Clark County Youth House to host art show

Island’s ‘no trespassing’ rule to be enforced

Georgia-Pacific is once again reminding the public that Ackerman Island, also known as “Sand Island,” located between Camas and Government Island in the Columbia River, is privately owned and not open to recreational boaters or campers.

The 1-mile-long island, which is owned by Georgia-Pacific, has no recreational services and is posted as no trespassing, but that hasn’t stopped people from coming to the island during the warmer weather months.

“We have received complaints from our neighbors that boaters recreating on Ackerman Island are causing noise and light disturbances at all hours of the day throughout the summer,” Georgia-Pacific spokesperson Kristi Ward said. “In addition, there has been trash and other impacts left behind on the island that our team members then have to clean up.”

Last week, Camas Georgia-Pacific team members removed two garbage dumpsters worth of items including: grills, chairs, plastics, tarps, benches, a tetherball pole with a concrete-filled tire, and four toilets, Ward added.

She said Georgia-Pacific staff and members of the Clark County Sheriff’s Marine Division “will be reminding boaters during Memorial Day weekend that Ackerman Island (does not allow) camping (or) trespassing.”

City of Washougal adopts new strategic plan

The Washougal City Council approved an updated five-year strategic plan for the City on Monday, May 8.

The plan “outlines a clear and comprehensive vision for the future of the city over the next five years,” according to a news release.

“The plan is a roadmap for progress that will guide decision-making and resource allocation to achieve the city’s vision,” the news release states. “(It) is intended to serve as a catalyst for positive change in Washougal, improving the quality of life for residents and attracting new businesses and investment.”

Developed over the course of the past year with input from community members, business leaders, and city officials, the plan incorporates feedback gathered through a variety of channels, including surveys, public forums and stakeholder meetings,, according to the news release. The planning process was led by consulting firm BerryDunn and a project team made up of key city staff.

“We are grateful for the input and support of our community members, who helped shape this plan and ensure that it reflects our shared values and vision,” City Manager David Scott said. “With this plan in place, we have a solid framework to guide our efforts and decisions as we move forward as a community to achieve our vision.”

The new plan focuses on five strategic priorities: economic development and community prosperity; financial health and core services; vibrant town center; smart growth; and redefined community identity.

Each of these priorities “has specific goals and timelines for implementation, as well as metrics for measuring progress,” according to the news release.

“We are thrilled to release this new strategic plan, which represents a significant milestone for our city,” said Mayor David Stuebe. “We believe that the plan will help us build a stronger, more vibrant community for years to come, and we are committed to working closely with residents and stakeholders to make it a reality.”

The City will begin implementing the plan immediately, with a focus on achieving short-term goals and laying the foundation for longer-term initiatives. The plan will be reviewed and updated regularly to ensure that it remains relevant and responsive to the changing needs of the community, the news release states.

“This strategic plan represents a significant step forward for Washougal,” Stuebe said. “By working together and focusing our efforts on specific goals, we can achieve great things for our community. I am proud to be a part of this effort and excited to see the positive impact it will have.”

To view the plan, visit cityofwashougal.us/strategicplan.

Washougal kindergarten registration open

The Washougal School District will hold a series of open-house events to provide information to parents about its kindergarten program.

The events will be held from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 31 at Gause, Hathaway, and Columbia River Gorge elementary schools; and 4 to 5 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 31, at Cape Horn-Skye Elementary School.

To register a child for kindergarten, visit washougal.k12.wa.us/new-student-registration. Children must be 5 years old by Thursday, Aug. 21, to be eligible for the free, full-day program.

Public Health offers tips for staying safe around the water

With high temperatures in the forecast for the weekend, Clark County Public Health is reminding people to take caution in and around water – especially area lakes and rivers. In spring and early summer, lakes and rivers in Southwest Washington are still cold, and water may be moving quickly.

“Even as temperatures rise, lakes and rivers are still cold enough to shock and immobilize even the strongest swimmers,” said Dr. Alan Melnick, Clark County health officer and Public Health director.

Public Health urges people of all ages to follow these tips for safe swimming and recreating in all bodies of water this weekend and throughout the summer:

• Know your limits. Drowning often occurs when swimmers tire.

• Avoid fast-flowing waters, including rivers and ocean beaches with riptides.

• Don’t swim alone.

• Avoid distractions when children are swimming or around water. Children should be supervised by adults anytime they are in or around water. Supervision requires complete attention, even if another adult is present. Drowning can happen swiftly and silently.

Wear a life jacket. Children, teens and adults should wear life jackets while boating, using a personal watercraft, inner tubing or while using other water sports equipment. Life jackets should also be worn while swimming in lakes, rivers or the ocean. By law, children 12 years and younger must wear a US Coast Guard-approved life jacket or vest on all vessels 18 feet or smaller.

Avoid alcohol and marijuana use when swimming or boating.

Don’t dive into shallow water or jump off bridges or cliffs.

