Budget crunch forces Longview to cut teacher aides

Tuesday, May 15th, 2012, 3:01pm

LONGVIEW, Wash. -- More than 100 teacher aides in Longview are out of their jobs.

In fact, all the teacher aides are out of jobs.

According to a story in the Longview Daily News, the teacher aides are being told to re-apply for their positions because of cuts and restructuring.

All the aides will have to attend a job fair to re-apply and about 73 positions will be awarded based on seniority. District officials said they have to do it that way because all of the cuts are causing drastic changes to job descriptions and workoads.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Veterans Needs Drive set for Saturday in Longview

Submitted by KATU Communities Staff

Monday, May 14th, 2012, 2:44pm

LONGVIEW, Wash. -- Cowlitz AmeriCorps Network and Longview Housing Authority's Veteran Integration Program are partnering together to refurbish the Stratford Arms Apartments for a new housing project for homeless veterans.

Quite often these homeless vets come to us with just the clothing on they are wearing and need everything. To be able to have these items needed we are asking for donations the following items.

Toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, conditioner, razors, shaving cream, blankets, pillows, deodorant, bath towels, wash clothes, and body wash. The items listed above must be new.

The following items may be new or gently used: pots and pans, dishes, silverware, glasses, cooking utensils, garbage can and bags, a shower curtain and hooks, can opener, kitchen knife and cutting board, measuring cups and spoons, brooms, mops, dustpan and a utility/mop bucket.

The info

View Comments | Post a Comment

'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.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Beech Street Streetscape Improvement Project open house set for May 16

Submitted by KATU Communities Staff

Thursday, May 10th, 2012, 9:35am

LONGVIEW, Wash. -- Officials from the City of Longview are invited to a May 16 workshop to provide feedback about streetscape improvements planned along Beech Street between 21st and 28th avenues.

View Comments | Post a Comment

'It absolutely smells. I can't even describe it'

Submitted by KATU Communities Staff

Thursday, May 10th, 2012, 9:27am

LONGVIEW, Wash. – A private landfill on Mount Solo has been closed for years but it's not empty and neighbors say the smell coming from it is unbearable.

Cowlitz County wants it cleaned up, too, but the landfill owners, businessman Robert Radakovich and his son, say they can't do it, because they've declared bankruptcy.

"This mountain is beautiful, and everybody loves it. But that’s not what you want to wake up to all the time," Courtney Davis, who has spent her life on the mountain, says pointing toward the landfill. "It absolutely smells. I can't even describe it."

Health officials say the Radakovichs haven’t done the testing and upkeep to make it safe. Toxic chemicals are seeping into the water and air.

"Him and his son need to get together and they need to figure it out," Davis says. "Because they did it. They made millions of dollars. It's their responsibility."

The state will try to get what money it can from the Radakovichs and then look to the dumpers.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Longview man with windmill takes city to task over charges

Submitted by KATU Communities Staff

Wednesday, May 9th, 2012, 3:04pm

LONGVIEW, Wash. – Ken Spring of Longview says he does everything by the book.

He said all the buildings on his neatly tended property in Cowlitz County are permitted and he always tries to abide by the law.

But he also said he is willing to fight to keep a newly built, 30-foot tall windmill on his land.

“You'll find this hard to believe, but I'll die for that,” he said as the windmill spun around overhead. “I am fed up.”

The windmill, which is the old-fashioned type found on farms for centuries, is connected to a small pump that draws water out of a well as the blades turn. The water is stored in a big tank next to the windmill.

Spring said he's going to use the well water to take care of the fruit orchard on his sprawling property. He said he built it to avoid paying Longview’s expensive water and sewer bills.

Spring claims the City of Longview has no statutes covering the use of windmills and now that the windmill is working, the city is trying to charge him for $3,000 so planners can investigate how windmills might be permitted within the city.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Brickey appointed to State Electrical Board

Submitted by KATU Communities Staff

Wednesday, May 9th, 2012, 8:00am

LONGVIEW, Wash. -- Washington Governor Christine Gregoire has appointed Community Development Director John Brickey to the Washington State Electrical Board, effective July 8.

Brickey currently serves as the director of Community Development for the City of Longview.

"It is a great honor to have been selected by our Governor to serve this state as a member of the State Electrical Board," Brickey said. "I look forward to the opportunity to contribute to the electrical safety of Washington State communities."

Brickey is a 1974 graduate of Mark Morris High School. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Social and Behavioral Science from Linfield College in McMinnville, Ore.

Brickey's experience includes being a carpenter with JB Construction and a journeyman electrician for Brickey & Sons Electric. Brickey began his career with the City of Longview in 1990 where he served as the City's electrical inspector. He was appointed to Building Official in 1997, to interim director of Community Development in 2001, and as assistant director of Community Development in 2002. In 2005 he was appointed as the Community Development director.

View Comments | Post a Comment