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Fuel Medical Assembles, Donates Bikes to CAROL

On Thursday, Fuel Medical, a locally-owned and operated company, met at the Camas Fire station on Parker Avenue and did their part in making a child’s Christmas wish come true.

The company purchased, assembled and then donated 13 bikes to the CAROL program, which is a 50-year Camas/Washougal giving program that helps out needy families at Christmastime.
“It’s part team-building, part giving back to the community,” said Stewart Lyon, Fuel Medical’s Marketing Director. “Our entire team is here assembling bikes and we’re having a lot of fun doing it.”
The CAROL program, which is run by the Camas Fire Department receives, organizes, and distributes food, toys and other items to needy families in the Camas and Washougal communities. It’s a long-standing tradition that will help 175 families in the coming days.
Camas Mayor Scott Higgins said Fuel Medical came to him, inquiring about local needs.
“It was great to get the call,” said Higgins. “So, I pointed them to CAROL, and here we all are. It’s a great feeling. It’s a great program and it goes straight to Camas and Washougal families. It helps our people right here, and we’re excited Fuel is partnering with us on this program.”
Fuel co-founders Brendan Ford and Shawn Parker assembled a child’s bike together, with Ford blind-folded while receiving verbal instructions from Parker. The build was successful.
Fuel staff worked in teams to assemble the 13 bikes, which will be distributed to families in the coming days.
Alicia Ramsey, of the Camas Fire Department, was on-hand and was grateful for the support.

“We’re thankful for Fuel Medical, for the purchase and donation of these bikes,” she added. “It’s great to have the help.”

Ramsey said their next task was organizing the delivery boxes in preparation for this weekend.

“This is our first year participating – we’re very excited,” said Parker.
Ford was appreciative that the Camas FD allowed them to use this space to build the bikes.
“It’s been a great experience for our team and we’re happy to help,” Ford said.
  Fuel Medical
Fuel Medical team members complete a bike on Thursday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fuel Medical
Fuel Medical finished their bike assemblies Thursday morning and donated the bikes to the CAROL program.

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Wise Family Experiences Bank Robbery

CAMAS — Camas High School Track & Field Coach Alisa Whitney Wise got more than she expected today at her local US Bank branch. With two of her sons with her, casual business turned into a surreal and frightful situation.

As she was opening an account, she heard shouting and saw an elderly gentleman spill water, …and that’s when she asked what happened.

A frightened teller told her: “We’ve just been robbed.”

Wise said the bank immediately locked the doors (about noon) and told everyone to remain in the building until police arrived.

Wise, who is usually every aware of her surroundings, said she wished she would have seen more.

“I’m usually so in touch with my surroundings,” she said. “But I didn’t see it happen, yet it happened just a few feet away from me.”

The teller told Wise the robber handed her a note with a demand for money. The visibly shaken teller said she handed him the money and he then immediately fled the scene.

Local authorities (police, sheriff’s deputies, K9 units) arrived within moments and canvassed the area — all the way to the Liberty Theatre.

The suspect is described as a man in his mid-20s and local officials are on the search to apprehend him.

Wise said the only customers at the branch were her, her two sons, Micah and Stockton, and the elderly man.

“They handled things very professionally,” said Wise. “But they were clearly shaken. I would be.”

The police questioned the customers and the employees until just before 2 pm, and then everyone was free to leave.

“I just really wished I would have seen more,” said Wise.

More details to come.

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Local LDS Church Members Honor Pioneer Day

Camas, WA — More than 1,100 local members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and their friends, gathered at Doc Harris Stadium Saturday to commemorate a cherished milestone in the faith’s U.S. history — namely Pioneer Day. The annual event helps contemporary members of their faith recall the legacy 19th century members left while on trek from Illinois to what is known today as Utah.

The early members of the faith were forced numerous times to leave their homes in various mid-Western states, and they had hoped to settle in Nauvoo, Illinois. But it wasn’t meant to be, as they were persecuted, and forced to escape to Utah.

Andrew Wight
Andrew and Calvin Wight enjoy a tug-of-war game.

Pioneer Day
Many struggled and lost their lives in their effort to cross the Plains to arrive in the great Salt Lake Valley.

The first LDS pioneers arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in 1847, and began to built up new cities.

Local east Vancouver, Camas, and Washougal church members convened at Doc Harris Stadium on Saturday to eat, celebrate, play games and learn about early church history. There were running events, tugs-of-war, music, talks, etc.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, and has a presence in nearly every nation.

