Camas, WA — Third Congressional District candidate and Camas City Council member, Leslie Lewallen, a Republican, today released her agenda on solving the region’s drug epidemic.
In her statement, she said “Fentanyl and dangerous drugs have invaded the Evergreen State and have created a dangerous epidemic that is destroying families and killing our kids. In 2023, the DEA removed 4.8 million lethal doses of fentanyl in Washington state and over 1,700 people lost their lives due to overdoses in Washington – a 37% increase. We have to acknowledge that our drug epidemic is a result of our wide-open southern border.”
Lewallen said that fentanyl and dangerous opioids come across the southern border, up the Interstate 5 corridor, and into our communities.
“President Biden and his Democratic cronies like Marie Gluesenkamp Perez are responsible for our border crisis and under their rule, Washington is a border state. They have cut laws to secure our border and support our brave border patrol agents and are standing by as these poisons enter our communities.
“Last week, I met with these parents during a town hall in Camas. I heard the heartbreaking stories of the murders of their children and the devastating effects that fentanyl and other deadly drugs have wrought on their families. I discussed my agenda to close our southern border, give victims the resources they need, and take back Southwestern Washington from the drugs that have infiltrated us”.
Lewallen’s Agenda
Secure our southern border and implement President Trump’s policies including “Remain in Mexico” policy, support our border patrol agents, and build the wall.
Implement a 30-day grace period where insurance companies have to provide care before they can deny it.
Require healthcare centers to be proactive and reach out to those struggling with addiction with resources and ensure that a detox process is complete before being released. Private facilities will take “pro bono” cases to help people – not just the ones with money.
Hold drug dealers accountable with harsher sentencing and work with the District Attorney’s office to ensure prosecution.
To learn more about Lewallen’s campaign, click here.
They source the grapes from eastern Washington, have their own grape vineyard in Brush Prairie, bottle their own wine, and now Lane Cellars has their own tasting room in downtown Camas, which opened in February.
“We make the wine, we are winemakers,” said Kimberly Lane, co-owner of Lane Cellars. “We have been wine enthusiasts for many years, then started volunteering in the local industry in 2012 with another winery helping out with harvest and crushing, and we just got into it.”
Kimberly, and her husband, John, became home winemakers, went commercial in 2017, are part of the Southwest Washington Winery Association, and by 2019 they had enough production and became a part of the Camas Farmer’s Market. It was an exercise in patience when the COVID pandemic hit in 2020.
And, now with their tasting room in downtown Camas, at 340 E 4th Avenue, they have a venue to showcase their products, host live music on Friday and Saturday nights, and give their guests a place to relax. Guests may order wine by the glass, the bottle, or by the flight. They also have a limited light food menu, and serve local IPAs, Pilsner and lagers.
Lane Cellars produces a variety of wines, including Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvigon, and a 50/50 blend that took Best in Class in the Red Bordeaux category. The blend is 50% Cabernet Franc, 50% Petit Verdot and has become a guest favorite.
Guests love to spend time at Lane Cellars, which is quickly becoming a destination for wine lovers, and music fans. Make sure to visit on Friday’s and Saturday’s to enjoy live entertainment.
Camas, WA — Camas Days, an annual event since 1974, is a two-day festival focusing on family fun, arts and crafts, as well as a wine and beer garden with live music by “The Caddies” and “The Beth Willis Band”. This event draws nearly 15,000 people and will take place on Friday, July 26th and Saturday, July 27th in downtown Camas. The festival starts with the opening of vendor booths, both days, from 10 am to 8 pm. The wine and beer garden will be open from 5 pm until 11 pm.
On Friday, the Kid’s Parade will march down 4th Avenue at 11:30 am and on Saturday, the Main Parade “America the Beautiful” will start at 11 am. There will be bands, dignitaries, drill teams, floats, animals, toilet paper tossing hosted by Georgia Pacific, and more. The parade will kick off with our Grand Marshall, Brent Erickson, in honor of his 20 years of service in organizing Camas Days. Brent is a lifelong resident of Camas and has served his community in many ways. He served on the Camas Parks Board for 24 years, was a volunteer firefighter for 14 years, and was the Executive Director of the Camas-Washougal Chamber of Commerce for 20 years prior to his retirement in 2020. He also served on the Hotel Lodging Tax Committee, Shoreline Committee, and the Committee for a Community Center and Pool.
