Swim: Camas Boys To Compete at Kelso

The Camas Boys Swim Team face all competitors today at 3:30 at the Kelso Invitational.

In this photo, Papermaker John Utas finishes the 400 Free Relay events against Skyview/Fort Vancouver. Utas and his teammates (Lucas Ulmer, Kasey Calwell, and Jeff Fadlovich) are undefeated in the 400 Free Relay this season.

The boys have continued to dominate the season, led by Ulmer, Caldwell and Utas, who have already made State cut times (which means they have qualified to compete at State in several swimming events).

“The boys are here at 5:15 every morning,” said Coach Mike Bemis. “The lights are dim, and the water is cold, but they make it happen every meet, and at every practice. I’m really pleased with their performance.”

The A relay teams have been very, very strong, and continue to win all their meets. However, the B and C teams are also winning, and although they are slower, they are still winning their events, and adding to the overall team score.

“The B and C teams make all the difference,” said Ulmer. “We’re glad they’re so strong.”

Ulmer has been swimming competitively since he was 6.

Calwell, who attends a private school, has been swimming with the team since his Freshman year. He has his eyes set on winning a couple state championships before he graduates in 2015.

To learn more, visit www.camas.wednet.edu

Papermaker Swimming

 

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Pike Appointed to House Local Government Committee

OLYMPIA, WA — Eighteenth District Representative Liz Pike has been appointed to serve on the House Local Government Committee.  The committee considers issues relating to the operations and financing of counties, cities, and some special districts. It also considers issues relating to the Growth Management Act and land use issues such as local permitting and the subdivision of property.

Pike, who served on the Camas City Council from 2003 to 2007, says the new committee assignment is a good fit that will allow her to utilize her past experience in city government.

Liz Pike
Lacamas Magazine Archived Photo: Rep. Liz Pike at the 2012 Clark County
GOP Convention at the Hilton in downtown Vancouver.

“During my time on the city council, I learned about municipal budgeting, ordinances, land-use policies and the Growth Management Act, as well as many other issues involving local government. I’ve walked in the shoes of the local elected officials and I know the challenges they face and the services expected from local government by the public,” said Pike, R-Camas. “I have six small cities just within my legislative district, so I’m looking forward to helping them, their constituents, and other local governments across the state.”

Pike said one of her priorities will be restoration of the Public Works Assistance Account, which makes low- and no-interest loans to cities and utilities to finance water, sewer and street projects. Last year, the Legislature used the money, $354 million, to help balance the state operating budget. As a result, no loans were issued. Pike said those monies are vital to local governments to provide funding for needed infrastructure. The sweeping of those funds was one of the reasons Pike voted last year against the operating budget proposal.

“I’ll also be working to limit unfunded mandates to our cities and counties that are working with limited budget authority. If we could reduce some of the financial burdens on our local governments, it would increase delivery of services to those communities and help our citizens immensely,” she added. “That’s the direction of change I hope to make with this new committee assignment.”

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Swimming: Papermaker Boys Defeat Skyview/Fort Vancouver

VANCOUVER, WA – The Camas High Boys Swim Team dealt another blow to the competition Tuesday at Propstra Pool, beating past rival Skyview 122-44 and Fort Vancouver 139-8, continuing their undefeated status this season. The multiple dual meet had swimmers from other schools, as well, including Woodland, Hockinson, and Brush Prairie.

The swimmers competed in 11 events total, and even though it’s hard work they made it look easy.

“It speaks to the strength of the whole team,” said Junior Kasey Calwell, who attends King’s Way Christian, but competes with the Camas team. “Our B team relays are doing extremely well and they will help our team win districts.”

Swimming Domination

The Papermakers got off to a rocking start by winning the 200 Medley Relay. The four-man team consisted of Calwell, Tom Utas, John Utas, and Lucas Ulmer. Their time was 1:42.3. Hockinson placed second with 1:46.79 and the Camas B Relay team placed third, at 1:57.98.

Jonah Rodewald, of Hockinson, won the 200 Free with a time of 1:59.3 with Papermaker Jeff Fadlovich placing a very close second, at 2:00.59. Camas swimmer Luke Albert placed third, at 2:01.59.

“Our relays did really well at this meet,” said co-Captain Xianguang Yan. “I’m very impressed with what’s happening on our team overall.”

