A recent newspaper article prompted me to sit down and express my feelings about how difficult it must have been for Gov. Chris Gregoire to explain to students at the Clark County Skills Center why the state is facing more deep cuts to education.
In about two weeks, community leaders and citizens from around Clark County will gather at Washougal High School as Clark County Commissioner Marc Boldt delivers this year's "State of the County" address. It is likely that Boldt's speech will touch on a variety of topics -- the struggles the county faces in recent tough economic times, as well as some of the successes that have been realized. In our little corner of Clark County, while there have no doubt been financial struggles, there are good things happening that make the future appear to be a little brighter.
OK, I'm going to level with you up front, dear reader. This column may not contain the most fascinating news you've read in your Post-Record for a while. No, it's not going to rank up there with the stories about the great success the Washougal and Camas girls' sports programs had this past weekend, or this week's Hometown front page story. Heck, even a City Council story will probably seem fascinating compared to what I'm about to write about.
The trial consolidation process between the Camas and Washougal fire departments that began in July is approaching the six-month mark.
Step up for democracy I hear a lot of complaints about corporations that are pouring unlimited and unidentified dollars into the our elections.
"Human trafficking." It's a term many of us associate with things that happen in foreign countries, not in the United States where slavery has long been outlawed. But in-depth reports and investigations have revealed that this form of sex slavery is indeed a serious problem, and in fact the stretch from Seattle to Portland has become a "hub" for this kind of despicable activity.
For years, energy experts warned us that regulations and policies that reduce the supply of affordable conventional energy would result in higher prices for American families.
The New Year is just around the corner, and for many it will be a time to get dressed up and celebrate the countdown to 2012.
In today's dog-eat-dog world, change is constant and accelerating. Other countries are stealing our factories and jobs and are hungry for more. That is the new reality.
Amid all of the holiday cheer that can be found around town -- from Christmas tree lightings and parades to visits from Santa -- it is incredibly sobering to read that two local homeless shelters that serve the Clark County area were packed to their limits on the first day they opened for the winter season on Nov. 1, and have remained steadily busy ever since.
