I live just outside the City of Camas in rural Clark County, but if I were in the city, I’d be voting no on the proposed $78 million city owned swimming pool. It’s not government’s role to build recreational aquatic centers that unfairly compete with the private sector. $78 million for a community pool? (Editor’s Note: the total bond is asking for $78 million; the estimated pool build cost is $37 million). That’s outrageous! Residents are already overtaxed today between local levies for fire districts, local school levies and bonds, libraries, and enormous never-before-seen gigantic property tax hikes passed by the Washington State Legislature to fund massive public education increases. Where does it end? Most people are fed up with their property tax bill as it is.
Furthermore, imagine how much it will cost annually to maintain and operate a $78 million recreational pool! Where is that money going to come from? Don’t forget about all those new government workers that will also be needed to operate the facility. They come with huge legacy costs, not just new salaries, but new pensions and new benefit costs that taxpayers will be on the hook to pay for.
If the recreational aquatics center is such a brilliant idea, why aren’t private sector businesses clamoring to get in on this business model?
Instead of building extravagant public swimming pools that most citizens cannot afford, I recommend city leaders focus on attracting more family wage jobs to our industrial areas so that more residents can work where they live. In doing so, more industries will help shoulder the property tax burden now crushing many of our working families. More good jobs in Camas will also reduce commuter traffic on SR 14 and across the river into Oregon. City leaders would also be wise to prioritize improving transportation congestion within the city to manage the choke points resulting from the thousands of new houses they keep approving! Quality of life in and around Camas is diminishing from traffic problems at peak times.
Camas has been a beautiful place to live for many generations of working class families. With recent actions, it almost appears as if City leaders want to relegate Camas forever as an overpriced bedroom community where only the wealthiest families can afford to live. There’s an election coming up. City taxpayers should pay attention to those on the ballot that continue to advocate for higher spending as opposed to those who insist Camas live within its means.
Pike is a three-term Washington State Representative.
Portland, Ore. — More than 1,500 Cycle Oregon cyclists rolled into Oakridge, Ore., on September 14, completing a seven-day, 430-mile ride through Central Oregon. The flagship ride of Cycle Oregon, the Classic gave participants scenic views of many Oregon natural wonders including the Cascade Mountains and Crater Lake, and the warm hospitality of numerous small towns, including Cottage Grove, La Pine and Diamond Lake – all rolled into a festival-like atmosphere.
The Classic finish also marked the end of a successful season year for Cycle Oregon, a Portland-based nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming individuals and communities through bicycling. Cycle Oregon’s three signature events included: Classic (Sept. 7-14, 2019); GRAVEL, a weekend gravel ride based out of Dufur, Ore. (May 17-19, 2019); and Joyride, a one-day, women-only ride based out of Independence, Ore. (June 22, 2019). Each distinct ride enabled cyclists of all abilities to explore the state’s renowned natural beauty on two wheels, plus connected them with the people, places and businesses of many rural Oregon towns.
All in all, more than 2,400 cyclists from 42 states and seven countries participated in Cycle Oregon’s three 2019 rides, which totaled more than 675 miles and 43,000 feet of elevation gain and contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to local economies. The three events directly supported eight rural Oregon communities through the hiring of local groups for event support and local spending by cyclists. Cycle Oregon annually provides approximately $160,000 to community groups for the services they provide, ranging from event planning to volunteer organizing.
I marvel at how Cycle Oregon can double a population, be so professional and then be gone before we know it, leaving everyone with a smile on their face,” said Ann Gawith, Executive Director, La Pine Chamber of Commerce. “Even thought they were here for less than 24 hours, these cyclists really impacted our small town. Everyone was busy, from our restaurants and motels to our gas stations – and even our florist! And it was great to see our bike lanes filled with cyclists. Cycle Oregon was a fantastic experience for La Pine.”
“Even though Cycle Oregon is now over 30 years old, each ride feels fresh and exciting. The riders bring such positive energy to the state,” said Steve Schulz, Executive Director of Cycle Oregon. “We are incredibly grateful to all the communities across Oregon who welcomed our riders with open arms. While we have undeniably spectacular scenery that was showcased by our 2019 rides – from the eastern end of the Columbia River Gorge to the beautiful Willamette Valley to Central Oregon and the stunning Cascade Mountains and Crater Lake National Park – it’s really the people that make Oregon special.”
