Camas, WA – Officials with the City of Camas announced that four candidates have been invited to participate in the Camas Police Chief on-site recruitment events taking place this week.
The events will consist of various activities while in Camas, including a Meet and Greet with the community Wednesday, April 19, from 6 – 8 p.m., at the Camas Public Library.
The four finalists are listed below in alphabetical order:
David Abrahamson
Abrahamson currently serves as a Captain for the City of Portland Police Bureau, Portland, OR.
James H. Band
Band currently serves as the Police Chief for the Oregon City Police Department, Oregon City, OR
Tina M. Jones
Jones currently serves as a Commander for the City of Portland Police Bureau, Portland, OR
Ronald D. Schaub
Schaub currently serves as the Police Chief for the City of Pacific Police Department, Pacific, WA
In addition to meeting with the public, each candidate will also have the opportunity to meet with the City Senior Leadership team, community partners and peer subject matter experts. The top candidates will then be invited to meet with the Mayor.
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https://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/18143521/Police-Chief-2-e1681853762445.jpg3511253Ernest Geigenmillerhttps://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/07074147/lacamas_white_2-300x300.pngErnest Geigenmiller2023-04-18 14:42:122023-04-18 14:42:21City of Camas Announces 4 New Finalists for Chief of Police Position
Vancouver, WA — As the weather warms, it’s important to remember that small habits can have a large impact on stormwater. Car washing, cleaning up after your pets and lawn care all impact our waters in Clark County. The City of Camas is sending out reminders about proper water usage, which come from Storm Water Partners. Here are some tips:
Watering
When irrigation systems overwater or water sidewalks, driveways and streets, the runoff picks up pollutants and transports them to our streams via the storm sewer. It’s also a waste of water and money.
Ensure your irrigation system is only watering the landscape where it can infiltrate into the soil.
Pets and animals
When it rains, pet waste left on the ground from dogs, cats, horses, ducks, and other pets washes into storm drains and streams, polluting our water and posing health risks to children and pets.
Animal waste carries harmful bacteria, parasites and nutrients. And with over 110,000 dogs and 30,000 horses in Clark County alone, it adds up. In fact, E. coli is a primary pollutant in many of our local streams and lakes.
Lawn care
Follow the manufacturer’s directions precisely for mixing and applying herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides and use them sparingly.
NEVER apply when it’s windy or rain is expected, or over water, within 100 feet of a well, or adjacent to streams or other waterways.
Use manufacturer’s directions in applying fertilizers and sweep up spills that fall on driveways and sidewalks before they can wash off. Organic fertilizers’ slow release of nitrogen is less likely to pollute than synthetic fertilizers.
Visit www.stormwaterpartners.com to learn about ways you can minimize your impact.
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Camas, WA — About 125 local Project-Based Learning (PBL) students walked out of their classrooms today to protest staffing cuts at both Discovery High and Odyssey Middle Schools, which may total 20 percent of their respective staffs.
The students have expressed their concerns throughout the week, first by speaking up at Monday’s Camas School Board meeting, rallying, and participating in today’s walkout. They initially gathered in front of the Discovery High School, then marched down the school’s long driveway to have their signs visible to passersby.
Camas School District (CSD) is grappling with a $7.4 million deficit, and today CSD Superintendent, Dr. John Anzalone, released a statement to parents on how these cuts will be made to balance the budget.
To balance the $7.4 million deficit, CSD will draw down $1.8 million from reserves, layoff 10 district wide employees ($1.9 million), let go of eight school-wide support staff that are non-classroom ($1.9 million), and layoff 29 classroom teachers ( eight elementary, nine middle school, and 12 high school) totaling $2.6 million. Anazlone said their priority was to do as little disruption to classroom experiences as possible.
Students protest against looming staff cuts at Discovery and Odyssey.
CSD explained why this situation has happened. In their statement, they said the following:
The shift in public education funding prompted by the McCleary Decision in 2018 has been quite a journey for our state and public school system. Five years later, expenses continue to outpace revenues, and our district anticipates a $7.4M shortfall.
