The Spokesman-Review from Spokane, Washington • 14

Page B2 Thursday, June 3, 2004 The Spokesman-Review REGION Man allegedly hits, runs, crashes Public rejects college funding proposal Students, staff decry focus on graduation numbers Instead of enrollment figures Its been a consistent condemnation. As much as I want to deny that it's the truth. James Sulton executive director A bound on Highway 2," Hudson said. "He lost control and went off the nght side of the roadway where his vehicle rolled. 1 Gardner suffered a head injury and was transported to Deaconess Medical Center.

Velez also suffered tnjunes and was transported to Sacred Heart Medical Center. Both were wearing seat belts at the tune of the crash, according to a WSP press release Gardner could face a charge of felony hit and run if tests confirm he was under the influence of alcohol, Hudson said. The troopers who amved first to the scene believed (Gardner) was intoxicated, Hudson said. From staff reports A Deer Park man fled from the scene of a collision Wednesday morning, but his pickup traveled only a mile before it left the roadway, hit a light pole and rolled, according to the ash-ington State Patrol. Neil R.

Gardner, 54, was driving his Toyota pickup southbound on U.S. Highway 2 at 6.41 a.m. when he struck a 1993 Subaru Legacy station wagon driven by 58-year-old Sandra G. Velez of Elk, Trooper Brad Hudson said. Velez had stopped at the intersection of State Route 206 when Gardners pickup struck the rear of her car, I ludson said.

Gardner then continued south- students; freshman classes would be ignored. Transfer students have a much higher retention rate than freshman, so colleges would be tempted to focus more efforts on transfer students, which would still hamper enrollment for traditional students, Jordan said. Neil Beaver, who works for state Sen. Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, explained that his meandering route though college helped determine his career path. As the son of a longtime ranch hand, Beaver said, I never thought Id go to college.

He went on to attend three different community colleges and sign up for four majors at Western Washington University before finding a career direction. I was looking at college more as a life experience than becoming a top engineer, Beaver said. Gary Livingston, chancellor for Community Colleges of Spokane, said 60 percent of his systems students stop with either an associates degree or a training certification. The proposals do not consider the non-traditional student, he said. The board is left with the task of creating a model with an understanding that not everyone will be completely satisfied, Sulton said.

The HEC board is scheduled to deliver its final 2004 Strategic Master Plan for Higher Education July 22 in Cheney. Stay tuned. Weve got to put something on the table," Sulton said. By Rob McDonald Staff writer Washington states leading higher education official walked away from the microphone at the conclusion of a public hearing in a Riverpoint campus auditorium Wednesday and said, Now what? James Sulton executive director of the state Higher Education Coordinating board of public colleges, had just listened as a parade of college officials, educators and former students from Eastern Washington gave a resounding rejection of state proposals to increase the number of students who pass through college. One of the least popular ideas was to fund schools based on the number of graduates rather than on enrollment figures.

Its been a consistent condemnation, said Sulton after the three-hour hearing on the proposals. As much as I want to deny that, its the truth. The Legislature provided $100 million less for colleges down from $2.5 billion to $2.4 billion -in the last biennium. Theres no reason to expect an increase in state funds anytime soon, officials said. Weve got to make the system work different- ly, Sulton said.

The Higher Education Coordination board proposed state policy changes to increase by 20 percent the number of students who earn college degrees and complete job training each year. The changes are inspired by the inevitable arrival of the states largest freshman college classes, expected in 2008. During the hearing, students and officials from the community colleges and Eastern Washington University stressed the needs of nontraditional students who often take longer to finish programs. I wish we had heard more about how to do that, Sulton said. What Sulton and HEC board members heard were numerous reasons to question their proposals.

Eastern Washington University President Stephen Jordan offered a hypothetical situation if colleges were given incentives to graduate more WORK SERVICE Oi CLEANING 81 Years Servicing What We Sell anner Furnace Fuel CALL US1535-1711 1-800-570-2897 1 EgB; www.bannerfuel.com Tom Grant will teach at college Journalist accepts position at Pennsylvania school Great price. Great gift. Great for dads and grads GET OUR BEST ADD-A-LINE VALUE WITH DOUBLE THE COVERAGE AND IMPROVED SIGNAL STRENGTH. GSM AMERICA FROM WIRELESS. SHARED ANYTIME MINUTES 1050 2 phone lines for 34Lo.ea.

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Grant received national awards for journalism while working as a reporter for KREM-TV and KXLY-TV before accepting the job of editor of The Local Planet, an alternative weekly, in 2001. During his time at KXLY-TV and at the Local Planet, he worked with the staff of Camas Magazine, an online publication, to produce stories about River Park Square. Last spring, Grant entered the race for Spokane mayor. With a populist campaign that relied on volunteers rather than money, he finished second in the September primary which ousted incumbent John Powers. Grant ultimately lost to Jim West in the November general election by just under 3,000 votes.

After the election, Grant worked briefly for KAYU-TV, the local Fox Network affiliate. He and the rest of the news staff were terminated this spring when that station contracted with KHQ-TV to produce its newscast. In a press release announcing his departure, Grant thanked his campaign volunteers and said he hated to leave Spokane. He said he was forced into the decision because of limited opportunities for independent-minded LIMITED TIME OFFER! il C3 Wireless Color flip phone Sugg retail price $119 Instant activation credit with 2-year agreement Sales tax applies CALL 1 800 SWITCH ME CLICK aftwireless.com VISIT any Wireless store Wireless Stores Gilt Cards available al most Wireless alorea perfect tor any occaslonl RICHLAND 107 Columbia Pt Drlva YAKIMA 901 Yakima Ave 3 509 248-7194 MOSES LAKE 601 Pioneer Way (hit J) 5U9 765 9200 SPOKANE 6117 Division (Cost Plus Ptm) b09 487-7089 SPOKANE VALLEY 15)19 Indiana Ave (Market Point II) 509 921-0132 WASHINGTON IDAHO Task forces nab fugitive, girlfriend From staff reports The Eastern Washington Joint Fugitive Task Force got its man Tuesday night, but it also arrested the fugitives girlfriend on an unrelated felony drug charge. Spokane County Sheriffs Deputy Kns Thompson and Deputy U.S.

Marshal Ralph Brock were in Spokane Valley on Tuesday looking for Lee A. Jack-son, who is a 31-ycar-old man wanted on a federal probation warrant stemming from a robbery conviction. While they waited for Jackson, they saw his girlfriend, 41 -year-old Tina L. Glidewell, driving Jacksons silver Nissan in the area of 7100 E. Ninth, sheriffs spokesman Cpl.

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