Swim in designated swimming areas only. Signs will be viewable letting you know when and where it’s safe to swim.

Teach children how to swim. Enroll children in swim lessons when they are ready. Early and often swim lessons will teach children the skills needed to stay safe while in and around water.

County Council adds meetings

The Clark County Council has decided to add public meeting dates to its monthly schedule. In addition to the regular meeting schedule of 10 a.m. on the first Tuesday of the month and 6 p.m. on the third Tuesday, a public meeting will be scheduled for 10 a.m. on the fourth Tuesday. A meeting also will be set on the calendar for 1 p.m. on the second Tuesday of the month if it is needed. If it is not needed, a cancellation notice will be sent 24 hours in advance.

The council also decided to add scheduled 20-minute breaks to public hearings. The breaks are scheduled to begin at approximately one hour and 50 minutes after the start of the meeting, and at that time, the council will assess if the break is needed.

County Manager Kathleen Otto said these changes are in accordance with the council’s rules and procedures. The updated schedule is set to take place in June.

“The council has a variety of projects underway, and the additional meetings will provide the ability to allow enough time for thoughtful consideration and public participation,” said Otto.

Information on council meetings including schedules and how to participate is on the county’s website at clark.wa.gov/councilors/clark-county-council-meetings. Council hearings are broadcast on CVTV channel 23/323 and CVTV.org.

County seeks young people to fill 13 positions on Youth Commission

The Clark County Youth Commission is recruiting youth to fill 13 volunteer positions for the 2023-24 program year.

The Youth Commission is accepting applications through Thursday, June 1.

The commission is a group of 30 people ages 11 to 19, which serves as a voice for Clark County youth. It advises the Clark County Council, county departments and community organizations about how their work can affect young people. It identifies and takes action on youth concerns, educates the community about building strong youth-adult partnerships, and provides leadership opportunities for youth.

All open positions are available for youth who live in Clark County. Additionally, new leader positions are available for youth with no previous leadership experience, and some positions are open to students living in the geographical boundaries of specific school districts as the Youth Commission uses school district boundaries to ensure broad representation of youth from all areas of the county. Woodland applicants must live in the section of the city within Clark County.

Members serve a one-year term but can recommit to serve multiple terms. The Youth Commission requires six to 12 hours of work each month. Meetings are held from 6:45 to 8:45 p.m. on the first and third Thursdays of each month, except in the months of July and August. The meetings are held in person, unless local and state public health guidelines for social distancing recommend differently. Special projects, assignments and subcommittee work add another two to eight hours per month.

To fill out an application, visit clark.wa.gov/community-services/youth-commission. Finalists must participate in an in-person interview. If selected, they must be available to attend a mandatory orientation in August.

Youth commissioners work together on various projects and assignments, voicing ideas and contributing their skills and strengths. The commission is continuously striving to be more representative of the county’s diverse population.

For more information about the Clark County Youth Commission, contact Elizabeth Houston-Hill, program coordinator, at 564-397-5133 or elizabeth.hill@clark.wa.gov.

Vancouver opens water features at Esther Short, Waterfront parks

The city of Vancouver has opened two new water features just in time for the summer heat. Both water features — at Esther Short Park near the corner of West Sixth and Columbia streets, and at Vancouver Waterfront Park, 695 Waterfront Way — will run daily from dawn to dusk through the end of the summer season, weather permitting.

The two water features are popular spots for residents and visitors to cool off on warm days. The feature at Esther Short Park includes a waterfall that cascades down a path of boulders, providing comfortable seating for parkgoers of all ages. The Columbia River water feature includes artistic mapping of the Columbia River basin, cascading water, spray fountains and wading areas with nearby bench seating.

Visitors can help prevent damage to the features’ pumps and filters by keeping food and pets out of the water, which will keep these park amenities running smoothly throughout the season. Though the water used in both features is continuously circulated and treated, it is not safe to ingest.

For more information about operations, rules and safety guidelines at Vancouver’s water features, visit cityofvancouver.us/WaterFeatures.

Clark County Youth House to host art show

The Clark County Youth House will host an art show from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, June 1, at the Youth House, 1012 Esther St., Vancouver.

The event, “And We Stood Our Ground: A Youth House Art Show About Unyielding Youth,” features young artists sharing their vision for a resilient community after the pandemic. There will be many forms of art including canvas paintings, painted tiles, buttons/pins, photography, mason jars, mugs, multimedia and more. Many of the young artists will be present to answer questions about their art, and some of the pieces will be available for purchase.

The art show is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be provided.

The Clark County Youth House is a youth empowerment center developed by Clark County Community Services. Youth House programs strive to increase the number of positive relationships, opportunities, skills, and recognition among each young person involved.

Programs within the house include the Clark County Youth Commission, Teens for Tomorrow Peer Education Program, Columbia River Options Youth Program and Healthy Transitions. For more information, visit clark.wa.gov/community-s ervices/youth-house.