Ten years after adopting catchy slogan, police warn to buckle up

Wednesday, May 16th, 2012, 11:21am

VANCOUVER, Wash. -- When the primary seat belt law went into effect in June of 2002, approximately 82 percent of Washington drivers wore seat belts. Today we celebrate a seat belt use rate of 97.5, marking the seventh consecutive year of more than 95 percent of Washingtonians buckling up.

The medical costs of an unbuckled motorist average $11,000 more per collision than those who buckle up according to data from Harborview Injury Prevention Research Center. After the adoption of the Click it or Ticket project, with the primary seat belt law enforcement, the number of traffic deaths dropped from 658 in 2002 to 455 in 2011 (preliminary data WTSC).

"Ten years ago we hoped that we could make an impact on the number of traffic fatalities if we could increase seat belt use," said Dr. Beth Ebel, Director of the Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center and University of Washington Associate Professor of Pediatrics. "Now we have one of the highest seat belt use rates in the nation. We have prevented thousands of serious injuries and deaths. Buckling up is the routine."

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Share scores award for Backpack Program

Submitted by KATU Communities Staff

Wednesday, May 16th, 2012, 8:20am

VANCOUVER, Wash. -- Officials from Share announced their organization was selected to receive the 2012 Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA) Community Leadership Award for the Columbia River Region.

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Household hazardous waste collection event set for Saturday

Submitted by KATU Communities Staff

Tuesday, May 15th, 2012, 4:07pm

WASHOUGAL, Wash. -- Residents throughout Clark County will have a dozen opportunities to safely dispose of household hazardous waste, block foam and unwanted electronics by dropping them off at collection events.

The upcoming event is set for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the East County Fire & Rescue Station 91 (Fern Prairie), 600 N.E. 267th Ave.

Household hazardous waste
Includes pesticides, paints, solvents, batteries, thinners, motor oil, antifreeze and cleaners. Look for signal words, such as poison, danger, warning, caution or flammable.

Accepted: Most household hazardous wastes, but no commercial or industrial waste.
Not accepted: Explosives, ammunition, biological materials or business-generated hazardous waste. Call Clark County Environmental Services, 360-397-2121 ext. 4352, for information on where to properly dispose of these materials.

Block foam
Accepted: Clean and bagged foam from households.
Not accepted: Plastic-wrapped yellow urethane foam, hot tub covers, packaging peanuts or foam from businesses.

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Vancouver man's stint on Wheel of Fortune airs Wednesday

Submitted by KATU Communities Staff

Tuesday, May 15th, 2012, 3:47pm

Vancouver man's stint on Wheel of Fortune airs Wednesday

Vancouver resident Chad H. put together a blog about his recent stint on the game show Wheel of Fortune that came through Portland recently.

Chad went to Washington State University and he ended up applying for a spot on the show, but never really thought he would get on. But then one day, he got a letter from the game show and it changed his life.

His episode airs May 16.

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Vancouver Police launch new crime map

Submitted by KATU Communities Staff

Tuesday, May 15th, 2012, 8:11am

VANCOUVER, Wash. -- The Vancouver Police Department launched a new crime mapping tool which can allow people to access a variety of information on local crimes.

The new crime map, through Crimereports.com, allows users to search for crimes by date range, by crime type, to receive alerts when crimes occur within a specific area, to submit an anonymous tip, which goes directly to Crime Stoppers of Oregon, or view crime mapping information on an IPhone via the Crimereports.com IPhone application.

This new mapping tool provides more information and has more user friendly features than the previous crime map and allows users to select only the crimes they want to view and set up defined areas to view. Crime locations are referenced by hundred block and cross street. Information is uploaded to the map daily from Vancouver Police Department reports.

This new crime map posts information that was difficult to locate with the prior system or required the assistance of law enforcement personnel to query. The new VPD crime map provides users easy to access crime information anytime.

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Dozer Day set for this weekend in Vancouver

Submitted by KATU Communities Staff

Monday, May 14th, 2012, 10:17am

Dozer Day, which gives kids an opportunity to operate heavy construction equipment and enjoy many other excavation-related activities for less than the cost of going to the movies, is set for 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 19-20.

Under the guidance of the Nutter Foundation, Dozer Day, has grown to over 20,000 attendees and raises over $100,000 for local children's charities.

Buy tickets online.

Location: CEMEX - Fishers Quarry (directly off SR-14 at the 192nd exit. Corner of Brady Rd. and 192nd Ave.)

Email: intern2@nutterfoundation.org

Phone: 360-759-2300

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'Stamp Out Hunger' today

Submitted by KATU Communities Staff

Saturday, May 12th, 2012, 7:33am

PORTLAND, Ore. – If you’re feeling charitable, you can help "stamp out hunger" on Saturday.

“Stamp Out Hunger” is the annual food drive by the Oregon Food Bank and Oregon State Association of Letter Carriers. Postal carriers in Oregon and southwest Washington delivered 1.5 million yellow, biodegradable bags to homes this week.

If you would like to donate, simply fill the bag with non-perishable food – like canned soups, cereal and pasta – and leave it outside for your mail carrier. Items like peanut butter and tuna fish are in high demand for kids, since schools and food pantries need help with their summer lunch programs.

“Nobody raises more food in one day than letter carriers do across the country by l,” said Kevin Card, the president of the Oregon State Association of Letter Carriers. “It's that one time we can work with our customers to do something really incredible.”

The drive can bring in two million pounds of food for Oregon and southwest Washington; however, donations were down by 18 percent last year. Organizers do not know the reason.

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