Four key factors are at play: declining regionalization funding, the prototypical school funding model (McCleary), a dramatic enrollment drop, and the sunset of COVID Relief Funding:
1. Regionalization factors were put in place to adjust funding based on the cost of living in different communities. Factors for a handful of districts began declining in 2020-21 at a rate of 1% per year. It is unclear why this is the case. Camas is the only district in the ESD 112 region that experienced this reduction. The annual decreases are counter-intuitive, given that the cost per employee continues to rise and the cost of living in Camas continues to increase.
2. In the state’s prototypical school funding model, funding for staff relies on an experience factor average, not actual experience. Because most of our teachers have many years of experience and are, therefore, near the top of the pay scale, Camas fared better in the previous funding model, which funded districts based on their teaching staff’s actual years of experience and education level.
3. From March 2020 to February 2023, our student enrollment dropped from 7,262 to 6,973 (FTE*), primarily due to COVID, while our staffing levels have remained relatively unchanged.
4. COVID Relief Funds, including Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER), food service, and enrollment and transportation stabilization, total $10.8M to date. These funds, which are nearly expended, provided temporary relief and will not be reinstated going forward.
https://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/31191222/IMG_1054-scaled-e1680315216329.jpg10111907Ernest Geigenmillerhttps://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/07074147/lacamas_white_2-300x300.pngErnest Geigenmiller2023-04-01 08:57:002023-04-01 08:57:09Discovery, Odyssey Students Walk Out in Protest of CSD Staff Cuts Totaling 47
Camas, WA — At Monday’s Camas School District’s (CSD) Board meeting, the five-member board voted unanimously to begin a district-wide layoff process by ratifying Resolution No. 22-04, a Modified Educational Program.
CSD has been working for months analyzing where to make budget cuts to bridge at $7.4 million budget deficit. Monday’s vote gives the CSD cabinet the authority to formally begin the process to make those cuts, which will include layoffs to certificated, classified and administrative employees.
This is the board’s resolution:
WHEREAS, the Camas School District No. 117 (“District”) faces financial issues due to inflation, increased staffing costs, reductions in enrollment and the state funding model;
WHEREAS, all general fund cash reserves and contingency funds have been considered for use by the Board;
WHEREAS, the District formed the Superintendent Budget Committee, sought input from and conferred both collectively and individually with the Camas Education Association (“CEA”), Public School Employees (“PSE”), Camas Association of Educational Office Professionals (“CAEOP”), building administrators, unrepresented employees, and other community stakeholders;
WHEREAS, the District will identify all persons within the CEA, PSE, CAEOP, building administration & unrepresented employees who willingly will agree to a Reduction in Force through resignations, leaves of absence and/or retirement;
WHEREAS, unless corrected, budget and cash flow analysis by the District anticipates a budget deficit of approximately $7.4 million for the 2023-2024 school year;
WHEREAS, the District has determined that unreserved/unassigned cash reserve of approximately $1.4 million should be budgeted for the 2023-2024 school year.
WHEREAS, the Superintendent has recommended that the Board adopt a Modified Educational Program.
NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved by the Board of Directors of Camas School District No. 117 as follows:
The Superintendent is directed to implement a Modified Educational Program; and
The Superintendent is directed to prepare a 2023-2024 operating budget that reduces expenditures nearly to the level of reasonably anticipated revenues and reasonably available fund balance, subject to unreserved/unassigned cash reserve limitations noted above; and
The Superintendent is directed to take such action as may be required by law to notify certificated, classified, and administrative employees who will be affected by reductions in positions; and
The Superintendent is authorized to make such other plans to implement the reduced educational program as are necessary to comply with the legal obligations of the District.
RESOLUTION adopted this 27 day of March, 2023.
Board members are: Connie Hennessey, Corey McEnry, Erika Cox, Tracey Malone, and Bamini Pathmanathan
The Camas Education Association (CEA), who represents a majority of certificated teachers, responded with this statement:
On March 27, the School Board passed Board Resolution 22-04. The title of the resolution is “Modified Educational Program.”
The resolution is more commonly known as the RIF (Reduction in Force) Resolution, which directs the Superintendent to begin the process of laying off staff, thereby reducing the amount of support our students receive at school.
During the Public Comments portion of last night’s meeting, CEA Vice President Michael Sanchez urged the Board to reconsider any and all cuts.
