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DNR Issues Level 1, Level 2 Fire Evacuation Notices To North Yacolt, Amboy Area

Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has issued Level 1 (Get Ready) and Level 2 (Get Set) evacuation notices from the Big Hollow fire near Yale Reservoir. The DNR’s Level 1 “Get Ready” evacuation notice applies to the north Yacolt and Amboy areas, and the Level 2 “Get Set” notice is for Chelatchie residents.

All residents in the northeastern part of Clark County were notified Wednesday night to be ready for evacuation if the wildfire burning east of the reservoir moves in their direction.

Level 1: READY – Level 1 evacuations are an Alert. Residents should be aware of a danger that exists. Now is the time to “Get Ready”. Residents with special needs, or those with pets or livestock, should take note and prepare for relocating family members, pets and livestock. Refine your evacuation plans and gather the things you will need if you must evacuate.

Level 2: SET – Level 2 evacuations indicate there is a significant risk to your area. Now is the time to be set for immediate evacuation. Residents should either voluntarily relocate to a shelter or designated area or with family/friends outside the area or be ready to leave at a moment’s notice.

Level 3: GO! – Level 3 means there is immediate danger. GO NOW! You are advised to evacuate immediately.
Es posible que escuche en las noticias sobre diferentes Niveles de avisos de evacuación … Aquí hay explicaciones de esos

Residents in the area received this message:

This is an emergency message from CRESA nine one one and Department of Natural Resources. Please do not hang up. This message contains urgent safety information. We are responding to the Big Hollow Wildfire in the area of Yale Reservoir. At this time, there is no immediate threat to the area but fire department officials want to make you aware of the situation in case conditions change. Because the situation is not stable and may worsen, you may need to evacuate the area. You are receiving this message because you are in an area that may be impacted. Monitor radio or TV news visit CRESA.911.org or the CRESA Facebook page for further information. No evacuation or other measures are necessary at this point however, you should prepare now to evacuate immediately upon request. Again, please monitor the news for further information about this incident. Avoid using your telephone and do not call 911 except for a life-threatening emergency. Thank you.
Este es un mensaje de emergencia de CRESA Nueve Uno Uno y el Departamento de Recursos Naturales. Por favor, no cuelgue. Este mensaje contiene información de seguridad urgente. Estamos respondiendo al Incendio Forestal de Big Hollow en el área del embalse de Yale. En este momento, no existe una amenaza inmediata para el área, pero los oficiales del departamento de bomberos quieren informarle de la situación en caso de que las condiciones cambien. Debido a que la situación no es estable y puede empeorar, es posible que deba evacuar el área. Recibe este mensaje porque se encuentra en un área que puede verse afectada. Supervise las noticias de radio o televisión, visite CRESA.911.org o la página de Facebook de CRESA para obtener más información. No es necesario realizar ninguna evacuación u otras medidas en este momento; sin embargo, debe prepararse ahora para evacuar inmediatamente si lo solicita. Una vez más, siga las noticias para obtener más información sobre este incidente. Evite usar su teléfono y no llame al 911 excepto en una emergencia que ponga en peligro su vida. Gracias.

Additional Resources can be found at: http://cresa911.org/wildfires-2020/

There are currently no mandatory evacuation orders in place, according to Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency (CRESA).

The notices also affected Battle Ground Public Schools, who announced Wednesday night that Yacolt Primary School and Amboy Middle School will be closed Thursday.

Riots
https://www.lesschwab.com/store/?storeId=714
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Oregon Fires Destroy Entire Towns; Clackamas County Evacuates

An overwhelming series of fierce, wind-driven wildfires in Oregon have all but destroyed five small towns, leaving a potentially high death toll in their wake, Governor Kate Brown said on Wednesday, as initial casualty reports come in.

Winds of up to 50 miles per hour sent blazes moving tens of miles within hours, engulfing hundreds of homes as firefighters fought at least 35 large blazes across Oregon.

The town of Detroit in the Santiam Valley, as well as Blue River and Vida, and Phoenix and Talent in southern Oregon, were substantially destroyed, Governor Kate Brown said during a press conference.

