Local News

Teen's art garners Best in Show

Battle Ground -- A 17-year-old home-schooled student won Best in Show at the annual Battle Ground Art Alliance show for her piece titled "Sprung has Spring." Nearly 600 students from across Clark County entered the exhibition, which promotes the Southwest Washington art scene while raising money for the nonprofit alliance. Ruby Newton's winning entry used a splash of watercolor paint to add color to a pencil drawing of a woman's face. Newton is also planning to start a student-led art group for high-schooled students. She's been perfecting her art since she was 11, said Newton's mother Traci. "I took the television away and she had to find something to do."

Salmon Creek church grows garden to feed nearby residents

Salmon Creek -- The Salmon Creek United Methodist Church started a community garden in 2012, after the pastor chatted with the manager of a nearby manufactured home park and heard the residents don't have access to fresh, affordable produce. So the church built 12 raised beds; this year they doubled that. Tomatoes, squash, lemon cucumbers, green beans, cilantro and peppers are among the garden's main crops, which the church group would distribute in the residents every Saturday morning. "It took a few weeks before the residents trusted that we would be back the next week," said organizer Carol Peterson. "We also took boxes of used books which adults and children appreciated. Some of the women would share recipes." This year the church will team up with the new Chuck's Produce store in the area to add other foods to its fresh-from-the-soil offerings.

Legacy nurses raise money with flower badges

Salmon Creek -- Two local nurses transformed discarded medicine vial caps into flower-shaped badge holders which they sold to raise hundreds of dollars for charity. Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center emergency room nurse Maureen Palensky and critical care nurse Kelly Brady recently teamed up to design and sell special identification badge holders, which have become a hit at their hospital. The team has already raised more than $650 by selling the decorations at $3 each. The colorful creations are now for sale at the center's gift shop, with all proceeds going to the Legacy Salmon Creek Child Abuse Assessment Team.

Vancouver Police get cozy on two wheels

Hudson's Bay -- Vancouver Police officers recently trained with mountain bicycles to prepare for two-wheel patrols this summer. Officers took two Saturday classes in early June where they studied bicycle maintenance, repairs and road rules. They also practiced special drills and off-road riding. The city's bike patrol officers will have a presence at various community events this summer.

Rose Village cleans up K Street

Rose Village -- More than 40 volunteers turned up June 1 to trim overgrown vegetation and clean the west side of K Street between 33rd and 37th streets. Neighbors, area high school students and city of Vancouver employees all contributed to the effort, which was along a litter-attracting street adjacent to Interstate 5. Rose Village Neighborhood Association president Scott Carroll also extended thanks to the Central Park Burgerville, Julia's Bakery and the Safeway on Main Street for donating food to the "small army" of volunteers.

Youth grant helps save Teen Late Nights at Firstenburg, Marshall

Fircrest — Kids helping kids. The high school juniors and seniors of the Youth Philanthropy Program of the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington recently granted $3,305 in seed money to the local Parks Foundation for next year's Teen Late Night programs at the Firstenburg and Marshall Community Centers. That program -- "SPOT" at Marshall and "the Zone" at Firstenburg -- provides safe places to hang out and fun things to do, from court sports to video games, on Friday nights. "We'd rather see kids on the basketball court than out on the streets," said Vancouver Interim Police Chief Chris Sutter. Cheri Martin, executive director of the Parks Foundation, pointed out that this grant is a first step, and $21,500 remains to be raised to keep the Teen Late Night programs alive. Visit parksfoundation.us to learn more.

'Bubble Bye' at Battle Ground's Daybreak Primary School sends students off to summer

After the last school bell of the year rang Tuesday at Daybreak Primary School in Battle Ground, doors were flung open and 620 gleeful students erupted, transforming the calm into jubilant chaos.

On Gaiser Pond: Middle-schoolers have been doing real science

Program has one year left on five-year federal grant

Four years ago, the wetland below Gaiser Middle School was being choked by invasive plants and garbage carried by stormwater runoff.

Expansion of state Highway 14 complete

Construction crews finished a two-year, $49 million project this week that expanded state Highway 14 in Camas and Washougal.

Battle Ground upgrades online facilities system

Battle Ground has updated its online reservation system for city facilities.

Expect detours for N.E. 39th Street project

Starting Wednesday, streets will be closed for the paving of a new double-lane roundabout at the intersection of Northeast 39th Street and Northeast 137th Avenue.

Correction: Baseball resolutions

Baseball resolutions: Clark County commissioners allowed a resolution on funding for a new baseball stadium to die on the floor without a second in 2011. A story that ran Tuesday on Page A1 incorrectly explained the process.

Correction: City government

City government: Vancouver has a council-manager government with an elected mayor. A story that ran Sunday on Page C3 incorrectly identified Vancouver's form of government; it also incompletely described the council-manager government and the ways cities using it choose their mayors.

UPDATE: Grass fire burns beside I-205

Two blazes along interstate show fire season is here

A grass fire ripped up a hillside beside Interstate 205 on Tuesday evening in Cascade Park, threatening stores just south of the Fred Meyer at Mill Plain Boulevard and Chkalov Drive.

Campaign Trail: Vancouver City Council, Position 1

Vancouver City Council, Position 1: Otto Guardado is hosting a Hawaiian barbecue from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday at 19755 S.E. 37th Way, Camas. The public is welcome. Register by sending an email to electotto@gmail.com.