Along with the rest of the community, the Camas Education Association is saddened to hear that this resolution unanimously passed. Cuts always mean that our students are the ones who ultimately suffer the most.
Last night’s meeting was standing room only, with many first-time attendees. These attendees aren’t necessarily familiar with the machinations of school budgets, and they’re certainly not as up-to-speed as those who deal with this on a regular basis.
Customarily, members of the Board will discuss among themselves the Motion to adopt a resolution of this magnitude.
At least, Board members should.
However, at last night’s meeting, the Board did not see fit to offer any sort of rationale that would be entered into the public record. For the many people who were attending their very first Board meeting and were there to advocate for their schools, they heard ZERO discussion from their School Board that evening regarding the RIF Resolution.
CEA finds this especially galling, especially from a District that claims to value transparency.
The School Board missed an important opportunity to provide those observing the proceedings with insight as to how they arrived at their decision.
We hope that in the future, the School Board will take the time to give even the most perfunctory statements the next time they make decisions with such far reaching consequences.
-The Camas Education Association Executive Board
Layoff notices will be distributed before this school year ends.
https://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/29134026/IMG_0694-scaled.jpeg12292560Ernest Geigenmillerhttps://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/07074147/lacamas_white_2-300x300.pngErnest Geigenmiller2023-03-29 13:47:062023-03-29 13:47:17Camas School Board Votes to Begin Layoff Process; Cites $7.4 Million Deficit
Camas-Washougal, WA – Join volunteers and service club members in a fun and rewarding annual park beautification at Parker’s Landing Historical Park (west of Westlie Ford, Washougal), at the Camas-Washougal Port Marina.
The Annual Park Beautification Days take place this year on Tuesday, April 18 and Tuesday, May 16. It officially runs from 3 pm to 5 pm, however, anyone who needs to come before or afterwards is welcome. Enjoy the camaraderie and the “before” and “after” satisfaction of caring for this park gem – a national, state, and country registered historic site. And help prepare the park to look its best for the second annual Parkersville Day on Saturday, June 3 from 12 pm to 3 pm.
“We are asking volunteers to bring their own gardening tools, brooms, power washers, rags and water buckets,” said Susan Tripp, a Parkersville National Historic Site Advisory Committee Member. “The committee organizes and participates in these events. Bring your expertise in roses and other plant pruning and fertilization. The park depends on volunteers to clean out the winter stages and cut back the rapid spring growth and spouting weeds.”
Jeff Carlson, the newest member of the Parkersville National Historic Site Advisory Committee (PAC) to the Port, will contribute his expertise by power washing the aggregate Kiosk and Rose Arbor flooring and park benches, then sealing them. Last year, PAC Member Jeff Buchholz added a shelf to the volunteers’ garden shed, while others helped clear and clean it in preparation for summer watering.
The Lions Club weeded the rose arbor, brought rakes and brooms along with shears and muscle power. They pulled out bulb plants that had multiplied from one planter to covering part of the walking path. The Soroptimists replaced dead winter plants with new spring color in the Silo Planter and power washed its brick border. Other volunteers beautified planters, cleared out old vegetation, cut back overgrowth, and removed new weeds.
Since the park’s dedication on June 1, 1986, volunteers have been active partners in park preservation and beautification. With summers warming up over the last seven years, the historical park as an archeological site relies on volunteers, service clubs, and scouts to deep water the heritage trees, roses, and more in the main section of the park that is not irrigated.
“You’ll enjoy the outdoor camaraderie and the before and after feeling of accomplishment for just a couple of hours of handywork,” said Port Commissioner Cassi Marshall who has participated along with Port Executive Director, David Ripp. Commissioner Marshall is an active member of the PAC.
https://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/27151926/Annual-April-and-May-Park-Beautification-Commissioner-Cassi-Marshall-e1679955613203.jpg424960Ernest Geigenmillerhttps://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/07074147/lacamas_white_2-300x300.pngErnest Geigenmiller2023-03-27 15:29:022023-03-27 15:29:12Help Spruce Up Parker’s Landing Historical Park in April, May
Washougal, WA — Three generations of the Van Vleet family lived at Parkersville, a township established in 1854 by David C. Parker along the shores of the Columbia River and now a national, state and county registered historic site.
