Camas, WA — To assist longtime Camas resident, Mariah Corbin, who is fighting a rare form of brain cancer, locally owned and operated Champ Pizza is donating 20 percent of their sales on Tuesday, January 12.
“We will donate 20 percent of all revenue on January 12 at all three of our locations — Camas, East Vancouver, and Salmon Creek,” said Champ Pizza’s managing partner, Tyson Cook. “We hope everyone orders a pizza, some wings, and desserts so we can raise as much money as possible for this Mariah and her family.”
You can order by phone (see the list of phone numbers) or at www.champpizza.com
Champ Pizza phone numbers:
Camas: 360.210.5262
East Vancouver: 360.828.7029
Salmon Creek: 360.573.8569
Update on Mariah
“Mariah has been recovering super well from her second brain surgery which took place just over 3 weeks ago,” said her father, Derrill. “She’s more tired than she was in her recovery from the first surgery. However, with all she’s been through over these months, it’s completely understandable.”
“She’s been relatively pain-free for more than 2 weeks, only needing Tylenol, which is nothing short of miraculous! One significant point to note is that this last surgery caused a permanent field cut in her right eye. This means that she lost a major part of her sight on the right side. And while we knew it was probable, it is disappointing and something we’re praying for recovery from.”
https://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/04195110/F782A8A6-CDDC-4EBF-92C2-0A9CAE49495A-e1609819946702.jpeg5281600Ernest Geigenmillerhttps://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/07074147/lacamas_white_2-300x300.pngErnest Geigenmiller2021-01-04 20:15:062021-01-04 20:15:14Champ Pizza to Donate 20% of January 12 Sales to Mariah Corbin’s Family
Olympia, WA — Governor Jay Inslee today announced a one-week extension of the current “Stay Safe–Stay Healthy” proclamation, along with the statewide restrictions imposed, according to a statement from his office. The extension of the statewide restrictions will now expire on January 11, 2021. No changes were made in the proclamation aside from the expiration date.
“Our consistent mission has been keeping Washingtonians safe and ensuring health care system and hospital capacity,” Inslee said. “We understand the profound impact COVID is having on our healthcare system, families, and businesses, but I am heartened by the number of Washingtonians who continue to do the right thing. If we continue distancing from others, wearing facial coverings and avoiding social gatherings, we will make it to the other side of this pandemic together.”
The restrictions, set in place due to the statewide rise in COVID-19 cases, was set to expire on January 4, which includes a ban on indoor dining and indoor gyms.
Inslee announced these activity in mid-November after record-breaking levels of COVID-19 spread across the Evergreen state. Those rules were set to expire Dec. 14, but that was pushed to January 4.
Washington’s Secretary of Health Dr. Umair Shah sees “some improvement” with the restrictions in place, but cautions that the state is “not out of the woods.”
“We want to continue to see those numbers come down,” said Shah. He also said the week extension gives business owners some certainty of what they can expect after the upcoming holiday weekend. He did not say what might happen after January 11.
The Governor’s office said an updated reopening plan is currently being developed to provide a pathway for businesses and workers impacted by this order to reopen safely. The updated plan will be released next week.
https://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/16174056/B32CD9EE-2E74-4990-BBEB-59E7062003B0.jpeg370620Ernest Geigenmillerhttps://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/07074147/lacamas_white_2-300x300.pngErnest Geigenmiller2020-12-30 19:46:242020-12-30 19:46:30Inslee Extends Current ‘Stay Home-Stay Healthy’ Proclamation to January 11
Olympia, WA — Washington State House Republicans recently announced ranking member and House committee assignments for the 2021-22 biennium. Eighteenth District Reps. Larry Hoff and Brandon Vick will both serve in leadership roles.
Hoff, R-Vancouver, has been promoted to ranking member of the House Labor and Workplace Standards Committee. The committee reviews all legislation related to industrial insurance, unemployment compensation, collective bargaining, family leave, safety and health standards, occupational health, and employment standards.