The 200 IM went to Brush Prairie’s Jaron Hamlik, who clocked in at 2:05. Ulmer placed second at 2:09.44, followed by Papermaker Colin Kuhta at 2:20.46.

Calwell won the 50 Free at 23.43, with Xiaguang Yan second (24.20) and Tom Utas third (24.50).

Calwell did it again in the 100 Fly, winning with a time of 55.71. Cullyn Newman, of Hockinson, placed second (58.81). Camas swimmer Max Urbanek placed third (1:03.68).

The Utas brothers, John and Tom, took first and second, respectively, in the 100 Free. Older brother John, a Junior, came in at 51.17. Tom’s time was 53.84. Skyview’s Garrett Jensen came in at 57.54.

Ulmer, who rarely competes in the 500 Free nonetheless won the event Tuesday night, coming in at 5:15.72. Jeff Fadlovich came in at 5:17.43, and Hockinson’s Will Morris placed third, at 5:39.47.

The brothers Utas, along with Yan and Kuhta won the 200 Free Relay, coming in at 1:37.62. Skyview’s relay with Jensen, Nick Anderson, Alex Osler and Matthew Gaylor, came in second (1:45.09). The Camas B Relay team with Luke Albert, Noah Macia, Xinyang Chen, and Nicholas Burton placed third (1:48.76).

Prairie’s Hamlik won his second event of the meet in the 100 Back coming in at 57.51. Hockinson’s Rodewald was in second (1:01.40) followed by Skyview’s Dalton Harvey (1:09.58).

Xiaguang Yan won the 100 Breast (1:10.90) and Joey Wunderlich placed second (1:11.80). Hockinson’s Dylan Osborne came in third (1:1519).

In past years, Skyview was generally a threat, said Calwell, but not this year as key athletes either graduated or are focusing on club swimming.

That leaves Union and Evergreen as the Papermaker’s biggest rivals. They’ll face each other this Friday at the Kelso Invitational. The meet begins at 3:30.

The journey continues.

Swim Team
Camas swimmers Jeff Fadlovich (left) and Joey Wunderlich (right) dive off
the starting blocks in the final heat of Tuesday’s 400 Free Relay.

 

Camas swimmer Noah Macia on the starting block.
Kasey Calwell
Kasey Calwell dives into his lane as John Utas completes his leg of
the 400 Free Relay. Camas won this event Tuesday night.
Colin Kuta
Camas Freshman Colin Kuhta finishes the 400 Free Relay.
Undefeated: The Camas 400 Free Relay team, from left to right:
Freshman Jeff Fadlovich, and Juniors John Utas, Lucas Ulmer and Kasey Calwell.
Camas 400 Free Relay B team, from left to right: Luke Albert, Colin Kuhta,
Joey Wunderlich and Max Urbanek. The B teams are doing very
well this season, according to their team captains.

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21 Points Scored by Papermaker Nikki Corbett

The Camas Girls Varsity Basketball team had a great game Friday, and Papermaker Nikki Corbett scored 21 points as her team beat Evergreen in a 4A Greater St. Helens league win at home Friday night.

Camas was ahead in the second quarter and pushed their lead to 22 points at halftime.

The final score was Camas 54, Evergreen 29.

Rachel Rice scored 9, Emma Jones 8, Rachel Gray 4, and Brenna Khaw 4.

The annual “Hoops for Pink” fundraiser, which raises money for breast cancer research, is scheduled for January 17 at Camas High School.

Corbett





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Camas Swim Team Wins Dual Meet at Mark Morris

LONGVIEW, WA – The Camas High School Boys Swim team continued their undefeated streak this season at Tuesday’s multiple dual meet, and competed directly against Robert A. Long High School, as well as Mark Morris.

A total of six schools competed at the meet, which was originally scheduled as a season dual. The other schools were Hockinson, Woodland, and Brush Prairie.

The venue provided some warmth and shelter from the pounding wind and rain outside.

The Camas swimmers kicked off the night by winning the 200-yard Medley Relay with a time of 1:57.69.

Junior Kasey Calwell (of King’s Way Christian School), who competes with the Camas team, won the 200 IM with a time of 1:59.3, making a State qualifying time in this event.

