together an event this year, it felt like a body blow to lovers of classic cars and mid-century style car cruising. Medina deserves a public thank-you for all of his work in previous years, but it left a big void on the summer fun calendar.

Enter the new Cruise the Couve group. Organized by Uptown Village merchants, it will sponsor the event on July 15, the same Saturday as Medina’s former cruise. There will be hot rods, classic convertibles, endless debates about Ford vs. Mopar, and a food drive to benefit Share. Lest you think that this event is for people with hair as silvery as the bumpers on a ’57 Bel Air, the family of Hunter Pearson, a Columbia River High School senior, will be there too. Hunter loved the event and had it on his calendar when he died in a May 27 swimming accident.

Jeers: To the wrong kind of Fourth of July fun. With the holiday falling on a Tuesday, the parties are already underway. For many folks, the celebrations will last through Tuesday night. The forecast calls for perfect weather, and it will be a great time for get-togethers. Unfortunately, it will also be a dangerous time for those who forget some basic safety rules. That’s why the Clark County sheriff’s marine patrol will be on the water looking for boaters who have had too much to drink. Remember, DUI laws apply equally to operating watercraft as they do to driving a car on a public roadway.

Although we’ve had a wet spring, fires sparked by fireworks are another likely problem. Though not nearly as dry as 2015, the grass is lush this year, and fireworks shot near dry grass could start a damaging fire. This year’s first fireworks-related grass fire broke out only six hours after fireworks went on sale. If you’re planning to enjoy personal fireworks this weekend, please use them safely and observe local rules. Remember, no fireworks are allowed in the Vancouver city limits.

Cheers: To Larch Corrections Center firefighters. Once again the state Department of Natural Resources will rely on crews from the prison near Yacolt to round out its statewide fire response efforts. The prisoners, all of whom are screened for the program, are organized into up to eight 10-inmate crews that can respond to wildfires anywhere in Washington. It’s hard physical labor, and prisoners are paid only 40 cents an hour, but they are providing an important service to our state.

Jeers: To adverse childhood experiences. Also known as ACEs, a growing body of research points to life-long repercussions for children who experience trauma such as abuse, hunger, homelessness or the death of a parent. This week a county epidemiologist highlighted a new survey of 10th graders that showed these kids are more likely to smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol and use drugs when compared with their peers. This, of course, will lead to greater risk of diseases such as diabetes and cancer. The more we understand these consequences, the better we will be able to help.

Cheers: To the extension of Northeast 10th Avenue between Salmon Creek and the Clark County Fairgrounds. Whipple Creek has been a barrier to completing a road paralleling the west side of Interstate 5. Motorists have been able to take the freeway, but there’s no good option for cyclists and pedestrians.

The extension, including a 450-foot bridge across Whipple Creek, is in the early stages of construction. When the $14.6 million project opens next year, it will provide an alternative route for visitors to the fairgrounds and the Sunlight Supply Amphitheater as well as a new arterial for neighbors to use every day.