The second annual Parkersville Day June 3, 2023, from 12 pm to 3 pm at Parker’s Landing Historical Park, at the Port of Camas-Washougal will celebrate the rich history of the site and families such as the Van Fleet’s who helped shape the communities of Camas and Washougal.
In 1855, Lewis Van Vleet, Sr. traveled the treacherous Oregon Trail from Missouri and took up a residence on a donation land claim in Fern Prairie three miles north of Camas. A dairy farmer, he later brought milk to Parker’s Landing where it traveled by steamship to Portland. On January 16, 1877, the editor of The Independent wrote in a column title Parkersville, “Parkersville is situated on the Columbia River, about sixteen miles from Vancouver. We have at present two steamboats running opposites – the Gazelle and Caliope. They make two trips per week — Tuesdays and Wednesdays.”
In 1858, when Parker died, Lewis Van Vleet, Sr. accepted part of the Parkersville property for his services as the estate administrator. Lewis Van Vleet, Sr. and lived there briefly. Parker’s widow, Ann, retained ownership and lived on the west side of the 581.97-acre donation land claim with her married daughter Mrs. Eliza Wiley.
Louisa, “Lutie”, daughter of Lewis and Ann Van Vleet, became one of the first woman doctors in the Camas and Washougal area, and in Washington State to hold both a medical degree and a license to practice. She treated settlers and indigenous people, covering miles riding side saddle or traveling by horse and buggy. Louisa married William Spicer, a pharmacist and had three children, Cecil, Lewis, and Edith, before the marriage ended.
In July 1880, Louisa purchased 10 acres in Parkersville from her parents that her son, Cecil, would eventually inherit. In 1901, she married James W. Wright, son of Washougal pioneers Emily Durgan and Stephen Wright, Sr. She continued her medical practice, served on the Camas School Board for 12 years, and reluctantly ran for mayor. Without campaigning she lost by one vote. In February 1904, she bought 35 acres in Parkersville and retired to a quiet and mostly deserted Parkersville.
Dr. Louisa Wright died instantly on May 30, 1913, from a horse kick to the chin while hooking up a buggy. Her funeral, held at her home, was well attended by many, some arriving by boat and others by Chinookan canoes.
On June 18, 1917, Cecil changed his name by petition from Spicer to Cecil Van Vleet in admiration of his mother and grandfather. On July 21, 1917, he married Elsie Virginia Moore. They were both teachers. Cecil and Elsie lived at Parker’s Landing during the 1920s. After Elsie died on January 2, 1950, Cecil met his second wife, Mary Roberts, while playing bridge. They lived at Parker’s Landing until he died on December 4, 1977. Cecil was the last of the three generations of Van Vleet families to live there.
The VanVleet home stood in Section B of today’s Parker’s Landing Historical Park until 1978 when it was burned to the ground by an arsonist. The following Monday, a Camas-Washougal Historical Society was formed and pledged a $1000 reward to anyone uncovering the culprit. The society was formed by promoters of the house becoming a museum. The house was thought to have been built in 1878 in Fern Prairie and moved to its waterfront site and had been added to the National Register of Historic Places.
The new historical society named interim officers and historical advisors designating a Monday night meeting at 7 pm in the home of Mrs. Bernice Pluchos to discuss bylaws. Membership in the society was $4 per year for individuals and $7 for a family.
Meet members of today’s Camas-Washougal Historical Society, Washougal’s Two Rivers Heritage Museum, Clark County Museum, and Parkersville Heritage Foundation at the second Annual Parkersville Day at Parker’s Landing Historical Park at the Camas-Washougal Port. Learn about our rich local history in a fun, free, educational experience for all ages, on Saturday, June 3, 2023, from 12 pm to 3 pm.
https://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/22100425/Parkers-Landing-drawing-scaled.jpg18932560Ernest Geigenmillerhttps://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/07074147/lacamas_white_2-300x300.pngErnest Geigenmiller2023-03-27 14:49:092023-03-27 14:49:19Local History: Three Generations of Van Vleet Family Lived at Parkersville
The Camas-Washougal Community Chest and its partners, the Camas-Washougal Rotary Foundation and the Camas Lions Foundation, are pleased to announce the award of 31 grants totaling $140,000 to non-profit organizations delivering services, exclusively, to children and families in Camas and Washougal. The Rotary commitment to Service above Self also adds volunteers to the mix as they work to make a difference for many families.
