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April 3, 2012
Join the hunt: Take part in one of the local Easter egg hunts
Residents of the Camas-Washougal areas have a number of Easter egg hunt events from which to choose this weekend.
Residents of the Camas-Washougal areas have a number of Easter egg hunt events from which to choose this weekend.
When Woodburn Elementary School opens its doors in the fall of 2013, it will be the sixth elementary school in Camas. The addition of a new building will mean a boundary revision at both elementary and middle school levels. "We need to redistribute the student population of the district, that is what is driving this," School Board member Doug Quinn said. "It also coincides with our long range facilities improvement. We are figuring out what the demands on our buildings are and trying to distribute students before we have to deal with more growth related issues."
The long-awaited results of an investigation into Washougal financial issues have been sent to the Clark County Prosecutor's Office. Sheriff's Office Sgt. Kevin Allais, with the Major Crimes Unit, said the report prepared by Detective Tom Mitchum, has been completed and forwarded to prosecutors.
A former Washougal resident is hoping to make a difference, particularly in the lives of youth. Elijah "Mentality" Huckins recently released a suicide prevention and awareness music video "Leaf on a Limb." It is among the songs on his CD "Risk It All." In addition to hoping to reach as many youth as possible, Huckins thinks the video could be a great tool for parents. "Parents could use it to communicate with their children about this tragic reality," he said. "This video shows what is left behind and most importantly that there is help and hope. These are not just actors but people who have really lost someone to suicide."
Camas voters will have the opportunity to cast their ballots on a proposal to increase the current emergency medical services levy. Last night, the Camas City Council unanimously voted to send the issue to the Aug. 7 ballot. If approved, the six-year levy would raise the current rate from 35 cents per $1,000 of assessed value to 46 cents. Starting in 2013, the owner of a $300,000 home would pay $138 per year — a $33 increase. The proposed increase is an effort to stabilize the emergency medical services funding stream. In recent years the EMS fund’s revenues have dropped, primarily due to a decrease in assessed property values. At the end of 2011 the fund had a shortfall of $55,000, an amount that had to be covered by the city’s general operations fund. According to Camas city officials’ calculations, at 46 cents the levy would put the EMS fund in the black by $237,130 by 2018. But keeping the rate at its current level would build a deficit of $2.9 million by 2018.
In an effort to help bring some long-term stability to a struggling emergency medical services fund, Camas city officials want to place a proposal for an EMS levy rate increase on the Aug. 7 ballot. During a recent Camas City Council meeting, Camas Fire Chief Nick Swinhart said the recommendation is to boost the rate from 35 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value to 46 cents.
Elsewhere
The owners of a new dental practice in East Vancouver have a second business -- Accentuate, in downtown Camas.
A local resident is hoping to increase the awareness of the American Diabetes Association and its mission to prevent and cure diabetes.