Immediately following the grand parade is our iconic Bathtub Race located between the Camas Library and City Hall. Firefighters are on hand cooling the crowd down with water hoses!
Kids and kids-at-heart will be entertained on our Kids Street. This area is equipped with a giant inflatable slide, inflatable obstacle course, games and other kid activities.
The Camas Days Festival is a two-day block party of fun, craft vendors, informational vendors, food, drinks, and entertainment for everyone. There are have over 100 craft and commercial vendors, 16 food vendors, and a new section for young entrepreneurs.
Parade applications and Bathtub Race applications are available at: www.cwchamber.com.
The Columbian’s Best of Clark County rated Camas Days the 2nd best festival in Clark County, second only behind the Clark County Fair.
Ponderosa Garage Doors
Who said your garage door has to look boring😏😏
Contact Ponderosa Garage Doors today and see what they can do for you. They also give back to the community.
Plus, their team has a special! Just mention “Camas Athletics” when you place your order and the team at Ponderosa will donate 5% of the order to Camas Athletics Boosters Club, and it’s a good idea to have your garage doors inspected.
Call 360.684.1933. They have a $100 coupon, too. Learn all about it.
https://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/14132022/Tub-race-USE.jpg7681024Ernest Geigenmillerhttps://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/07074147/lacamas_white_2-300x300.pngErnest Geigenmiller2024-06-14 13:30:202024-06-14 13:30:29Camas Days ‘America the Beautiful’ Festival Coming July 26-27
Camas, WA — The Camas Washougal Fire Department (CWFD) is developing plans to replace the existing Fire Station 41 to ensure adequate fire and emergency medical services for the local community as population continues to grow.
A new station will serve as the headquarters for CWFD and will be located in downtown Camas, in the core of the department’s response area. Currently, the downtown Camas emergency response personnel, the Fire Marshal’s Office (FMO) and the administrative staff are decentralized; operating out of separate buildings and remote to each other. As the headquarters facility, a downtown Camas station will house response personnel, apparatuses, administrative staff and the FMO.
Why is CWFD Requesting a new Fire Station 41?
The current Fire Station 41 facility has outlived its useful life and cannot be increased in size to accommodate the needs required of a modern fire station, including:
Ability to withstand a significant earthquake
Compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Space for additional firefighters/EMS personnel to meet growing demands
Crucial, up-to-date decontamination facilities and separation to limit firefighters’ carcinogen exposure
Elimination of apparatus exhaust from entering City Hall’s interior office spaces
Space for fire apparatus
Mandated safety clearances around equipment
Facilities for a diverse workforce (male/female changing rooms) to be consistent with diversity, equity and inclusion guidelines
Providing public access to emergency service crews
Providing parking for emergency medical drive-ins
Providing private medical screening and treatment area for walk-ins and drive-ins
Where will a new station be located?
After conducting a process which involved considering multiple site options that could accommodate a downtown fire station, several options dropped off the list for a variety of reasons, such as traffic impacts, topography and size, environmental impacts, and cost. This left CWFD with one preferred site to consider as a potential location: a city-owned site adjacent to City Hall and currently occupied by the City as the City Hall Annex, located at 528 NE Fourth Avenue. To maximize the available space for the fire station, City Council is considering vacating (closing) the north half of Everett Street between Third and Fourth avenues to vehicle traffic. This would provide an opportunity to use current street space for the station and create a small plaza or “pocket park” along NE Fourth Avenue that can be used for community events.
Where will the funding come from for a new station?
Funding for a new fire station will come from the sale of voter-approved bonds. Bonds are a funding mechanism for replacing capital facilities and equipment like the fire station and fire engine.
During the August Primary Election, voters will have the opportunity to decide whether to fund the new fire station through a bond-approval. This approval would fund design and construction costs for the new facility. If the bond passes, construction could begin as soon as 2025.
How much will the new station cost Camas homeowners?
