The Columbian

Local Man Charged in Arizona Killing; Ex-Marine Accused in 1985 Yuma Murder-for-Hire

A local businessman has been extradited to Arizona for his alleged role in a 1985 murder. Rick Kosterow, 47, of Ridgefield faces two counts of first- degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in the shooting death of Yuma, Ariz., resident Jimmie Ferrara, 65.

Shooting, Stabbing Punctuate End of Fourth; Victims Sustain Serious Injuries; Suspects in Police Custody

A shooting and a stabbing marred the end of the Fourth of July holiday in Vancouver. A Vancouver man, 22, was arrested after a July 4 shooting at 2011 Brandt Road. Wesley K. Riche Jr. faces a first-degree assault charge in connection with the shooting, which occurred at the Villas at Bridge Creek apartment complex.

Police Report:

Fireworks blamed for house fires The calls had calmed down for the Vancouver Fire Department by about midnight on the Fourth of July.

Corrections

Another movie for Jackson: Photos of Richard Lee Jackson and brother Jonathan Jackson, members of the band Enation, were misidentified on page D1 of the Life section in the Bits 'n' Pieces column. Fun, fun, fun: Actor and musician John Stamos once played Jesse Katsopolis on the sitcom "Full House." An item in the Bits 'n' Pieces column on page D1 of the Monday Life section provided an incorrect name for the character.

Beacon Rock Open Early for Technical Climbers

SKAMANIA -- Beacon Rock State Park is open again for climbing, about a month earlier than normal. The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission normally excludes climbers from large areas of the park until the middle of July to protect the nesting areas of peregrin falcons.

Summer in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest - Snow Still Lingers in High Country

Two weeks ago, when Sandy LaFave first laid eyes on Takhlakh Lake, several feet of hard-packed snow covered the campground. A week later, LaFave and a half-dozen others from Northwest Land Management, were readying the restrooms and picnic tables at the most scenic campground in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.

Health Agency has New Plan, Name

Its new name shows a new focus for an agency that deals in septic tanks and contaminated milk, toxic gas and infant nutrition. It's now called Clark County Public Health.

Gregoire Visits for Town Hall Meet Tonight

Gov. Chris Gregoire will be in Vancouver tonight for a town hall meeting to find out what's on the minds of her constituents in Southwest Washington. The meeting is at Discovery Middle School, 800 E. 40th St. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m., with the meeting at 7 p.m.

Project Lifesaver Lives Up to Name; Police Find First Missing Person with Tracking Bracelet

The search for Bong Soon O had exactly the kind of happy ending Clark County Sheriff's Sgt. Craig Hogman would like to see for every missing person. The 87-year-old woman with Alzheimer's disease was wearing a Project Lifesaver tracking bracelet when she wandered away from her La Center home on May 21. Her family looked for her for two hours, then notified police. Using equipment designed to detect people wearing the wristbands, police found the missing woman in less than 15 minutes.

Health Agency Upgrades Its Location, Technology; Director Envisions User-Friendly Services

Clark County Public Health already has taken a step forward in infrastructure, moving into the new Center for Community Health at 1601 E. Fourth Plain Blvd. However, the infrastructure also includes more technology to help the public, as well as staff members.

Doctors and Nurses at Ohsu Can Be Sued

PORTLAND Individual doctors and nurses at Oregon Health & Science University can be sued despite a liability cap for state agencies that protects OHSU, an appeals court ruled Wednesday. Sari Clarke had sued OHSU after her son, Jordaan Clarke, now 8, suffered permanent brain damage at 3 months when a breathing tube became dislodged in the recovery room following successful open heart surgery in May 1998.

Shooting Claims Life of Single Dad

TACOMA (AP) A man described as a devoted single father and diligent worker was shot to death in a fight less than a day after moving in with his girlfriend, whom he planned to marry. Police were searching for a man in a white Ford Crown Victoria or light blue Lincoln sedan with a police-style spotlight described by witnesses at the scene of the fight early Tuesday in the city's north end that ended in the death of Jason Outler, 31, Officer Tracy Dawn Conaway said.

Puget Sound Gets Project Funds

OLYMPIA, Wash. Nearly $3 million will go to 14 conservation projects around Puget Sound as a result of a settlement with an international shipping company that violated pollution laws in the state. Part of the money $1.7 million is from the last year's settlement between the U.S. Department of Justice and one of the world's largest shipping lines, which violated pollution laws in the state in 2001. The projects, announced Wednesday, will also receive nearly $1.3 million in matching federal...

Hunt for Missing State Official Suspended

HOODSPORT (AP) The official search for a missing state pension official in Olympic National Park has been suspended after 10 days of fruitless efforts by dozens of backwoods professionals and volunteers. After failing to find any sign of Gilbert Gilman, 47, deputy director of state Department of Retirement Systems, "we've reached the limits of what we can do," park ranger Michael J. Danisiewicz said in a park statement announcing an end to the effort Tuesday night.

Army Files Charges Against War Objector

FORT LEWIS (AP) -- The Army filed three charges Wednesday, including conduct unbecoming an officer, against a lieutenant who refused to deploy to Iraq last month because he believes the war there is illegal. Military lawyers calculated that 1st Lt. Ehren Watada, 28, could face nearly eight years in prison and a dishonorable discharge if convicted, said his attorney, Eric Seitz of Honolulu. The other charges are missing movement and contempt toward officials.

Blaze Damages Noaa Pier, Boats, Buildings; No Injuries Reportedat Lake Union Location

SEATTLE -- A fire scorched two National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration piers, four of the agency's boats and two NOAA buildings on the east side of Lake Union early Wednesday, hours after an Independence Day fireworks show ended. Six firefighters suffered minor injuries. No one else was hurt.

Land Deal to Expand Internment Camp Site; Transfer Designed to Aid Minidoka Visitor Services

BOISE, Idaho -- The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has agreed to a proposal to transfer 10 acres of land in southern Idaho to the National Park Service to expand visitor services at a site recognizing a World War II prison camp for Japanese Americans. Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, is sponsoring legislation to convey two parcels owned by the federal water management agency to the Park Service, which manages the nearby 73-acre Minidoka Internment National Monument.