“It feels really good to be under two minutes,” Calwell said. “We put in a good team effort today and our team just keeps getting better. We made several state cuts today. And it’s good to see the freshmen stepping up and improving at each meet.”

In the 50 Free, Papermaker John Utas came out ahead with a time of 22.78. As usual, Utas gives each event everything he has, and Tuesday’s performance wasn’t any different.

Lucas Ulmer

“He always looks like he’s going to pass out after each event,” said one of the official timekeepers.

Junior Lucas Ulmer handily beat the competition in the 100 Fly, clocking in at 54.15, which is a State qualifying time.

Swimmers earn the ability to compete at State anytime in the season by meeting time thresholds set by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA). They will host the Boys State Swimming and Diving meet on February 21 and 22 in Federal Way, WA.

Jaron Hamlik, of Prairie High School, who practices with the Papermakers, won the 100 Free in 50.29 seconds. He is also State-bound. Papermaker Xianguang Yan placed second at 55.18; and Camas swimmer Colin Kuhta placed third, with a time of 57.37.

In the endurance 500 Free event, Camas freshman Jeff Fadlovich finished first with a time of 5:17.84 while Camas Junior Max Urbanek placed second at 5:40.60.

“We’re really pleased with our freshman,” said Camas swim coach, Mike Bemis. “They’re doing a great job, and the team overall is also doing quite well.”

The four-man relay team of Kasey Calwell, Xiaguang Yan, Lucas Ulmer and John Utas finished first in the 200 Relay, earning a time of 1:32.42.

In the 100 Backstroke, Ulmer also beat the competition, with a time of 58.64 se conds. Utas came in second at 1:01.03.

Calwell bested the 100 Breastroke, as well, earning a time of 1:03.28, handily beating everyone else. Joey Wunderlich placed second, and Xinyang Chen, third.

The Camas boys earned a State cut as well in the 400 Free, earning a time of 3.23.83.

The Camas 400 Free relay team consisted of John Utas, Tom Utas, Calwell, and Ulmer.

 

Jaron Hamlik

Prairie swimmer, Jaron Hamlik.

 

The team practices at 5:15 am each day at Lacamas Swim and Sport Club.

This is about the half way mark for the current season, and the boys play again next week at Propstra.

 

Kasey Calwell
Kasey Calwell won the 200 IM event with a State qualifying time.

 

 

John Utas
Camas Junior John Utas won the 50 Free event.
 

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Lacamas Heights Elementary to Celebrate 50th Anniversary with Celebration on January 17

CAMAS, WA — The Lacamas Heights Elementary community invites all members of the Camas community to help celebrate their 50th Anniversary with two special events on January 17.

At 2:30 pm, staff and students will host a school-wide assembly where guest speakers will share memories from their years at Lacamas with staff and students; additionally, current students will share a special presentation reflecting back on the great history of Lacamas Heights.

All who attend will be treated to a sneak peak at a movie short titled “The Lacamas Story.” This will be an opportunity to provide today’s students with a glimpse of what has made Lacamas the school that it is today.

For the second event, all former students, teachers, and staff are invited to a Celebration Reception, which begins at 5:30 pm. This will be a time to tour the school, reminisce with former students and staff, reconnect, and celebrate the impact that Lacamas has had over the past 50 years.

There will be pictures, memorabilia, birthday cake, and the premier of our short film, “The Lacamas Story,” but most importantly, there will be teachers, administrators, staff, and students who called Lacamas Heights Elementary School their school from 1963-2014. This is an exciting opportunity to reconnect Lacamas alumni, and organizers hope community members will help to spread the word about this special day.

Lacamas Heights Elementary, in Camas, to celebrate 50th anniversary.

 

 

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Steele Johnson: US Diving Champ Endures Blizzard

Many of our viewers have inquired about Junior Nationals diving champion Steele Johnson, who we covered while he competed at the 2012 US Diving Olympic Trials at Federal Way, WA. The article and video series was titled “Nerves of Steele.”
Well, here he is.
He decided that since his family is snowed in at their Carmel, Indiana home during this week’s blizzard he’d get some practice time in –- at below freezing temperatures.
Well, kind of.
He was just having fun, but he’s had quite a journey since the Olympic Trials.
After successful performances at the Winter Nationals in Texas, Johnson became the US Diving 10m National Champion and qualifies for World competition this summer in China.
He received his best score ever (513.25 in finals/1469.70 cumulative).
He and diving partner, David Dinsmore, also won the 10m Syncro at Winter Nationals.
Johnson will attend Purdue University in the fall, and has his eyes set on the 2016 Olympic Trials – and Rio.
Steele Johnson
 
 
 
Steele Johnson
Left to right: David Dinsmore and Steele Johnson won the10m Synchro event at Winter Nationals.                                              Photo provided by A Page For Diving.