“This could be the greatest loss in human lives and property due to wildfire in our state’s history,” Brown said.

Wildfires in Clackamas County have destroyed 22 houses and structures since Sunday night and are threatening more than 600 other houses and structures as thousands have been forced to evacuate their homes. The entire county is under some level of evacuation warning, with about half the county, including Estacada and parts of Molalla, under a Level 3 evacuation order, meaning residents are asked to leave immediately.

“Everyone must be on high alert,” Brown said. 

The blazes are extremely destructive around Medford, in southern Oregon, and near the state capital of Salem.

At least three people were killed in Oregon fires and a small child died in blazes in Washington state. Brown said some communities were substantially damaged, with “hundreds of homes lost.”

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Vancouver Police Make Arrest in Hit-And-Run Incident Following Danielson Service

Vancouver, WA — The Vancouver Police Department announced Monday evening they made an arrest in the investigation of a hit-and-run incident that happened Saturday evening following the Aaron “Jay” Danielson memorial at Esther Short Park.

According to Vancouver Police, Charles R. Holliday-Smith, 30, turned himself in, and he was booked into the Clark County Jail for Assault 1 and Felony Hit and Run. The report says Saturday’s hit-and-run indicates the victim, identified as Shane Moon (as indicated by his friends) and a group of friends, identified as the pro-Trump Proud Boys, traveled from downtown Vancouver to Charlie’s Sports Bar & Grill, located at 3315 NE 112th Avenue, where the assault later occurred. The report says the group had reportedly attended the Danielson memorial earlier Saturday. Danielson was killed August 29 in downtown Portland following a pro-Trump rally.

Holliday-Smith allegedly followed the victim’s group from downtown Vancouver and began filming them, which made them feel uneasy. No verbal confrontation occurred inside the bar. Holliday-Smith was asked by security staff to stop filming, and he then he exited the bar. As he left the bar, there were several Proud Boys in the parking lot smoking cigarettes, who had just arrived from the memorial service.

The victim and his friends also went outside where both parties talked to each other, and got combative. Vancouver Police said the suspect got into his vehicle, drove toward the victim, hit him, and then fled from the parking lot. Eyewitnesses say the suspect is a member of ANTIFA.

The victim has sustained serious injuries, including bleeding on the brain, but is expected to survive.

The police say the investigation is continuing and aren’t releasing anymore information at this time.

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3rd Congressional Candidate Long Releases Pandemic Recovery Plan

VANCOUVER, WA — Last Thursday, Carolyn Long, candidate for Congress in Washington’s 3rd Congressional District, released her Pandemic Recovery Plan alongside three community leaders who endorsed her plan. 

READ: CAROLYN LONG’S PANDEMIC RECOVERY PLAN

Carolyn Long announced at a press conference on Facebook Live her vision for Southwest Washington’s recovery from the economic and public health crises facing the county. Long’s plan outlines relief, calling for immediate expansion of unemployment insurance; and long-term relief through infrastructure investments and a prioritization of small businesses and working families. 

“With expanded unemployment benefits that expired over a month ago, tens of millions jobless, and small businesses shuttered, Congress, and Jaime Herrera Beutler, have failed to do their job and pass new relief measures to help families and small businesses,” said Long.

Long was joined by three community leaders representing local unions, health care, and small businesses. Deken Letinich, a lifelong Southwest Washingtonian and third generation member of LiUNA Local 335, endorsed the plan and sees it as an investment in working Washington families like his own.

Terri Niles, a Vancouver critical care nurse currently working at the Oregon Health and Science University Covid Task Force offered her endorsement.

“Healthcare workers need help in this fight against COVID-19. Carolyn’s plan does that,” she said. 

Chris Thobaben, a father, marine, and small-business owner, said that this plan is an important investment in working families.

