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Editorials

September 24, 2013

It’s not the right time for ECFR Proposition 1

Amid an economy that has been in a recession for several years and is finally beginning to get back on track, now just isn't the right time to ask East County Fire and Rescue voters to approve a capital improvement bond. The $1.275 million, 20-year capital projects proposition would fund two new fire engines, one brush truck, new fire fighting and medical equipment, an emergency generator at Mount Norway Station 94, parking lot repair at Sunnyside Station 93 and a water well at Livingston Mountain Station 92. It is estimated that the bond would cost taxpayers 9 cents per $1,000 of assessed property valuation. This means the owner of a $300,000 home would pay an additional $27 per year, the owner of a $250,000 home would pay $22.50 per year, and the owner of a $200,000 home would pay $18 per year.

September 17, 2013

Form of government change is not needed in Washougal

Washougal voters have an important decision to make when their ballots arrive in the mail for the Nov. 5 General Election. It may, in fact, be one of the most important issues to appear on local ballots in recent history. If approved, Proposition 1 would transition Washougal from its current mayor-council form of government to the vastly different council-manager system. Currently, Washougal citizens have the right to elect a strong mayor, who is the chief executive officer of the city, along with seven city council members who form its legislative body. Washougal's city administrator, appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the city council, carries out the day-to-day operations of the city.

September 10, 2013

Start to fall sports season packs a punch

Two big wins on the football field are great ways to start the fall sports season, and teams from both Camas and Washougal put on quite a show under the Friday night lights. Perhaps the biggest win of the evening came from the Papermakers, who toppled Portland's Jesuit High School with relative ease in a game that pitted the number-one ranked teams in Oregon and Washington against one another. In the end, as the 47-14 score suggests, it was really no contest and more than 5,000 fans got to see their hometown team shine at Doc Harris Stadium.

September 3, 2013

She never gave up

"You should never, ever give up." These were the first words of Diana Nyad yesterday when, on her fifth try, she became the first woman to swim from Cuba to Florida without the help of a shark cage. After jumping into the waters of Havana, it took her 53 hours to complete the 110-mile swim. And even more amazing, is the fact that this woman recently celebrated her 64th birthday.

August 27, 2013

Summer’s end stirs mixed emotions

With warm summer weather still basking our area and school age children enjoying summer activities, it's hard to grasp the fact that the first day of school is less than a week away. But that's exactly where we are on the calendar as summer begins to wind down. The first day of school in Camas and Washougal is next Tuesday, Sept. 3. For students, parents, teachers and school staff, the thoughts and emotions that come to mind this time of year likely range from sadness to eager enthusiasm for the new school year. Most students, for example, would probably be glad to take another month of vacation, in exchange for returning to the classroom with the September sun still shining bright.

August 20, 2013

Small cities deserve their own seats at the C-Tran table

During the past three months, Clark County elected officials who are part of the C-Tran Board Composition Review Committee have met a handful of times to discuss the possibility of changing the C-Tran Board's power structure. In a nutshell, several of the smaller cities represented on the Board -- including Camas and Battle Ground -- have expressed strong interest in having their own seats. Currently, smaller cities are grouped together in twos, with Camas-Washougal, La Center/Ridgefield, and Battle Ground/Yacolt each sharing a seat. Vancouver and Clark County each have three seats.

August 13, 2013

Expect a busy election season

Now that the Primary Election has come to a close, local political watchers have begun to eye the upcoming General Election. And based on the number of candidates and issues that will be on the ballot, it's going to be a busy election season.

August 6, 2013

Saving Camp Melacoma

More than 100 acres of open space, plenty of fresh air, lots of room to roam, completely natural surroundings. For many city dwellers, even small cities like Camas and Washougal, these aren't things they get to experience on a day-to-day basis. But fortunately, it's not necessary to travel too far find to find them. And thanks to the efforts of one local couple, a popular youth summer residence camp will be preserved for current and future generations to have this kind of special outdoor experience for many years to come.

July 31, 2013

Vote Greenlee for Washougal City Council

With a controversial issue, its mayoral seat and several City Council seats set to be on Washougal voters' General Election ballots this year, it certainly won't be a boring election season in the small city of 15,000 people. But on Aug. 6 Primary Election ballots, there's just one city government issue to decide on, and really it's a decision that shouldn't be too hard at all. For the Position 3 seat, voters have a choice between incumbent Paul Greenlee, city political arena newcomer Lisa Voeltz, and George Kolin, who unsuccessfully ran for Washougal City Council once before in 2011.

July 23, 2013

Give parents full-day option

After many years of discussion and speculation, during this most recent session state legislators and ultimately Gov. Jay Inslee approved funding in the state operating budget that will allow for a greater number of schools to offer full-day kindergarten to some students. As detailed in a article in today's Post-Record, the funding is a step toward compliance with the Supreme Court McCleary decision, which mandates that lawmakers must fully fund basic education, including kindergarten, by 2018. In its first year, grants for full-day kindergarten at schools with the highest rates of poverty were given first priority.