Discounted early registration for the 2020 Classic ride is now open online at www.cycleoregon.com, although the routes for all the 2020 events will not be revealed until the 2020 kick-off party on January 29, 2020.
Cycle Oregon’s dedication to transforming lives through cycling is perhaps most visible in the projects around the state in which the Cycle Oregon Fund has invested. This fall, the Cycle Oregon Fund will award approximately $100,000 to local nonprofits working to preserve and protect the special places of Oregon and implement community development projects. Organizations are encouraged to submit applications now through October 21.
Cycle Oregon.
The Cycle Oregon Fund is supported by proceeds from the organization’s rides and managed by the Oregon Community Foundation. Over the last 20 years, the Fund has awarded more than 300 grants totaling $2.2 million, supporting projects ranging from bike racks in Baker City and Yachats to helping purchase land for the Wallowa Band Nez Perce Trail Interpretive Center.
The Fund supports projects and programs throughout Oregon in three key areas: Environmental Conservation and Historic Preservation, Bicycle Safety & Tourism and Community Projects. Complete guidelines and an online application are available at cycleoregon.com/our-work/our-impact/.
About The Organization
Cycle Oregon is a nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming individuals and communities through bicycling. For riders who want an unparalleled Oregon bicycle experience at their own pace, they hosts a series of fully supported rides that offer a unique perspective of the state, all the while managing every last detail. Established in 1988, Cycle Oregon’s 30-plus years of event logistics and deep roots within the state create an authentic Oregon experience that strengthens communities—on and off the bike. Cycle Oregon attracts more than 4,500 riders from all 50 states and around the world. www.cycleoregon.com #ridecycleoregon
Dozens of supporters from near and far gathered at the Camas High School Main Commons Saturday evening to attend the 6th Camas High School (CHS) Hall of Fame Induction Banquet.
Attendees were greeted by the CHS Marching Band, Cheer Squad and a hearty welcome by Marcia Johnson, the Athletic Hall of Fame Chairperson; then treated to a delicious dinner and a series of tributes and official induction ceremonies.
Six individuals, and two teams were honored during the two-hour Hall of Fame event.
Lauren Rainey, Class of 1948 Introduced by John Skimas and accepted by Barbara Rainey Runyan.
Lauren played basketball, football, and baseball. In his senior year, Lauren set all the scoring records in basketball and led his team to the Washington State Basketball tournament that year. At the State tournament, he averaged 18 points per game! Lauren was also named to the All-Conference Basketball teams during his junior and senior seasons. In addition, Lauren contributed to the 1948 baseball team during his senior year.
Les Morsach, Class of 1958 Introduced by Tom Wallenborn.
From 1955-1958, Morsach played football, basketball, and track. He was a three-year starting varsity quarterback. He was the first Camas QB to lead team to a state championship. Morsach was a SW Washington first team All-Star QB two years in a row. Led team in passing yardage and passing touchdowns all three years, and received a football scholarship from Yakima Community College. He also participated in basketball, where he was a starting guard and in track, where he set school pole vault records.
Donald Huston, Class of 1961 Introduced by his brother, Denny Huston, who said “good coaches teach how to win.”
Huston played baseball and basketball. Two-sport star at Camas High School. He was the starting guard his junior and senior year where he was All League each year. He averaged 12.7 points per game, the assist leader, team captain and always assigned to defend the opponent’s top player. During his senior year, the team record was 19-1 and went to the State tournament for the first time since 1947. Huston also participated in baseball, starting at second base both his junior and senior years. Don then went on to play college basketball at Western Washington University followed by a career in coaching basketball for 25 years.
Bob Cameron, Class of 1971 Introduced by Doug Slyter.
Cameron competed in five sports: wrestling, football, basketball, baseball, and track. He earned 10 Varsity letters during his high school career, and during his sophomore year he qualified for the Washington state wrestling tournament, and in the spring he lettered for the baseball team; at the time a rare accomplishment. His senior year accomplishments included football team MVP, Team Captain, “Black Helmet Award” recipient and All league; baseball MVP, Team Captain, All League and Clark County All-Star; Basketball Team Captain. He was named Outstanding Athlete for CHS his senior year.
Brent Richards, Class of 2008 Introduced by Coach Roland Minder.
Brent Richards.