 

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Video: Flash Freeze Dreamery Uses Liquid Nitrogen

This is a short video on the new Flash Freeze Dreamery, which just opened for business near Costco at 192nd Ave. They have created a fun and tasty way to make homemade style ice cream that couldn’t be more fresh.

Please click on the link to view:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jUTAWEN6Lc&feature=share&list=UUuFULV6tvsqLbKy4FPc2kcA

 

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Flash Freeze Dreamery: Ice Cream On-Demand

VANCOUVER, WA – This isn’t your Grandpa’s ice cream shop. In fact, the newly-opened Flash Freeze Dreamery offers much more than ice cream in a very sleek, modern, entertaining venue that’ll be a hit with your taste buds.

The shop, located at Lacamas Crossing (Costco shopping complex at 192nd Avenue and First), is based on the concept of liquid nitrogen ice cream.

So, what does that mean?

“The creamy part of the ice cream with flavor is put into a mixer and we zap it with liquid nitrogen, which is super cold,” says Flash Freeze Dreamery owner and concept designer, Gabe Ohms. “It’s mixed and the nitrogen evaporates out of the bowl while it freezes the ice cream.”

The nitrogen evaporates into the air leaving the ice cream “flash frozen” – and delicious.

“Generally ice cream that’s been purchased has typically been sitting there for days, and it’s the same with frozen yogurt,” Ohms adds. “What we’ve done here is taken fresh cream (from Alpenrose Dairy), added some flavor, and within a minute or two we create the freshest ice cream. Our product has the smoothest texture.”

Flash Freeze does this with French custard, Italian gelato, and frozen yogurt. They also have non-dairy options available.

So, how does it work?

When you go to Flash Freeze, and trust me, you want to GO to Flash Freeze, you first select your size of treat (small, medium, large), select your base (ice cream, French custard, Italian gelato, frozen yogurt, etc.), and then choose your flavor.

Customers can choose from a “favorite” flavor combination from the menu, or pick a flavor that’s available. You can also “dream” your own.

It’s really a lot of fun, and incredibly delicious.

Once you order, Flash Freeze staff get right to work, and it’s fun to watch. They first add the cream and flavor combination (based on recipes crafted by Ohms), then it’s off to the Kitchen Aid mixers that are retrofitted with dosers, which are connected to massive liquid nitrogen tanks. The custom-made doser valves control the flow of the liquid nitrogen.

Workers mix the ingredients to perfection, and then place the mixer bowl into water to separate the ice cream from the bowl. The fresh product is then placed into a bowl and served fresh.

And all the flavors come out at once. You’ll love it.
“Using liquid nitrogen isn’t new to food processing,” said Ohms. “But it’s new to ice cream. This is really the ice cream of the 21stcentury.
Ohms has wanted to do something with food for years, but then he saw a TV show about using liquid nitrogen to make ice cream. So, about eight months ago, he began preparing for what would become Flash Freeze Dreamery.
“We’ve created something here for everyone,” his wife, Jessica added. “The kids will love to watch how the ice cream is made. And everyone will enjoy the experience.”
You’ll enjoy favorite menu options like Cherry Chocolate Fudge, which contains cherry flavor, cherries, and chocolate fudge; or Birthday Cake, with cake batter flavor, birthday cake pieces and sprinkles.
Ordering is as simple as 1-2-3.
Cotton Candy Carnival is a favorite, with cotton candy flavor, marshmallows, and cotton candy crunch.
Other options include Cookies and Cream, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Mint Chocolate Cookie, Coconut Joy (my favorite), Strawberry Cheesecake, Chocolate Smores, and more.
There are dozens of other flavors and toppings, and you can dream up your own mixture.
Flash Freeze opens at 11 am on weekdays and Saturdays, and is located at 155 NE 192nd Avenue, Suite 107, Vancouver.
Teal Fielding serves a finished dessert.

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