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Stories by Dawn Feldhaus

email icon dawn.feldhaus@camaspostrecord.com

May 15, 2012

‘Ignite the Heart’ photography retreat is June 1 and 2

Two local artists will lead a two-day retreat that will focus on creativity, fun and faith. Elida Field and Lara Blair are planning the "Ignite the heart: Women of Truth" event, which will include photography and collage/mixed media workshops. Sessions are planned for Friday, June 1, from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., at Blair's studio, and Saturday, June 2, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Field's studio, both in Camas. An "after party" at 7 p.m., will include an art show for each participant and a guest.

May 15, 2012

Port approves contracts for Commerce Center

Three contracts, totalling $198,000, have been given the go-ahead by the Port of Camas-Washougal Commission, for construction engineering services pertaining to the Steigerwald Commerce Center. The contracts for phase one of the Steigerwald project include the production of civil engineering plans and the construction specifications for the site grading and utility improvements. The fee for that work, to be completed by MacKay & Sposito, Inc., is $163,000.

May 15, 2012

Special Washougal City Council meeting causes concerns

The scheduling of a special Washougal City Council meeting has generated interest as well as questions about transparency. The meeting, which will be held Thursday, at 7 p.m., in the council chambers at City Hall, 1701 "C" St., is sponsored by council members Connie Jo Freeman, Jon Russell, Caryn Plinski and Jennifer McDaniel.

May 8, 2012

Country Financial opens office in Washougal

A Washougal resident has relocated her office from Vancouver to Washougal. Courtney Wilkinson, a financial representative for Country Financial, said she and her husband Kurt decided almost 11 years ago to build their home in Washougal.

May 8, 2012
Washougal Mayor Sean Guard gets weighed in, as Fat 2 Fit NW Executive Director Michelle Clark and Camas Mayor Scott Higgins look on, during the May 2 kickoff of the "Camas and Washougal on a Diet" challenge. Since then, Guard has lost 7.5 pounds, while Higgins has lost 9 pounds. "It is going well," Higgins said Monday. "I'm sore, but moving."

Mayors begin fitness challenge

Camas Mayor Scott Higgins and Washougal Mayor Sean Guard have embarked on a one-year challenge to tackle obesity. Their efforts started May 2, during a press conference and weigh-in. Higgins, a minister, husband and father, said he is looking forward to having more energy, and his competitive spirit was evident. "I love beating Washougal," he added.

May 8, 2012

Officials review concepts for interchanges

The potential of a split diamond interchange at Washougal River Road and 27th Street will need federal and/or state financial support to move forward. Washougal Interim Public Works Director Jim Dunn said funding for the potential $98 million project would be needed for project planning, design, permitting and construction. The process is expected to take up to 10 years. The option, recommended by Dunn, would include frontage roads with grade separation of railroad tracks at 27th. Another option recently presented to the Washougal City Council and Port of Camas-Washougal Commission included full diamond interchanges at Washougal River Road and 32nd Street, with grade separation of railroad tracks at 32nd. The estimated cost of that option is $105 million to $120 million.

May 1, 2012
Awna Underwood, the district training leader for Sleep Train Inc., chatted with many individuals Wednesday, at the Clark College "Career Days" job fair. Recruiters from 46 companies and military personnel were available to answer questions posed by more than 800 job fair attendees. Underwood, of Camas, said Sleep Train is hiring for full time entry level sales positions. "We are looking for people that find joy in helping people, that enjoy conversations with the public and have great smiles and positive attitudes," she said.

Fair attracts job seekers, providers

Rob Boley, of Washougal, is adjusting to his new job -- which is to find a job. For seven years, he owned The Great Frame Up, in the Riverstone Marketplace development along Southeast 192nd Avenue, in Vancouver. After deciding not to renew his lease, Boley closed the custom art framing shop in February. He was among the more than 800 individuals participating in a job fair at Clark College, Wednesday. "It was time well spent for me," Boley said. "I learned a lot about many companies in a short period of time, and I was able to stop and visit with just about every table there. "The ones that resonate the most with me were the businesses in the retail front or selling products that I could become personally excited about," he added.

May 1, 2012
A volunteer assists a customer with a purchase at the Inter-Faith Treasure House thrift store, in Washougal. Executive Director Nancy Wilson (not pictured) said business at the thrift store has decreased 50 percent since the work to widen State Route 14 started.

SR-14 businesses show strength in numbers

Mitch Hammontree, owner of Quiznos in Washougal, does not mince words when he says the condition of the 200 block of "C" Street in front of his business in The Crossing development, "looks like Afghanistan." He recently experienced the bumpy roadway ride, as well as delays enforced by flaggers, when he delivered sandwich orders to the Georgia Pacific mill in downtown Camas.

April 24, 2012

Twilight Pizza Bistro will expand to 192nd Avenue

A couple actively involved in the local community has decided to expand their business to the 192nd Avenue corridor. Don Mills and Morgan McColum, owners of Twilight Pizza Bistro, have co-hosted car shows, raised money for the West Columbia Gorge Humane Society, accepted donations for Children's Center and entered a team in the Camas Days bathtub races.