Camas-Washougal logo tag

News

October 30, 2012
Shawn Lewis, a 1995 Camas High School graduate, and Natasha Neuschwander recently competed on the NBC singing competition "The Voice." The married couple, known as "Beat Frequency," was coached by Christina Aguilera. Billie Joe Armstrong, lead singer of Green Day, served as a mentor.

CHS graduate is one-half of ‘Beat Frequency’

A former Camas resident and his wife recently received national exposure on the NBC singing competition, "The Voice." Fans of Shawn Lewis, 35, and Natasha Neuschwander, 29, saw them leave the show after their coach, Christina Aguilera, chose a solo artist instead to move forward in the process. Lewis said it was challenging to find and agree on the arrangement for the battle round. "Trying to divide that to feature each vocalist and us as a duo, it was a laborious process," he said. For more information, visit www.beatfrequency.net.

October 30, 2012
Along with a number of technology upgrades, Camas has a redesigned city logo. It can be found on all city documents, business cards as well as imprinted on the wall of the council chambers at City Hall. Mayor Scott Higgins said the change to the logo was part of a citywide "branding" effort. "The hope is that everything that comes out of the city looks the same," he said. "You know it's from Camas."

Upgrades allow City Council to go paperless, offer streaming live video of meetings

Citizens who are unable -- or unwilling -- to attend the Monday night meetings of the Camas City Council at City Hall now have quick access to live and archived video of those events. Real-time online video streaming of the twice-monthly City Council meetings and workshops, as well as archived videos of past meetings since Oct. 1 -- all integrated with the agendas -- are available at the click of a mouse through the city's website: "http://www.cityofcamas.us." The technology upgrades have led to some visible changes inside the council chambers at City Hall where there are now several video cameras capturing meeting discussions, an updated audio sound system, two 60-inch flat screen monitors for use during presentations, and a mini video control center where the system can be regulated by city staff.

October 23, 2012

Economic development group advances its cause

The expansion of Fastenal into the Port of Camas-Washougal Industrial Park is among the recent accomplishments of the Camas-Washougal Economic Development Association. CWEDA President Paul Dennis said a Fastenal representative contacted him early on in their search for space in the local area. "I provided them with a listing of available properties that fit their specifications," Dennis said. "I did mention the port as a possibility. [Port Executive Director] Dave Ripp handled the negotiations." Fastenal is a wholesale/retail outlet of bolts, screws and nuts, as well as tools, equipment, plumbing, electrical and work safety supplies. "Their closest one is on Mill Plain near Walmart," Dennis said. "They needed another location to help meet the customer needs of the Camas-Washougal area."

October 23, 2012
Jo Grace Buck enjoys growing vegetables such as corn, tomatoes, peas, carrots and beets, with her husband Roy (not pictured). In all, there are more than 50 varieties of produce grown at their Ever Green Farm, in Washougal. "We want to learn and give options to people," Jo Grace said. "We try varieties and see what works -- what grows in this environment."

Life on the farm

A Washougal couple has lovingly transformed a property that once housed racehorses into a farm that grows a variety of vegetables and other produce. Roy and Jo Grace Buck purchased 7.5 acres 14 years ago. With one-half acre currently under cultivation, they hope to eventually increase that to around four acres. The Bucks started to farm locally last year, by growing radishes, carrots, potatoes and squash. They also grew seven kinds of lettuce, three types of chard and two types of cabbage. "It was such a great learning experience," Jo Grace said.

October 23, 2012

15 years of soaring with the CEF

Since its inception 15 years ago, the Camas Educational Foundation has given $1 million to local schools. Organizers of this year's annual dinner and auction are planning to celebrate that milestone, as well as raise $100,000 that night. "This year's auction is a celebration of the journey CEF has made over the past 15 years and where we are headed. We will be highlighting those moments and experiences that have led to the place we are today," said Mandy Huth, CEF president. "Lao Tzu said, 'A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.' We have come so far, step by step, and continue to travel, together, on our journey." The auction and dinner theme is "Soaring With CEF," and will be held at the Pearson Air Museum in Vancouver on Saturday, Nov. 17. Tickets are $65 each, and this year's annual appeal is a literacy campaign, "Everyone is a Reader." The goal is to raise $1,500 for each of the 10 Camas schools, for a total of $15,000.

October 23, 2012

Highway 14 will re-open Wednesday

Federal, state and local officials will be in Camas today to cut the ceremonial ribbon that will officially re-open to traffic a newly built section of Highway 14. Officials expected to attend the event include Shari Hildreth representing U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler’s office; Schuyler Hoss of Gov. Chris Gregoire's office; 18th District Rep. Liz Pike, Camas Mayor Scott Higgins, Port of Camas-Washougal Executive Director David Ripp and former 18th District Sen. Joe Zarelli. Ripp said the 16-month construction process has produced good results. "It is very exciting to see this project almost completed," he said. "I am amazed how quickly it came together and how much it is going to improve the flow of traffic along SR-14."

October 23, 2012
Gary Ritter plays at the new electric organ console installed as part of the existing pipe organ at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Washougal. The community is invited to a celebration on Sunday, when Portland organist Bill Crane will perform. Ritter and Ian Guthrie are the regular accompanists for the congregation during Sunday church services.

Concert will highlight the expansion of pipe organ at St. Matthew Lutheran Church

Thirty-five years ago, Gary Ritter helped design the first pipe organ installed at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Washougal. And today, as one of the church organists, he is celebrating the expansion of that instrument into one that can now produce rich, complex tones. "It's a wonderful way for us to have so much more capability," Ritter said. "This church really has a history of honoring the musical heritage of the Lutheran church, so it was important to them to have a good speaking instrument." The new installation consists of a Dutch built Johannus electronic organ connected to the existing pipes to produce a hybrid instrument of greater scope than before, Ritter explained. Pipes and speakers combine to add strength to each component's qualities, the strength and beauty of the pipes and the greater tonal resources of a large instrument. "One of the things that is the beauty of an instrument like this is that it can do a lot of the things a traditional organ would never have been able to do," he said.

October 16, 2012
Contributed photo Georgia-Pacific Camas mill manager Gary Kaiser (right) presents a check for $10,000 to members of the S.W.O.R.D. team including Misty Metz, Tyler McMahon, Larry Wagoner, Tim Woodring, Doug Young, Ron Gray, Jerry Lester, Jim Virgin and Luke McCall.

S.W.O.R.D. will use the $10,000 award to purchase ATV

The Southwest Washington Organization of Rescue Divers from Camas is the most recent local recipient of the Georgia-Pacific Bucket Brigade grant. S.W.O.R.D. was awarded $10,000 and was among 25 fire and rescue units across the country to receive the grant. "Georgia-Pacific is proud to continue our support of S.W.O.R.D. with this award," said Gary Kaiser, vice president and mill manager for the G-P consumer products facility. "It will help purchase much needed equipment to facilitate fast emergency response and keep our community safe, and it also serves as a way to show our appreciation for the dedication of these divers."