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Stories by Doug Flanagan

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March 27, 2025

Washougal educator plans ‘play cafe’ for children and parents

As a mother and a teacher, Nicole Butterfield has spent more than 20 years designing hands-on, creative learning projects for children. Now, she hopes to use that experience to create a children’s play cafe where adults can enjoy coffee and pastries while their children play and learn.

March 20, 2025

Washougal schools’ finances improve

The Washougal School District no longer falls in the state’s “financial warning” category, a measure used to determine the financial health of a school district.

March 20, 2025
Taylor Balkom/The Columbian files (Taylor Balkom/The Columbian files)

Measure would let voters extend port commissioner terms

Port of Camas-Washougal Commissioner John Spencer is advocating for a bill in the Washington Legislature that would give voters in seven port districts, including Camas-Washougal, the option of extending the terms of their port commissioners from four to six years.

March 20, 2025
A pedestrian crosses a darkened crosswalk at the corner of 19th and Main streets in Washougal. City Councilor Molly Coston is advocating for the City of Washougal to upgrade the lighting and brighten a dark downtown. (James Rexroad/for The Columbian)

Shedding light on a problem

While driving back to Washougal after an early morning indoor cycling class in east Vancouver on March 14, Lori Reed couldn’t help but notice the stark contrast between the lighting in downtown Camas and downtown Washougal. To her, the difference was literally night and day.