News

• Community Planning

Proposed rural industrial land bank straddles State Route 503

Vancouver, WA – A public hearing is scheduled April 5 for the Board of County Councilors to consider a proposal for a rural industrial land bank near Brush Prairie.

The 6 p.m. hearing will be in the sixth-floor hearing room of the Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin St.

County planners and consultants have been studying prospects for planning and zoning changes on both sides of State Route 503 between Northeast 119th and Northeast 149th streets.


• Public Health

Vancouver, WA – Clark County’s Recycled Arts Festival has won two awards from the Washington Festival and Events Association for benefiting the community and best overall event.

The awards were presented to Sally Fisher, an outreach specialist in Environmental Services who is the event’s founder and coordinator, at a Tuesday ceremony in Olympia.

One award, the Community Impact Award, was given for having the most positive impact on a community of any Washington festival or event in 2015.


• Public Health

Vancouver, WA ‒ Ducklings and chicks are popular at this time of year. But handling and nuzzling them is a good way to acquire a Salmonella infection, which can cause severe diarrhea, fever and stomach pain.

“Children are especially at risk of illness because they are less likely to wash their hands and have more frequent hand-to-mouth contact than adults,” said Clark County Health Officer Dr. Alan Melnick. “We suggest a trip to the zoo or a stuffed animal as a better springtime gift for your child.”


• Public Health

Vancouver, WA – Clark County’s Green Business program will host its fifth annual Green Business Showcase from 4-7 p.m. Thursday, March 24, at Fort Vancouver’s historic Artillery Barracks, 600 Hathaway Road.

A new component of this year’s showcase will be presentation of the first annual Green Business of the Year Award. This award will be given to the Clark County Green Business that has best demonstrated efforts to continually reduce its environmental impact and improve practices over time.

Fourteen businesses applied for the award, with projects ranging from:


• Public Health

Vancouver, WA – Clark County’s Green Business Program will host a Morning Blend networking event 8-9 a.m. Thursday, March 17, at New Seasons Market, 2100b S.E. 164th Ave., Suite 101.

The Morning Blend event provides an opportunity to network and discuss green business efforts in a relaxed setting. Staff of New Seasons Market will start the March 17 event with a brief presentation about their green efforts.


• Public Health

Vancouver, WA ‒ Clark County Public Health has lifted an advisory warning people to avoid contact with water in a mile-long stretch of Lacamas Creek. Sampling by the city of Camas indicates the water no longer poses a threat to the health of people and animals.

The stretch of Lacamas Creek runs between Dwyer Creek and Lacamas Lake.

On Feb. 26, Public Health issued an advisory to avoid water contact in and around Lacamas Lake following a sewage spill in the 4700 block of Northwest Pacific Rim Boulevard. 


• Community Planning

Vancouver, WA – Clark County is seeking applicants for three openings on its Commission on Aging. The commission implements the county’s Aging Readiness Plan and provides leadership addressing the needs of people older than 50.

Volunteers serve three-year terms. Residents living anywhere in Clark County can apply. People with experience and expertise in advocating for seniors, launching new programs, public speaking and/or serving on boards are encouraged to apply.


• County

Vancouver, WA – The Clark County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Unit is seeking the public’s help in locating a man who was the boyfriend of a 17-year-old Portland girl whose body was found in rural Clark County in late 1974.


• Clark County Council

Vancouver, WA  ̶  The Clark County Sheriff’s Office would have long-term, stable funding to hire deputies under a proposal the Board of County Councilors will consider as a spring supplemental budget adjustment.

Councilor Julie Olson introduced the idea of allowing Sheriff Chuck Atkins to hire three deputies above his office’s authorized positions in order to maintain full staffing.

“It provides a long-term commitment to public safety and removes hiring deputies from competition with other General Fund needs, said Olson.


• Public Health

Vancouver, WA ‒ Clark County Public Health has lifted an advisory warning people and their pets to avoid contact with water in Lacamas Lake and Dwyer Creek. Sampling by the city of Camas indicates the water no longer poses a threat to the health of people and animals.

 

But health officials have left in place a no-contact advisory for about a mile-long stretch of Lacamas Creek between Dwyer Creek and Lacamas Lake. Sampling there still shows high levels of bacteria.