“After the disastrous performance of the state’s Employment Security Department this year, I look forward to working with my friends in the majority to ensure these mistakes never happen again,” said Hoff. “In order to restore Washingtonians’ trust and ensure the agency is performing as expected, we must enact stricter accountability and transparency measures. The status quo simply cannot continue. The committee will also be tackling a number of other issues important to Washington families and workers. I’m optimistic we’ll be able to work in a bipartisan manner to deliver positive results for those in the 18th District and across the state.”
Vick, R-Vancouver, will continue in his role as ranking member of the House Consumer Protection and Business Committee. The committee considers an array of consumer protection issues, as well as the safety and soundness of state banks and credit unions, the regulation of consumer credit and lending, and the regulation of securities and investments.
“I am honored to continue in my role as ranking member of the Consumer Protection and Business Committee,” said Vick. “We have a lot of work ahead of us to rectify the tragic impacts of the coronavirus and the associated lockdown orders placed on our small business community. My team and I will work tirelessly to make sure Washington’s business climate is friendly and advantageous, while simultaneously working to support the many small business owners who have struggled so mightily this year.
“I am also eager to continue working on occupational licensing reform. Washington state should be a partner, not an obstacle, when it comes to our neighbors having the opportunity to work in their chosen career path. In order to achieve this goal, I have been working on a slate of bills that will be ready to go on day one of session. I look forward to continued bipartisan support for these efforts.”
Camas, WA – The City of Camas has selected two new department heads: former City of Boulder Deputy Communications Director Bryan Rachal will become Camas’ first-ever director of communications and current University of Portland Associate Vice President for Land Use and Planning Trang Lam will become the director of Parks and Recreation.
“Today I am pleased to announce two wonderful additions to our City of Camas staff,” said City Administrator Jamal Fox. “I am certain they will not only carry on a legacy of excellence within the organization but also bring new ideas for enhancing our commitment and connections to Land, People and Honesty throughout the community.”
Director of Communications: Bryan Rachal
“Bryan’s energy, positivity and overall experience in communications make him the perfect choice for our first director of communications. He is excited to bring his family to Camas and make it their home,” said Camas Mayor Barry McDonnell.
Rachal (pronounced ra-SHALL) has over 12 years of experience and earned his accreditation in public relations (APR) in 2016. As deputy director of communications for the city of Boulder, Colorado, Rachal served as a spokesperson and worked closely with city leaders on cohesive communications strategies.
Prior to joining the Boulder team, Rachal served as the director of university communications for the University of North Alabama. There he managed a team of award-winning professionals in the Office of Communications and Marketing, helping to rebrand the institution. During his time in Alabama, Rachal was a member of Rotary International and served as a board member for Downtown Florence Unlimited.
A storyteller at heart, Rachal has also worked as a reporter for NPR affiliate KUAF in Northwest Arkansas, and as a reporter and news producer for ABC and NBC affiliates in Colorado and Arkansas. Rachal’s credentials include a B.A. in journalism from the School of Journalism and Strategic Media at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.
Rachal has been married to his high school sweetheart, Andrea, since 2006; they have two children, Alex (12) and Annabelle (9). The Rachal family is an outdoors family, enjoying hiking and evening walks with their two Brittany Spaniels, Lolli and Cocoa. They are also a foodie family and look forward to experiencing all the restaurants the area has to offer. Rachal is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys fly fishing and skiing.
A graduate of the of the University of Arkansas, you can usually hear Rachal cheering on the Hogs most weekends in the fall. Rachal is a voracious reader of news and books alike and also a movie buff. He’s even named his cat Fredo in honor of his favorite movie of all time, The Godfather.
“Trang has a true passion for parks,” said McDonnell. “Her leadership and experience combined with her energy will help us take our parks and recreation department into the future.”
Lam comes to the City of Camas with over 20 years of experience in leadership roles at the University of Portland, Portland Parks & Recreation, and Prosper Portland, and as an entrepreneur.