“Brent was quickly the team’s top scorer and won the All-League Academic Award. He was a huge part of our success in earning the State title that year,” said Minder. “He was all about the team. I felt a special bond with Brent and we felt the refiner’s fire. He scored 26 goals with 10 assists his senior year and earned a 4.0 GPA. He was the Columbia Region Player of the Year.”
Career stats: 83 goals, 32 assists. Freshman year: Varsity Offensive Player of the Year, All-Academic Award (3.95 GPA), 2nd Team All-League, League Champion. Sophomore year: Team won State Championship, All Academic Team (3.76 GPA). Junior year: Injured. Senior year: Gatorade State Player of the Year, Regional Player of the Year, and All-League Scholar Athlete (4.0 GPA). Brent also won the State Tournament Player of the Year where his high school team won the state championship. He was drafted by the Portland Timbers and played professional soccer for 10 years.
“There were a lot of people that were inspirational to me, I’m so thankful I got to grow up in this community,” said Richards. “Thank you.”
Coach Roland Minder Introduced by Steve Hogan.
Coach Minder started his CHS soccer coaching career in 1993 as an assistant in the girls’ program until he was named the head coach in 2004 and served until 2018. He was the boys’ head coach from 1995 to 2017. In 38 seasons as head coach, his teams earned 30 League championships, won 24 District championships, had 33 WIAA State tournament appearances, 22 WIAA State Quarterfinal appearances, 14 WIAA tournament Final Four appearances, eight WIAA state championship game appearances, and earned five WIAA State championships!
Coach Roland Minder at Friday’s football halftime show.
Minder has been awarded: League Coach of the Year, Washington State Coach of the Year, NSCAA Regional Coach of the Year, NFHS Sectional Coach of the Year in 2011, NSCAA National Coach of the Year in 2016. His combined record for the boys and girls is: 589 wins, 106 losses and 46 ties.
“The game of soccer has always been an integral part of my life growing up in Switzerland,” said Minder. “It was a long road in building this soccer program. My first priority was to get the club and the high school to work together. It took a while, but we eventually started having success. I was lucky to be in the right place at the right time. I dare describe it as a movement … This award is because of so many people, and represents all those who worked so hard for so many years.”
2005 Girls’ Soccer Team Introduced by Minder.
They won the State Title in 2005, the first time for a Clark County team.
“They’re the greatest girls soccer team to ever play at Camas High,” said Minder.
2006 Boys’ Soccer Team Introduced by Minder.
The won the State Title in 2006.
“This age group was special,” said Minder. “The coaches had a great rapport with the high school and we all looked forward to the year. Our nemesis was Columbia River, which caused us to place second in league … We defeated Lakeside for the title. I still remember the coach after the game from Lakeside because they were all over us … We had all the players behind the ball and we just defended, defended, defended. It was a phenomenal effort. We had skilled players but we had a great team effort. Everyone bought into the program and this team made history. It was the only time that both the girls and boys teams won a State Title in the same school year.”
At the conclusion, Johnson addressed the audience.
“I want to thank everyone for coming, and for your support,” said Johnson, who organized the event. “I just want to give a special thanks to the Hall of Fame committee. I couldn’t do this without your support. We select teams by application so you have to be nominated. I carry nominations from year to year and we go through tons of information and we select people we feel deserve it for that year. I also want to thank the Camas Athletics Booster Club. It takes a lot of money to do this.”
Camas Hall of Fame Inductees at Friday’s football game.
https://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/07075528/C385CFB7-F8BC-4855-B168-D7E748A861EA-scaled.jpeg10262560Ernest Geigenmillerhttps://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/07074147/lacamas_white_2-300x300.pngErnest Geigenmiller2019-09-21 20:30:542019-09-21 21:20:17Camas Hall of Fame Inducts Stellar Alumni, Former Coach at 6th Banquet
It was standing room only at Thursday’s annual Camas State of the Community at Lacamas Lake Lodge, which featured addresses from Port of Camas Washougal Director Dave Ripp, City of Camas Mayor Shannon Turk, and Camas School District Superintendent Jeff Snell.
Camas School District School Board President, Doug Quinn, served as Master of Ceremonies while the Camas School Orchestra (Rose Hinchliff, Ireland McGree, and Luke Martinez) performed the prelude music and Autumn Sterle sang the National Anthem.
State of the Port of Camas Washougal
At the onset of his address, Ripp said the Port receives income from three sources: 1) Grove Field airport ($153,837 net); 2) The CW Marina ($417,859 net); and 3) Property/commerce center leases ($1,660,988 net).