The bond amount is $26.3 million based upon preliminary design and cost estimation to cover the full station replacement costs as well as a new fire engine to replace the aging fire engine currently operating out of the existing station.
The monthly cost for most homeowners in Camas will be approximately $9.33 (based upon median assessed home value of $862,000).
Ponderosa Garage Doors
Who said your garage door has to look boring😏😏
Contact Ponderosa Garage Doors today and see what they can do for you. They also give back to the community.
Plus, their team has a special! Just mention “Camas Athletics” when you place your order and the team at Ponderosa will donate 5% of the order to Camas Athletics Boosters Club, and it’s a good idea to have your garage doors inspected.
Call 360.684.1933. They have a $100 coupon, too. Learn all about it.
https://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/07134119/IMG_7245.jpg540960Ernest Geigenmillerhttps://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/07074147/lacamas_white_2-300x300.pngErnest Geigenmiller2024-06-07 13:53:312024-06-07 13:53:38Learn About the Downtown Camas Fire Station (#41) Replacement Project
Camas, WA — Officials with the City of Camas are encouraging residents to join their friends and neighbors for the Our Camas 2045 Community Summit #1.
The first Our Camas 2045 Community Summit will take place June 12, from 4:30-6:30 pm, at the Lacamas Lake Lodge (227 NE Lake Rd, Camas, WA 98607).
The Community Summit is part of the Our Camas 2045 and Our Downtown Camas 2045 project, which is a city-wide process to update the current Comprehensive Plan and create a Downtown Subarea Plan. Over the past four months, City leaders reached out to the community to help create a new Community Vision Statement that describes how Camas wants to grow over the next 20 years. The Visioning process provides a foundation for updating the City’s 2045 Comprehensive Plan and developing a new Downtown Subarea Plan.
At the first Community Summit, the City will report back on the outreach that took place this past spring, and they’ll unveil the draft Our Camas 2045 Vision Statement. Participants will have an opportunity to vet and refine the draft Vision Statement and identify priorities and opportunities for achieving the vision.
Please join City of Camas officials for a fun and informative evening to discuss the future of Camas! For more information, visit Engagecamas.com or contact Alan Peters, Community Development Director at 360-817-7254 or email [email protected]
Ponderosa Garage Doors
Who said your garage door has to look boring😏😏
Contact Ponderosa Garage Doors today and see what they can do for you. They also give back to the community.
Plus, their team has a special! Just mention “Camas Athletics” when you place your order and the team at Ponderosa will donate 5% of the order to Camas Athletics Boosters Club, and it’s a good idea to have your garage doors inspected.
Call 360.684.1933. They have a $100 coupon, too. Learn all about it.
https://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/06183003/Screenshot-2024-06-06-at-7.19.16%E2%80%AFPM.png5381514Ernest Geigenmillerhttps://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/07074147/lacamas_white_2-300x300.pngErnest Geigenmiller2024-06-06 18:34:112024-06-06 18:34:18Our Camas 2045 Community Summit #1 Scheduled for June 12
Camas, WA – Camas business owners are excited to announce the launch of the Explore Camas Passport, a program designed to reward consumers for shopping and dining local. The official launch date for the Summer 2024 Explore Camas passport is June 1, 2024. This unincorporated group of business owners met in January 2024 to brainstorm ways to collaborate and promote the vast array of businesses and services throughout Downtown Camas.
The Explore Camas Passport is a fun way to engage and reward the community for supporting local. Passport holders collect stamps from participating locations through making a purchase, taking a class, or joining in on an activity. After accumulating at least 20 stamps, the passport holder is then eligible for a special discount or offer from each of those locations. Completed passports are submitted to the Camas-Washougal Chamber of Commerce by September 30th to be entered into the Grand Prize Drawing valued at over $1500.
The Launch Party for the Summer Passport is Saturday, June 1. Look for Red Balloons throughout Downtown Camas identifying participating locations.
“Our group of 29 businesses have worked hard to develop this robust campaign to show our appreciation for everyone who shops and supports local small businesses. Camas has a wide variety of boutiques, restaurants, and services set in a charming atmosphere. We are excited to introduce the Explore Camas Passport program and to give consumers another fun way to experience Camas,” said Suzanne Ferguson, owner of Juxtaposition.