She has led high-performing teams focused on outcomes that promote people’s health and wellbeing through connection to nature and recreation; community development that centers on economic opportunity and prosperity for small business and underserved communities; and, at the University of Portland, the creation of campus spaces that foster a complete learning environment for future leaders, across academia.
Prior to her work as a civil servant and in higher education, she led her family’s fledgling food manufacturing company and grew the company to a traded sector business.
Lam immigrated to Portland when she was four, and her family has called the Pacific Northwest their home ever since. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from Portland State University. On her time off, you can find her and her husband in the great outdoors hiking and kayaking.
Timing and Selection
Rachal will begin his communications post Jan. 11. He was selected from a pool of 130 candidates from across the country.
Lam will fill the former role of Jerry Acheson, who retired October 31 after 30 years of service, starting Jan. 25. The city received 60 applications for the parks and recreation position from candidates nationwide.
Both positions were advertised on local, regional, national, and diversity job boards. Prior to selection, each candidate went through a multi-week process that involved input and involvement from all staff levels as well as an initial round of video interviews followed by multiple virtual interviews with a variety of panels.
https://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/28155810/2A212C70-9F06-4A56-BDAA-4EC874DB64AC.jpeg7991280Ernest Geigenmillerhttps://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/07074147/lacamas_white_2-300x300.pngErnest Geigenmiller2020-12-28 16:15:582020-12-28 16:16:06Camas Names Director of Communications, New Director of Parks & Rec
Clark County, WA — As parents and students of the Class of 2021 in Clark County and throughout the region navigate a school year without in-class instruction and the normal activities that come with a senior year one Vancouver parent sprang into action and created a fun and innovative Facebook group called “Adopt a 2021 Senior Clark County, Wa”
“Essentially, this is a way to provide seniors with something special so they can have some positive memories,” said Dionna Hickox, of Vancouver. “It’s a way to make it special. It’s not an ideal year for them. It stinks they are missing out on their senior year, and a friend in the mid-West asked if our county has this adopt-a-senior program. They can be adopted and supported. My son (a senior at Skyview) just received two cards in the mail.”
How does it work?
A parent, guardian, or even a senior will make a post on this Facebook group on what they’re like, what they want in the future. The original post will say “not adopted” and if a member of the group wants to adopt the child, and if you’re comfortable with the person you can give them your address to send cards or words of encouragement. Then once the senior is adopted, they will have a sponsor, and the post will change to “adopted.”
“I’m finding that people are getting adopted quickly, they’re finding a match to support,” said Hickox.
What are people doing?
“I just started it last week,” she said. “My son got a gas card, and a Subway gift card with words of encouragement. We’re in the infancy stage so it’s early to tell what will really happen.”
It’s a public group. The parent or student is the gatekeeper and they will be able to make decisions on who they communicate with.
“I find a lot of Camas people enjoying the group, but there’s a lot of support at Skyview, as well,” she said. “We are encouraging the students to get the word out. I have another friend whose daughter attends Fort Vancouver, so we’re trying to expand.”
To participate, go to Facebook and search for ‘Adopt a Senior — Clark County, Wa’ to join.
https://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/23202914/23569E98-3F48-4DCE-BD62-29BF9024BD76.jpeg508960Ernest Geigenmillerhttps://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/07074147/lacamas_white_2-300x300.pngErnest Geigenmiller2020-12-23 20:40:372020-12-23 20:40:45Vancouver Parent Starts ‘Adopt a 2021 Senior Clark County’ Facebook Group
Camas and Washougal have varying New Year’s Eve fireworks ordinances that the public needs to know about, says Camas Washougal Fire Marshall, Ron Schumacher.
“This year like in the last three years, the city limits of Washougal doesn’t allow mortars that explode in the air,” said Schumacher. “Washougal only allows the ‘safe and sane’ fireworks that travel vertically nor more than a foot, and horizontally no more than 6 feet.”
Camas, however, does allow the mortar fireworks.