Ripp then discussed the Port’s work on the Washougal waterfront development.
“We’ve been working on this since 2010,” said Ripp. “The site was originally a lumber mill, which closed down. We wanted to do something that enhances what’s there and have the public enjoy it.”
He explained obtaining the site was possible through a grant, which has two phases: 1) Cleanup; and 2) Planning. In 2014, the Port did the full cleanup, and in 2015, they built the park and trail, and purchased the remaining portion of the Killian site. Once the trail was finished, they looked at master planning, hired an outside firm, and then presented the public with three options, all of which include public access to the waterfront.
Master plan at Washougal Waterfront.
“In 2021 we want to put a shovel in the ground to get it moving,” said Ripp. “On June 7, the natural play area was opened to the public on June 7. This is our crown jewel of waterfront trail park.”
Ripp then explained the growth and success of the Steigerwald Commerce Center, which received $3 million in grants allowing the Port to double the building’s size. Six businesses are presently there, and the center is operating at 100 percent occupancy. They are now looking at Building 19, a 27,000 square foot facility purchased this year.
The new roundabouts are very helpful with business trade at the Commerce Center, said Ripp, though he acknowledges neighbor frustration.
State of the City of Camas
In her first State of the Community address, Mayor Shannon Turk spoke about four topics:
Infrastructure improvements
Economic development
Recreation opportunities
Communication
“The infrastructure improvements that we will be working on this year enhance safety and traffic flow on our roads and ensure the availability of clean water.”
Significant improvements will be made on Brady Road from 16th Avenue to Pacific Rim Boulevard, which include the following:
Widening the roadway
Addition of bike lanes
Street lighting and landscaping
Center turn lane/median
Utility work begins this fall thru winter
Final work/paving — late summer 2020
A two-million-gallon reservoir will be built at NW 18th and Tidland to help the city maintain its commitment to providing clean, quality water to all areas of the city.
Turk also provided an update on the Lake/Everett Road roundabout, scheduled for construction from 2020 to 2021, and showed a fly-over traffic simulation, as seen here: https://youtu.be/iFlQ51XrSyM
The North shore subarea plan (the area north of Lacamas Lake) furthers the vision of our city leaders in the 1980s, she said, and is “setting up our city for the next three to four decades.” The area contains 800 acres of land, of which 160 acres is owned by the city for legacy land open spaces and land preservation (along the north shore).
The North Shore plan creates new developments including homes, shops, and master planned commercial development.
“It shows where we need to invest,” said Turk. “Visit www.camasnorthshore.com, where you can learn more or provide input by taking a survey.”
During the next portion of her talk, recreation opportunities, Turk discussed the Community Aquatics Center and Sports Field bond measure. The 78,000-square-foot multi-use facility includes a recreational pool, lap/competitive pool, community spaces, multipurpose gym, locker rooms, child watch area, and many other amenities. Turk worked with Camas City Council to put this project to vote, known as Proposition 2, on the November ballot. During her presentation, she explained the need for the new facilities, cited decades-long support for the project, and encouraged all Camas residents to continue to provide input on the design, location, and features of the project, which will continue to be refined after November 5.
“This provides an opportunity for seniors to be active and socialize, as part of an aging-in-place strategy,” said Turk. “It gives our children and teens an opportunity to play sports for fun through intramural programs, increasing their activity and connecting them with friends, instead of what they hold in their hand. And it allows us to ensure that all of our children in our city know how to swim and view our community center as a destination for fun diving, instead of swinging off rope swings or jumping off rocks. This is a 78,000-square-foot facility that is designed to highlight the natural surroundings. This is our concept and it is beautiful. That does not mean that things will not be tweaked or changed, but right now this looks awesome.”
“We did put a bond on the ballot and we are asking you to pay for this,” said Turk. “There’s $72 million for the center, $37.2 million of that amount goes to building the facility itself. The rest goes to offsite and onsite improvements including parking at Heritage Park, a roundabout that will help you get in and out of Heritage Park and proposed Community Center easily. It includes a light at Lake Road and Sierra … These costs are in here.”
Turk said the ballot measure also includes $6 million in sports field renovations (new turf, fields, and lighting).
