Camas Teams Sweep Mock Trials District Tournament

VANCOUVER — Both Camas High School Mock Trials teams swept their respective divisions Thursday night winning the annual District tournament, which was held at the Clark County Courthouse.
The teams, which are coached by Liberty Middle School teacher, Jackie Hoefer, have been preparing their case for months, and now look forward to competing at State in six weeks.
At the final awards ceremony held Thursday night, Camas senior Zane Shariff won the Division 1 Best Witness award, and was tied with Sarah Kaufman, of Ridgefield.
Savannah Deoschand, of Camas, won the Division 2 Best Witness award.

Both Camas Mock Trials teams at the Clark County Courthouse.

Camas Junior, Matt Svilar  won the Division 1 Best Attorney award and Baylee Allen, of Camas, was tied with Cody Hipskind, of Columbia White Salmon, to win the Division 2 Best Attorney award.

 

The teens shifted roles throughout six separate trials about a fictitious murder care of one Rosa Bud. Both the prosecution and defense teams had to contend with the prosecution of Jan Jasper, who was accused of criminal assistance of murder in the first degree.

 

It was a tough case to prosecute, said one of the jurors, who is a real-life attorney.

 
During a final session in court.
The Mock Trial teams had to prepare prosecutions, as well as defenses. Each team produced documents and witnesses, as well as raise objections during witness testimony.
In all, eight high schools competed in the two-day annual event, which is designed to teach students how the legal system works. Real judges presided over each trial with real attorneys acting as jurors.
Camas was represented by two teams: Team A and Team F. The team A prosecution was comprised of Haley Kendall, Matt Svilar, and Zane Shariff. Their witnesses included Anna Roche, Thomas Hudson, Claire Parker, and Acacia Mays. And it was incredible to see how well the students prepared.
The Team A defense was comprised of Erin Tully, Matt Svilar and Max Urbanek. Their witnesses included Zane Shariff, Taylor Hudson, Emily Neale and Ewan Parker. 
Team F was comprised of Baylee Allen, Nicole Buckley, Beth Abbay and Matt Abbay, who served as attorneys. The Team F witnesses were: Savannah Deochand, Sandra Maszak, Colby Allen, and Matt Abbay (who doubled as a witness), as well as Nicole Buckley (who also doubled as a witness).
The Mock Trials program is not an officially offered course at Camas, so the kids practice on Monday evenings and Saturday mornings for several months. They do this all voluntarily.
The Mock Trials event itself is sponsored by the YMCA and has been presided over by Judge Lewis for 25 years.
Hoefer has been coaching the team for seven years and feels it’s a great opportunity.
“They work really hard and it shows,” she said. “It’s a joy to do this.”
Svilar was feeling great after his award.
“This was fantastic,” he said. “This was so much fun. I’m thinking about becoming an attorney.”
After each trial, the judges and jurors critiqued their performances, and provided guidance on how to improve. However, they gave the students many accolades and one judge even said: “You guys are better prepared than a lot of actual attorneys. Well done!”

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Camas Schools Closing Today Due to Inclement Weather

Camas area schools are closing due to inclement weather today. There will be no PM Kindergarten, PM Preschool, or afternoon/evening activities.

Students will be released according to the following schedule:

11:25 for high school;
11:45 for middle school; and
12:30 for elementary school.

AM Kindergarten will stay at school until 12:30 pm and be relsed with the other elementary students. Extended Day will close at 12:30 om. Papermaker and Step Ahead preschoolers will be released on their normal schedules.

For continued updates, please visit www.camas.wednet.edu

 

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KATU: CHS Wins Channel 2’s $ for Schools Contest

KATU Channel 2 announced Thursday that Camas High School (CHS) is the winner of this year’s KATU News Cash for Schools contest.
“We want to send out a BIG thank you for everyone’s votes,” said Michelle Allen, of CHS. ” We ended up with 996 votes and we would not have achieved such an impressive total if it wasn’t for all of you.”

