Subscribe

Stories by Heather Acheson

email icon heather.acheson@camaspostrecord.com

November 5, 2013

A step in the right direction toward suicide prevention

Youth suicide. It's an issue that no parent ever wants to imagine could touch their lives. But statistics prove that the unfortunate reality is that it does. Often unexpectedly. The Washington State Department of Health's 2012 Healthy Youth Survey, released earlier this year, unveiled some surprising statistics when it comes to youth suicide. As part of the survey, students in grades 6, 8, 10, and 12 answered questions about safety and violence, physical activity and diet, alcohol, tobacco and other drug use, and related risk and protective factors.

November 5, 2013

Proposed utility rate increases draw minimal public comment

Following a public hearing during which just one person testified, the Camas City Council directed its legal counsel to prepare an ordinance that if approved on Dec. 2 would implement a series of utility rate increases starting in January 2014. Ken Hadley, a Washougal resident who owns property in Camas, said the increases are justified. "I, along with other taxpayers, don't like to pay additional fees," he told the City Council Monday night. "But at the same time I recognize that we need to maintain our facilities and have adequate things for our needs, so I would recommend that council adopt these rates tonight."

November 5, 2013
Photos courtesy of the city of Camas The gravestone of Alexander Stuber, who lived from 1866 to 1908, was the only one that was broken as a result of vandalism at the Camas Cemetery nearly two weeks ago. In the span of seven days, donations from local individuals and businesses helped raise the $1,000 needed to replace the monument.

Marble headstone of Alexander Stuber was destroyed by vandals

"I have fought a good fight. I have finished my course. I have kept the faith." This quote from the Timothy 4:7 of the King James Bible, could be seen engraved on Alexander Stuber's marble headstone at his gravesite, until it was destroyed by vandalism at the Camas Cemetery more than a week ago. But thanks to donations from local individuals and businesses, a new monument for the man who was born in 1866 and died in 1908 will be erected. It will include the quote as well as the image of a rose that was also a featured in its original design. The new headstone has been ordered by Vancouver Granite Works, which is owned by Joey Fuerstenberg and his parents, Washougal residents Bruce and Vicki Fuerstenberg. The family agreed to pay for half of the $1,000 cost to replace the monument.

November 5, 2013

Camas begins city administrator search

The city of Camas has begun the recruitment process for a new city administrator, and officials hope to select a successor to Nina Regor in December. Regor, who had been the city administrator since January, died unexpectedly on Oct. 6 following an ongoing illness. A celebration of life service -- led by Mayor Scott Higgins, who is also a pastor -- was held Saturday at Journey Community Church in downtown Camas. "We were shocked and saddened by Nina's passing, but celebrate the time we had with her and the skills and talents she brought to our organization and community," Higgins said According to a press release, the city plans an expedited recruitment process that will make use of the results from the city administrator selection process completed within the past year.

November 4, 2013

Camas begins city administrator search

The city of Camas has begun the recruitment process for a new city administrator, and hopes to have a successor to Nina Regor in place by January.

October 30, 2013
Claudia Bennett, a 58-year-old breast cancer survivor, recently spoke during the Pink Tea held at Columbia Ridge Assisted Living. The event was a fundraiser for the Pink Lemonade Project, an organization founded by Camas Dr. Allen Gabriel and his wife Cassie. Bennett, who was first diagnosed in 2001 at the age of 45, is a caregiver at Columbia Ridge.

Life after breast cancer

Claudia Bennett was 45 years old when she got her first mammogram. As a woman working in a time-consuming and demanding job in the health care industry, she barely had time to fit the test into her busy schedule. It was January 2001, and she was a radiation therapist at Wenatchee Valley Clinic. "They had everything right there to do the mammogram, so I just ran over on my break and had it done," she said. With no history of breast cancer in her family, she was shocked by the results.

October 30, 2013
Photo courtesy of the City of Camas The gravestone of Alexander Stuber, who lived from 1866 to 1908, was the only one that was broken as a result of vandalism at the Camas Cemetery last week. Fourteen other markers were placed back on their pedestals Friday.

Donations sought to replace broken headstone

Camas city officials are hoping the community will step forward to help replace a century-old headstone damaged by vandalism last week. On Wednesday, it was discovered that approximately 15 headstones, many of them in the southeast "pioneer section" of the cemetery, had been pushed off of their pedestals and onto the ground. On Friday, city of Vancouver public works crews joined those from the city of Camas, with the help of equipment from the Port of Camas-Washougal, to re-mount 14 of the headstones onto their bases. Only one was damaged to the point that it will need to be replaced.

October 30, 2013

Good deeds can overshadow criminal acts

Recent vandalism perpetrated at the Camas Cemetery has tugged at the heart strings of many local residents. Last Wednesday, it was discovered that approximately 15 headstones, many of them in the southeast "pioneer section" of the cemetery, had been pushed off of their pedestals and onto the ground. On Thursday, Michael Garwood, 21, of Camas, was arrested on charges relating to the vandalism. He remains in the Clark County Jail on 15 counts of violating laws governing the protection of cemeteries and one count of second degree malicious mischief. The case remains under investigation by the Camas Police Department. Additional arrests are possible.

October 29, 2013
This watercolor painting by Cheryl Robertson is among those that will be on display in November at the Camas Public Library. The show will feature the work of Robertson and her friend Imy Durfee.

Second Story Gallery Presents ‘Reflections from the Brush’

A journey shared with a great friend is always an enjoyable one. That's the thinking of Imy Durfee, a Vancouver artist who shares the space in Second Story Gallery in November with her friend and fellow watercolorist Cheryl Robertson. The two women, who met in an art class 15 years ago, will present their "Reflections from the Brush" from Nov. 1 to Nov. 30 in the gallery on the second floor of the Camas Public Library.