City Info Weekly - 2009/02/04 (Archive)

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City of Longview recognizes the importance of “National Burn Week” February 1 - 7

The City of Longview recognizes and supports the efforts of the State Fire Marshals Office to remind residents about the importance of “National Burn Week” February 1 – 7.  Burn injuries are the second leading cause of death in the United States next to motor vehicle accidents.  State Fire Marshal Michael Matlick says, “In Washington state children and seniors are at the highest risk for scald and burn injuries. Burn injuries are often a result of the victim’s own actions.  Most accidents happen in and around the kitchen area of the home and could be reduced by taking some simple precautionary measures.  Anyone who is responsible for a child's safety including parents, grandparents, babysitters, and older siblings must have a basic understanding of fire and burn risks, especially in the kitchen.”  Longview Fire Marshal Jim Kambeitz adds, “Education and vigilance are the keys to keeping your family safe from fire, and preventing fires is YOUR job.” 
More information:  For additional fire safety tips, visit the Office of the State Fire Marshal webpage at http://www.wsp.wa.gov/fire/firemars.htm or the City of Longview’s fire pages at www.mylongview.com/fire.

Cowlitz Reads – One Book 2009 distributes free books

While supplies last, free copies of Molly Gloss’s The Hearts of Horses are available at the Kelso and Longview Public Libraries.  The Hearts of Horses, Molly’s fourth novel, is the moving tale of a young woman gently breaking horses for several ranchers in northeastern Oregon in the winter of 1917.  In a story not soon forgotten, the book also addresses the themes of war, alcoholism, illness, death, and commitment to the land and a sometimes lonely, often harsh way of life.  Discussions of the book will be held at the Kelso and Longview Public Libraries on Feb. 23, and at Kalama Public Library on Feb. 24.  All discussions will begin at 7 p.m. in the evening.  On Mar. 5, the Cowlitz County Historical Society will be presenting a program about Cowlitz County during WWI which will touch many of the same issues raised in The Hearts of Horses.  Molly Gloss will be appearing at Lower Columbia College on Mar. 9 from 3- 4:30 p.m. for a writing workshop in the Admissions center, Room 143, and at 7 p.m. in the Rose Center Auditorium for a reading.
More information:  Contact the Longview Public Library at 442-5307.

Reporting Potholes

With winter weather finally starting to fade, we are entering “pothole season.”  Residents are encouraged to report potholes by calling the Longview Street Division at 442-5620.  Potholes occur when a portion of the road material has broken away, leaving a hole.  Most of our winter potholes are caused by the freeze/thaw cycle and water that accumulates under the road surface.  Once a pothole forms, it can grow through continued removal of broken chunks of pavement. If a pothole fills with water the growth may be accelerated, as the water 'washes away' loose particles of road surface as vehicles pass. Potholes can grow to many feet in width, though they usually only become a few inches deep, at most.  In 2008, the City’s Street Division used 5.4 tons of cold-mix asphalt to repair potholes.  Some of the cold mix patches are removed at a later date and replaced with permanent hot asphalt patch.
More information:  To report a pothole, contact the City’s Street Division at 442-5620.  To learn more about potholes, visit the Street Division pages. 
http://www.mylongview.com/publicworks/StreetMaintMenu.htm#potholes

Economic Development Opportunities

The City of Longview administers a below-market-rate, variable-term-loan program called the “Revolving Loan Fund” to assist new and expanding industrial and commercial businesses.  The purpose of the fund is to create new jobs, strengthen the city’s and region’s economies, encourage revitalization of downtown Longview, and encourage development of the City’s Mint Farm Industrial Park and other industrial parks.  Projects must be within or immediately adjacent to Longview city limits. Funds are to be used for fixed assets for land, buildings, new construction, reconstruction, expansion and modernization, and acquisition of new and/or used equipment. Loans can range from $10,000 to $150,000, with an average of $50,000. Larger loans will be considered on a case-by-case basis.  Other restrictions may apply.  To learn more, see our informational brochure.
More information:  Longview City Manager Bob Gregory or Assistant City Manager David Campbell at 442.5004, Steve Harvey of Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Council of Governments at 577.3041, Revolving Loan Fund staff consultant at 423.5888, or Ted Sprague of the Cowlitz Economic Development Council at 423.9921.