Live KATU Broadcast

Beginning at 5:30 am tomorrow, KATU News will be broadcasting from the high school live through 7 am. Following that, there will be an 8 am assembly in the gym at which time representatives from the McLoughlin Auto Mall will be presenting the Papermakers with a $10,000 check.
The check presentation will be broadcast live, so please tune in to view it. And as a heads up, said Allen, the Channel 2 News helicopter will be following the car with the check to the high school.
“This is a big win for Camas High School, and the community at large,” said CHS Principal, Steve Marshall. “We’re very grateful to Channel 2 for their generosity.”
The school hasn’t yet decided on to use the extra funds, said Marshall.
To learn more, visit www.camas.wednet.edu
 
 
 

 

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Pike Appointed to House Local Government Committee

OLYMPIA, WA — Eighteenth District Representative Liz Pike has been appointed to serve on the House Local Government Committee.  The committee considers issues relating to the operations and financing of counties, cities, and some special districts. It also considers issues relating to the Growth Management Act and land use issues such as local permitting and the subdivision of property.

Pike, who served on the Camas City Council from 2003 to 2007, says the new committee assignment is a good fit that will allow her to utilize her past experience in city government.

Liz Pike
Lacamas Magazine Archived Photo: Rep. Liz Pike at the 2012 Clark County
GOP Convention at the Hilton in downtown Vancouver.

“During my time on the city council, I learned about municipal budgeting, ordinances, land-use policies and the Growth Management Act, as well as many other issues involving local government. I’ve walked in the shoes of the local elected officials and I know the challenges they face and the services expected from local government by the public,” said Pike, R-Camas. “I have six small cities just within my legislative district, so I’m looking forward to helping them, their constituents, and other local governments across the state.”

Pike said one of her priorities will be restoration of the Public Works Assistance Account, which makes low- and no-interest loans to cities and utilities to finance water, sewer and street projects. Last year, the Legislature used the money, $354 million, to help balance the state operating budget. As a result, no loans were issued. Pike said those monies are vital to local governments to provide funding for needed infrastructure. The sweeping of those funds was one of the reasons Pike voted last year against the operating budget proposal.

“I’ll also be working to limit unfunded mandates to our cities and counties that are working with limited budget authority. If we could reduce some of the financial burdens on our local governments, it would increase delivery of services to those communities and help our citizens immensely,” she added. “That’s the direction of change I hope to make with this new committee assignment.”

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Lacamas Heights Elementary to Celebrate 50th Anniversary with Celebration on January 17

CAMAS, WA — The Lacamas Heights Elementary community invites all members of the Camas community to help celebrate their 50th Anniversary with two special events on January 17.

At 2:30 pm, staff and students will host a school-wide assembly where guest speakers will share memories from their years at Lacamas with staff and students; additionally, current students will share a special presentation reflecting back on the great history of Lacamas Heights.

All who attend will be treated to a sneak peak at a movie short titled “The Lacamas Story.” This will be an opportunity to provide today’s students with a glimpse of what has made Lacamas the school that it is today.

For the second event, all former students, teachers, and staff are invited to a Celebration Reception, which begins at 5:30 pm. This will be a time to tour the school, reminisce with former students and staff, reconnect, and celebrate the impact that Lacamas has had over the past 50 years.

There will be pictures, memorabilia, birthday cake, and the premier of our short film, “The Lacamas Story,” but most importantly, there will be teachers, administrators, staff, and students who called Lacamas Heights Elementary School their school from 1963-2014. This is an exciting opportunity to reconnect Lacamas alumni, and organizers hope community members will help to spread the word about this special day.

Lacamas Heights Elementary, in Camas, to celebrate 50th anniversary.

 

 

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Video: Flash Freeze Dreamery Uses Liquid Nitrogen

This is a short video on the new Flash Freeze Dreamery, which just opened for business near Costco at 192nd Ave. They have created a fun and tasty way to make homemade style ice cream that couldn’t be more fresh.