The grants will fund such diverse services as emergency food assistance, aid to families in crisis or needing emergency services, safe temporary shelter for at-risk youth, a Safe Stay overnight car park program at St. Anne’s Episcopal Church, a homeless family day center located at Saint Thomas Aquinas in Camas and water quality monitoring in the Lacamas Creek watershed.
New organizations receiving grants for the first time are offering services such as financial help to cover registration and transportation costs for members of the Camas robotics team, help purchase supplies and maintain equipment for local children attending preschool, help purchase supplies and uniforms for students attending local technical academy, help fund planting of pollinator habitat and beautification along SR14 near Washougal, help fund basic living expenses for individuals in need who are transitioning out of foster care and help fund emergency financial assistance to normally self-supporting people who are unable to work and pay all their bills during cancer treatments.
Some of the non-profit organizations being funded in 2023 include Inter-Faith Treasure House, Children Home Society’s East County Family Resource Center, Janus Youth Program, Pink Lemonade, Family Promise of Clark County and Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership. First-time grantees include Camas Robotics Booster Club, Camas – Washougal Parents Co-op Preschool, Cascadia Technical Academy.
Journey Theatre.
Foundation, East County Citizens’ Alliance, Komak and YWCA Clark County. For a complete listing of the grant awards see the grant summary below.
Thanks to CWRF, CLF and major donations from the GP Foundation, GP employees, Camas School District employees, City of Camas and Washougal employees, Port of Camas-Washougal employees, Windermere Foundation, and Watercare Industrial Services, CWCC is well on the way to funding these grants.
To reach its 2023 fundraising goal, however, the CWCC needs additional donations from individuals and businesses in Camas and Washougal. More information and donation forms can be found on the CWCC’s website at www.CamasWashougalCommunityChest.org
The CWCC, CWRF and CLF are registered 501 (c) (3) non-profit organizations for federal charitable tax deduction purposes.
2023 Grant Program Summary
Total number of grants awarded – 31 Total value of grants awarded – $140,000 Estimated number of individual services funded by grants – more than 30,500
Community Programs/Projects Funded in 2023
Boy Scouts of America – Cascade Pacific Council
Helps fund Campership Awards so that Camas and Washougal families in need can send their scouts to summer camp.
Camas Farmers Market
Helps fund “Produce Pals”, a weekly activities program to educate children about where and how food is produced. Kids completing weekly program receive a $2 token to spend at Camas Farmers Market for locally grown fruits and vegetables.
Camas Robotics Booster Club
Helps fund registration and transportation costs for students in financial need to participate in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) classes and activities. Will also help fund STEM education and outreach activities in the Camas and Washougal area.
Camas Washougal Parent Co-op Preschool
Helps fund operating budget, including buying classroom supplies and helps with maintaining and upkeeping the preschool in order to provide a safe place for the preschoolers to learn and play.
Cascadia Technical Academy Foundation (aka Clark County Vocational Skills Foundation)
Helps students to purchase required uniforms and supplies such as chef jacket for Culinary, scrubs for Applied Medical Science, tools and tool bag for Construction and textbooks. Also helps student’s family to meet emergency needs such as a gas card so parents can get to work, paying for a few nights lodging while temporary housing is found and buying food from CTA’s food pantry.
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Children’s Home Society – East County Family Resource Center
Helps fund operations at Resource Center. Helps fund parent education groups, youth support groups, emergency basic assistance, behavioral health services and health care services provided by ECFRC or by a partner agency.
East County Citizens’ Alliance
Helps fund a native pollinator habitat by planting native wildflowers in a state highway plot 200 feet long and twenty feet wide east of the Washougal River Road / SR – 14 roundabout. This is a first of its kind project in Washington and WSDOT is providing a landscape designer as a coordinator/ advisor.
