The Camas-Washougal area offers a variety of businesses, where customers are very likely to encounter the owners while shopping or eating. Children are appreciated at Dairy Queen There are a lot of memories captured on the walls of the Dairy Queen in Camas.
Area Fourth of July festivities will feature music, food and fireworks.
The Washougal High School graduation ceremony Saturday included several opportunities to honor America and the veterans and students willing to defend it. Members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Schick-Ogle Post 4278 installed a new flag at the school, as the soon-to-be graduates who had enlisted to serve in the various branches of the military stood in front of the commencement stage. VFW Officer of the Day Gary Andreas played "To the Color" on a ceremonial bugle as the flag was raised, and the WHS band performed the "Star Spangled Banner," during the salute. The ceremony got underway at Fishback Stadium with the school band performing the traditional "Pomp and Circumstance," as the seniors joyfully entered Fishback Stadium two by two, giving each other hugs, high fives and fist pumps. Family and friends brought bouquets of roses and orange balloons to the stands, and a beach ball made an appearance twice.
A Vancouver company has been awarded the contract to construct Lacamas Lake Lodge and Conference Center. Last night, the Camas City Council approved the $1.813 million contract with JWC Construction by a vote of 6-0. Councilwoman Melissa Smith had an excused absence. The city had received three other bids, ranging from $1.844 million to $2.124 million. The engineer's estimate was $1.787 million. Construction is scheduled to begin in July, and the lodge and conference center are expected to open to the public in early 2014.
Several contaminants have been found in the soil of the previous Hambleton Lumber Sales LLC location. They include total petroleum hydrocarbons, carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, poly-chlorinated biphenyls, lead and mercury. In 2012, the level of benzo(a)pyrene was .232 mg/kg and TEC was .327 mg/kg, at 335 S. "A" St., Washougal. Cleanup levels for both are 0.1 mg/kg. The highest concentration of total petroleum hydrocarbons was 7,920, compared to a cleanup level of 2,000. Other levels include PCBs (1.869 mg/kg, with a cleanup level of 1); lead (438 mg/kg, with a cleanup level of 250); and mercury (9.53 mg/kg, with a cleanup level of 2).
The next Washougal town hall will feature discussions regarding a potential public vote about the city's form of government. During the City Council workshop yesterday, Councilwoman Joyce Lindsay requested that the issue of changing from a strong mayor to a council-manager form of government be discussed and potentially placed on the Nov. 5 ballot. Councilman Paul Greenlee suggested city officials talk to Bill Ganley, who has been involved with council-manager government changes in Battle Ground.
It is not Chicago, but "da bears" keep appearing. There have been multiple bear sightings in the Camas area within the past couple of weeks. According to Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife Sgt. Jeff Wickersham, they have included a bear -- described as larger than a cub -- that was seen May 25, at about 4:30 p.m., running north from Dorothy Fox Elementary School (1954 N.E. Garfield St.) The following day, at approximately 7:30 p.m., someone reported seeing a black bear running along the south side of the road by WaferTech (5509 N.W. Parker St.) A bear was also seen May 27, at about 8:30 p.m., at the 1400 block of Northeast 197th Avenue.
There will be a reduction in the number of days that fireworks can be sold inside the city limits of Washougal, starting in 2014. The Washougal City Council unanimously approved amendments to the city’s Municipal Code on May 28. It is currently legal to sell fireworks from noon to 11 p.m., June 28, from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., June 29 through July 4, and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., on July 5, as well as from noon to 11 p.m., from Dec. 27 through Dec. 31.
A Camas resident is among the individuals improving the lives of dogs throughout the region. As a volunteer for Fences for Fido, Ken Alwine has helped build more than 30 fences. The mission of the 501(c) 3 non-profit organization is to improve the quality of life for dogs living outdoors by removing chains and building fences.
The Liberty Theatre in downtown Camas is expected to get a new lease on life this summer -- with 3D presentations on the main screen and an ice cream shop next door. Rand Thornsley, managing director of The Rootstock Capital Management LLC, has signed a five-year lease with Gary and Marilyn Webberley, owners of the Liberty building through Fourth Avenue Liberty LLC. The theater is located at 315 N.E. Fourth Ave.
dawn.feldhaus@camaspostrecord.com
