Klog

The Longview City Council is holding off on taking action on a proposed change to the city’s residential zoning code, after it was pointed out that there may have been a violation of the Open Meetings Law to get the issue on last night’s agenda. Council member Dennis Weber brought the issue up, noting that a majority of the Council had signed off on Ken Botero’s proposal to revise the zoning code to allow off-site produce sales.  City Attorney Marilyn Haan says that there did appear to have been a possible violation; Botero had brought the issue forward, and three other Council members signed on in support. Haan says that there didn’t have to be a physical meeting of all four Council members at once, but getting to a point where a majority of the Council signed on prior to a public meeting shows that a decision was made outside of a public meeting. She also says that someone would have to file a complaint in Superior Court, and that if a judge determined that there was a violation, then the Council members would be subject to a fine. Mayor Pro Tem Don Jensen, who was one of those who’d signed on, says that while there was no intent to conduct an improper meeting, it did appear that one had taken place. He took the matter off the agenda, to be re-submitted under proper channels. Jensen says that they want to maintain an appearance of fairness, so it made sense to remove the issue from last night’s agenda.

Mayor Kurt Anagnostou was absent from last night’s Council meeting, after he went to Portland for emergency eye surgery. Anagnostou has been dealing with a parasitic eye infection, caused by contaminated contact lens solution. Several weeks ago, he’d undergone a cornea transplant, but during an examination that was conducted earlier this week, the doctor found that the infection had not been completely killed, and that Anagnostou’s eye was once again in danger. The mayor went down to the Casey Eye Institute at Oregon Health and Science University for emergency surgery, which reportedly was a success. It’s reported that he was resting comfortably at home last night.

It’s being reported that the animal cruelty case filed against Theresa Hahn, 26, of Toledo could be coming apart. The Centralia Chronicle is reporting that a hearing is scheduled for today in Lewis County Superior Court, where it’s expected that the 20 counts of animal cruelty that had been filed will be dropped. They say that there’s an issue as to whether or not Hahn gave her permission to search her home, and defense attorneys are also asking if Deputies gave Hahn a “Ferrier warning,” letting her know that she could have refused consent for the Deputies to enter her house. Hahn was charged with 20 counts of animal cruelty when Deputies seized dogs from her home, mostly Pomeranians, in what were alleged to be inhumane conditions. Authorities say that there were more than 150 dogs on the property. One puppy died an hour after being rescued, and another had to have an eye removed because of an infection.

The 2010 Longview Park Grants were awarded at last night’s City Council meeting, splitting up $25,000 for several projects around the city. Central Youth Baseball will get $2,954 for field improvements at Archie Anderson Park. The Longview Noon Rotary will receive $10,000 for universally accessible playground surfacing and equipment at Lake Sacajawea Park. The Old West Side Neighborhood Association was awarded $2,500 for the first phase of a sidewalk replacement project at Vandercook Park. Longview Girls Softball gets $1,238 to replace safety netting over the public areas at 7th Avenue Park, and the Longview Soccer Club will receive $8,308 to help pay for irrigation systems at their fields at 7th Avenue Park. A $25,000 request from Longview Babe Ruth Baseball was rejected, because the group hadn’t secured commitments for their portion of the funding, and also hadn’t secured the location of their proposed batting cage at Roy Morse Park. The Council also approved using some left-over 2009 Park Grant funds to help pay for damage done to Western Baseball facilities at John Null Park.

The area’s newest family entertainment option opens to the public today; “Splits” opens its bowling and game center to the public, in the old Hilander Family Fun Center location at the Riverway Plaza on Kelso Drive. General Manager David Ruiz says that they want to offer “something for everyone”. Along with the bowling center that includes bumper bowling for the kids and an “adult area” with overstuffed couches and bar service, Ruiz says that they have more than 80 video games available, a “Pirates of the Caribbean”-themed black-light miniature golf course and a “Laser Frenzy” maze. They have free Wi-Fi in “The Grinder” restaurant, and 16 screens in the sports bar. “Splits” opens to the public at noon today.