Contractors will be selected for the project through a bidding process. The city expects to receive competitive bids, which will likely come in significantly lower than the estimated $78 million price tag. Private donations could further lower the overall cost. If the final price tag of the project is indeed less, the city will reduce the projected tax rate of $1.04 per $1,000 in assessed property value, and collect fewer taxes from residents. (Any new taxes would not start until 2021.)
Moving on to the final topic her presentation, Turk explained the city’s commitment to improving city communications. She emphasized the reintroduction of council ward meetings, as well as the inclusion of more open house events, surveys, social media posts, and project mailers.
Turk also introduced Camas 101, which is an eight-class program, starting in January 2020, that includes the following:
Learn more about your city
History of Camas
Role of Mayor and City Council
How projects are determined and funded
What the city actually does
Creating a connected and engaged community — wants people to learn about local non-profits.
“We instituted ward meetings in the spring and will do more in the Fall,” said Turk.
State of Camas School District
“Our focus this year is writing our collective story,” said Snell. “You give your best into that school year with all your hopes and dreams. You take each year’s lessons and apply them to the next year. We get to shape what those stories look like. We see and serve each student. Each means each of you will get something out of this.”
He’s also pleased that Helen Baller Special Education teacher, Amy Campbell, was named as Teacher of the Year.
“We’re excited she gets a platform to advocate for special education and to represent Camas School District,” said Snell. “I can’t think of a better person to do that.”
Snell provided a review of the challenges that McCleary legislation created, the stress it placed on levies and that they will continue to work within these constraints.
“We want to inspire them to be learners,” he said. “Standardized tests are one thing, but we need to do the very best we can with our students. They will be making decisions about our community and world.”
He said the Garver Theatre is coming back online from the 2016 bond.
https://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/07075602/C8E5A7EA-03BD-4BD0-BBE9-93E2C8913A48-scaled.jpeg12262560Ernest Geigenmillerhttps://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/07074147/lacamas_white_2-300x300.pngErnest Geigenmiller2019-09-21 16:23:162019-09-21 16:23:39Local Leaders Speak at 2019 Camas State of the Community Event
Vancouver, WA — On September 21, 2019, Vancouver, Battle Ground and Washougal Police Departments and Clark County Sheriff’s Office will have additional officers enforcing the DUI laws, in an effort to keep drunk, drugged and high drivers off the road. Officers, who are also drug recognition experts, will be among those conducting these increased DUI patrols. In addition, officers from the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis board will also be participating in this emphasis.
Alcohol and drug impaired driving is the leading contributing factor in Washington fatal crashes, with alcohol and cannabis being the most common combination of intoxicants. Getting behind the wheel intoxicated can mean a DUI, if you don’t plan ahead for sober transportation. As a reminder, Uber offers first time users a special coupon code for $25 toward their first trip. Sign up for the Uber coupon code RIDEHOMEVANC at https://get.uber.com/go/ridehomevanc.
Thanks to a grant from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, law enforcement agencies in SW Washington have extra officers conducting DUI enforcement throughout the year to help keep our roadways safer.
If you are driving and see a suspected impaired driver, call 911.
CAMAS, WA — On Thursday, September 19, leaders from the City of Camas, Camas School District and Port of Camas-Washougal will come together for their annual State of the Community event at Lacamas Lake Lodge, 6 p.m. The public is invited to attend.
“I encourage absolutely everyone with an interest in the future of Camas to attend State of the Community 2019,” said Mayor Shannon Turk. “Whether you live, work, or play here, I’m confident that you will leave with a new sense of all the wonderful things in store for our three organizations.”
The event will feature presentations by Port of Camas-Washougal CEO David Ripp, Camas School District Superintendent Jeff Snell and City of Camas Mayor Shannon Turk. To round out the City’s presentation, attendees will receive a detailed brochure that reviews the last year and relays helpful information including recent goals and accomplishments and a breakdown of Camas property taxes.
A portion of the evening will be dedicated to answering questions submitted by the public as they arrive at the lodge.
https://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/07075612/EA08E00D-D7C3-4429-9C29-204DB314C4C9.jpeg11802267Ernest Geigenmillerhttps://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/07074147/lacamas_white_2-300x300.pngErnest Geigenmiller2019-09-16 19:35:522019-09-16 19:36:09Public Invited to Annual Camas State of the Community Event Thursday
WASHOUGAL, WA — The community is invited to meet the four candidates seeking to replace retiring Police Chief Ron Mitchell at a community reception to be held at the Black Pearl on the Columbia at 6:30 pm Tuesday, September 17. The Black Pearl is located at 56 S. 1st Street, near the Port of Camas-Washougal marina and offices. The reception will provide an opportunity for the community to informally meet and hear from each of the candidates. The community reception will follow a series of interview panels with city and community leaders, and a reception for police department employees.