You can purchase these products at any fireworks stand, which will be on sale December 29-31 in Camas and Washougal. You can only use them on December 31 — in both cities until 1 am, says Schumacher.
In Washougal, you can be fined $250 on the first offense, which is a civil fine. Camas will not fine residents for using mortars.
“Safe and sane” fireworks are those that are neither projectile nor explosive—basically anything that doesn’t leave the ground.
https://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/23182534/3676393F-9BE7-406E-BDC8-303AB6CF7C38.jpeg6021200Ernest Geigenmillerhttps://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/07074147/lacamas_white_2-300x300.pngErnest Geigenmiller2020-12-23 19:30:442020-12-23 19:30:52Camas, Washougal Have Varying New Year’s Eve Fireworks Ordinances
Washougal, WA — Spending time with family in the kitchen cooking during the holidays is a tradition for many. And thanks to an extension of USDA Federal funding to Washougal School District (WSD) and some ingenuity, food kits will be created for Washougal families who participate in the district’s meal distribution program, to prepare meals together.
“Typically, we would not offer meal service when schools are closed and staff are on break,” said Margaret Rice, WSD CTE Director. “But with the pandemic we have seen a higher need and each week provide food for 400 students through our meal takeout and delivery options. We were excited to get the news that the program can extend over the winter break. Our team was compelled to take advantage of this opportunity to provide additional food service for children 18 and under in our community.”
WSD offered additional meal pick up Friday, December 18 and will again on Monday, December 28 for students participating in the program.
The challenge came in providing a week’s worth of meals on the second distribution date while WSD staff are on break and the facilities closed. Culinary services employee, Sheri Cranford, had attended a State child nutrient webinar and heard that other districts were offering grocery style food kits over the holiday break.
“She brought the idea to the team and everyone grabbed hold of it,” said Rice. “So, our students will receive fresh components and recipes to create their own delicious meals at home.”
The next challenge was to create meals for a week with limited staff and access to facilities available to cook them.
“We believe we’ve been able to secure enough of our staff coupled with some outstanding community and student volunteers to get the job done,” Rice said. “It has been a real showing of support and teamwork. The proposed menu for the two weeks of Winter break include items like Penne Pasta with Marinara Sauce, Beef Vegetable Stew, Cheesy Green Enchiladas, Ham & Cheese Ciabatta and Chicken Ranch Sandwiches with build your own meal kits with ideas like, English muffin Pepperoni Pizza, Chicken Yakisoba with veggies, Italian Sausage Bowtie Pasta and Carnitas Street Tacos.”
“We created simple, playful recipe directions to accomplish the dishes,” said Johnattan Curiel, WSD Sous chef. “And we hope families will share with us the finished product using #Washougalchefsintraining on social media.”
“The idea is to encourage students to spend time together with their families in the kitchen,” said Rice. “There is a special feeling of togetherness you get while cooking. We hope these meals will not only nourish our students but provide some joy and a fun activity to do while at home during the break.”
The food service meals have changed significantly since they transitioned to scratch cooking at the start of the school year. “It feels like we are providing a better, healthier product,” said Glenda Huddleston, of Food Service. “The meals are fresh and not processed and prepackaged. It is so not really more work but different work, and so much more rewarding.”
“It definitely feels fulfilling to be helping our students and community in this way,” Curiel added.
The federal food program has been extended through June 2021.
https://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/21203522/7B1F9168-D6F2-4399-B44B-A947CB5E8CD8-e1608612636297.jpeg5561280Ernest Geigenmillerhttps://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/07074147/lacamas_white_2-300x300.pngErnest Geigenmiller2020-12-21 20:56:252020-12-21 20:56:34Washougal School District Prepares Weeks of Holiday Take Out Food
Washougal, WA – Washougal School District is making plans to reopen a two-day per week hybrid learning model in January. Following Washington State Department of Health updated guidelines for school reopening released this week, the district will begin the phased implementation of its hybrid model, starting with students in grades K-3. The hybrid model features both school and remote learning components.