Long’s full plan includes the following recommendations:

  • Extend the unemployment insurance expansion
  • Give schools access to the resources they need to reopen safely
  • Invest in local infrastructure to employ those out of work and set the conditions in place for a robust economy
  • Strengthen and prioritize the small business recovery
  • Invest in job training for those out of work or employed in industries negatively affected by the pandemic
  • Increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour
  • Ensure affordable child care for all families and a robust child care industry, while expanding to universal Pre-K 
  • Expand paid sick and family leave
  • Impose a moratorium on consumer and small business debt collection – including student loan debt – for the duration of this crisis
  • Ensure strong oversight of recovery funding to ensure aid goes where it’s needed most 
  • Protect The Affordable Care Act and create a public option that will provide quality and affordable health coverage to any American that wants it 
  • Strengthen our rural health care system, and protect rural hospitals
  • Boost public health funding and responsibly manage infectious disease programs to ensure we are prepared for future threats and to stop the next pandemic before it starts

Carolyn Long is running for Congress in Southwest Washington (WA-03) for the 2020 election. She previously was the Democratic nominee for Washington’s 3rd District in 2018. She resides in Vancouver with her family and teaches at WSU-Vancouver.

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Aaron “Jay” Danielson Mourned Saturday at Memorial Service, Candlelight Vigil

Vancouver, WA — Hundreds gathered peacefully Saturday at Esther Short Park to honor the life of Aaron “Jay” Danielson, the man who was murdered last Saturday in downtown Portland following a Donald Trump re-election rally and caravan.

Organizers of Saturday’s two events — a 4 pm memorial service, and an 8 pm candlelight vigil — said attendance far exceeded the planned 600 for the event. The candlelight vigil had approximately 250 supporters. T-shirts and stickers calling for justice for Danielson were handed out while people grilled hot dogs and hamburgers and friends waved flags.

Danielson, 39, who died just six days shy of his 40th birthday, was a supporting member of the controversial Patriot Prayer group. The group’s leader, Joey Gibson, addressed mourners at both events.

Gibson encouraged people to remove hate. He spoke of Danielson’s love for life, and vowed to keep his memory alive.

“They got everything going up against us, but it doesn’t matter, guys. It doesn’t matter if you fight for what you believe in. If you fight for what you believe in, God will have your back,” Gibson said.

Mourners at the candlelight vigil had the opportunity to speak of their memories of Danielson, and were joined by a local Christian singing group.

“If anybody wants to say anything, we are going to keep this an open forum,” said Gibson. He then opened the vigil with a prayer asking God for peace. 

“We are so tired of all the lies, hatred and division, we are asking you to humble us as a nation, humble us an individuals, we apologize for the way we’ve acted as a nation. We apologize for the way we have treated one another. Give us the strength to forgive, and give us the strength to stand up as a voice in this nation … and guide us in the right direction.”

Several people spent the next 45 minutes sharing their experiences with Danielson.

Danielson
Candlelight vigil at Esther Short Park.

“Jay could light up the day like today at noon with the sun straight above us, bright as hell, he could light that room up, just with his smile,” said one friend.

“I honor him because there was never a dull moment just being around him,” said another friend. “He was very intelligent. A smart man. A patriot. A God-fearing man. What I remember the most is he didn’t have to try to fit in. He would go wherever he wanted to go. I told him he was accepted and the he was my friend. A lot of people turn from others because they are not the same as us. I just want to say that he will be missed …”

The man believed to have killed Danielson was himself killed by law enforcement Thursday when he pulled a gun during an arrest attempt, according the U.S. Marshals Service. 

The alleged shooter, Michael Forest Reinoehl, 48, was present in Camas at the BLM rally held on Friday, August 28 described himself in a social media post as “100% ANTIFA.” 

Danielson
This sticker was handed out to supporters.

What is Patriot Prayer?

Patriot Prayer is not an official organization, but the group does attract controversy. Gibson was accused of starting a Portland riot last year and is a frequent target of ANTIFA and other groups.

A close friend of Gibson’s, who was attacked by an ANTIFA group following last week’s Trump rally, explained what the group is about. 