Family Promise of Clark County
Helps fund an expansion of FPCares program that proactively assists families with services that will prevent them from losing their homes and entering the shelter system. Services may include rental assistance, payments for rent in arrears, security deposits, landlord mediation, locating housing and filling out applications.
Fort Vancouver Regional Library Foundation – Washougal Branch
Supports the Washougal Community Library’s summer reading program for kids and adults.
Friends and Foundation of the Camas Library
Helps fund several 100-year centennial projects including four special exhibit displays in the Second Story Gallery, six speaking engagements in a History Speaks! speaker series and the library will be collecting oral histories throughout the year and posting those stories to a hosted website.
Friends of the Columbia Gorge
Helps fund the Explore the Gorge classroom lessons and outdoor environmental education program for sixth graders in Jemtegaard and Canyon Creek Middle schools in Washougal School District.
General Federation of Women’s Clubs
Helps General Federation of Woman’s Clubs with purchasing books for all children in Pre-K programs in the Camas and Washougal School Districts. The program is aimed at all Pre-schoolers to grow their reading skills.
Impact CW – St. Matthew Lutheran Church
Helps buy food and grocery gift cards for families in need in the Camas and Washougal School Districts.
Inter-Faith Treasure House
Helps pay utilities (electricity, water, sewer, garbage and natural gas) so IFTH can continue to operate the east county food bank.
Janus Youth Programs
Provides funding for outreach efforts and overnight facility stays for Camas and Washougal runaway youth at risk for abuse and neglect. Re-introduces kids to safe housing. Provide case managers to help youth access community services to help them achieve stability.
Journey Theater Arts Group
Helps fund a portion of the Washburn Performing Arts Center rental fee to present the March production of Junie B. Jones, the Musical.
Kawanis Camp Wa-Ri-Ki
Helps fund their Outdoor Environmental Education Program by offering campers meaningful outdoor activities that support fun, healthy living, nurturing personal growth plus leadership and nature-based skills. Goals include better physical and mental health, increased self-esteem, respect and kindness for others, ability to lead, community participation and stewardship of natural resources.
Komak
Helps fund emergency financial assistance to normally self-supporting people who are unable to work and pay all their bills during cancer treatments.
Lacamas Watershed Council
Helps pay for volunteer training and buying water quality monitoring equipment and supplies. Water quality samples will be collected in the Lacamas watershed, including Lacamas, Round and Fallen Leaf lakes and Lacamas Creek.
Lifeline Connections
Helps fund youth activities, field trips and transportation costs to Camp Mariposa (they use Kiwanis Camp Wa-Ri-Ki’s facility) for children of families in need or suffering from substance abuse.
Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership
Provides classroom lessons and outdoor applied learning programs for youth, including habitat enhancement projects adjacent to Gibbons Creek in the Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge and Campen Creek in Mable Kerr Park.
Meals on Wheels People
Helps fund an expansion of the Medically Tailored Meals Program, an evidenced-based nutritional intervention tailored to clients needs. These meals include higher quality food and provide more diversity and variety of foods.
Pink Lemonade Project
Helps fund Pink Practicalities, a financial aid and assistance program. Covers costs that health insurance doesn’t, such as groceries, transportation services, lymphedema sleeves, lost wages, rent/mortgage payments, etc.
REACH Community Development
Helps buy groceries, baby essentials, cleaning supplies, hygiene products and similar basic household needs. Buys school supplies and holiday food baskets. Serves Gateway Gardens and Towne Square communities in Washougal.
ReFuel Washougal
Helps buy supplies such as sturdy clamshells, lidded bowls and heavy duty plastic forks and spoons to provide to-go meals during Friday meal nights. Also helps buy heavy duty raincoats for homeless or low income people in need.
St. Anne’s (Episcopal Church) Safe Stay Program
Helps fund a portion of St. Anne’s Safe Stay program including cleaning of the port-a-potty, use of outdoor electrical outlets, use of the Internet WiFi and use of showers, laundry and church kitchen.
TreeSong Nature Awareness and Retreat Center
Helps fund a ductless wall heater and the electrical wiring to complete its installation in the recently completed 30-foot yurt.
