Photo by Troy Wayrynen

The Columbian

Students react in amazement — and a bit of horror — as Richard Ritchey drapes a python over one of their classmates. “Reptile Man,” as the Colton, Ore., man calls himself, was educating and entertaining second-graders at Echo Shaw Elementary School in Cornelius, Ore. Ritchey found himself in the Clark County news for adopting D.B. Cooper, an alligator captured in a Bonneville Power Administration pond in Salmon Creek in September 2009.

Photo by Steven Lane

The Columbian

Kelly Keniston, a junior at Union High School, slips going over the barrier and heads for a muddy landing at the 50th annual Run-A-Ree cross country meet at Hudson’s Bay High School. Steven Lane /The Columbian

Photo by Steven Lane

The Columbian

Giddy the kitten is on the lookout for a new home at the Humane Society for Southwest Washington’s one-year anniversary in August.

Photo by Steven Lane

The Columbian

Silhouetted against the setting sun, Addison Owen of Camas clears the high-jump bar at the Columbia River Twilight Track and Field Meet in April.

Photo by Steven Lane

Leeanna Doster, 20, the sister of Mindy Doster, and stepdad Dennis Frye console each other on Oct. 1 at the site where Mindy was struck and killed by a BNSF train the previous afternoon.

Photo by Zachary Kaufman

The Columbian

Mourners watch as an honor guard from Joint Base Lewis-McChord marches in to position for the burial of Jonah McClellan at Elim Cemetery in Brush Prairie on Friday October 1, 2010. McClellan was killed while serving in Afghanistan last month.

Photo by Zachary Kaufman

The Columbian

Virgil Green poses for a portrait inside Fisticuffs Gym on Thursday November 11, 2010. Green has his professional boxing debut in Tacoma this Saturday.

Photo by Troy Wayrynen

The Columbian

A Port of Portland K-9 explosives unit officer helps Vancouver police search for a suspect after a bank robbery at First Independent Bank in the Vancouver Heights area Wednesday. The suspect handed a teller a note indicating he had a bomb. A search, however, found no explosives.

Troy Wayrynen/The Columbian

John Nicholas, 19, and Rachel Cyders, 18, left, of Vancouver enjoy the sound Friday of the Norman Sylvester Blues Band at the Vancouver Wine & Jazz Festival.

Photo by Troy Wayrynen

The Columbian

Morgen, center, who is the uncle of Braiden Gonzalez, 5, reacts after learning his nephew was located after the boy went missing on his way to Walnut Grove Elementary School Monday September 13, 2010 in Vancouver, Washington.

Photo by Zachary Kaufman

Ryan Dungey gives motocross fans — and the camera — a champagne shower while celebrating his overall championship at the Washougal MX National in July at Washougal MX Park.

Photo by Troy Wayrynen

The Columbian

People gather and hold hands as singer and songwriter Noah sings his song “Now More Than Ever” as part of Monday’s Oxfest celebration at Esther Short Park.