The Lower Columbia College Symphonic Band presents a free concert tonight, a “Cinema Spectacular” that will feature music from classic movies. Band Director Gary Nyberg has chosen selections from Batman, Out of Africa, The Magnificent Seven, The Godfather Saga, and others. There will also be a tribute to Henry Mancini, including Moon River, Baby Elephant Walk, Peter Gunn and other selections. Don Nelson, the Manager of Fine Arts and Performing Arts for the Evergreen School District will be the featured artist, and there will also be a tribute to Pat Hanson, who recently passed away. With her husband Ken, Pat Hanson donated the Bosendorfer grand piano to Lower Columbia College. The Rose Center Rehearsal Hall is named in their honor. Tonight’s LCC Symphonic Band Concert starts at 7:30 pm in the Wollenberg Auditorium at the Rose Center for the Arts.

The 23rd annual Science Olympiad is set for tomorrow at Lower Columbia College, with teams from middle and high schools around the area competing in 23 separate events. Organizers say that this is like an “academic track meet,” with teams competing in a variety of exercises. Topics cover things like genetics, earth science, chemistry, anatomy, physics, geology, astronomy, mechanical engineering and technology. The Science Olympia runs from 8 am until 5 pm tomorrow at LCC.

Friday:

LCC’s Symphonic Band performs a “Cinema Spectacular” on Friday night in the Wollenberg Auditorium at the Rose Center for the Arts.  The concert will feature music from a number of classic movies, a tribute to Henry Mancini, and a tribute to Rose Center patron Pat Hanson.  Curtain is 7:30 pm, and admission is free.

LCC’s Center Stage production of “Eurydice” (yoo-rid-uh-see) concludees this weekend, and runs through March 13^th on the Center Stage at the Rose Center for the Arts.  Curtain is at 7:30 pm Friday and Saturday night.

The 4^th annual Empty Bowls fundraiser is planned for Friday night at McBride School in St. Helens.  This is a fundraiser for the Pacific Columbia Food Bank; guests will enjoy a communal dinner of soup and bread, eating from bowls made by local high school pottery classes.  There will also be a silent auction; the ticket price includes the bowl, the soup and the bread.

Saturday:

Longview Parks and Rec will be running the “Leprechaun Lap” on Saturday morning at Lake Sacajawea.  This is a non-competitive fun run and walk all the way around the lake, going from 9 to 11 am on Saturday.  Contact Longview Parks and Rec at 442-5400, or go on their website for registration information.

LCC hosts the 23^rd annual Southwest Washington Science Olympiad on Saturday, with teams from middle and high schools from around the region competing in 23 separate events.  The Science Olympiad runs from 8 am to 5 pm on Saturday at LCC.

There’s a sanctioned archery shoot set for Saturday at Coweeman Middle School in Kelso.  All kids from K-through-12^th grade who have completed the NASPA Archery PE program are eligible to take part, and prizes will be awarded in four divisions.  This runs from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm on Saturday at Coweeman.

There’s a benefit Poker Run on Saturday, starting at the Goble Tavern at 11 am.  All proceeds will go to help Richard “Sparky” Pogue, who continues to recover from a serious motorcycle crash, where his arm was broken in more than 20 places.  Signups start at 10 am Saturday at the Goble Tavern.

The Portland Vocal Consort performs on Saturday evening at the Longview Nazarene Church, in a concert that will feature music written by composers from the Pacific Northwest.  This gets underway at 7:30 pm Saturday night; tickets are available through the church on 15^th Avenue.

Sunday:

The California Guitar Trio performs on Sunday in the Donovan Wooley Performing Arts Center in Clatskanie, wrapping up this year’s Clatskanie Arts Commission season.  The Los Angeles-based group will perform at 3 pm on Sunday.  Tickets are available at Hump’s Restaurant and at the door.

A Nevada court hearing involving Walter Melvin McGie, 70, of Kelso that originally had been scheduled for yesterday was set aside, to be rescheduled for another day. McGie had originally been scheduled for arraignment on charges connected to a February 4th car crash, where two people were killed and eight were injured. Clark County authorities say that McGie was at the wheel of a car that careened down the entryway to the Edgewater Hotel and Casino, slamming into the front windows of the casino at a speed estimated to be in excess of 60 miles an hour. Two people in the casino were killed in the crash, while eight others were injured. It was first reported that McGie would be charged with felony reckless driving, causing death; he’s currently free after posting bail of $6,000. The Clark County District Attorney’s Office says that they have not yet filed charges in the case, so the arraignment that had been scheduled for yesterday has been cancelled. They say a summons will be issued once charges are filed in the case, but the timeline for that process hasn’t been determined.