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November 20, 2012

Burglary suspect apprehended by police

The suspect in a Camas burglary has been captured and booked in jail on multiple charges following a manhunt on Monday that lasted several hours. Camas Police Department Sgt. Scot Boyles said the incident came to a close just after 1 p.m. when a resident called 911 to report that the suspect had been spotted in a backyard at the 2500 block of Quartz Street. A chase with officers ensued and the man, identified as 24-year-old Bradley Eric Jensen, of Arlington, Wash., was caught. "The K-9 unit got him," Boyles said, "and the officers were able to apprehend him."

November 20, 2012

Camas school levies will appear on February ballots

Camas voters will be asked to approve the replacement of two expiring school levies in early 2013. At its Nov. 13 regular meeting, the Camas School Board unanimously approved resolutions to place a replacement maintenance and operations levy and a replacement technology levy on the Feb. 12 ballot.

November 20, 2012

BPA selects ‘Central Alternative’

The Bonneville Power Administration announced Wednesday that it has identified the "Central Alternative" using Central Option 1 as its preferred alternative for the I-5 Corridor Reinforcement Project. "We have heard from many people their desire for us to identify a preferred alternative sooner rather than later," said BPA Administrator Steve Wright. "The preferred alternative represents a healthy balance of our accountability to the region, particularly to those who participated in the public process; our responsibility to manage costs for regional ratepayers; our role as responsible environmental stewards and our goal of operating a reliable transmission system." To view a map of the alternatives and the draft environmental impact statement, visit www.bpa.gov.

November 20, 2012
Louis Pain, of Washougal, practices on a Hammond B-3 organ in his "man cave" at home. The walls of the three-car garage are lined with posters from events he has performed in, dating back to the 1970s.

Washougal man creates musical memories

A local man enjoys playing music in his "man cave" (three-car garage), and he has the support of his neighbors. Louis Pain, a Washougal organist and keyboard player, recalls his first rehearsal in the garage with other members of Soul Vaccination in late June 2011. The band was rehearsing for the Waterfront Blues Festival with Bruce Conte, a guitarist with Tower of Power. "I was concerned about how our new neighbors would react to the noise," Pain said. "I gave the president of the homeowner's association a heads up, but still throughout the rehearsal, I was braced for the sound of police knocking on the door. The next day, our neighbors told us that they had indeed had an issue with the volume. Namely, they'd wanted us to open the 'man cave' doors and windows so they could hear better." For more information about upcoming performances, as well as private lessons and organ clinics and rentals, visit www.louispain.com.

November 20, 2012
Downtown Camas business owners and local officials gathered Wednesday night at Journey Community Church, to recognize some of the individuals who have made a difference with their time and talents. Attendees included John Dietzman (left), husband of Camas City Councilwoman Linda Dietzman, and Downtown Camas Association Board President Caroline Mercury (right). Mercury received the "Creative Local Marketing" award, for coordinating a sale of paper mill artifacts. The event raised nearly $15,000 for the DCA, with collaboration from Georgia-Pacific, Camas Antiques, the DCA and the community.

Downtown Camas businesses are honored

The owners of Universal Mixed Martial Arts have been recognized for transforming a building in downtown Camas. Mel and Cherri Locke received the "Best Downtown Improvement" interior and exterior honors during the Downtown Camas Association annual awards ceremony Wednesday night, at Journey Community Church. The recognition is the result of the Lockes purchasing and renovating the 4,900 square foot building at 217 N.E. Fourth Ave. Interior improvements included framing bathrooms, installing sheet rock and replacing the ceiling, roof and flooring. New paint was added -- inside and out. Five skylights remained, and two more were added. For more information about the DCA, contact Program Coordinator Brenda Schallberger at 216-7378 or [email protected] or visit www.downtowncamas.com.

November 13, 2012

Port to purchase shoreline property

The Port of Camas-Washougal Commissioners plan to spend $6.07 million in reserves, to purchase 13.25 acres in shoreline property at the former Hambleton Lumber Company site. During their Nov. 6 meeting, the commissioners unanimously authorized Port Executive Director David Ripp to execute a purchase and sale agreement with Killian Pacific, LLC. A portion of the land purchase at 335 S. "A" St., Washougal, includes the waterfront area to create a public trail. "This parcel will enable the port to directly connect our existing land to the east and provide a way for the community to enjoy amenities along the length of the port-owned waterfront," Ripp said.

November 13, 2012
Crews work to finish up renovations on the American Legion Hall at 1554 N.E. Third Ave. On Tuesday, Nov. 20, its new occupants, CID Bio-Science, will welcome the public during an open house from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

CID Bio-Science ready to unveil American Legion remodel project

After five months of construction work, the newly remodeled American Legion building in Camas will be unveiled to the public next week. The building's new owner and occupant, CID Bio-Science, Inc., will host an open house Tuesday, Nov. 20, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. "We are excited to share our new space with the residents of Camas and Clark County who have expressed an interest in seeing the inside of the building," said Suzy Truitt, order administrator with CID Bio-Science.

November 13, 2012
Tamara Scharfenkamp, executive director of the West Columbia Gorge Humane Society, plays ball Friday with Kira, a 4-year old female terrier mix available for adoption, in November. A dispute over noise between the Humane Society and its construction firm neighbor continues even after city of Washougal employees installed an Acoustifence screen around part of the dog shelter to reduce the noise level.

City installs acoustic screen after neighboring company uses air horn to reduce barking

In an effort to reduce the sounds of dogs barking and a nearby air horn activating, City of Washougal employees have installed an acoustic screen around part of the West Columbia Gorge Humane Society dog shelter. The cost of the Acoustifence screen, $3,500 plus delivery and tax, was paid from the city's animal control budget for building maintenance and the building capital facilities fund, according to City Administrator David Scott. The installation of the screen occurred Thursday and Friday. Washougal Police Chief Ron Mitchell said Thursday the city was working on reducing the noise levels coming from the kennel. By that time, someone from the shelter's neighbor, Northwest Underwater Construction LLC, had told Mitchell they would remove the air horn.

November 13, 2012

Open house highlights I-5 bridge height, study results

The results of a comprehensive analysis of various bridge heights for the replacement Interstate 5 bridge will be shared and discussed at a public open house Wednesday, in Vancouver. The event will be held from 4 to 7 p.m., at the Red Lion at the Quay, River Room, 100 Columbia St. As part of the Columbia River Crossing project's ongoing work to prepare a bridge permit application for the replacement I-5 bridge, project staff conducted further analysis of a mid-range (95 to 110 foot) bridge identified in the "Locally Preferred Alternative." In addition, staff completed new analyses of the feasibility of 115, 120 and 125 foot bridge options.