To learn more about Pioneer Day, visit www.lds.org

Pioneer Day Susie Huckvale

 

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U.S. Manufacturing: Some Interesting Data

Some facts about United States manufacturing:
  • Manufacturing in the United States produces $1.8 trillion of value each year, or 12.2 percent of U.S. GDP. For every $1.00 spent in manufacturing, another $1.48 is added to the economy, the highest multiplier effect of any economic sector.1
  • The industry supports an estimated 17.2 million jobs in the United States—about one in six private-sector jobs. Nearly 12 million Americans (or 9 percent of the workforce) are employed directly in manufacturing.2
  • In 2011, the average manufacturing worker in the United States earned $77,060 annually, including pay and benefits. The average worker in all industries earned $60,168.3
  • Manufacturers in the United States are the most productive in the world, far surpassing the worker productivity of any other major manufacturing economy, leading to higher wages and living standards.4
  • Manufacturers in the United States perform two-thirds of all private-sector R&D in the nation, driving more innovation than any other sector.5
  • Taken alone, manufacturing in the United States would be the 10th largest economy in the world.6
  1. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Industry Economic Accounts (2011).
  2. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2012), with estimate of total employment supported by manufacturing calculated by NAM using data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis(2011).
  3. Bureau of Economic Analysis (2011).
  4. NAM calculations based on data from the United Nations, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the International Labour Organization.
  5. National Science Foundation (2008).
  6. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Industry Economic Accounts (2011) and International Monetary Fund (2011).
Manufacturing
 
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LDS Church Responds to Boy Scout Gay Policy Vote

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints responded today to the Boy Scouts of America vote on its membership policy with the following statement:

“For the past 100 years, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has enjoyed a strong relationship with Boy Scouts of America, based on our mutual interest in helping boys and young men understand and live their duty to God and develop upright moral behavior. As the Church moves forward in its association with the Boy Scouts of America, Church leaders will continue to seek the most effective ways to address the diverse needs of young people in the United States and throughout the world.

Supportive of Gay Youth Participation

The Church’s long-established policy for participation in activities is stated in the basic instructional handbook used by lay leaders of the Church: “young men … who agree to abide by Church standards” are “welcomed warmly and encouraged to participate” (Handbook 2: Administering the Church [2010], 8.17.3). This policy applies to Church-sponsored Scout units. Sexual orientation has not previously been—and is not now—a disqualifying factor for boys who want to join Latter-day Saint Scout troops. Willingness to abide by standards of behavior continues to be our compelling interest.

These standards are outlined in the booklet For the Strength of Youth and include abstinence from sexual relationships. We remain firmly committed to upholding these standards and to protecting and strengthening boys and young men.

The Church appreciates BSA’s reaffirmation of its commitment to “duty to God,” which includes service to others and moral behavior—central principles of our teaching to young men. As in the past, the Church will work with BSA to harmonize what Scouting has to offer with the varying needs of our young men. We trust that BSA will implement and administer the approved policy in an appropriate and effective manner.”

The LDS Church also said that a letter signed by the First Presidency of the Church is being sent to all Latter-day Saint congregation leaders throughout the United States.

To learn more about the church’s official position, visit www.lds.org

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Boys Scouts Change Policy on Gay Youth

Breaking News from KPVI: At Texas meeting, Boy Scouts approve new policy to allow openly gay scouts but not openly gay leaders. The vote was 61% in favor, according to Grand Teton Council Executive Clarke Farrer.

Under the proposal drafted by the BSA national board, openly gay adults will remained barred from serving as Scout leaders.

Today’s vote is unlikely to end the intense debate over the BSA’s long-standing policy.

Several church-sponsored Scout units want to continue to banning opening gay youth, and have threatened defection. Other units welcome the change, but have vowed for the acceptance of openly gay adult leaders.

To learn more, visit www.bsa.org

 
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Dozer Day Happiness: 3 Boys Having a Blast

Dozer Day!  Three boys enjoy the fun that was Dozer Day this weekend in East Vancouver. Kids had the opportunity to operate real heavy machinery at Cemex Quarry. The annual event is organized by the Nutter Foundation in an effort to raise money for charity. To learn more, visit www.dozerday.org
Dozer Day

 

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Thrown Out Professional Baseball Bats Find New Life

Snowbird Joe Pleckinger has taken recycling to another level.