The four candidates are:
Marc Denney Chief – La Center, WA Police Department
Marc has over 33 years of progressive law enforcement experience, including the last six years as Chief with the City of La Center in Washington, a community of approximately 3,200 residents, where he resides. Prior to coming to La Center, he served twenty-three years with the Cochise County, AZ Sheriff’s Office, holding leadership positions in a variety of roles as Sergeant, Lieutenant, Deputy Commander and Commander. Marc holds an MPA in Justice Administration and a BS from Wayland Baptist University in Ft. Huachuca, AZ.
Charles Goeken Captain – Manteca, CA Police Department
Charles has 25 years of progressive law enforcement experience with the City of Manteca in California, a community of approximately 79,000 residents. During the last ten years he has held the position of Captain serving as both the Operations Division Commander and the Services Division Commander, the position he currently holds. He has held prior leadership positions in a variety of roles as Sergeant and Lieutenant. Charles holds a Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia and a BS from the University of New York Regents College in Albany, NY. He previously served as planning commissioner, councilmember and mayor for the City of Waterford in California, where he resides.
Wendi Steinbronn Commander – Portland, OR Police Bureau
Wendi has over 25 years of progressive law enforcement experience with the Portland Police Bureau. She has been the Acting Commander and Commander of North Precinct since June 2018, with thirteen years of prior leadership positions in a variety of roles as Sergeant, Lieutenant, Acting Captain and Captain. Wendi holds a BS degree in Business Administration from Portland State University in Portland, OR. Wendi resides in Camas, WA.
Steve Taylor Assistant Chief – Searcy, AR Police Department
Steve has over 28 years of progressive law enforcement experience, including fourteen years as an officer in Michigan and since 2004 with the City of Searcy in Arkansas, a community of approximately 24,000 residents, where he resides. For the last four years he has held the position of Assistant Chief, with prior leadership positions in a variety of roles as Lieutenant and Captain. Steve holds Juris Doctor (JD) and BA degrees from the University of Arkansas in Little Rock, AR.
Earlier this year, Chief Mitchell announced his retirement effective in late November. Mitchell has served Washougal as Chief since 2009. He started his career with the Washougal Police Department in 1996. City Manager David Scott will appoint a new Chief, who is expected to start in early December.
Camas DECA is excited to invite all residents and their four-legged friends to All Paws On Deck on Saturday, September 21, 2019. This event will run from 10 am to 2 pm, and will support our local humane societies!All Paws on Deck will be a fun-filled day on 5th Avenue from CEDAR to BIRCH, where we will celebrate with our furry friends. There will be a variety of exciting games, food, shopping, face painting, and crafts to keep your family entertained. As for Fido, there will be an obstacle course, talent show, and most importantly, a crowning for the Dog Mayor of Camas! Supporting small and local causes are the best ways to better our world; a little goes a long way.
“We all love our animals,” says Suzie Downs, marketing teacher and DECA advisor from Camas High School. Downs has been a mentor to her students as they’ve planned and coordinated A ll Paws on Deck. “ There’s been a lot of buzz going on about it already… but we can’t stop pushing [to raise awareness]” she tells her Marketing 2 class.
Though she has been a huge contributor, Downs is not the head behind All Paws- in fact, the event was created, coordinated, and will be facilitated by Camas Senior Megan Bauer, who has volunteered regularly at the Southwest Washington Humane Society for the past 4 years.
“I wanted to create an event to help the community…” she said when asked about her reasoning for putting on this event. “Animals come [to shelters] with needs… I wanted to give [Camas] a voice to show that we support our societies.”
All Paws on Deck is a shining example of what students can do through DECA. By giving students the resources needed to take action in their community, DECA enables students enrolled in marketing classes to not only be educated on business and professionalism skills but also encourages them to create new ideas and take initiative in implementing them in their community.
Camas DECA students will be volunteering at the event, and A ll Paws on Deck has also partnered with several vendors such as Naturally Healthy Pet and the Downtown Camas Business Association, all with the goal of raising at least $1500 dollars for both the Southwest Washington Humane Society and West Columbia Gorge Humane Society. Though the event is free, Camas DECA is hoping that people will donate to the cause or enter into a drawing to win amazing prizes donated by local establishments such as the Camas Fire Department and Petsmart.
