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July 3, 2025
Mikhaila Worle of the West Columbia Gorge Humane Society spends time with pit bull mix Lylah, 4, on Monday morning, June 30, 2025. The West Columbia Gorge Humane Society has completed major renovations to its dog shelter, replacing its old, degrading kennels, not originally designed for shelter use, with new, state-of-the-art kennels. (Amanda Cowan/The Columbian) (Photos by NAME HERE/The Columbian)

Washougal dog shelter renovation nearly done

Renovations at the West Columbia Gorge Humane Society’s Washougal dog shelter are improving life for both the dogs awaiting homes and the shelter staff who care for them.

July 3, 2025
The Camas School District Zellerbach Administration Center is pictured April 15, 2020. (Amanda Cowan/The Columbian files)

Camas schools on verge of balancing ‘25-26 budget

Having just completed one of the largest budget reductions in the Camas School District’s recent history, district leaders say they are on the verge of achieving a balanced 2025-26 budget and bringing the district’s reserve funds back to a more sustainable level.

July 3, 2025
The innermost Diebold “cannonball” safe. “You can see how thick it is,” Dave McOmie said. “A monster. I’ve drilled about a half-dozen, and none of them went well.” Fortunately, he found Frank Sinatra’s unlocked. (Photo contributed by Dave McOmie)

Sinatra’s vault challenges Camas safecracker

Dave McOmie of Camas doesn’t claim to be a big Frank Sinatra fan. If he was, he might have hummed a Sinatra ballad of longing and uncertainty — “Maybe You’ll Be There” or “If I Had You” — while cracking a spectacularly difficult safe at a Tahoe resort a few weeks ago.

June 26, 2025
A recreational vehicle is parked on a side street in Camas on Friday, June 20, 2025. A new city ordinance limits RV parking, storage and occupancy on public and private properties in Camas. (Amanda Cowan/The Columbian)

Camas adopts new RV rules

Recreational vehicle owners living in or visiting Camas may be surprised by a new law limiting RV and trailer parking, storage and occupancy within the city limits, including on private property.