An unscheduled debate occurred last night, involving Washougal Mayor Sean Guard and several city council members, regarding a recent lunchtime meeting about the "E" Street project. Councilman Michael Delavar questioned why the city's public works committee - consisting of Rod Morris, Molly Coston and Paul Greenlee - attended the March 14 meeting with "E" Street merchants.
A public hearing that could affect the future use of the former Hambleton Lumber site and the Parker's Landing Historical Park will be held next week. The hearing, in front of the Washougal Planning Commission, is set for Tuesday, March 22, at 7 p.m., in the council chambers at Washougal City Hall, 1701 "C" St.
Stephanie Cameron has several things to enjoy about her new job - including opportunities to touch an elephant and feed a rhinoceros and two giraffes. Cameron, of Fern Prairie, has been hired by the Oregon Zoo as the marketing communications manager. She succeeds Jane Hartline, who retired in June. "The animals are amazing, and I am really enjoying learning about each of them," Cameron said. "They fascinate me, and I could watch them for hours. Her job includes overseeing events and design services at the zoo.
After several negative thoughts were expressed by Port of Camas-Washougal Commissioners about the possibility of applying for funding from the Federal Aviation Administration to pay for improvements at Grove Field Airport, Liz Pike suggested the port have the State Department of Aviation "deal with the feds." "I am struck by the lack of optimism [from the port commissioners] regarding this project," she said. "You should sell [the airport] or deed it to another agency that would be a good steward."
Former Washougal Mayor Stacee Sellers sent back a city-owned laptop on Dec. 29, 2009 -- six weeks after she resigned from office. Sgt. Brad Chicks received the computer two days later at the Washougal Police station. The laptop had been sent from Maryland. That delay in Sellers returning the computer was recently noted by the State Auditor's Office in a management letter related to an accountability audit of the city for the fiscal year of 2009. The audit results were released yesterday, with a recommendation that the city create formal written procedures to track, monitor and safeguard all assets "including small and attractive items such as electronics, computer equipment and other items at high risk of misappropriation."
The executive director of the Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center plans to "tighten the ol' belt," in order to survive current economic challenges faced by the museum. Sharon Tiffany said the estimated shortfall for this year is $25,000. "Donations have not decreased," she said. "Revenues from group tours are down -- all due to the overall economic situation. Many schools are not funding field trips, and the cruise lines have decreased or stopped traveling the Columbia."
An astronaut who grew up in Camas is scheduled to begin an 11-day mission to the International Space Station Thursday. Michael Barratt and five other astronauts plan to be on the Space Shuttle Discovery for the launch from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. It is set for 1:50 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.
Employees from RSV Building Solutions and Nutter Corporation are working on the roofing and parking lot sub grading at the future site of the Black Pearl on the Columbia. The restaurant, located at the former site of the Parker House, 56 S. "A" St., Washougal, is expected to open this year. Jerry Heikkila (not pictured), with RSV, is the project superintendent.
A proposed action to bring Grove Field Airport into compliance with Federal Aviation Administration design standards recently attracted approximately 45 people to the Port of Camas-Washougal meeting room.
dawn.feldhaus@camaspostrecord.com
