Ten years after adopting catchy slogan, police warn to buckle up

VANCOUVER, Wash. -- When the primary seat belt law went into effect in June of 2002, approximately 82 percent of Washington drivers wore seat belts. Today we celebrate a seat belt use rate of 97.5, marking the seventh consecutive year of more than 95 percent of Washingtonians buckling up.

The medical costs of an unbuckled motorist average $11,000 more per collision than those who buckle up according to data from Harborview Injury Prevention Research Center. After the adoption of the Click it or Ticket project, with the primary seat belt law enforcement, the number of traffic deaths dropped from 658 in 2002 to 455 in 2011 (preliminary data WTSC).

"Ten years ago we hoped that we could make an impact on the number of traffic fatalities if we could increase seat belt use," said Dr. Beth Ebel, Director of the Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center and University of Washington Associate Professor of Pediatrics. "Now we have one of the highest seat belt use rates in the nation. We have prevented thousands of serious injuries and deaths. Buckling up is the routine."

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Share scores award for Backpack Program

VANCOUVER, Wash. -- Officials from Share announced their organization was selected to receive the 2012 Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA) Community Leadership Award for the Columbia River Region.

Household hazardous waste collection event set for Saturday

WASHOUGAL, Wash. -- Residents throughout Clark County will have a dozen opportunities to safely dispose of household hazardous waste, block foam and unwanted electronics by dropping them off at collection events.

The upcoming event is set for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the East County Fire & Rescue Station 91 (Fern Prairie), 600 N.E. 267th Ave.

Household hazardous waste
Includes pesticides, paints, solvents, batteries, thinners, motor oil, antifreeze and cleaners. Look for signal words, such as poison, danger, warning, caution or flammable.

Accepted: Most household hazardous wastes, but no commercial or industrial waste.
Not accepted: Explosives, ammunition, biological materials or business-generated hazardous waste. Call Clark County Environmental Services, 360-397-2121 ext. 4352, for information on where to properly dispose of these materials.

Block foam
Accepted: Clean and bagged foam from households.
Not accepted: Plastic-wrapped yellow urethane foam, hot tub covers, packaging peanuts or foam from businesses.

'I got a boat on top of my leg'

VANCOUVER, Wash. – A boat barreling down on you is not a sight that you expect to see while at the beach. But that is what happened to a teenager who was hit on the shore of the Columbia River.

Witnesses said the boat was going at least 30 miles an hour when it came about 25 feet onto the shore.

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Dozer Day set for this weekend in Vancouver

Dozer Day, which gives kids an opportunity to operate heavy construction equipment and enjoy many other excavation-related activities for less than the cost of going to the movies, is set for 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 19-20.

Under the guidance of the Nutter Foundation, Dozer Day, has grown to over 20,000 attendees and raises over $100,000 for local children's charities.

Buy tickets online.

Location: CEMEX - Fishers Quarry (directly off SR-14 at the 192nd exit. Corner of Brady Rd. and 192nd Ave.)

Email: intern2@nutterfoundation.org

Phone: 360-759-2300

'Stamp Out Hunger' today

PORTLAND, Ore. – If you’re feeling charitable, you can help "stamp out hunger" on Saturday.

“Stamp Out Hunger” is the annual food drive by the Oregon Food Bank and Oregon State Association of Letter Carriers. Postal carriers in Oregon and southwest Washington delivered 1.5 million yellow, biodegradable bags to homes this week.

If you would like to donate, simply fill the bag with non-perishable food – like canned soups, cereal and pasta – and leave it outside for your mail carrier. Items like peanut butter and tuna fish are in high demand for kids, since schools and food pantries need help with their summer lunch programs.

“Nobody raises more food in one day than letter carriers do across the country  by l,” said Kevin Card, the president of the Oregon State Association of Letter Carriers. “It's that one time we can work with our customers to do something really incredible.”

The drive can bring in two million pounds of food for Oregon and southwest Washington; however, donations were down by 18 percent last year. Organizers do not know the reason.

Household hazardous waste collection event set for Saturday

WASHOUGAL, Wash. -- Residents throughout Clark County will have a dozen opportunities to safely dispose of household hazardous waste, block foam and unwanted electronics by dropping them off at collection events.

The upcoming event is set for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Washougal Department of Public Works Shop (2201 C Street in Washougal).

Household hazardous waste
Includes pesticides, paints, solvents, batteries, thinners, motor oil, antifreeze and cleaners. Look for signal words, such as poison, danger, warning, caution or flammable.

Accepted: Most household hazardous wastes, but no commercial or industrial waste.
Not accepted: Explosives, ammunition, biological materials or business-generated hazardous waste. Call Clark County Environmental Services, 360-397-2121 ext. 4352, for information on where to properly dispose of these materials.

Block foam
Accepted: Clean and bagged foam from households.
Not accepted: Plastic-wrapped yellow urethane foam, hot tub covers, packaging peanuts or foam from businesses.

Electronics