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January 30, 2012
Event will be held at Washburn Performing Arts Center
Boldt will deliver 'State of the County' in Washougal
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.
Visitors to Bethel Community Church on the third Saturday of every month are subject to being greeted by several people -- including Pastor Rich Blum and musician Mike Logan. There are also several volunteers at an information table, steering patients toward free medical or massage services. They are all part of the "Compassion C/W" effort to provide services for individuals who do not have access to health care. Logan, a member of the Bethel congregation, plays a guitar and harmonica in the church lobby which serves as a "waiting room" for patients and their families. Blum said the volunteers are from several local churches. "We just host it," he said. "We try to do anything we can to make it special and provide a personal touch.
Planning and design are underway for a $1 million renovation of the former American Legion building in Camas. According to Leonard Felix, CID Bio-Science president, Portland-based ZGF Architects LLP has been selected to design its new headquarters and operations facility in Camas that when complete will “celebrate a Northwest style while incorporating CID Bio-Science Inc.’s business focus — high tech and botanical." Headquartered in Portland, ZGF was founded in 1942 and has received more than 600 design awards. "We're pleased to be working with a Northwest company with a global reach to rejuvenate a historical piece of Camas real estate and create a new, inspiring place for innovation," said Kathy Berg, ZGF principal, who will lead the firm's design efforts.
The Camas School District will have three elementary schools completed within three years when Woodburn Elementary opens in 2013. Grass Valley and Helen Baller Elementary are the other two recent additions, both of which opened in the fall of 2010. A sixth elementary school is needed due to continued enrollment growth in the Camas School District, according to Superintendent Mike Nerland. "With a large increase in our student population, the district had an urgent need to provide additional housing for our students" he said.