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March 19, 2013
Contributed photo Vancouver City Councilman Larrry Smith (left) congratulates Jordan Boldt of Washougal, honored as the 2013 Gen. George C. Marshall Public Leadership Award recipient. He is the 24th recipient of this prestigious annual community award honoring the legacy of one-time Vancouver resident Gen. George C. Marshall.

Jordan Boldt has earned the Marshall Award

A Washougal man has earned a prestigious community award. Jordan Boldt was honored as the 2013 General George C. Marshall Public Leadership Award recipient. He is the 24th recipient of the annual award that honors the legacy of one-time Vancouver resident General George C. Marshall. Boldt has been the executive director of the Vancouver Farmers Market since February 2010. He is responsible for managing more than 175 vendors that serve approximately 15,000 people each weekend during the market's eight-month season, which opened for its 24th year on Saturday a Sixth and Esther streets in downtown. He was nominated by Madeline Delumba and Jim Mains, who commented that Boldt has helped the market thrive and grow.

March 19, 2013
Lindsey Rodgers and Richard Ryan Widle have announced their plans to be married on Aug. 7, 2013, in Kaneohe, Hawaii.

03-19 RODGERS ENGAGEMENT

Lindsey Rodgers of Camas and Richard (Ryan) Widle of Vancouver have announced their plans to be married Aug. 7, 2013, in Kaneohe, Hawaii.

March 19, 2013
Brett Oppegaard, of Camas (right), gives a demonstration of the Fort Vancouver mobile app to a Washington State University Vancouver class. Chief Ranger Greg Shine is pictured on the left. Oppegaard, an assistant professor at WSU-V, recently accepted an award for outstanding volunteer service from the National Park Service.

Brett Oppegaard is honored by the National Park Service

A local resident has received national recognition for his efforts to help make history more interesting for younger generations. Brett Oppegaard, of Camas, accepted the George and Helen Hartzog Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service, in Washington, D.C., in February. The award was presented to him by National Park Service Director Jonathan Jarvis. Oppegaard received a crystal medallion, inscribed with the National Park Service logo. The award was presented in an engraved wooden box. The National Parks Foundation paid for his travel expenses to the nation's capital.

March 19, 2013

Former WPD officer charged with assault

A man who worked for the Washougal Police Department for more than 28 years is accused of repeatedly punching a mentally ill suspect involved in a domestic violence case. Former Officer Robert Ritchie, 53, is charged with fourth degree assault, a gross misdemeanor. Clark County District Court Judge Sonya Langsdorf is scheduled to announce a verdict Wednesday, at 2:30 p.m. Ritchie's case involved a non-jury, bench trial March 14.

March 19, 2013

Keeping up with our kids

I learned to type on an electric typewriter. Embarrassing, but true. Of course, we had computers 22 years ago when I was in high school, but their integration into the day-to-day school curriculum was minimal. We used them to type up term papers and special reports. Research was done using books, encyclopedias and periodicals at the school and public libraries.

March 5, 2013
Crews from the City of Camas and Ballard Diving and Salvage work to pull a section of old dock from Lacamas Lake at the site of the former Moose Lodge on Friday. The wood and other debris were hauled away from the property yesterday for disposal. Four large logs, 6 to 7 feet in diameter, which were used as supports underneath the dock, were discovered. The old growth Douglas fir logs could be salvaged, then sold, traded or re-purposed to benefit the project.

Plans for new Lacamas Lake Lodge move forward

The first signs foreshadowing the future construction of a new recreation facility in Camas were visible Friday. That day, crews from the City of Camas and Ballard Diving and Salvage worked to remove the rickety, decades-old wooden dock that sat on Lacamas Lake in front of the city owned building formerly occupied by the Camas Moose. It was a step forward in a project that will ultimately result in construction of Lacamas Lake Lodge and Conference Center at 227 N.E. Lake Road. "It makes you realize something is happening when you see logs being dragged through the parking lot," commented Camas Mayor Scott Higgins during last night's City Council workshop. "It's going to be a fun project." Included in the $1.9 million price tag is an $842,000, 5,000 square foot building that will consist of a large event space, two smaller meeting rooms, office space, kitchen, restrooms, storage, large covered patio and a 60-foot long dock. The facility, which will be located adjacent to Heritage Park, will also feature a fireplace and vaulted ceilings, with large windows to take advantage of the lake views.

March 5, 2013

Committee supports making fire department merger permanent

Camas and Washougal should pursue expanding their current fire department consolidation efforts, instead of the formation of a regional fire authority, a committee made up of elected city leaders recently recommended. During the Tuesday, Feb. 26 Regional Fire Authority Committee meeting, members voted to support a recommendation to cease pursuit of forming a regional fire authority, and proceed with the current interlocal agreement and explore further integration of the two departments. The current Camas-Washougal trial merger agreement expires at the end of this year. During a joint meeting in April, the Camas and Washougal city councils are expected to discuss the particulars, including looking at policy and governance issues, and how a full integration could be structured. Tackling all of those issues, said Camas City Administrator Nina Regor, is likely to take some time. The joint meeting between the Camas and Washougal city councils is tentatively scheduled for Monday, April 8, at 4:30 p.m., at Washougal City Hall, 1701 "C" St. In addition to issues surrounding the fire department consolidation, other topics will include an update on the C-W Municipal Court and an animal control inter-local agreement.

March 5, 2013

Mount Pleasant would pay Washougal approximately $20,000 annually for payroll, technology

The Washougal School District is considering accepting a contract to provide business services to the Mount Pleasant School District. "I was approached by the superintendent of the Mount Pleasant School District to consider a request for a partnership," said Dawn Tarzian, Washougal superintendent. This statement resulted in a few smiles among audience members, as Peter Tarzian, the Mount Pleasant superintendent, is also her husband. The superintendents met with Rosann Lassman, Washougal business services manager, to discuss the proposal.

March 5, 2013

Camas hires legal team to help in fight against BPA project

The City of Camas has engaged the legal firm of Foster Pepper PLLC to represent its interests regarding the proposed Bonneville Power Administration I-5 Corridor Reinforcement Project. The city announced the move this morning in a media release. City leaders have publicly voiced strong opposition to the project, and hinted in the past that legal action could be a possibility.

March 5, 2013

Columbia River Crossing will be among the topics

A project that could replace the I-5 bridge will be the featured topic of a Washougal town hall. The meeting with City Council members is scheduled for Saturday, at 9 a.m., in the council chambers at City Hall, 1701 "C" St. Comments about the proposed Columbia River Crossing project and other issues will be accepted from residents and property tax payers within Washougal or Washougal's urban growth area.