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News

December 6, 2011

Lighted parade and trees to be featured in Washougal

Christmas will be in the air this weekend, with the second annual "Washougal Festival of Trees," as well as a parade and tree lighting ceremony. The trees will be on display Friday, from 3 to 8 p.m., and Saturday, from 2 to 5 p.m., at Washougal Town Square, 1700 Main St., in downtown Washougal. During that time, silent auction bids can be made on the decorated trees as well as wreaths and baskets. Winners will be notified by phone.

November 29, 2011

It’s the holiday season

A visit from Santa Claus and the lighting of the community Christmas tree will be among the highlights of the popular Hometown Holidays event on Friday.

November 29, 2011
Spectators from "Unified Command" watch as the final 60-foot, 50,000 pound piece of steel from the derelict Davy Crockett vessel is lifted in August from the Columbia River. The deconstruction project, which began in January, was officially completed earlier this month with the removal of an 850-linear foot cofferdam and impermeable liner used in the cleanup effort.

Price tag for barge removal comes in at $22 million

A 10-month effort to collect 38,397 gallons of oil products; 3.56 million pounds of cleaned and recycled steel; 4,850 pounds of asbestos; and 1.25 million pounds of debris, is what U.S. Coast Guard officials said it took to avert what could have been an "environmental disaster" in the Columbia River near Camas. The recent removal of the final sheet pile cofferdam from the barge SS Davy Crockett work site signals the true end of the multi-agency, $22 million endeavor that prevented the release of oil and other hazardous materials from the derelict Liberty ship. Constructed in April 2011, the 850-linear foot cofferdam and impermeable liner allowed crews to systematically dismantle the barge in the river and keep any pollution generated by the project to be contained and properly handled within, according to the Department of Ecology.

November 29, 2011

Woman dies from smoke inhalation in Washougal fire

The smoke detector in Marriah Buhman's apartment had been disconnected sometime before she lost her life in a Washougal apartment fire. Buhman, 28, died from smoke inhalation, according to Clark County Medical Examiner Dr. Dennis Wickham.

November 29, 2011

Walk & Knock food drive begins Saturday morning

Clark County's largest food drive will be held on Saturday, when thousands of pounds of food will be collected by hundreds of volunteers making their way throughout the area.

November 29, 2011

Local school districts react to new state graduation requirements

Citing a statistic that 54 percent of high school graduates in Washington state are not prepared for college, the state Board of Education took action to implement new requirements. Beginning with the class of 2016, graduates will be required to earn four credits in English/language arts instead of three, and social studies requirements will increase from 2.5 to three credits. In addition, there will be a "two-for-one" policy established to allow students taking a career and technical education equivalent course to satisfy two graduation requirements while earning one credit.

November 29, 2011
Students from Grass Valley Elementary School in Camas took part in the Nov. 19 Elementary Science Olympiad Invitational Tournament at Clark College. Pictured above are Grass Valley students (left to right) Luke Brewer, Zach Macia and Danilo Kamenko. The Camas school's "Team 1" (groups A and B) earned Top Group awards in two events.

Camas schools rocket to the top at Science Olympiad

A love of all things science was on display during the Elementary Science Olympiad at Clark College. During the popular event, students in grades three through five participated in five different events that had them exploring science topics.

November 22, 2011
Alison Jurgens-Meyer paints images of mums onto a wineglass at her home in Camas. She can also paint vases, plates and coffee cups, as well as champagne flutes and beer glasses, for occasions such as birthdays and anniversaries.

Artist paints pretty presents

Alison Jurgens-Meyer is inspired by life. Expressing herself through art is relaxing and therapeutic. A year ago, Jurgens-Meyer's fiance Kirk Strobeck was killed in an accident when he was riding his motorcycle. "A woman cut him off, and he was killed instantly," she said. "The unspeakable grief of this year has been the most challenging thing I have faced. Art is what saved me. "I have been an artist since I was old enough to hold a pencil or crayon," Jurgens-Meyer added. "I am inspired by everything around me -- good and bad. Trying to create work that speaks to others and connects with them on some level is what I enjoy."