Unite! Washougal Community Coalition
Helps fund Sources of Strength Suicide Prevention Program at Washougal High School; Positive Community Norms Campaign “Love Your Life” in the Washougal Community; the Support Our Guiding Good Choices Parenting classes and the Support our Ambassador Youth Program.
Washougal School District – Principal’s Checkbook
Helps Washougal school principals provide for basic student needs to give low income or homeless students equal opportunities at school. Funds a portion of Adult Transition Program which trains students with disabilities for transition into appropriate work placement. Funds supplies such as shoes, clothes, hygiene products and food for Panther Den. Funds mobile laptop cart for families without access to technology and internet services. Funds Martin Luther King Jr. commemorative activities on all Washougal District school campuses.
West Columbia Gorge Humane Society
Helps fund the following programs and services designed to keep pets and people together during hardship, crisis or emergency: pet food pantry, temporary pet boarding, impound/owner surrender fee relief and veterinary assistance. Also funds a portion of the cost to supply ReFuel Washougal with pet food to distribute to the pets of homeless and low-income people using ReFuel’s other services.
YWCA Clark County
Helps fund a portion of the YWCA’s Independent Living Skills Program. The ILS program helps youth transition out of foster care to independent living by providing physical things such as clothes for job interviews, rental assistance, and furniture for new living spaces. The ILS program also provides education and training opportunities to help participants with their transition to independence.
Camas, WA — 100 never looked so good, and the Camas Library is in celebration mode.
On April 4, 2023, the Camas Library will officially turn 100 years old, and you can help this Camas gem celebrate all-day and into the evening.
On April 4, 1923, the Women’s Club of Camas formed what is now the Camas Public library and since that date, it’s been bringing joy to this community. Now, 100 years later the Camas Library is hosting a full day of events that will include goodies, treats and a scavenger hunt for kids.
In addition to the festivities, every 100th person to enter the library will receive a special prize in honor of the momentous occasion.
At 4 pm, swing music and dancing will kick-off the evening portion of the festivities, which will also include a free raffle at 6 pm.
According to Camas Library Director, Connie Urquhart, this is a great opportunity to invite the whole community to visit the Library.
“It’ll be a fun time, plus it’s a great chance to look back at history,” said Urquhart. “It also gives the community a chance to remember the good times, and to also think about what the future could hold!”
https://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/15101038/IMG_9788-scaled.jpeg14452560Ernest Geigenmillerhttps://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/07074147/lacamas_white_2-300x300.pngErnest Geigenmiller2023-03-15 10:40:382023-03-15 10:40:47Events: Help Celebrate Camas Library’s Official Birthday on April 4
Camas, WA — Camas Police are searching for a homeless man who tried to set up camp inside the Liberty Theatre Thursday night, according to Rand Thornsley, the venue’s owner.
Thornsley said the man, whom police identified as Victor (based on security camera footage), is a local homeless man, who found his way into the theatre after it closed for business Thursday night. He is alleged to have broken into Washougal Times restaurant earlier this week, as well.
“He was discovered on Friday afternoon when the opening manager, Avery, went into the theatre,” Thornsley said. “He was in the balcony area and the other manager, Jakob [Potter], was right behind her, and they had him detained but he got away. He appeared to have stayed the night in the theatre and kept the back door open so it wouldn’t lock. Jakob was the one who tried to detain him.”
Thornsley said the intruder looked like he planned to stay a while.
“We think he left the building after we closed, went and brought his stuff and brought it back into the theater,” said Thornsley. “There are closets upstairs in the balcony area and he moved his stuff up there. Avery and Jakob made the report, provided the security camera images to the police, and they came through and swept through the building and the basement. It looked like he planned to stay there a while. They thought they had the back door secured.”
Then the intruder returned.
“Friday night he returned and was able to get the back door open and then he broke into the office,” said Thornsley. “He got into the lock up where we keep our cash. He took cash and keys, so we had the whole building re-keyed and put reinforcements on the doors. Jakob is handling things really well. He spent the whole day getting the theatre revamped, and made sure nothing was bothered. We are back to business as usual.”
Thornsley said police are searching for him.
“Now that he has some cash I think he’ll get out of the area,” he said. “Thats’s my personal opinion. This is a bummer, but it’s fortunate he wasn’t destructive.”