“Patriot Prayer is a fight to bring God back into this country,” he said. “This country is founded underneath God. He’s given us all our liberties and rights and freedoms. We have these rights because we were born as human beings because of God. Patriot Prayer is exactly that. We stand up for this country under God because all of us are created equally and we need to remember where that glory goes to. It all goes to God.”

The group says it attends these political events to help persuade to stop hating and to turn to Christianity.

Gibson’s Facebook and Instagram pages were removed by Facebook earlier this week.

“Antifa groups murdered my friend while he is walking home, and instead of the multibillion dollar company banning Portland antifa pages they ban Patriot Prayer and myself,” Gibson said in a statement.

Facebook confirmed the pages were removed due to its “Dangerous Individuals and Organizations” policy.

“They were removed as part of our ongoing efforts to remove Violent Social Militias from our platforms,” a Facebook spokesperson said in a statement, who pointed to the policy that was expanded last month.

Joey Gibson was charged with felony riot for his alleged involvement in a 2019 May Day brawl at a Portland bar called Cider Riot.

On August 27, 2019, Gibson pleaded not guilty to a felony riot charge. He was booked at the Multnomah County Detention Center on $5,000 bail, posted bail a few hours later and was released.

Gibson said he believes the felony riot charge is politically motivated and an attempt by the city of Portland to ban him from the Rose City.

Danielson
Speaking at the candlelight vigil.
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DCA Officially Dedicates Downtown Mill Photo Collage Friday Afternoon

The Downtown Camas Association (DCA) officially dedicated the Mill Photo Collage Friday afternoon with a ribbon cutting at the Universal Martial Arts building at the corner of 4th Avenue and Adams.

The collage honors the history of the Camas Paper Mill with original images.

DCA Board President, Caroline Mercury, emceed the event, which was mostly a live-streamed virtual ceremony, providing context about the public art project from concept to construction.

“It’s just our pleasure to dedicate this beautiful photo collage to the city of Camas as a wonderful public art project that the DCA has executed to honor the huge role that the paper mill played in making Camas what it is today.”

Mercury was dressed in a paper dress to honor the occasion and the history.  The dress is a replica from a 1940s Paper Festival, which was the precursor to the contemporary annual Camas Days event.

“About four years ago, the design committee at the DCA began incubating the idea for a large-scale mural, collage, of vintage photos from the mill collection, and then entered Anna Fry,” said Mercury. 

Former and longtime mill employee Fry was involved in community relations and was the champion of this project through the GP Foundation process.

Big Hook Graphics was the company who put together the giant photo collage following direction from the talented artist, Allan Jeffs.

The Clark County Historical Museum also contributed to the project. Kitchen Electric added dusk to dawn lighting to illuminate the strumming mural. Additional funding came from Riverview Bank and the Clark County Historical Commission.

DCA Executive Director, Carrie Schulstad, explained the collage has a QR code that visitors can scan to get more information. Schulstad thanked Mercury for her daily commitment to making this project come to fruition.

Mill
www.lilyatelier.com

“Her love of the mill is just incredible as you can tell, and we are so lucky to have her in our community,” said Schulstad. “The town is fantastic and it grew up to serve the mill so if you would like to learn more there is a QR code that’s right there on the legend and you can click that and it takes you on a tour of downtown.”

Camas Mayor Barry McDonnell was there, accompanied by the brand-new City Administrator, Jamal Fox.

“Anytime you ask anyone in Camas who has been here for a while they have some sort of connection to the mill, whether they work there, they knew someone that was there … or maybe they just like to catch the toilet paper rolls that get thrown out at the Camas Days parade.”

Following his speech, McDonnell cut the official ribbon.

The photo collage was originally scheduled for its official dedication in April, but due to the pandemic that was delayed.

#downtowncamas #camas #photocollage #camaspapermill #papermakerpride #lacamasmagazine #lacmag 

Mill
From left: Marquita Call, owner of Camas Gallery, City of Camas Administrator Jamal Fox, and CW Chamber Executive Director Jennifer Senescu.
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#camasunites Donates Nearly $3,000 to Family Community Resource Center

Camas, WA — The #camasunites program, organized by Papermaker Pride, donated nearly $3,000 to the Family Community Resource Center today, which provides food and clothing to local residents.