Participating Businesses
4Ever Growing Kids
Allure Boutique
Arktana
Autumn Leaf Books
Caffe Piccolo
Camas Antiques
Camas Boutique Hotel
Camas Cellars
Camas Plant & Gift
Feast 316
Grains of Wrath
Hidden River Roasters
Its Bookish
Jazzercise Camas
Juxtaposition
Keller Med Spa
Lane Cellars
Lily Boutique
Livewell Camas
Natalia’s Café
Nuestra Mesa
Papermaker Pride
Periwinkles Toy Shop
Poppy & Hawk
Red Door Gallery
Runyan’s Jewelers
Salud/Giatti’s
Sweet Intention Gift
Tommy O’s
Sponsors: Edward Jones and Camas-Washougal Chamber of Commerce
The businesses are also planning to release a Holiday version of the Explore Camas Passport, November 1, 2024. The passport development, design, printing, distribution, and marketing funded and developed solely by this unincorporated group of business owners, working together to promote Downtown Camas and increase community engagement.
More information will be available on the merchant Facebook page Explore Camas Passport beginning May 28, 2024. This page will feature the VIP discounts available to participants once they have achieved 20 stamps and will announce the Grand Prize Winner.
The team at Daily Paper Coffee Roasters answered several Lacamas Magazine questions about their new business.
When is Daily Paper Coffee Roasters opening?
The opening date is yet to be announced, we ask that the community follow us on our social media platforms for when we announce our official grand opening date. We hope to launch July/August.
Daily Paper is all about catering to the community and being a hub for good coffee that’s local. Roasting on site and offering a unique selection of pastries that are baked not even 200 feet from the shop at Camas Market.
Why did you decide to open at this location?
Address: 3016 NE Everett St Camas WA 98607
This is something that the community has been eagerly anticipating, especially so near to the lake. We have so many hikers, teachers, daily commuters and students on their way through the area that we know this will be a great place for them to stop by.
Who is running the new shop?
The owner of the shop is Ben Mikhalets, son to the owners of Camas Market & Bakery. He’s been in the coffee industry for 9 years and a roaster for the last 5 years. He graduated from Camas High School and currently lives in Camas.
What do you want Daily Paper Coffee to be known for?
Our goal for this shop is to be that place where people can stop by for a quality cup of coffee. We see it as someone’s mid day pick me up or the stop you make while walking the dog through the park. The people of Camas know what local is and they are an incredibly supportive bunch. We know because we’ve felt their support in the Camas Farmers market for the last decade and their support of the opening of Camas Market & Bakery.
https://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/20175233/IMG_3044-e1716252994481.jpg6361430Ernest Geigenmillerhttps://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/07074147/lacamas_white_2-300x300.pngErnest Geigenmiller2024-05-20 18:04:552024-05-20 18:11:06Daily Paper Coffee Roasters to Open This Summer Near Lacamas Lake
Washougal, WA — Washougal Mayor David Stuebe recently declared his candidacy for State Representative (LD-17) to succeed Paul Harris. With a distinguished career in public service and a commitment to community, Stuebe is bringing a wealth of public service experience and a local perspective to the race.
A retired Marine Colonel, Stuebe pledges to champion critical issues such as public safety, affordable housing, and the development of stronger communities in Southwest Washington.
“Having served our nation in the Marine Corps for decades, I understand the importance of safety, security, and unity,” Stuebe said. “As Washougal’s Mayor, I’ve witnessed firsthand the challenges facing our community. Now, I’m ready to take that experience to Olympia and work tirelessly to address these issues at the state level. I have always finished what I started and intend to remain Mayor of Washougal.”
Throughout his tenure as Mayor, Stuebe has demonstrated a commitment to an environment where families can thrive, businesses can prosper, and everyone can feel safe. His platform prioritizes public safety initiatives that aim to bolster law enforcement resources, promote community policing efforts, and enhance emergency response capabilities.
Stuebe said he is dedicated to tackling the pressing issue of affordable housing and recognizes the strain it places on families across the state. He plans to advocate for policies that promote access to affordable options, address the homelessness crisis, and alleviate the burden of skyrocketing housing costs.
