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Editorials

November 24, 2010

What makes a qualified candidate?

What should make a candidate qualified for appointment to a position on a local government body? This question will be up for discussion during Monday night's Washougal City Council meeting. The topic is a result of councilman Jon Russell's opposition to the recommendation by a panel that Mike Briggs be appointed to the city's Planning Commission. That panel included a current planning commissioner, city councilman and city department head.

November 16, 2010

A local tradition continues

For nearly 80 years, the Washougal volunteer firefighters have been making sure an annual hometown tradition remains in-tact. That tradition continues once again this weekend, as local residents and their families will gather at the Washougal Fire Department on A Street to take part in the Turkey Carnival. There are few things that illustrate the unique aspects of small town more than these kinds of long-standing community events that bring people together, with the added benefit that it also supports a variety of efforts that helps friends and neighbors in need.

November 9, 2010

Time to fulfill the promises

Promises, promises, promises. Voters heard a lot of those during the recent election season. There were promises for change, promises to create more jobs, and promises to reduce government spending and taxes, solve the budget crisis, and find a remedy for the health care situation. "We are going to represent the people we've been elected to serve," they have all said in one form or another.

November 2, 2010

Challenging financial times in Camas

The impacts of a $1.6 million budget hole were revealed during last night's council workshop, and the picture painted wasn't pretty. The cuts that will likely be made by the city are ones that will be felt and seen by citizens in a variety of ways. With cuts adding up to $800,000, levels of service that Camas residents have come to expect in recent years will certainly diminish -- even as many city employees, from library pages to firefighters, police officers and parks maintenance workers will be working harder to serve the public.

October 19, 2010

A quick take on booze, candy, new taxes and criminals

OK, here's a quick survey for you just in time for the upcoming General Election on Nov. 2. Are you in favor of keeping current sales taxes on candy, bottled water and soda pop? How about getting rid of state liquor stores and letting your local mini mart sell hard liquor? Or setting a new income tax for individuals with income more than $200,000 per year?

October 12, 2010

A legacy of kindness and giving

True acts of selfless generosity are difficult to find. These are the kinds of acts that involve giving without getting -- expecting not even so much as a thank you in return. This kind of philanthropy was demonstrated on Friday, when it was announced that a local couple through their estate had left the Humane Society of Southwest Washington a $100,000 gift.

October 5, 2010

Work of local women has great impact

The statistics in today's front page article that takes a look into how one woman has worked to combat the sex trade in the United States are enough to make your head spin in absolute disbelief. The article recounts a visit to Camas by Linda Smith, a former congresswoman who founded Shared Hope International, and the War Against Trafficking Alliance to coordinate regional and international efforts to combat sex trafficking.

September 28, 2010

Economic development commission should be top priority

When it comes to the concept of government working efficiently for the people, very often the first reaction from a citizen and taxpayer is one of skepticism. Too often citizens have seen their government bodies, well meaning as they may be, talk of big plans but then end up only spinning their wheels as they attempt to get even the smallest task accomplished.

September 21, 2010

Safety measures could prevent more tragedies

Sometimes it takes a single tragic event to realize that changes and improvements should be made. This is the case with the recent death of 22-year-old Camas resident Sami Nesta-Serrano. Although the exact cause has yet to be determined, BNSF Railway officials have surmised that he was likely hit by an oncoming train late Saturday or early Sunday as he stood near or attempted to cross the tracks located at Southeast Sixth Avenue and Franklin Street.