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June 18, 2013

Chemicals found at former Hambleton site

Several contaminants have been found in the soil of the previous Hambleton Lumber Sales LLC location. They include total petroleum hydrocarbons, carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, poly-chlorinated biphenyls, lead and mercury. In 2012, the level of benzo(a)pyrene was .232 mg/kg and TEC was .327 mg/kg, at 335 S. "A" St., Washougal. Cleanup levels for both are 0.1 mg/kg. The highest concentration of total petroleum hydrocarbons was 7,920, compared to a cleanup level of 2,000. Other levels include PCBs (1.869 mg/kg, with a cleanup level of 1); lead (438 mg/kg, with a cleanup level of 250); and mercury (9.53 mg/kg, with a cleanup level of 2).

June 11, 2013
Pictured is an architect's rendering of the proposed Lacamas Lake Lodge and Conference Center, which will be built on the site of the former Camas Moose Lodge. Funding issues have delayed the bid award process.

Lacamas Lake Lodge project more expensive than expected

The Lacamas Lake Lodge and Conference Center project is going to be more expensive than Camas city officials originally anticipated. All four bids opened on May 13 were approximately $20,000 higher than the city engineer’s estimate of $1.79 million. Adding to the overall higher price tag for the project is fuel tank remediation work recently completed at the site. All told, Public Works Director Eric Levison said an additional $200,000 will be needed to fully fund the project. The city had already secured a $1.65 million 10-year, 3 percent interest loan from the State of Washington LOCAL program. Another $350,000 is being provided by the Friends of the Camas Community Center.

June 11, 2013

Washougal’s form of government to be discussed

The next Washougal town hall will feature discussions regarding a potential public vote about the city's form of government. During the City Council workshop yesterday, Councilwoman Joyce Lindsay requested that the issue of changing from a strong mayor to a council-manager form of government be discussed and potentially placed on the Nov. 5 ballot. Councilman Paul Greenlee suggested city officials talk to Bill Ganley, who has been involved with council-manager government changes in Battle Ground.

June 4, 2013

Bears are reported to wildlife officials

It is not Chicago, but "da bears" keep appearing. There have been multiple bear sightings in the Camas area within the past couple of weeks. According to Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife Sgt. Jeff Wickersham, they have included a bear -- described as larger than a cub -- that was seen May 25, at about 4:30 p.m., running north from Dorothy Fox Elementary School (1954 N.E. Garfield St.) The following day, at approximately 7:30 p.m., someone reported seeing a black bear running along the south side of the road by WaferTech (5509 N.W. Parker St.) A bear was also seen May 27, at about 8:30 p.m., at the 1400 block of Northeast 197th Avenue.

June 4, 2013

Salmon Creek project on I-5 will continue through the weekend

The shut down of all lanes of Interstate-5 in Salmon Creek this weekend is very likely to impact traffic and cause congestion on roads around Clark County, including state Route 14. I-5 at Salmon Creek will close on Friday, beginning at 11 p.m., and won't re-open until Monday at 5 a.m.

June 4, 2013
Cape Horn-Skye Elementary third-grader and cancer survivor Sammy Mederos will shave her hair off to benefit childhood cancer research.

Sammy Mederos, 9, will shave her head to help kids with cancer

Sammy Mederos's beaming smile and long, thick, curly blond hair are the very picture of health. To look at her, you'd never guess she is a leukemia survivor. But it wasn't that long ago the now 9-year-old was severely ill from chemotherapy treatments. She was diagnosed in 2009, while in kindergarten at Cape Horn-Skye Elementary. It was a long road to recovery, but Sammy is now in remission.

June 4, 2013

Fireworks sales hours to be reduced in Washougal

There will be a reduction in the number of days that fireworks can be sold inside the city limits of Washougal, starting in 2014. The Washougal City Council unanimously approved amendments to the city’s Municipal Code on May 28. It is currently legal to sell fireworks from noon to 11 p.m., June 28, from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., June 29 through July 4, and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., on July 5, as well as from noon to 11 p.m., from Dec. 27 through Dec. 31.

June 4, 2013
Ken Alwine, of Camas, is among the volunteers for Fences for Fido. The organization's mission is to improve the quality of life for dogs by removing chains and building fences.

Freedom for Fido

A Camas resident is among the individuals improving the lives of dogs throughout the region. As a volunteer for Fences for Fido, Ken Alwine has helped build more than 30 fences. The mission of the 501(c) 3 non-profit organization is to improve the quality of life for dogs living outdoors by removing chains and building fences.