Karen Gibson, a partner at Papermaker Pride, presented the check to Mary Weishaar and Olivia Eagle Wednesday afternoon on behalf of major donors, including Suzanne Ferguson from Juxtaposition (from sales of specific #camasunites products), Leonard and Julie Felix (representing CID Bio Science and Felix Instruments), and Katie Elliott, who makes regular monthly donations.

“We have Katie Elliott here today,” said Gibson. “Her family has donated $250 each month for the past four months, and it’s an ongoing thing for their family, that’s their give back. Suzanne from Juxtaposition has donated $800 towards today’s check, and we have a group that donates to charity and they chose #camasunites and the food program, and it was a $1,000 donation. We have just under $3,000 in this check.”

The program was started several months ago as a means to raise money to help feed local families. This is the fourth check #camasunites check presentation since the program began. A total of $13,078 has been donated through the program to date.

“Our community has been so amazing at just stepping up and helping us sustain this area,” said Mary Weishaar. “Olivia, Debbie and Rachel are working hard to get all the school supplies out to families.“

At this time, the center doesn’t need anymore clothing unless its brand-new socks and underwear. The program, located at the Jack, Will and Rob Center near Doc Harris Stadium is open to the public.

To purchase #camasunites products, visit www.PapermakerPride.com

#camasunites
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#camasunites
Food at the resource center.
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Economic Development Council Accepting Applications For Business Grants

Up to $10,000 is available for businesses with 10 to 20 employees to support COVID-related response and recovery

VANCOUVER, WA – The Columbia River Economic Development Council (CREDC) is accepting applications for the Clark County Main Street Support Program (CCMSSP), which will provide new emergency grants of up to $10,000 each for businesses with 10 to 20 employees in Clark County. Grant money can be used to reimburse rent expenses related to the impact from COVID-19.

A pool of approximately $432,000 is available only to businesses in Clark County until funds are exhausted. Applications will be accepted through end of day on September 12, 2020. To learn more and apply, visit credc.org/ccmssp.

Funding for the program is from the state’s Working Washington Small Business program and federal Coronavirus Assistance, Recovery and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds to help with COVID-19 response and recovery efforts across Washington State.

“As CREDC continues to support businesses through COVID-19 response and recovery efforts, we are pleased to be able to bring a second round of emergency grants to Clark County,” said CREDC President Jennifer Baker. “Our focus on rent support is responsive to feedback we received from businesses hit particularly hard by the pandemic.”

CREDC and other local economic development organizations statewide partnered with the Washington State Department of Commerce to make a new tranche of $10 million in Working Washington Small Business Emergency grants available. As the state-designated Associate Development Organization for Clark County, CREDC is running point on the applications and administration of the new funds locally as other ADO’s that serve all 39 counties are doing within their municipalities. The Washington State Department of Commerce is not accepting or reviewing applications.

“The length and depth of the pandemic have hit small, main street businesses hard,” said Washington State Department of Commerce Director Lisa Brown. “In particular, restaurants, hotels and other service industries have not seen the expected number of customers. Small businesses need these resources to stay open as we respond to the public health crisis and help get people back to work.”

CREDC will contact grant finalists the week of September 28, 2020.

About CREDC
Since 1982, the Columbia River Economic Development Council (CREDC) has served as Clark County’s leading economic development organization, connecting companies to the resources they need to expand or locate in the region. As a private-public partnership, we leverage the expertise and collaboration of over 140 investors and strategic partners to advance the economic vitality of Clark County while maintaining our exceptional quality of life. www.credc.org

Business
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Washougal School Board Agrees to New Two-Year Teacher Agreement

Washougal, WA — The Washougal School Board approved a new, two-year contract with the Washougal Association of Educators at its Tuesday, August 25 board meeting.

