Letters to the Editor for March 20, 2012

Unhappy about Washougal utility rates

I don’t know if you have noticed, but Washougal residents’ water, sewer and storm water bill has gone up and will continue to do so each year from 2011 to 2015. The people living outside of the city limits will be paying even more.

Pendleton Woolen Mill, one of our oldest businesses in Washougal, cannot finish the wool cloth without water. What are you trying to do, put them out of business?

People are already having a hard time just making it, without having to pay for sky-high water bills.

Please call the city at 835-8501 to ask questions or complain. This is not right.

City meetings are on the first and third Mondays of each month.

Darlene Hopkins, Washougal

Camas needs a brew pub

I agree with Heather Acheson (March 13) that the Amnesia Brewery could be a great fit for Washougal. But why wouldn’t a brew pub be a great fit for Camas?

First Laurelwood Brewery expanded to Battle Ground and now Amnesia is expanding to Washougal. Why is Camas left out of such expansions? Is it because our city leaders do not approve of businesses that serve adult beverages? I don’t believe that’s entirely true because there are other bars and taverns in Camas but no brew pubs. My wife and I routinely travel to Portland to enjoy an adult beverage and good food at the numerous brew pubs there. Some are family friendly and provide children play areas. We have never hesitated to take our grandchildren (ages two and eight) with us. The addition of a brew pub to downtown Camas (or even the developing 192nd Ave) would give an economic boost and allow those of us that take our microbrews seriously an opportunity to spend our money close to home. I encourage the Camas city leaders to take the Washougal city’s development team to lunch and find out how they landed Amnesia. In the meantime, I’ll be saving my beer money in anticipation of the grand opening in Washougal. Lastly, thank you Amnesia for taking a look across the river. With gas at or above $4 a gallon, this will give me more money for good brew!

Curt Vie, Camas