Camas-Washougal logo tag

News

March 27, 2012

Camas prepares to begin search for new city administrator

In preparation for the onset of the search for a new city administrator, Camas officials are proposing a 4 percent increase to the position's annual pay scale. On Monday, the City Council will vote on a resolution that would boost the salary to a range that starts at $9,464 and tops out at $11,300. The current scale is $9,088 to $10,852. City Administrator Lloyd Halverson, who announced in January his plans to retire from full-time work in September after 23 years on the job, said he supports the adjustment. "I think it is in the city's best interest to be sure that we are competitive in the pay we offer in this decision," he said during a recent City Council meeting.

March 27, 2012
Firefighters make final preparations for the controlled burn of the former Riverside Bowl building in Camas along Northeast Third Avenue. The facility was originally built in 1947, and when it was destroyed on Saturday it was one of the largest practice burns in Camas history with smoke visible from several miles away. Personnel from the Camas and Washougal fire departments and East County Fire and Rescue participated in the training exercise. The fire was still smoldering Monday morning, 48 hours after it began.

Camas landmark goes up in flames

Firefighters make final preparations for the controlled burn of the former Riverside Bowl building in Camas along Northeast Third Avenue.

March 20, 2012
Washougal School Board members receive instruction on their new iPad2 devices from technology director Lester Brown, right. It is anticipated that the board will transition to completely paperless meetings within the next two months.

Washougal School Board to go paperless

Instead of sifting through approximately 70 pages of documents during meetings, Washougal School Board members will be able to access needed information in seconds. The district recently purchased five iPad2 devices for all five school board members at a cost of $3,833. It will cost the district approximately $530 more the first year than the traditional paper method, but will save $2,771 the next year, and the same amount the following year. The factors in the decision to purchase the iPads were to become more efficient and earth-friendly, to integrate technology into board meetings, and to save staff time.

March 20, 2012
Contributed photo Columbia County Sheriff's Deputies recovered the bodies of a Camas flight instructor, Todd Norrish, 47, and a student pilot Jimmy Kravets, 17, of Vancouver, Thursday from the wreckage of a Cessna aircraft near Goble, Ore.

Camas man dies in plane crash

A plane crash that killed a local pilot and a student is under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board.

March 20, 2012
File photo The Washougal Community Library, currently located at 1661 "C" St., offers a variety of popular activities for people of all ages. Several members of the Friends of the Washougal Library organization have said they would like to see the facility move to a new, larger location.

Washougal Library supporters consider move to a new location

The Fort Vancouver Regional Library District currently pays the city of Washougal $1 per year, for the use of the library building at 1661 "C" St., in the City Hall complex. That type of financial arrangement is not likely to occur again if the library relocates. More than 35 people attended a Friends of the Washougal Library meeting March 13. In addition to longtime and brand new Friends members and Washougal Community Librarian Christine Hughey, the meeting was attended by Washougal Mayor Sean Guard and Lone Wolf Development Representative Adam Taylor. The Community Libraries Director for FVRL Jill Rourke and FVRL Foundation Director Rick Smithrud were also there. The library is currently 2,400 square feet, with 1,800 square feet of that dedicated to public use. The remaining area is for staff and storage.

March 14, 2012

Camas approves resolution focusing on coal trains

The Camas City Council recently approved a resolution that outlines a series of concerns about the potential impacts of coal trains on the city and its residents. The resolution, approved by six of the seven members of City Council, states that an increase in the number of coal trains passing through the area could increase train noise, cause traffic congestion that could delay emergency vehicles, and negatively impact public health.

March 13, 2012

Camas Farmer’s Market earns New Seasons grant

The Camas Farmer's Market was one of 29 non-profit organizations to recently receive a grant from New Seasons Market. According to Camas Farmer's Market board member Carrie Schulstad, the $2,000 grant will be used as matching funds for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, in an effort to increase access to fresh, healthy foods for low-income families receiving assistance. It would be the first S.N.A.P. match program in Clark County. The S.N.A.P. program allows consumers to purchase farmers market items with electronic benefit transfer cards. According to the grant application, the project would provide matching S.N.A.P. tokens up to $5 per week for an average of 15 S.N.A.P. customers per week during each of the 18 weeks of the Camas Farmer's Market season.