“We are so excited to welcome additional students back in-person, we know how critical this is for student success,” said Mary Templeton, WSD Superintendent. “We know this will be a huge support to our students and their families, and make so much more learning possible.”
These new state guidelines include new metrics, based on emerging research and data gathered by state and national officials, that will allow schools to have increased in-person learning opportunities for students.
“We are working with our teachers and staff, public health officials, and other area school districts to review our safety protocols,” said Aaron Hansen, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources and Student Support, in a letter to parents and staff. “We will get students into classrooms as quickly as we safely can within these new frameworks.” School and class schedules will be posted as soon as they are available.
The WSD timeline calls for grades K-3 to begin the hybrid model starting Tuesday, January 19, 2021. Grades 4 & 5 would begin the hybrid learning model starting shortly thereafter, as long as transmission in the school environment is limited. Students are placed in small cohorts, or groups of 15 or fewer students per group. They will be assigned their group alphabetically by their guardian’s last name.
“We want our families to know they have a choice to come back to the classroom in the hybrid learning model, or to stay in distance learning,” said Templeton. “Families can let the school office know if their student will remain in full-time distance learning, and teachers are provided time each week to support these students.”
According to state guidance, plans for middle and high school will be available once the spread of COVID in our community declines to levels specified in the updated reopening guidance (average cases per 100,000 over 14 days below 350 for middle school, below 200 for high school). “In order to serve more students in our classrooms safely, all of us must wear masks, watch our distance, and wash our hands,” added Templeton. “Health officials studying the spread of COVID emphasize these simple, but critical steps the entire community can take to enable next steps in our reopening.”
https://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/18211034/F47A8439-550F-4058-B480-73E1618F8734-scaled-e1608355017393.jpeg12922560Ernest Geigenmillerhttps://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/07074147/lacamas_white_2-300x300.pngErnest Geigenmiller2020-12-18 21:35:562020-12-18 21:39:15Washougal School District Prepares For 2-Day/Week K-5 Hybrid Learning In January
Camas, WA — Late Wednesday night, the Clark County Sheriff’s Office confirmed they found the body of Tyler Schmidt, 15, a Camas resident who has been missing since Monday.
Deputies on the scene said they went searching for Schmidt in the woods near Discovery High School, and about 200 yards from the road — Nan Hendricksen Way— is where they discovered his body. The deputies said it appears to be a suicide, and don’t suspect foul play.
Schmidt went missing Monday at 11 am after leaving his home in the Winchester Hills neighborhood in Camas. The report said he threw his cell phone in a moment of anger, and left the residence.
This story will be updated.
Tyler Schmidt flyer.
Clark County Sheriff’s Deputies near the site where Schmidt’s body was found.
https://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/17002417/70BBD49A-05F5-4A87-ABF8-41BD26B15E92-scaled.jpeg19202560Ernest Geigenmillerhttps://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/07074147/lacamas_white_2-300x300.pngErnest Geigenmiller2020-12-17 00:41:102020-12-17 00:43:23Clark County Sheriff’s Deputies Find Body of Missing Camas Teen
Camas, WA — Parents and students in the Camas School District are holding their second rally along with a ZOOM classroom blackout December 17 to once again ask the district to open Camas Schools to wider in-class instruction.
Andrea Seeley, one of the event’s organizers, said “the group is gathering in a safe, socially distanced manner aimed at sending a message to the Camas School District that we want our students to have the choice to be back in school, in person. We are marching in solidarity with other Clark County school districts (Hockinson, Ridgefield, Evergreen and Vancouver) on the same day to their respective district offices.”
Seeley added: “We believe our teachers and our schools are essential and that kids need and deserve the option to return to in-person learning. On this day, December 17, our students will not be engaging in any classwork, attending any ZOOM classes or doing homework.”
Heather Deringer, who is also helping with the rally, said parents and students of all ages are welcome and encouraged to attend, wearing masks and with their own homemade signs.