An avid baseball fan, Pleckinger turns broken, worn out professional bats into handy must-have household items and gadgets that catch your eye. You’ll never know which major leaguer crushed it to the fences when you salt your fries, flip your burger, or cut your pizza.

Pleckinger’s shop in Arizona has become his center of innovation, as he turns bat handles into a putting iron grip, a unique spatula, or pen holder. His latest is a towel rack that is a must-have for anyone who loves baseball.

Repurposing these Louisville sluggers has become a passion for Pleckinger, who along with his wife, Carole, spends the harsh Northwest winter months in sunny, warm Arizona. That’s where he has his shop, and that’s where he’s built relationships with professional baseball teams who travel to the land of sun for Spring Training.

He’s friends with staff and players on two professional teams — the Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals, and he manages to collect their broken, worn out bats destined for the trash heap.

“I do this for fun,” says Pleckinger, who spends the late spring and summer months in Vancouver/Camas, where he enjoys watching his grandsons, Jake and Zach Blair, play baseball.

“It’s a hobby,” he said. “I just love creating these handy gadgets for people. I’m told how much people love to have these in their homes, so I just keep making more.”

Grandpa Joe, as some call him, continues to expand his line. He recently installed a towel rack in the Camas Little League Snack Shack, and now has a walking cane in his product line. The salt and pepper shakers, though, are fun conversation starters.

“People love the salt and pepper shakers,” said Pleckinger. “And you never know which major league baseball player swing these bats. It’s all about having a good time.”

And for those who are interested in seeing Pleckinger’s products, or would like to hear a good baseball story, are welcome to call him. He can be reached at 623-792-8740 or 360-892-8740.

You’re bound to have a good time. Play ball!

 

Photo by Kris Blair.
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Helen Baller Wins $2500 Umpqua Bank Grant

Camas, WA — Umpqua Bank has announced the 10 winners in the Show Us How You Give photo campaign, providing $25,000 total in grants to schools and organizations across the region. The five nonprofit organizations and five schools – ten grantees altogether – that had the most votes on their photos via Umpqua Bank’s Facebook page each receive a grant of $2,500.

Helen Baller Elementary in Camas, Wash. placed in the school category with 361 total votes.

Helen Baller principal, Aaron Parman, is quite pleased with the grant.

“I am very excited about winning the grant,” said Parman. “It shows the pride that the community takes in Helen Baller. I very grateful for the money and it will be used to support our students at Helen Baller.”

So, what does the school plan to do with the money?

“I am not exactly sure at this point what the funds will go towards,” said Parman. “A building goal is to support literacy and we are in the process of purchasing leveled books and a writing curriculum. It might go to that depending on what our need is. I want to get some feedback from our Leadership Team to help make the decision.”

Check presentations are currently being planned with Lori Wick, the Umpqua Bank store manager at Evergreen Vancouver.

“I also want to thank Diana Sterle for taking the initiative to submit the picture and advertise the grant,” said Parman. “We are very fortunate to have parents and community members who go above and beyond expectations to support all of our students.”

Additional winners include Playworks in Portland, Ore.; Humboldt County Children’s Author Festival in Eureka, Calif.; NeighborWorks Umpqua in Roseburg, Ore.; Clothes for Kids in Lynnwood, Wash.; Tacoma Art Museum in Tacoma, Wash.; Memorial Middle School in Albany, Ore.; B. Gale Wilson in Fairfield, Calif.; Bertha Holt Elementary in Eugene, Ore.; and Coleman Elementary in San Rafael, Calif.

 

 

 

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Public Invited to Rep Pike’s Open House

Open House

The open house is Friday in downtown Camas, from 4 to 6pm at Representative Liz Pike’s new district office – 415 NE Cedar Street. 

The address is 415 NE Cedar Street, Suite A, Camas, WA 98607. Pike’s office asks that you RSVP at 360-786-7812 or email Garrett.Delano@leg.wa.gov

Pike emphasizes no tax dollars were spent to provide tonight’s delicious appetizers prepared by Susan Rosso Page. Enjoy lemonade, cowboy cookies and chocolate truffles donated by Shangri-La Farm and wine donated by Craig Stein of Stein Distributing.

“We’re very pleased with the location of the office and that it will give the constituents direct access to their representative,” said Pike.

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