The Columbian

Corrections

Library bond: The Fort Vancouver Regional Library District bond issue received 59.37 percent support in the November election. It needed a 60 percent supermajority to pass. A story in Sunday's Portrait section misstated the election results. Meetings missing: Caucuses for precincts 920, 930, 940 and 947 will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Camas Public Library meeting room, 625 N.E. Fourth Ave. Several Democratic caucus meetings for precincts in the 15th Legislative District were lef...

Police Report:

Crash kills motorcyclist, 20 A 20-year-old Ariel man has died following a motorcycle accident.

Ridgefield to Re-Examine Rule On Noise; Construction Ban On Holidays has Stirred Some Confusion

RIDGEFIELD -- Ridgefield Mayor Gladys Doriot and the Ridgefield City Council will take a look at a noise ordinance that prohibits construction on holidays. While it wasn't on the agenda, Doriot broached the subject during Thursday's city council meeting.

Conference to Explore Autism; State Group Picks Vancouver to Mark Local Chapter's Start

Life for autistic people, from their schooling to their sexuality, will be explored at the 14th annual conference of the Autism Society of Washington. The society chose Vancouver for its Best in the Northwest conference because the southwest chapter of the Autism Society of Washington was founded here this year.

City Ponders Rules Covering Taxi Cabs; Officials Aren't Enforcing Laws On Portland Drivers Coming Here

Portland cab drivers who venture into Vancouver to pick up passengers can be charged with a criminal misdemeanor, punishable by 30 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. But the city doesn't enforce many of its taxi regulations, some of which date to 1957.

Disabled Could Play On This Field; House Bill Includes Money to Pay for Special Baseball Field

OLYMPIA -- Buried on the last page of the House capital budget is a $57,000 expenditure that could give a boost to plans for construction of a handicapped-friendly baseball field in Clark County. If approved by the House and Senate, the money will pay for the Miracle League of Southwest Washington to develop site plans and get permits for an $800,000 rubberized ball field at the Harmony Sports Complex in east Vancouver.

Crisis Seen As Boon to Farms; Ag Official Urges Growers to Make Hay On Energy Issue

SPOKANE -- Energy sources grown on farms offer an exciting rural economic opportunity, a Bush administration agriculture official said Monday, but he urged farmers to find local sources of money, rather than relying on federal subsidies. Tom Dorr, U.S. Department of Agriculture undersecretary for rural development, said the administration's energy policy encourages less dependence on foreign oil, opening windows of opportunity to farmers who grow crops to make biodiesel, ethanol and other ene...

Fire Report: Crews Get a Balky Cat to Safety Amid Smoke; Homeowners' Son Gets Dog Out After House Catches Fire

Simon the cat has Vancouver firefighters to thank for saving his fur, but he did not seem too grateful Monday afternoon. A fire at his masters' home at 6918 Topeka Lane in the North Wood neighborhood did $25,000 worth of damage, said Jim Flaherty, firefighter-spokesman for the Vancouver Fire Department.

State Intervenes in Farm Labor Issue; Officials Move to Help Growers Cope with What Could Be Worker Shortage

YAKIMA -- The state office charged with matching farmworkers with farm jobs is hitting the fields -- literally -- in a new effort to better understand growers' labor needs. The project comes none too soon for some farmers who are growing increasingly wary about the potential for a worker shortage this year.