Stuebe emphasizes the importance of building stronger communities through investment in infrastructure, education, and healthcare. With a vision of collaboration, he seeks to bridge divides and promote unity among Washingtonians from all walks of life.
For more information about David Stuebe’s campaign call 503-504-3099.
https://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/07155247/Image-33.jpg4791030Ernest Geigenmillerhttps://cdn.lacamasmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/07074147/lacamas_white_2-300x300.pngErnest Geigenmiller2024-05-07 16:01:362024-05-07 16:01:43Washougal Mayor David Stuebe Running for State Representative
Camas-Washougal, WA – Two Rivers Heritage Museum (TRHM) and Clark County Historical Museum (CCHM) partnered to create an historical outdoor timeline exhibit that represents Camas and Washougal history and highlights the artifacts cared for at TRHM. “Pieces of History: An Artifacts Timeline,” is filled with stories and images recounting monumental moments and everyday events in these neighboring communities. The timeline can be viewed at the TRHM at 1 Durgan Street in downtown Washougal, Saturdays from 11am-3pm.
CCHM Public Historian, Katie Bush, served as the project manager for this work. She collaborated with TRHM Display Committee members Karen and Richard Johnson and Gayle and Ivar Godtlibsen, to research and select important historic information to be featured.
“Katie provided a long list of items and dates she identified from our collection and had us rate their importance to the timeline,” Karen Johnson explained. “We whittled that list down over and over again. It was a difficult process to narrow the information with so many fascinating stories to tell.”
After repeated and thoughtful analysis, the final historic events and dates were decided. The team then worked to identify exactly what object from TRHM archives would represent the timeline captions. “Selected events are memorable, personal and unique to the local community and represent major, minor, and micro moments in our history,” Karen Johnson explained.
Local photographer, Missy Fant, captured images of each object and Vancouver graphic designer, Masako Brachmann married together these elements into the sprawling timeline that stands 34-feet long along the back fence of the museum. “The panel design and style match the historic street panels in Historic Downtown Camas,” said Karen Johnson. “We are trying to stay consistent with historical signage for our cities.”
“I’m excited to be a part of this collaborative timeline for the Two Rivers Heritage Museum,” said Bush. “Community centered projects, such as this, offer great opportunities for heritage institutions to share local stories in engaging ways. I look forward to collaborating with Two Rivers and the Camas-Washougal community on future projects.”
While the building is in Washougal, TRHM represents two cities. “I would say our museum collection is divided pretty evenly between Camas and Washougal artifacts, photos, research, and archives,” said Karen Johnson. “Our two towns, with totally different beginnings, melded into one awesome community.”
When asked which featured timeline events were most significant to the growth of the community the answers varied. Gayle Godtlibsen feels it was the year 1905 when the SP&S Railroad began operation on the north bank of the Columbia River. “We hope that visitors come away from the timeline inspired to share their experience with others and, hopefully, that will help create more traffic to the museum,” she said.
Richard Johnson identified 1886 and the start of the Camas papermill as the most impactful year. “I feel interacting with the timeline exhibit is the grand finale to a visit to the museum,” he said. “I want people to feel they had a ‘complete’ experience here.”
The timeline creation and installation were completed by a team of dedicated people. TRHM Display Committee members Karen and Richard Johnson and Gayle and Ivar Godtlibsen; Masako Brachmann, graphic design; Katie Bush, CCHM public historian; Kevin and Curtis Barber of Core Powersports; Missy Fant Photography; J2 Blueprinting printed the panels; local historian Pepper Kim was editor and proofreader for the timeline narrative; John Kimbrough designed and fabricated timeline stand and helped with installation; Tommy Miller of Pomeroy Living History Farm helped with installation; and Bradley Richardson, Executive Director of CCHM helped on many aspects of the project.
“Over the past six years, Two Rivers and the Clark County Historical Museum have fostered a deep and mutually beneficial relationship,” Richardson, a Camas-Washougal area native, said. “Through this project and other collaborative work, our organizations are demonstrating how communities are better served and more history is shared and saved when we come together.”