Please click on the link to view:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jUTAWEN6Lc&feature=share&list=UUuFULV6tvsqLbKy4FPc2kcA

 

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Flash Freeze Dreamery: Ice Cream On-Demand

VANCOUVER, WA – This isn’t your Grandpa’s ice cream shop. In fact, the newly-opened Flash Freeze Dreamery offers much more than ice cream in a very sleek, modern, entertaining venue that’ll be a hit with your taste buds.

The shop, located at Lacamas Crossing (Costco shopping complex at 192nd Avenue and First), is based on the concept of liquid nitrogen ice cream.

So, what does that mean?

“The creamy part of the ice cream with flavor is put into a mixer and we zap it with liquid nitrogen, which is super cold,” says Flash Freeze Dreamery owner and concept designer, Gabe Ohms. “It’s mixed and the nitrogen evaporates out of the bowl while it freezes the ice cream.”

The nitrogen evaporates into the air leaving the ice cream “flash frozen” – and delicious.

“Generally ice cream that’s been purchased has typically been sitting there for days, and it’s the same with frozen yogurt,” Ohms adds. “What we’ve done here is taken fresh cream (from Alpenrose Dairy), added some flavor, and within a minute or two we create the freshest ice cream. Our product has the smoothest texture.”

Flash Freeze does this with French custard, Italian gelato, and frozen yogurt. They also have non-dairy options available.

So, how does it work?

When you go to Flash Freeze, and trust me, you want to GO to Flash Freeze, you first select your size of treat (small, medium, large), select your base (ice cream, French custard, Italian gelato, frozen yogurt, etc.), and then choose your flavor.

Customers can choose from a “favorite” flavor combination from the menu, or pick a flavor that’s available. You can also “dream” your own.

It’s really a lot of fun, and incredibly delicious.

Once you order, Flash Freeze staff get right to work, and it’s fun to watch. They first add the cream and flavor combination (based on recipes crafted by Ohms), then it’s off to the Kitchen Aid mixers that are retrofitted with dosers, which are connected to massive liquid nitrogen tanks. The custom-made doser valves control the flow of the liquid nitrogen.

Workers mix the ingredients to perfection, and then place the mixer bowl into water to separate the ice cream from the bowl. The fresh product is then placed into a bowl and served fresh.

And all the flavors come out at once. You’ll love it.
“Using liquid nitrogen isn’t new to food processing,” said Ohms. “But it’s new to ice cream. This is really the ice cream of the 21stcentury.
Ohms has wanted to do something with food for years, but then he saw a TV show about using liquid nitrogen to make ice cream. So, about eight months ago, he began preparing for what would become Flash Freeze Dreamery.
“We’ve created something here for everyone,” his wife, Jessica added. “The kids will love to watch how the ice cream is made. And everyone will enjoy the experience.”
You’ll enjoy favorite menu options like Cherry Chocolate Fudge, which contains cherry flavor, cherries, and chocolate fudge; or Birthday Cake, with cake batter flavor, birthday cake pieces and sprinkles.
Ordering is as simple as 1-2-3.
Cotton Candy Carnival is a favorite, with cotton candy flavor, marshmallows, and cotton candy crunch.
Other options include Cookies and Cream, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Mint Chocolate Cookie, Coconut Joy (my favorite), Strawberry Cheesecake, Chocolate Smores, and more.
There are dozens of other flavors and toppings, and you can dream up your own mixture.
Flash Freeze opens at 11 am on weekdays and Saturdays, and is located at 155 NE 192nd Avenue, Suite 107, Vancouver.
Teal Fielding serves a finished dessert.

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Fuel Medical Assembles, Donates Bikes to CAROL

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

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

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

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

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

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Wise Family Experiences Bank Robbery

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

More details to come.

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Local LDS Church Members Honor Pioneer Day

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pioneer Day Susie Huckvale

 

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