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News

July 10, 2025

Clark County implements burn ban

As of July 3, all land clearing and residential burning in Clark County is banned until further notice. The county’s fire marshal also rescinded all burning permits issued prior…

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.