Camas-Washougal Post-Record

July 2, 2013

Camas Council approves loan for new ambulance

Last night, the Camas City Council approved an ordinance that will help facilitate the purchase of a new ambulance for the Camas-Washougal Fire Department. Funding for the $174,046 vehicle will come from a six-year, 1.25 percent interest loan from the state Local Option Capital Lending program. Fire Chief Nick Swinhart recommended this option, rather than using the $150,000 earmarked for the purchase in the 2013 budget. "We feel that it makes more sense right now to utilize the state loan program," Swinhart said. "The interest rates are so low that it is nearly like borrowing money for free. That allows us to keep reserves a little more intact."

July 2, 2013

Washougal reviews levy lid lift options

Washougal voters could decide as early as November, whether to approve a levy lid lift to offset financial challenges faced by the city. The preliminary options discussed during the June 24 City Council meeting included an extra 10, 17.5 or 24 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, to be paid by property owners. Finance Director Jennifer Forsberg said, with current assumptions, the city could face a $303,651 deficit in 2014. That is based on projected revenue of $10.8 million and expenditures of $11.1 million.

July 2, 2013

Pike, Rivers schedule public meeting

Rep. Liz Pike (R-Camas) and Sen. Ann Rivers (R-La Center) recently announced that a public meeting will be held Friday, July 5, in Camas. It's a meeting that is likely to be well attended, in the wake of an "open letter to public educators" posted on Facebook by Pike on June 21. The message criticized public school teachers for complaining about state legislators suspending cost of living increases. "Congratulations on enjoying your last day of the school year," Pike's letter begins. "If I had the opportunity to choose my career all over, I would have opted to get the necessary degree and teaching certificate so that I too could enjoy summertime off with my children, spring break vacations, Christmas break vacations, paid holidays, a generous pension and health insurance benefits."

July 2, 2013

Contributed photo
A 1954 Beechcraft plane owned by David and Susan Holt, of Port Ludlow, Wash., made an emergency landing near Grove Field Airport north of Camas Friday morning. The couple were not injured. FFA officials are investigating the incident.

Plane makes emergency landing near Grove Field

A pilot and his passenger escaped injury Friday when their small plane completed an emergency landing in a corn field west of Grove Field Airport north of Camas. At 11:57 a.m., emergency personnel responded to the aircraft, which was down at Northeast 252nd Avenue and Fifth Street. The pilot, David Holt, 70, of Port Ludlow, Wash., had been in contact with the Portland control tower and advised that his 1954 Beechcraft airplane was having engine trouble and he would be attempting an emergency landing.

July 2, 2013

Photos courtesy of ECFR
A ECFR Citizens Academy participant works to extinguish a "live" vehicle fire. The academy gave citizens the opportunity to get an up-close and personal look at a day in the life of a firefighter.

Show and tell at East County Fire and Rescue

Seven citizens from Clark County recently spent a day learning about what firefighters do -- and how they do it -- at East County Fire & Rescue's annual Citizen's Basic Fire & EMS Academy. From the Fern Prairie station near Grove Field in Camas, participants learned about the business aspects of the District, including the role of the agency and its values and goals; annual budget; safety requirements; training requirements, achievements and accreditations; public information and public education; and customer service expectations. In addition, they rendered emergency medical care to simulated medical patients and victims of traumatic injury and participated in a simulated resuscitation of a cardiac arrest victim. They also cut cars apart using auto extrication equipment and, at the end of the day, extinguished "live" fires in those same vehicles.

July 2, 2013

Summer scorcher

Kids cool off by playing 2-on-2 basketball in the Camas Municipal Pool Friday. With warm temperatures expected throughout the week, the pool has expanded its open swim schedule.

June 18, 2013

Discover Camas & Washougal

Camas and Washougal are two communities that have changed drastically over the years. Their active economic developments began when they became mill towns, and sites for dairy farming and logging, as well as other endeavors related to the timber industry. Over the years, they have both slowly transformed into so much more.

June 18, 2013

Camas officials say they would like to have their own seat on the C-Tran Board. A Composition Review Committee, made up of all three Clark County Commissioners and an elected official from each of the cities within C-Tran service boundaries, will discuss the issue again on July 9.

Camas lobbies for its own spot on C-Tran Board

The city of Camas would like to have its own seat on the C-Tran Board. That was the message delivered by Camas Mayor Scott Higgins on June 11, during a meeting of the C-Tran Board's Composition Review Committee. Higgins said over the years Camas, with a current population of 20,020, has grown to become the second largest city in Clark County. It's seen a substantial amount of economic growth, including new jobs and residential housing. There is currently one job for every three citizens, he said.

June 18, 2013

Steven W. Timmons was upset about Camas code violation notice

A Camas man was arrested Monday afternoon following a physical altercation that involved a handgun. According to a Camas Police Department press release, earlier in the day Steven W. Timmons, 54, became upset when he found a note left on his door by city water department employee Tobin Reed Sr. regarding violation of city code. Timmons had painted a fire hydrant in front of his house red instead of yellow — the color all other hydrants in the city are painted. No one was home when the employee stopped by, so a note was left at the house advising them of the error, with suggestions on where the proper colored paint could be purchased.

June 18, 2013

Pictured is an architect's rendering of the future Lacamas Lake Lodge, which will be built on the site of what was formerly the Camas Moose Lodge. Construction on the $1.9 million project is expected to get underway in July.

Lacamas Lodge construction contract approved

A Vancouver company has been awarded the contract to construct Lacamas Lake Lodge and Conference Center. Last night, the Camas City Council approved the $1.813 million contract with JWC Construction by a vote of 6-0. Councilwoman Melissa Smith had an excused absence. The city had received three other bids, ranging from $1.844 million to $2.124 million. The engineer's estimate was $1.787 million. Construction is scheduled to begin in July, and the lodge and conference center are expected to open to the public in early 2014.

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