The group has partnered with several local businesses to set up stations to sign petitions for a return to a broader in-person learning option. Currently, Camas School District has about 600 students in the classroom. Petitions will be set up at Hidden River Roasters (536 NE 5th Ave), A Beer at a Time (216 NE 3rd Ave), Camas Barber Shop (214 NE 4th Ave), Squeeze and Grind (537 Cedar St) and Salud (224 NE 3rd Ave).
“We encourage the community to sign the petition and order takeout at these businesses at the same time, supporting our local community during the recent extension of the shutdown in Washington State,” said Seeley.
The Open Camas Schools group cites a growing body of evidence at the national and state levels, including the Director of the CDC, UNICEF and Dr. Anthony Fauci, who have all stated that schools are the safest place for kids to be.
“Washington State School Superintendent, Chris Reykdal, recently acknowledged the failure of distance learning to appropriately engage students,” said Seely. “Numerous research studies around the world have documented the alarming rise of depression, anxiety, suicide, alcohol and substance abuse, domestic violence and child abuse as a strong driving factor that support the return of children to in-person learning. The skyrocketing number of failing kids is a trend that needs to be addressed differently and immediately. Other Washington state school districts and private schools within the state where COVID case numbers are similar are open to in-person learning and are providing good models for moving ahead safely and effectively.”
Today, Governor Inslee encouraged school districts statewide to start re-opening.
“Now that we have a better understanding of how the disease spreads and have developed health and safety protocols specific to schools, we are in a better position, we have more confidence when it comes to phased-in, in-person learning,” he said.
Inslee said that while he does have the ability to close schools for emergencies, he does “not have the statutory authority to make them reopen.”
He is, however, hoping that these new recommendations will give school districts the confidence to begin in-class instruction.
Open Camas Schools rally on Everett several weeks ago.
Inslee’s new reopening guidelines include the following:
Districts where COVID cases are less than 50 residents per 100,000 people: In-person learning should be made available to all students.
Districts where COVID cases are between 50 and 350 residents per 100,000 people: Districts are encouraged to phase in in-person learning, starting with elementary and middle school students.
Districts where COVID cases are greater than 350 per 100,000 people: Districts are encouraged to bring elementary students “and those with the highest needs” back into classrooms in small groups of 15 or fewer.
Clark County has 450 cases per 100,000.
The Washington Education Association (WEA) issued a statement following Inslee’s announcement that said:
“The trust and confidence that we can safely return to school is something that must be earned. It would have been easier to build that trust with educators with more communications in advance from the Governor about these pending changes.
“We agree with the Governor that the spotlight should be on L&I safety requirements, which are key for building trust with educators, students and families. Districts must meet those requirements on day one. We need to know that there is adequate PPE, distancing, ventilation, an active and trained safety committee in each building, effective plans for contact tracing, testing and clear communications regarding protocols for what happens when a case is detected in school.
“Implementing these guidelines in areas where school is still remotely operating will take time. We are concerned that the way these changes were rolled out implies that school can resume before there is time to put these safety measures in place.
WEA’s focus will be to advocate that these requirements are fully in place before any expansion of in-person teaching and learning.”
The Open Camas Schools group feels they represent many students.
“Students are not being heard,” said Seeley. “Their pleas to return to school and resume extracurricular activities fall on deaf ears as administrators from school districts to teacher’s unions to health districts all seem to want to point fingers in other directions without taking responsibility. Nobody is asking students what they need or listening to their voices. Open Camas Schools believes that the district needs to put the students first. We are hopeful that Dr. Snell will renew his focus on the Camas School District and its students, teachers and staff. Our hope with the event is to keep the focus on putting ALL kids first.”
https://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/17200328/AECEC0D2-0C1A-44EB-836B-49CDA0A64174.jpeg6581280Ernest Geigenmillerhttps://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/07074147/lacamas_white_2-300x300.pngErnest Geigenmiller2020-12-16 19:44:352020-12-16 19:53:27Open Camas Schools Group to Hold 2nd Rally, ZOOM Blackout Thursday
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