August 12 2005

Low and Bonar PLC will sell its Ridgefield-based Bonar Plastics North America division to Promens hf, an Iceland-headquartered global rational molder. Bonar Plastics is a supplier of rationally molded products and services. Its Ridgefield facility houses the company’s North American corporate office and employs 124 workers. Bonar President John Bielby said, “The combination of Bonar Plastics and Promens will form the largest, third-party rational molder in the world.”

The deal is expected to receive approval by the end of the month.

John Jackson, a Vancouver resident and technician for Camas-based C-Tech Industries has been providing technical support at Mount Rushmore as it is cleaned using five hot-water Karcher pressure washers. Jackson is a trained Karcher technician and part of the Karcher commercial support team located in Camas. C-Tech Industries, a manufacturer of industrial pressure washers, cleaning equipment and related systems, is owned by Karcher and headquartered in Camas.

The cleaning process of the South Dakota monument featuring the heads of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln is designed to remove lichen, algae, moss and other organic stains the can speed up the corrosion of the granite stone. Germany-based Karcher is performing the cleaning as a gift to America. The process began on July 4 and will be completed this month. Mount Rushmore joins a list of monuments around the world cleaned by Karcher pressure washers, including Vatican Colonnades, the Statue of Liberty, the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, the 3,300-year-old Memnon Colossi statues in Egypt and the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro.

For the first time since about 1913, it is legal to sell liquor on Sundays in Washington. Under a new state law, liquor stores are allowed to open from noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays, a move that is expected to generate $7.3 million over the next two years, the state estimates. Of the state’s 154 privately-run contract stores, 35 applied for Sunday sales, including Washougal’s 1803 E St. location. In September, 20 of 160 state-owned stores will open on Sundays as part of an 18-month pilot project. Washington is the 33rd state to allow liquor sales seven days a week. Oregon allowed the sale of liquor on Sundays three years ago.

Nautilus Inc. reported net income of 3.3 million in the second quarter of 2005, an increase of 72.1 percent from the year-ago period. Earnings per share were 10 cents, versus 6 cents. Net sales grew 29.3 percent to $129.6 million. Results do not include the recently-completed acquisition of PEARL iZUMi. The company expects to add $15 million in net sales from the acquisition in the third quarter.

The Vancouver-based maker of health and fitness products also announced a quarterly dividend of 10 cents per common share payable Sept. 9.

The Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce voted unanimously to oppose Initiative 912, which on the November ballot would give voters the chance to repeal the 9.5 cent gas tax increase approved by the legislature and signed into law by Gov. Christine Gregoire. The first 3 cents of the gas tax increase went into effect in July, and the rest is scheduled to be phased in over the next few years: three cents in 2006, two cents in 2007 and 1.5 cents in 2008. The program is expected to raise $8.5 billion for transportation over 16 years. The gas tax includes $240 million for transportation projects in Clark County.

“If we are going to continue to grow our job base, we must support a good transportation system,” said GVCC President John McKibbin.

Vancouver-based Luepke Florist was recently honored at the annual FTD convention in Grapevine, Texas, for 75 years of FTD membership. Owners Maria and Alan Adler accepted the award presented by CEO Michael Soenen and spokesperson Merlin Olsen at an awards luncheon on July 23.

Luepke Florist has operated in the same location, 1300 Washington St.in downtown Vancouver, since 1909 and has been a member of FTD since 1930. The shop can be found online at www.luepkeflorist.com or by calling 360-693-3647.

An amendment to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, the Small Business Health Fairness Act offers more access to health care for small businesses by allowing them to band together to gain purchase plans more cheaply through the formation of Association Health Plans. The plan is supported by such groups as the National Federation of Independent Business, and opposed by patient advocacy groups and others who say the AHP’s exemptions for state regulations will lead to fraud and lower standards of basic coverage. While this legislation has passed the House several times, it has not yet made it past the Senate health committee.

The Marshall Leadership Award Committee is seeking nominations for the 17th annual General George C. Marshall Public Leadership Award. The annual award is presented by the Bank of Clark County as one of the many Celebrate Freedom programs organized by the Vancouver National Historic Reserve Trust.

To qualify for the award, nominees must be Clark County residents, 35 years of age or under, and have completed a four-year college degree.

Selection is based on demonstrated leadership ability, commitment to public service, academic achievement and potential for an ongoing active role in public service, qualities that emulate U.S. General George C. Marshall, the award’s namesake.

The award recipient will receive the opportunity to tour the Marshall Foundation in Lexington, Va., and visit Colonial Williamsburg and Washington, D.C. The award winner will also meet with local elected officials and receive a scholarship to participate in the Leadership Clark County Program, a nine-month course designed to enhance public leadership skills.

Nominations can be submitted by individuals or organizations, and must be received by 5 p.m., Friday, Aug. 19, 2005. Nomination forms are accessible through the Vancouver National Historic Reserve Trust’s Web site at www.vnhrt.org, or may be picked up at the Gen. O.O. Howard House, 750 Anderson St.in Vancouver. Please return completed nomination forms to the Trust offices.

Vancouver’s Family Wellness Center, located at 1000 S.E. Tech Center Driveis celebrating ten years in business this month with a Be Well, Be Involved! Fair at the center on Aug. 13.

Dr. Susan Zulke Hughes opened the Family Wellness Center in 1995. The center now has a staff of 30, including five physicians, all board certified by the American Academy of Family Physicians. Hughes in a graduate of the University of Illinois Medical School and completed her residency at Michigan State University. She has been recognized for her medical work in Central America.