November 26, 2013
A new chapter for The Fairgate
On a cold but sunny Saturday afternoon, The Fairgate Inn in Camas held its annual holiday high tea. As always, the event was beautifully decorated and the food was absolutely amazing.
On a cold but sunny Saturday afternoon, The Fairgate Inn in Camas held its annual holiday high tea. As always, the event was beautifully decorated and the food was absolutely amazing.
As the tide turns toward the beginning of the holiday season, the goodness in people's hearts truly begins to show. Local volunteers, both young and old, are an inspiration as they spring into action. They coordinate food and toy drives, prepare hot meals for people in the community, put together gift baskets, collect jackets, hats and mittens, and raise money to benefit those in need. All of these efforts are done on both large and small scales, from a penny drive to events like Stuff the Bus that generates thousands of pounds of donated food each and every year. The great part about all of these efforts is that they allow each and every one of us to give what we can, because even the smallest contribution has the capacity to help someone in need.
It might be an understatement to suggest that in Camas and Washougal, high school sports are a big deal. Friday night football games draw hundreds, if not thousands, of screaming fans -- students, parents and community members alike -- to Fishback and Doc Harris stadiums. This is also where crowds faithfully cheer on the soccer teams and track and field teams. Volleyball and basketball supporters also pack local gymnasiums to the gills.
Youth suicide. It's an issue that no parent ever wants to imagine could touch their lives. But statistics prove that the unfortunate reality is that it does. Often unexpectedly. The Washington State Department of Health's 2012 Healthy Youth Survey, released earlier this year, unveiled some surprising statistics when it comes to youth suicide. As part of the survey, students in grades 6, 8, 10, and 12 answered questions about safety and violence, physical activity and diet, alcohol, tobacco and other drug use, and related risk and protective factors.
Recent vandalism perpetrated at the Camas Cemetery has tugged at the heart strings of many local residents. Last Wednesday, it was discovered that approximately 15 headstones, many of them in the southeast "pioneer section" of the cemetery, had been pushed off of their pedestals and onto the ground. On Thursday, Michael Garwood, 21, of Camas, was arrested on charges relating to the vandalism. He remains in the Clark County Jail on 15 counts of violating laws governing the protection of cemeteries and one count of second degree malicious mischief. The case remains under investigation by the Camas Police Department. Additional arrests are possible.
Ballots for the Nov. 5 General Election have been arriving in mailboxes during the past week. Of the 246,000 that have been mailed to homes across Clark County, about 9,400 have so far been returned to the Clark County Elections Office.
East County Fire and Rescue Commission, Position 2 It's time for a change on the East County Fire and Rescue Commission.
In the Camas City Council race for Ward 1, Position 2, it is incumbent Melissa Smith who during the past nine years has earned Camas residents' vote. Smith, 54, is a third-generation Camasonian and has lived and worked in the Camas community for many years. In March 2004, she was appointed to the Camas City Council, and was then subsequently elected to the seat by voters twice in uncontested races.
In the Camas City Council Position 2, Ward 2 race, incumbent Steve Hogan is being challenged by former Camas city employee Ken Kakuk. Hogan, 61, has served on the council for the past eight years. He has a long history of volunteering for a number of roles within the community, including the Camas Educational Foundation, Downtown Camas Association, Camas-Washougal Rotary Club, Camas-Washougal Economic Development Association board of directors and Journey Community Church, to name a few.
Under the direction of Mayor Sean Guard, Washougal has slowly been building a stronger foundation that was left cracked and broken more than four years ago by mismanagement and poor leadership. Guard is up for re-election as part of the Nov. 5 General Election, and he should be allowed to continue to build on that growth and be elected to a second term in office.
