Morning Press: Home values, Sheriff Atkins, Camas coach

This weekend promised to be a scorcher. Check out the forecast.

Here are some of the week’s top stories:

Clark County assessed home values on upswing

If you notice your home’s assessed value is on the rise, you’re not alone. Home values increased on average by about 5 to 10 percent in 2014, according to the Clark County Assessor’s Office.

Notices of assessed property values are winging their way to property owners across Clark County, and values are tracking overall economic recovery in the region, Assessor Peter Van Nortwick said.

For comparison, the median home sale price in December 2014 was $245,600, up about 10 percent from the prior December’s $223,100 median sale price, according to monthly reports from Mike Lamb, veteran broker at Windermere Stellar Vancouver.

Camas football coach Jon Eagle cleared of wrongdoing in recruiting case

Camas football coach Jon Eagle and one of his assistants will not face suspensions during the upcoming season after Camas High School won its appeal Thursday.

The district directors of the WIAA, upon hearing new information, ruled Thursday that Eagle did not recruit an athlete from another school and that Camas did not violate WIAA rules.

Mike Colbrese, executive director of the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association, said the grandfather of the athlete provided the latest information, which “factored into the decision” by the district directors.

Eagle and assistant coach Dan Kielty were penalized by the Class 4A Greater St. Helens League after it was learned that Eagle met with the athlete at an off-campus business. According to Camas’ self-report, eligibility and football were discussed at the meeting.

Learn more about Coach Eagle’s case.

WSUV parking lot plan draws neighbors’ ire

From their back deck, Pam and Tom Webster can see Washington State University Vancouver a short distance away.

Between the north end of the university and their property is a grassy field. The empty space is a popular, peaceful walking area, both say. It also creates a large buffer between the neighborhood and the growing campus.

That’s about to change. But the Websters fear they’re losing more than a view.

Construction started this week on a new 250-space parking lot that will cover much of the open area and bring WSUV closer to the homes along Northeast 160th Street in the Mount Vista area. The Websters say the new parking lot, expected to be finished this fall, will bring with it pollution, noise and lower property values.

“This is going to impact the whole neighborhood,” Tom Webster said. “It’s not just our street.”

The two haven’t been quiet about those feelings. They’ve contacted the university, state legislators and the governor’s office. They put up a large banner from their fence facing the campus that reads, “250 CAR LOT HERE HURTS NEIGHBORHOOD.”

Read more about the neighbors’ complaint.

Vancouver man wages campaign for a new kidney

Scott Warren of Vancouver is running a campaign unlike most others.

He’s not trying to persuade people to vote him into elected office. He’s trying to persuade someone to give him a kidney.

“You can live with one kidney,” Warren said.

Warren’s own kidneys failed him in May 2012 — the result of a disease that, over the course of 20 years, slowly destroyed his kidneys without him, or his doctors, knowing.

Soon after, Warren launched his campaign to find a living kidney donor.

Warren read an article about someone who found a kidney donor through Facebook. Warren decided it was worth a shot and launched his own Facebook page, A Kidney for Scott, in May 2013.

Learn more about Warren’s search for a kidney.

Blazers get first look at draft prospects

TUALATIN, Ore. — The Portland Trail Blazers held their first open pre-draft workout Wednesday morning at their practice facility in Tualatin.

The Blazers brought in six players for Wednesday’s workout. They were headlined by projected late-first round picks, 6-8 forward Montrezl Harrell of Louisville and 6-11 forward Christian Wood of UNLV.

Both players are expected to be in range of the Blazers who have the No. 23 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft.

Read more about the Blazer’s draft prospects.