Police are hoping the public can help them find the intruder. Call 311 during the day, and 911 at night.
https://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/12132902/unnamed-3-e1678653209725.jpg439725Ernest Geigenmillerhttps://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/07074147/lacamas_white_2-300x300.pngErnest Geigenmiller2023-03-12 13:44:402023-03-12 13:44:51Camas Police Search for Liberty Theatre Intruder, a Homeless Man
Washougal, WA — Citing low voter turnout on the February 14 special election, and with 100 positions at risk, the Washougal Board of Directors has proposed re-balloting two failed levies — the replacement EP&O, and Capital — for a special April 25 election.
Levies fill a 20 percent funding gap in the Washougal School District (WSD) budget.
The replacement Educational Programs and Operations (EPO) levy, or Proposition 10, failed 51%-48% (more “no” votes) while Proposition 11, the replacement capital facilities and technology levy, failed 51.5%-48.4% (more “no” votes).
For the second special election, the levies are known as Propositions 11 and 12.
“Schools would not look the same without levy funds,” said Superintendent Dr. Mary Templeton. “Without this levy funding, Washougal School District would be unable to fund school extracurriculars, athletics, performing arts, classroom teachers to maintain smaller class sizes, technology devices, and more.
“Levies pay the people on the ground at schools, teaching and supporting Washougal youth. The reality is that without levy funding, significant cuts would need to be made to school staffing, which is 85 percent of the budget. A list of cuts that would be needed in the event of a double levy failure was reviewed with the board at their February 28, 2023 meeting. The list is available on the district website, and includes 40 teaching positions, 44 classified staff positions, five administrative positions, and 155 coaches and club advisors.”
Templeton added that “levies are important to strong schools and a strong community.”
The Washougal School Board has scheduled listening tours to gather feedback from voters about the recent levy results, and has shared a survey with district parents, staff, and community members.
WSD said “reintroducing the measures on the April ballot provides opportunities for the district to correct misconceptions and misunderstandings of the proposed levies that have surfaced in conversations with voters and in the survey results.”
The cost to run a special election varies by the size of the jurisdiction, but according Washington state RCW 29A.04.410: “Every city, town, and district is liable for its proportionate share of the costs. Special election costs must be borne by the city, town, or district concerned.”
February 2020’s special election cost $44,000, as a reference point.
In their statement, WSD said The board has highlighted the need to clearly communicate that the levies are not new taxes, and plans talk directly about the impact on student programs should the levies fail again, and ensure voters understand value of the programs and staff supported directly by the levies.
“Our youth need opportunities to engage in positive after-school activities,” said Jim Cooper, WSD Board Member. “The local levy is the way school districts in Washington state fund the sports and clubs that engage kids .Can you imagine what the Washougal community would be like with 1,000 teenagers hanging out after school with nothing positive to do?”
WSD said these levies are not new taxes, but rather they replace the EP&O Levy and Tech Levy expiring at the end of 2023. Combined, the proposed EP&O and Capital levy rates are lower than school levy rates approved by Washougal voters in 2020. The EP&O levy is proposed at a rate of $1.99 per thousand of assessed valuation, which is lower than the previously approved $2.14 rate. The EP&O and Capital levies work in tandem to fund student programs, staffing, and keep schools in good repair.
Voters are invited to Listening Tours hosted by the Washougal School Board to gather feedback from voters about the recent levy results. At these events, citizens may sit and chat with a board member, ask questions, and share ideas about Washougal schools.
The public may also provide feedback to the school board via a survey. Listening tours are scheduled for March 16 & 28, and April 11 and 21. Time and location information is available on the Washougal School District website.
If the second levy fails, the school board would need to take action to determine next steps. Most reductions would occur after the end of the current school year. The impacts of these significant cuts would be visible starting in the 2023-24 school year.
https://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/07182914/FD4176F2-CF1C-4749-9240-50CBA2982512-1030x714-1.jpeg7141030Ernest Geigenmillerhttps://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/07074147/lacamas_white_2-300x300.pngErnest Geigenmiller2023-03-07 18:39:112023-03-07 19:02:58Washougal’s Failed Levies Head Back to Voters in April Special Elections
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