Camas-Washougal Post-Record

August 6, 2013

Improvements to the Heritage Park Boat Launch will soon get underway. Thanks to a $419,000 state grant, the boat launch will be widened, a second loading dock will be added, and parking will be expanded.

State grant will help fund Camas boat launch project

On warm summer days, it's not uncommon to find Heritage Park packed to the gills with vehicles moving boats in and out of the launch on Lacamas Lake, one after another. Boat trailer parking often extends onto a grassy knoll adjacent to the paved parking lot, or onto street shoulders. In an effort to improve this area's safety and maneuverability, the city will soon begin a project that is being financially supported through a recently awarded state grant.

August 2, 2013

Washougal to form proposition committees

The Washougal City Council will hold a special meeting Monday, Aug. 5, at 5 p.m., in the Washougal Council Chambers, to formally appoint two committees to prepare statements for and against a proposition that will appear on the Nov. 5 General Election ballot.

July 31, 2013

Vote Greenlee for Washougal City Council

With a controversial issue, its mayoral seat and several City Council seats set to be on Washougal voters' General Election ballots this year, it certainly won't be a boring election season in the small city of 15,000 people. But on Aug. 6 Primary Election ballots, there's just one city government issue to decide on, and really it's a decision that shouldn't be too hard at all. For the Position 3 seat, voters have a choice between incumbent Paul Greenlee, city political arena newcomer Lisa Voeltz, and George Kolin, who unsuccessfully ran for Washougal City Council once before in 2011.

July 31, 2013

Camas bank robbery suspect surrenders

The man believed to be responsible for robbing the U.S. Bank in downtown Camas remains in the Multnomah County Jail after he turned himself in to police. Christopher A. Arrington, of Washougal, surrendered himself to the Multnomah County Jail, Wednesday, at approximately 5 p.m. His description and several photos were released to local media outlets Tuesday, and the Camas Police Department started to receive tips from the community soon after. Beginning Wednesday morning, those tips led detectives to Arrington. According to the CPD, Arrington has a criminal history in Oregon and Washington and detectives found that he had valid arrest warrants out of each state.

July 31, 2013

Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler and her husband, Daniel Beutler ,welcomed their first child on July 15. While in utero, Abigail Beutler was diagnosed with Potter's syndrome -- a condition associated with a deficiency in amniotic fluid often caused by a baby's prenatal kidney failure.

Herrera Beutler ‘prayed for a miracle’

When Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler gave birth to her first child earlier this month, doctors believe the little girl was likely the first baby to survive a diagnosis previously considered fatal. Camas residents Herrera Beutler and her husband, Daniel Beutler, on Monday announced that their daughter, Abigail Rose Beutler, was born July 15 at 3:13 a.m., at Legacy Emanuel Hospital in Portland, Ore. While in utero, Abigail was diagnosed with Potter's syndrome, caused by bilateral renal agenesis. Potter's syndrome is a condition associated with a deficiency in amniotic fluid often caused by a baby's prenatal kidney failure. According to a press release, Abigail's case absence of the kidneys resulted in anhydramnios, or a complete absence of amniotic fluid in the womb, which is critical to lung development. The condition often results in terminated pregnancy. Babies born with the condition suffer from pulmonary hypoplasia, or severely undeveloped lungs, and are unable to breathe once outside of the womb.

July 23, 2013

Give parents full-day option

After many years of discussion and speculation, during this most recent session state legislators and ultimately Gov. Jay Inslee approved funding in the state operating budget that will allow for a greater number of schools to offer full-day kindergarten to some students. As detailed in a article in today's Post-Record, the funding is a step toward compliance with the Supreme Court McCleary decision, which mandates that lawmakers must fully fund basic education, including kindergarten, by 2018. In its first year, grants for full-day kindergarten at schools with the highest rates of poverty were given first priority.

July 23, 2013

ECFR capital projects bond will be on Nov. 5 ballot

The East County Fire and Rescue Board of Commissioners voted 3-2 to place a $1.275 million capital projects bond on the Nov. 5 General Election ballot. After some discussion during its July 16 meeting, Jack Hoober, Gary Larson and Vic Rasmussen voted in favor of the resolution, while Martha Martin and Mike Berg voted against. The 20-year capital projects bond would fund two new fire engines, one brush truck, new fire fighting and medical equipment, an emergency generator at Mount Norway Station 94, parking lot repair at Sunnyside Station 93 and a water well at Livingston Mountain Station 92.

July 16, 2013

Summer in the City

It's officially "Summer in the City." The cities of Camas and Washougal, that is. And next to the beautiful weather that has graced the area during the past few weeks, the best indication of this are the many events and activities on the calendar that bring these communities together, and welcome visitors to see all that this corner of Southwest Washington has to offer.

July 16, 2013

Camas continues efforts to secure C-Tran Board seat

A proposal mentioned at the recent C-Tran Board Composition Review Committee meeting has Camas Mayor Scott Higgins feeling optimistic that a change could be on the horizon. At the end of last Tuesday's meeting Clark County Commissioner Steve Stuart suggested a new configuration of the C-Tran Board that would reduce Clark County's representation, and give Camas, Battle Ground and Washougal their own seats. Stuart proposed that a possible makeup could maintain three seats for Vancouver, and then have two for Clark County, one each for Camas, Battle Ground and Washougal, and one combined seat for the three smallest jurisdictions -- Ridgefield, La Center and Yacolt.

July 16, 2013

Post-Record file photos
Pro National events get underway on Saturday at the Washougal Motocross Park.

Motocross park is ready to ‘Welcome the world to Washougal’

Thousands of racing fans will descend on the Washougal Motocross Park this week, for round eight of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship Series. The local venue is a longtime host of the national event that draws the world's fastest motorcycle racers. "We are ready to welcome the world to Washougal," said Motocross Park spokesman Brian Barnes. He said staff has been working feverishly to get the track ready for the high-profile, nationally televised event that typically attracts more than 20,000 people to the unique course that is known for its rolling hills and green forests. It is one of only three natural terrain raceways in America. "Everything we are doing right now is preparing for nationals," Barnes said. "Every year it gets better and better. This year we are adding more dirt to the track. The crew does an amazing job."