August 26 2005

Boise Cascade Co. had sales of $1.5 billion in its second quarter, flat with the year-ago period. The Boise-based company with operations in Vancouver posted a net loss of $14.5 million, versus an income of $46.5 million. The company reported special items charges of $51.9 million during the quarter, and the year ago period reflected income related to OfficeMax Inc.’s 47 percent interest in Voyager Panel. Office Max is the predecessor of Boise Cascade.

Vancouver-based GWI Software, a provider of IT help desk/customer service applications, announced that July new business sales figures for its flagship product, c.Support, are up 56 percent over the same period in 2004.

GWI Software reports more than 2,500 installations in organizations located worldwide, GWI’s products are used by companies such as Panasonic, State of Missouri, Philips Semiconductors, LensCrafters and Telesat Canada.

Columbia Vista Corp., a Vancouver-based producer of Douglas fir products for national and international markets, will be recognized by the State of Washington on Sept. 1 for excellence in plant safety. The company has achieved status in the Occupational Health and Safety Administration’s Voluntary Protection Program, which is designed to recognize and promote effective safety and health management. VPP participants are a select group of facilities that have designed and implemented outstanding health and safety programs.

Columbia Vista Corp. is the only Clark County company to achieve VPP status and one of 1,343 nationwide. Government officials will be on hand to congratulate the company at a 2:30 p.m. ceremony.

The executive committee of the CREDC has officially announced it opposes 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.

“The current transportation package delivered all that the community asked for: safety improvements, enhanced freight and commute mobility and replacement of aging infrastructure in the I-5 corridor all at a modest cost,” said CREDC president Bart Phillips. “It’s about as close to perfect as a political process can be.”

The Free Clinic of Southwest Washington has introduced a mobile dental clinic. Services will be provided by volunteer dentists, hygienists and dental assistants with an emphasis on serving children from a specially equipped 31-foot Winnebago customized by ADI of Tualatin, Ore. The effort was led by Dr. Gene Sakai DMD and a group of community members. The Free Clinic is looking for dental professionals to support the program. For more information, call the clinic at 360-313-1390.

Following two years of study, concept development and public involvement, the Environmental Assessment for the Interstate 5/State Route 502 Interchange Project is now complete and available for final public review and comments. The new interchange, connecting I-5 to SR502, is designed to ease congestion and improve safety along I-5, improve safety at the Northeast 179th Street interchange and help improve access to Battle Ground and north Clark County. The public comment period for the Environmental Assessment starts on Aug.17 and continues through Sept. 16. An open house has been scheduled to present the completed Environmental Assessment to the public for review, questions and comments from 6 p.m. to 8p.m. on Thursday Sept. 1 in the Battle Ground High School cafeteria at 300 West Main Street.