Animals play a very important role in each of our lives; after a long workday, they are always ready to greet us when we walk in the door and snuggle with us when we need a friend. Our DECA chapter hopes this event will help these animals find their forever home- so will you help us get All Paws on Deck?
https://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/07075624/7A714A45-7B57-4150-ADC2-E116EB3E6A0B-scaled.jpeg10752560Ernest Geigenmillerhttps://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/07074147/lacamas_white_2-300x300.pngErnest Geigenmiller2019-09-16 17:32:382019-09-16 17:35:29All Paws on Deck Event This Saturday to Benefit Local Humane Societies
When Cassi Marshall decided to run for Camas-Washougal Port Commissioner, District 2, earlier this year, it wasn’t part of a planned career path.
She’s been employed at the Washougal School District for the past 17 years, working first in the highly capable student program, and for the past 13 years as Assistant to the Superintendent.
“To be honest, I wasn’t looking to run for a Port Commission position (a four-year term), but some trusted friends encouraged me to consider it, and I am so glad that they did,” said Marshall. “My learning curve related to ‘All Things Port’ has been pretty steep since May, but the more I learn, the more I’m convinced that it’s an incredibly good fit for me. Our Port contributes to our high quality of life in so many ways — providing space for local businesses to provide local jobs at the Industrial Park, a quality marina and airport, amazing parks and trails, and phenomenal community events.”
She’s running a competitive race to unseat incumbent CW Commissioner Bill Ward.
Why do you want to be a CW Port Commissioner?
“I have personal and professional experience with small business and development projects, so I’m eager to learn more about the Industrial Park tenants, products and services … and anyone who knows me knows I’m a huge parks/trails nerd (or maybe “advocate” is a better word), so the recreation related functions of the Port are super inspiring to me. And then there’s the Waterfront Development project! I’d be so excited to get to be part of the team that works to ensure development that complements both downtowns, is efficient and sustainable, improves public access to the water, and provides the amenities that the residents are looking for. I also love that the Port serves the entire Camas-Washougal area, since I’ve had one foot in each community for many years now, and really see the entire area functioning as one East County in so many ways.”
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What role does the CW Port Commission play?
“The Commission meets twice a month, and is responsible for setting the Port’s policies, and Commissioners vote on recommendations brought to them by Port staff members. I’ve learned a great deal about the workings of a publicly-elected board from working closely for many years with the Washougal School District Board of Directors, and also from my time as an appointed member of the Camas Parks Commission. I have a true and deep appreciation of the importance of staff-commission trust and respect, and I think that I work well in such groups — I love the collaborative processes involved in group decision-making! Both WSD and Parks have also taught me how important public input, transparency, and equity are to all public agency decisions — great lessons that I’d love to be able to apply to future Port work.”
What direction is the CW Port going?
“I’m really excited about the proposed Waterfront development, which will have a huge and long-lasting impact in the community. I’d like to bring issues expressed in the community to these discussions — for instance, creating new spaces that complement both downtowns. Proper Port development is a huge boost to all of East County. I’d also like to see more focus on energy efficiency and sustainability in future Port projects, and RKm, the developer currently working with the Port, seems very supportive of such long-term efficiencies.”
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“I’m also looking forward to working with the Port in the creation of new infrastructure and jobs, another really big contribution toward quality of life. Businesses at the Industrial Park already provide about 1,000 jobs, and there is room and demand for growth there. Local work means fewer people having to commute across the bridges daily, meaning less congestion for all. It also concentrates those workers’ taxes and spending dollars here in the community, which is another bump to our local economy.”
“Port taxes are a small percentage of our overall property taxes, but all of these funds collected go toward capital projects. Port staff is really savvy in obtaining matching grants, so they are able to multiply the benefits of these revenues. Plans are in the works to add another building at the Industrial Park, and historically, these spaces have been leased even before construction is completed.”
“The expansion options for Grove Field airport have been of interest in the community for some time. It’s my understanding that the full Commission and Port staff are in agreement that the Waterfront Development is the Port’s primary focus at this time. I don’t believe that there are current plans for a major expansion of the airport any time soon. That said, there are some smaller improvements, like the addition of space for a pilots’ planning office with good internet service, that I think should be a priority. The airport community contributes significant hours of volunteer service, specifically focused on the youth in our community, and I’d like to see them supported with these improvements in safety and convenience.”
