Camas city administrator to retire
The only person to serve as Camas city administrator has announced his plans to retire.
The only person to serve as Camas city administrator has announced his plans to retire.
A Washougal foundation and a Pendleton Woolen Mills executive are helping the Maryhill Museum of Art realize a goal of expanding. The "Kind Heart Free Spirit Foundation" has provided a $10,000 grant toward the construction of the 25,000-square foot Mary and Bruce Stevenson Wing. The vice-chairman of Pendleton Woolen Mills, Broughton"Brot" Bishop, and his wife Mary, of Portland, have donated $200,000 for the project. Together the gifts bring the museum within $40,000 of the amount needed to secure a matching grant of $400,000 from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust.
A local campsite known for its summer programs has recently started to offer temporary shelter for the homeless, when other facilities in the area are full. Camp Lacamas Retreat & Conference Center includes 10 cabins equipped with electric heat, lighting and bunk beds. There are also two restroom buildings with showers. Offering the facility as a warming shelter is a new venture. "We just felt it was a very good use of our camp during the deep winter months when bookings are slower," said Booking Manager Kalani Culley. "Traditionally, December and January are not times when we are getting the bookings that we normally get during other months. It gives us the freedom to do something more community oriented."
Boldt will deliver 'State of the County' in Washougal
For the first time in more than 10 years, the City of Camas has launched a new website that will offer a variety of unique services and tools. Today the city rolls out the major overhaul that was initiated by Mayor Scott Higgins, who has an interest in technology and saw a need to improve the city's online communications with citizens. City staff, led by Information Systems Director Sherry Coulter, implemented all of the website changes and upgrades. "[Coulter] was very driven and made it happen," Higgins said of the project that began to take shape in May and June. "We have enough talent in house that we could do this internally. That saved us a lot of money."
Snowfall and heavy rains caused a number of problems with flooding in the local area last week.
The facility formerly known as Highland Terrace Nursing Center has a new name, a new administrator and 27 new private rooms. The rooms in Eagle Rehabilitation At Camas are in a short-term rehabilitation wing for patients who want to recover from orthopedic surgeries or strokes. The wing features new furniture, fixtures and equipment. There are also new sheets and bedspreads, flat screen TVs, direct dial telephones, locking cabinets and bathrooms with showers. The intention is to provide rooms for individuals as they "transition from hospital to home," according to Paul McVay, who recently succeeded Bill Swanson as the administrator. Swanson now manages Columbia View Care Center, in Cathlamet.
New York City is a long way from Washougal, but that's where Kurt Hill is turning his dreams into reality. As a kid attending Washougal schools, Hill always wanted to work with his hands when he got older. However, he never dreamed he'd be using those to command the biggest dredge in the world. "I didn't even know this kind of stuff existed before," he said.
Representatives from the Friends of the Columbia Gorge and Sierra Club, as well as other local residents, are concerned about the potential effects of having an additional 20 coal trains travel through Washougal and Camas each day. Currently, there are two coal trains that travel through the local area per day. Coal export terminals are proposed in Cherry Point, Gray's Harbor and Longview, to enable coal companies to transport coal through the Pacific Northwest to Asian markets. Samantha Lockhart, conservation organizer with the Friends, said during the Washougal City Council meeting last night the organization is concerned about the coal trains' effects on the local economy. "They could impact home values," she said.
Liz Pike, a former Camas City Council member, announced yesterday that she has filed with the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission as a candidate for 18th District State Representative, Position 2 seat.