Morning Press: County GOP & Herrera Beutler, C-Tran board, Torque coffee

Will the sun shine this weekend? ” Check out the forecast.

Clark County GOP party may censure Herrera Beutler

The Clark County Republican Party is expected to vote at its next meeting on whether to censure U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Camas.

If passed, the move could mean Herrera Beutler would be banned from speaking at any campaign events sponsored by the Clark County GOP or from being featured in any of the local party’s literature.

In part, the motion reads: “Please understand, we receive no satisfaction from disciplining one of our own. However, silence is acceptance, and we cannot accept your poor voting record; therefore, we cannot remain silent. We hope this will cause you to reflect upon your actions, and we look forward to the day when our differences have been reconciled that we may repeal this censure from your record.”

The party is expected to discuss the motion and vote on whether to censure Herrera Beutler at its next meeting, likely in March.

Herrera Beutler responds nearly point-by-point to the letter from Wagner, which calls out about a half dozen votes she made that he believes “established a pattern of voting with Democrats to increase spending, increase the debt, and increase regulations.”

Read the rest of Herrera Beutler’s response.

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C-Tran’s revised board gets a chaotic start

The C-Tran Board of Directors seated a new set of members Tuesday, diminishing Clark County’s representation on the nine-member board over the continued objections of county councilors.

The county has argued that a special committee violated the state’s Open Public Meetings Act when it voted to reshuffle the C-Tran board in November. County councilors say C-Tran didn’t give proper notice for that meeting; Councilor David Madore also handed out a letter from Seattle-based Pacifica Law Group asserting the same.

Despite those claims — and the threat of legal action by the county — the new board composition took effect during a tumultuous meeting Tuesday. The board also voted to amend C-Tran’s bylaws to match the changes.

“This is absolutely wrong,” County Councilor Jeanne Stewart said. “There should not be reward for the poison fruit that this goes ahead.”

Read more about the C-Tran meeting.

Substitute shortage plagues local schools

Here’s a story problem common in Clark County schools: On Monday, 156 teachers at Battle Ground schools took the day off and requested a substitute teacher to cover their classes. After all possible substitutes were contracted from the substitute pool, 14 classrooms still did not have a teacher for the day.

What’s the solution?

In Battle Ground and other districts, when there aren’t enough subs, district teachers are paid to fill in during their prep period. If teachers aren’t available, administrators with teaching certificates cover the class.

The dwindling numbers of substitute teachers is a chronic problem, not just in Battle Ground, but throughout Clark County and beyond.

“It is critical. It’s a statewide and a nationwide shortage,” said Linda Allen, human resources director at Battle Ground Public Schools. “We want people in the classroom who can move the kids forward in the curriculum and not just baby-sit. Otherwise, our kids lose.”

Learn more about the teacher shortage.

Torque adds 2nd location in Washougal

Torque Coffee Roasters is taking its blend of “guilt-free” coffee and pastries to downtown Washougal, marking the first expansion for a company that opened a single location in downtown Vancouver three years ago.

Torque hopes to be up and running in the Washougal Town Square by Valentine’s Day, says co-owner Ryan Palmer. The company chose Washougal after looking for a new site in Clark County communities including Battle Ground and Hazel Dell, Palmer said. The Washougal shop will be at 1700 Main St., Suite 130, in the heart of downtown and a short easy distance from the Pendleton Woolen Mill, which has about 200 employees who could be potential customers. “It had all the right ingredients,” he said of the site.

The Vancouver location, in an old building across Columbia Street from the Hilton hotel, has an edgy urban vibe that is rare for coffee shops in Clark County. It’s a large space filled with vintage tables and chairs, where customers can stretch out with their coffee and laptops. The coffee shop attracts downtown workers and residents as well as visitors from the Hilton and nearby Esther Short Park, Palmer said.

Learn more about Torque’s new location.

Clark College gets taste of Scotland

Mae Wilson was born and raised in Glasgow, Scotland, but moved to the states after meeting her American husband. The Pacific Northwest, with its lush greenery, rain and friendly people is similar to Scotland, she said.

“If you can’t live in Scotland, this is the next best thing,” Wilson said. “This part of the country, I like it.”

The views of the Columbia River are reminiscent of the River Clyde, which runs through Glasgow.

Wilson takes part in the local chapter of the Daughters of the British Empire to hold on to her Scottish heritage.

Read more about a Taste of Scotland.

Phat Hoops = fit fun

Sandra Elton was 10 when she last picked up a hula hoop. But a demonstration at the Clark County Fair last summer encouraged the 67-year-old to take up hooping again.