City Info Weekly - 2009/03/25 (Archive)

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Consolidation topic of discussion on March 25

A Government Summit to discuss the possibility of merging government services will take place on Wednesday, March 25 at 6 p.m. in the Cowlitz County Event Center at 1900 Seventh Ave. in Longview.  Government officials from across Cowlitz County will meet to examine how government services could be combined to save money — including possibly merging Longview and Kelso.  The Government Summit is hosted by the Cowlitz County commissioners.  Representatives from cities, ports, diking districts and fire districts also will be asked how government can be more efficient in Cowlitz County.  The meeting will be held in a public setting, but public testimony will not be taken.

More information:  Contact Cowlitz County Commissioners office at 577-3020.

Longview Recreation & Cowlitz on the Move Receives $30,000 Grant to Combat Obesity & Chronic Diseases

Longview Parks & Recreation Department and Cowlitz on the Move-Healthy Lifestyles Coalition has received an “Action Communities for Health, Innovation, and EnVironmental changE (ACHIEVE) grant from the National Parks & Recreation Association.  Longview’s local health coalition plans to use this grant to work to improve the health, quality of life, and livability of our community.  The City of Longview Parks & Recreation Department is a partner with Cowlitz on the Move, the county health coalition.  Cowlitz on the Move has been successful in enhancing physical activity, healthy nutrition, and tobacco cessation through trails planning, nutrition and physical activity workshops, health walks, health fairs, get fit week, and Playful City USA play day.

More information:  The Healthy Lifestyles Coalition meets on the second Tuesday of every month at 3 p.m. in the Cowlitz County Health Department, 1952 9th Ave. in Longview.  Please call 501.1237 for more information. 
http://www.cowlitzonthemove.org

Police online auction of unclaimed property begins soon

The Longview Police Department will soon be auctioning unclaimed property through the Internet.  The web site at www.propertyroom.com will be conducting the auction of Longview’s unclaimed property like it does for police departments across the nation.  The process is a much more profitable way to dispose of unclaimed properties.  A complete list of Longview’s auction items is available at the Longview Police Department through April 10, 2009, or viewable online on the City’s web site at http://www.mylongview.com/police/auction.html.  Claims against property listed on the auction block must be made in writing to the Longview Police Department prior to April 10, 2009.  Interested persons may view the auction items and submit their bids by logging onto www.propertyroom.com on or after April 15, 2009.

More information:  http://www.mylongview.com/police/auction.html

Recycling Drive continues through the end of March

The response to Longview’s community recycling drive at City Hall has been wonderful!  Keep those plastic bags and items for the Humane Society coming.  To help further Longview City Council’s initiative #11 of “encouraging the reduction of the carbon footprint in the community,” residents were invited to help City employees in two different “recycling” drives at City Hall.  The first drive is for collecting plastic grocery sacks for students from Olympic and St. Helen’s elementary schools through March 31 to help raise money for playground equipment.  In addition, employees are also collecting newspapers, clean but old bedding (no sheets), bedspreads, and towels for the Humane Society of Cowlitz County to use in their kennels.  They can use anything that will help keep the animals off the cold concrete.  So far, almost three 90-gallon tubs of plastic grocery bags have been dropped off, as well as two 90-gallon tubs of newspapers and bedding.  Folks who want to contribute to both of these worthy causes can still do so by dropping off their items in the lobby of Longview City Hall, 1525 Broadway, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Containers for the items are clearly marked. 

More information:  Any questions about the recycling events can be directed to Susie Meyers at 442-5022.

Captain Don Barnd Retires March 30

Longview Police Captain Don Barnd is retiring on March 30, 2009.  Don began his law enforcement career as an explorer for Clark County Sheriff’s office. He then worked as a dispatcher at Clark County Sheriff’s office while attending college.  Don began working as a Longview police officer on March 1, 1976 and has completed over 33 years of service to the City of Longview.  Don quickly rose through the ranks from officer to sergeant in 1981, and then to captain in 1996.  During his time with Longview Police, Don has been a patrol officer, detective, administrative sergeant, patrol sergeant, detective sergeant, commander of both patrol and investigations, and commander of the Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Narcotics Task Force.

More information:  Learn more about Longview’s Police Department at www.mylongview.com/police.

Change your Smoke Detector Battery

Home smoke alarms are one of the best safety features you can buy and install to protect your family and your home.  In the event of a fire, smoke alarms provide an early warning signal.  Check your smoke alarms regularly to ensure they work properly.  When you change your clocks during the time change, take the opportunity to change your smoke alarm detector battery.

More information:  View the television commercial running now through mid-April.