Funding for the timeline came from generous donations from the Tidland Family, Beales Foundation, and the Smead Family, who made their gift in memory of longtime teacher and historian Bernice Pluchos.
The new exhibit will be dedicated at a ceremony on Friday, May 31 at 5 pm at the Two Rivers Heritage Museum. City leaders, museum volunteers, staff, historical society members and community history lovers are invited to attend. It can also be viewed any Saturday during regular museum hours from 11 am-3 pm.
“We are extremely proud of what we have created at Two Rivers,” said Dick Lindstrom, CWHS president. “Its purpose is to collect, research and preserve the history that tells the story of the development of the Camas/Washougal area. We invite our community to take the time to experience what a treasure this place is. And if people like what they see, we hope they become a member of CWHS or a volunteer to help us continue to tell the stories of our communities.”
Ponderosa Garage Doors
Who said your garage door has to look boring😏😏
Contact Ponderosa Garage Doors today and see what they can do for you. They also give back to the community.
Plus, their team has a special! Just mention “Camas Athletics” when you place your order and the team at Ponderosa will donate 5% of the order to Camas Athletics Boosters Club, and it’s a good idea to have your garage doors inspected.
Call 360.684.1933. They have a $100 coupon, too. Learn all about it.
Washougal, WA — The Washougal School Board of Directors has named Aaron Hansen as the interim superintendent for the 2024-2025 school year. Hansen, who has served as the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources and Student Services for the last five years, will begin in the new role on July 1, when current Superintendent Dr. Mary Templeton starts her new role with the Lake Stevens School District.
Hansen has worked for Washougal School District for 23 years. He has 31 years of experience in education as a classroom teacher, instructional coach, assistant principal, principal, and assistant superintendent. Prior to his current role, Hansen served as the WHS Principal from 2011 to 2019. He began his teaching experiences with Washougal at Washougal High School and at the former Excelsior High School, where he was a Math and Science teacher providing alternative learning experiences and customized learning opportunities for students. Prior to joining the Washougal School District he was a Math and Science teacher at Rogers High School in Spokane for eight years. Hansen also taught English for one year in Taiwan.
“Aaron has a demonstrated track record of service to Washougal’s students through his various roles,” Board president Angela Hancock. “Aaron brings experience with nearly every aspect of the district’s work to this role, and the strong relationships he has built with students, parents, teacher, staff, and community members will help him be successful in the interim role. The board is confident in his ability to continue the great progress the district has made to increase student achievement and the graduation rate.”
Templeton praised the selection, saying, “Aaron is an exceptional leader and educator with a passion for ensuring each student is on a bright pathway to the future. He has leveraged community partnerships and the energy and excitement students have to help the district rise.”
Hansen said, “As I step into the role of Interim Superintendent for the Washougal School District, I am filled with both excitement and humility. Washougal is a community that stands out for its strong tradition of supporting education, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to lead in such an amazing environment.”
He added, “Our district is home to outstanding teachers and staff who dedicate themselves daily to creating enriching and powerful learning experiences for our students. I am eager to engage directly with classrooms, collaborating with students, families, and educators. Together, we will continue to advance towards our shared vision, building on the solid foundation of support and commitment that characterizes the Washougal community. It is a privilege to continue to be a part of the WSD community, and I am committed to ensuring that we keep moving forward, making a positive impact on every student’s life.”
Hansen has an undergraduate and master’s degree from Eastern Washington University. He holds a superintendent credential from Washington State University.
The board took action to appoint Hansen during the April 30, 2024 special board meeting, and noted that it will be gathering community input into a permanent replacement for Dr. Templeton in the fall. As part of the cost saving measures needed in school year 2024-2025, the Assistant Superintendent position is being eliminated to help solve the district’s $3 million budget shortfall.
Ponderosa Garage Doors
Who said your garage door has to look boring😏😏
Contact Ponderosa Garage Doors today and see what they can do for you. They also give back to the community.
Plus, their team has a special! Just mention “Camas Athletics” when you place your order and the team at Ponderosa will donate 5% of the order to Camas Athletics Boosters Club, and it’s a good idea to have your garage doors inspected.
Call 360.684.1933. They have a $100 coupon, too. Learn all about it.
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