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October 5, 2010

Deep budget cuts in store for Camas

Camas leaders received some unwelcome news late last month when they were informed by the Clark County Assessor's Office that the city's assessed value would very likely take a steep dive in 2011. This translates into a severe decline in property tax income, which means the city is looking at a $1.6 million shortfall in the 2011 budget. Although early predictions pointed toward a decrease in assessed value, officials said the severity of the situation was unexpected.

October 5, 2010

Gerde plans to leave city council

A Camas City Council woman noted for her attention to detail and fiscal responsibility announced last night that she intends to leave her elected position at the end of the year. Helen Gerde, who is serving her 15th year on the city council, said she made the decision because she wants to spend more time with her grandchildren, including helping to care for her newest grandchild in Kirkland, Wash. "I never would have thought I'd end up doing this," she said of being a member of the city council. "I've enjoyed every minute of it."

October 5, 2010

Four injured in car accident near Camas

Four juveniles were injured Monday afternoon in a serious collision on Crown Road near Camas. At approximately 2:24 p.m., deputies from the Clark County Sheriff's Office and personnel from East County Fire & Rescue responded to the incident at the 2500 block of Southeast Crown Road.

October 5, 2010
Members of Soroptimist International of Camas-Washougal and other local residents received copies of "Renting Lacey: A Story of America's Prostituted Children," autographed Sept. 21, by the author Linda Smith, at Zion Lutheran Church, in Camas. The former Congresswoman and founder of Shared Hope International was honored with the "Ruby Award" from the Soroptimists for making extraordinary differences in the lives of women and girls.

Ruby Award winner is bringing ‘hope’ home

While some people might think sex trafficking is a problem that only occurs overseas, Linda Smith reminded local Soroptimists that it is very much a Northwest issue as well. Smith, founder and president of Shared Hope International, recently spoke to members of Soroptimist International of Camas-Washougal at Zion Lutheran Church in Camas. Shared Hope, based in Vancouver, exists to prevent, rescue and restore women and children who have been victims of sex trafficking.

October 4, 2010

Four injured in car accident near Camas

Four juveniles were injured Monday afternoon in a serious collision on Crown Road near Camas. On Monday at approximately 2:24 p.m., deputies from the Clark County Sheriff's Office and personnel from the East County Fire & Rescue responded to the incident at the 2500 block of Southeast Crown Road.

September 28, 2010
An open house, scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 6, from 5 to 7 p.m., will celebrate the completion of the Camas Community Center's new entryway (above) and the installation of an audio-visual system. The event, free and open to the public, will include a dedication ceremony, kids' activities and refreshments.

Event will highlight new additions to community center

A dedication ceremony to mark the installation of several improvements to the 95-year-old Camas Community Center will be held Wednesday, Oct. 6. Those recent additions to the facility located at 1718 S.E. Seventh Ave., in the Oak Park area, include an entryway and a new audio-visual system. The festivities will begin at 5 p.m. with activities and arts and crafts for kids and demonstrations of the new sound system's capabilities. The dedication, led by current Mayor Paul Dennis and former Mayor Nan Henriksen, will start at 6 p.m. Refreshments will be served throughout the evening, which concludes at 7 p.m.

September 28, 2010

State audit faults Washougal’s financial reporting

The Washington State Auditor's Office has determined there were significant deficiencies and material weaknesses by the City of Washougal, in 2009. An audit released today refers to the state Route 14 pedestrian tunnel project. The finding mentioned the city's internal controls were not adequate to ensure compliance with cost principles and the Davis-Bacon Act. The city spent $1.08 million in Highway Planning and Construction federal grant funds in 2009. The project was administered by the Washington State Department of Transportation and funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

September 28, 2010

Washougal mayor plans to freeze wages

The Washougal City Council will soon be asked to freeze the salaries of all of the city's non-represented employees, effective Jan. 1, 2011. Mayor Sean Guard is also requesting two of the city's employee unions reopen their collective bargaining contracts a year early. His announcement is in response to growing deficits in the city's general fund, resulting from rising employee costs and diminished revenues. The initial projected deficits for 2011, 2012 and 2013 - as forecast in July this year - were $1.3 million, $1.45 million and $1.6 million. The projections have decreased due to cost reduction measures, and additional reductions are being identified as part of the 2011 budget process.

September 28, 2010

Acid hoax case heads to Vancouver court Wednesday

The Washougal Safeway employee who has admitted to police she applied acid to her face is expected to make her first appearance in court Wednesday. Bethany Storro, of Vancouver, is scheduled to appear in front of Judge John Nichols, at 8:45 a.m., in Clark County Superior Court. She is facing three counts of second-degree theft by deception. They include aggravating circumstances against Storro because they involved Good Samaritan donations of more than $750.

September 22, 2010

Portland man sentenced in bank fraud case

The ringleader of a team of thieves that spent seven years burglarizing office buildings, including those in Camas and Vancouver, will serve jail time and pay restitution to his victims. Antione Lamont Lawrence, formerly of Portland, Ore., pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud in May. He was sentenced last week by U.S. District Judge Michael Mosman. According to the plea agreement, he will serve 97 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and pay nearly $700,000 in restitution.