Can you elaborate more about your background in public service?
“I’ve lived in Camas for 18 years, most of those in the Crown Park neighborhood. We just recently moved near Forest Home. During that time, I’ve been involved in PTA at Helen Baller, helped coach Little League teams, worked on the Festival of Trees Committee, and the Community Center Development Committee. Most recently, I’ve served on the City of Camas Parks Commission for a number of years now. It’s an appointed position, and we serve in an advisory capacity. I’m pretty active with Parks, as well as our non-profit group, Partners with Camas Parks and Recreation. As our name suggests, we work to support parks, recreation programs, and more. We’re in our third year of tackling our invasive English ivy problem through the Camas Ivy League. We have very dedicated volunteers who come out to multiple events per year, and our goal for 2019 is to remove ivy from (at least!) 2019 local trees.”
Personal Life
Cassi met her husband, Rick, at Prairie High School. After high school, they went to opposite coasts for school with Cassi earning an aeronautical engineering degree from MIT. She took a break from work when they had children, and then decided to work for the Washougal School District, which was a great fit for her family life, and incredibly rewarding work.
Her two children, Joe and Carly, now in their 20s, both attended Camas schools, Clark College and UW.
https://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/07075637/95AE3CF4-ADF2-43A2-9BBF-3407EFBDA96A-scaled.jpeg12252560Ernest Geigenmillerhttps://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/07074147/lacamas_white_2-300x300.pngErnest Geigenmiller2019-09-10 19:17:082019-09-13 11:25:07Meet the Candidate: Cassi Marshall Eyes Camas-Washougal Port Commissioner Post
Washougal WA — The Camas-Washougal Historical Society was presented a check for $5,000 from The Honorable Frank L. and Arlene J. Price Foundation on Tuesday, September 3 at the Two Rivers Heritage Museum.
CWHS board members looked on as Kay Dalke-Sheadel, Price Foundation Executive Director presented the funds to CWHS president, Jim Cobb. The grant is the second received by CWHS by The Price Foundation and is earmarked for the Gathering Place at Washuxwal project, a Native American-inspired longhouse replica to be located on the south side of the museum.
“The building’s foundation is poured, cedar logs delivered, and we will begin structural construction soon,” said Cobb. “We know this outdoor pavilion will provide a beautiful, new venue at our museum to tell important stories of our area. We are honored that The Price Foundation accepted our grant proposal and is helping to make our vision a reality.”
The Price Foundation was created to provide funding for education, health and historical preservation projects in Clark and Cowlitz Counties. “It is exciting for me to see this money at work locally,” said Dalke-Sheadel. “Our giving supports education and historic preservation and you will be doing both with this grant!”
The CWHS launched its Gathering Place capital fund raising campaign in fall of 2017. So far, there has been more than $200,000 raised in in-kind gifts, grants and donations. Fund raising continues for the final stages of the project that include Native American carvings and artwork to adorn the pavilion, educational signage and landscaping.
Kay Dalke-Sheadel and Jim Cobb at the site.
“We are so grateful to the Price Foundation, our members and the community for their continuing support to help this project come to life,” Cobb said.
The Gathering Place is expected to help attract tourists, educational field trips and history lovers to the Two Rivers Heritage Museum and the community. “We look forward to increasing our ability to share stories of our earliest history,” Cobb said.
Find more information on The Gathering Place at Washuxwal visit www.2rhm.com. Donations can be made online. CWHS mission is to research, collect, preserve, and make available the rich history of Camas and Washougal, WA for the public. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. CWHS is a registered tax-exempt organization, Tax ID #91-1181503.
The Two Rivers Heritage Museum is located at 1 Durgan Street in Washougal and open March through October. Regular hours are Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission costs are $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, $2 for students and free for children under 5 and all CWHS members. Group tours are available any day of the week (by appointment only). Call Lois Cobb 360-835-5449 for scheduling.
https://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/07075648/028FB44F-0DB2-44E4-9EF3-253C8E400384.jpeg9651780Ernest Geigenmillerhttps://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/07074147/lacamas_white_2-300x300.pngErnest Geigenmiller2019-09-10 18:52:362019-09-10 18:52:45Camas-Washougal Historical Society Receives Grant From Price Foundation
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