The contract puts equity, diversity, and inclusion front and center for the district, with a major investment in teacher training on equity this coming school year.  The district is excited to be partnering with the Washougal Association of Educators (WAE) as well as the statewide Washington Education Association to provide culturally responsive practices training for all teaching staff. The contract includes new language around inclusive practices, and language to remove barriers to student participation that are created through discipline processes.  This work will help both groups work to eliminate the achievement gaps for our diverse learners, as school leaders and teachers work together to authentically know all learners, nurture relationships that build common understanding, and challenge each of us to disrupt systemic racism in our society. 

The contract also features an investment in additional teacher training focused on technology to build skills and to ensure quality implementation of the new impactED remote learning model.  

“Our vision to know, nurture and challenge all students to rise remains in place,” said WSD Superintendent, Mary Templeton.  “This training will help our teachers deliver positive and engaging learning experiences for our students.”

The contract includes a state provided increase in compensation across two years, along with additional paid training time.

“This keeps the district’s overall compensation in alignment with our region, so that we can continue to attract and retain great teachers,” said Aaron Hansen, Assistant Superintendent of HR & Student Support. 

“WAE are happy to have the contract in place for the next two years,” said Eric Engebretson, WAE President.  “It is one less item on teachers’ plates.”

Washougal
www.arktana.com

This agreement makes changes to Special Education language that provides more equity to Special Education teachers as compared to general education teachers.

Other contract features are additional non-discrimination language, changes in leave provisions, creation of a guest teacher (substitute) handbook, and more structure for teacher involvement in equity and school building leadership teams.  

“This was an unusual bargaining process for many reasons,” said Hansen. “We held about 18 bargaining sessions; all were done over Zoom.  Both sides worked extremely hard to listen, to seek common ground, and to collaborate as we solved issues in the contract. It is the first time in quite a while we’ve settled a contract without support from a mediator.”  Engebretson added “I think that this is one of the earliest contracts to be settled between WAE and WSD.  We appreciate the work the Union and District did together to come to an agreement.”

The tentative agreement was reached at the bargaining table July 29.   WAE membership ratified it in a general meeting on August 21, and the WSD Board approved it at the August 25 board meeting. 

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Clark County Public Health Clarifies CDC COVID-19 Provisional Death Data

Clark County Public Health issued a statement today regarding last week’s Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) provisional death data update. Here is their statement:

We’re seeing a lot of misunderstanding around new data from the CDC, and we need to set the record straight. Provisional death data updated by the CDC last week shows that for 6 percent of COVID-19 deaths, COVID-19 was the only cause mentioned. The remaining 94 percent of deaths were among people with other underlying conditions.

This does not mean that only 6 percent of deaths are due to COVID-19. It means that for the other 94 percent, there were underlying conditions that likely made their COVID-19 illness worse and made them more at risk for serious illness and death.

There are different types of cause of death: immediate, underlying and contributing. For COVID-19, a common example might be an immediate cause of death of acute respiratory distress syndrome (which is what actually killed them), and an underlying cause of death would be COVID-19 or pneumonia from COVID-19 (which are the triggering factors that lead them to get the thing that actually killed them), and then contributing factors could be asthma, COPD, or diabetes (something that may have made their illness worse than it would have been).

As an underlying cause of death, COVID-19 is the thing that triggered the cascade of events that eventually leads to death. For example, older adults are more likely to have more contributing factors, but if they don’t get COVID-19, then they don’t start this cascade of events that lead to death.

None of this is new information. We’ve known that individuals with certain underlying conditions are at greater risk for severe illness and death. You can learn more about conditions that increase the risk of severe illness on the CDC website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html

COVID-19
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Clark County COVID-19 Update

Monday COVID-19 update: Since the last update on Friday morning, another 76 people have tested positive for COVID-19 and two people have died – a man in his 60s (unknown whether he had underlying health conditions) and a man in his 70s with underlying health conditions.

Over the weekend, Clark County had an average of about 25 new cases per day (Fri-Sun). To date, 2,610 Clark County residents have tested positive for COVID-19 and 51 people have died.

Nineteen COVID-19 patients are hospitalized and five persons under investigation (PUIs) for COVID-19 are hospitalized.

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