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Stephanie Rice

Stories by Stephanie

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Bridge collapse doesn't sway CRC opponents

Local officials share reaction to Skagit Valley bridge collapse

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Light rail opponents sue Vancouver in Superior Court

Attorney for plaintiffs argues city council has no authority to reject initiative

Vancouver City Council OKs train crossing safety district

The Vancouver City Council on Monday unanimously approved the creation of a local improvement district so 467 homeowners near the Columbia River can pay for railroad crossing safety upgrades for establishing quiet zones at Southeast 139th, 144th, 147th and 164th avenues.

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UPDATE: On a whim, Turlay runs against Mayor Leavitt

After months of rumors about who might run against Vancouver Mayor Tim Leavitt, a last-minute challenger came as a surprise Friday afternoon — even to himself.

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UPDATE: Leavitt, Guard, Onslow among those filing Monday morning

Candidates have until 5 p.m. Friday to file for office

Vancouver Mayor Tim Leavitt files for re-election Monday, joined by Washougal Mayor Sean Guard and Ridgefield Mayor Ron Onslow

Public time to comment loses appeal for Madore

A compilation of recent blog posts from the All Politics is Local blog.

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Burkman runs again for Vancouver City Council

Filing week begins Monday for elective offices across the county, including school boards, town councils

Vancouver City Councilman Jack Burkman said Friday he'll run for re-election.

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Decision favors Cowlitz Tribe's casino plans

Tribe still faces legal challenges to plans to build in La Center

The Bureau of Indian Affairs on Wednesday published a new record of decision allowing the tribe to acquire 151.87 acres of land and proclaim it to be the Cowlitz Indian Tribe's reservation.

Second challenger to face Vancouver city councilor Stewart

Vancouver City Councilor Jeanne Stewart has drawn a second opponent.

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Vancouver council denies a vote on light rail

Petition for a ballot initiative is rejected as legally flawed

The Vancouver City Council declined Monday to place an anti-light rail initiative on the November ballot.

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Guard weighs in as diet winner

Washougal mayor edges Camas leader in yearlong contest

WASHOUGAL — After Mayor Sean Guard was declared the weight-loss winner Saturday over Camas Mayor Scott Higgins by the slimmest of margins, he got on his bicycle and pedaled over to Amnesia Brewing for a victory pint.

Stuart apologizes for using barnyard epithet to describe Benton hiring

Commissioner posts apology on Facebook page

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Benton selection fuels anger among public

Most contacting county outraged state senator got job without hiring process

Wednesday evening, Vancouver resident Elizabeth Pfenning did something she'd never done in 28 years as a registered voter.

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Benton doesn't appear to meet minimum requirements for county job

Don Benton's history of public service and his work in the private sector don't appear to match up with the minimum qualifications to be Clark County's next director of environmental services, a job bestowed on him Wednesday by County Commissioners David Madore and Tom Mielke.

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Anonymous Craigslist ad seeks Vancouver council candidates

It urges people to run for election this year

Ad claims city has "serious shortage of truly competent" leaders

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VFD's emergency response is more responsive

Early reports on use of SUVs are encouraging

The call came over the radio -- "Rescue One, priority three" -- and Vancouver Fire Department Capt. Bob Carroll and firefighter Natalie Newgent stood up from the kitchen table at Station 3 and headed to the vehicle bay.

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'Boy Scout Bart' leads rescue of wayward ducklings

Vancouver City Councilor Bart Hansen does plenty of community service. He plants trees and removes ivy. He risks public humiliation for a good cause, dressing as Braveheart for a benefit for The Children's Center and signing on for this fall's "Dancing with the Local Stars" to raise money for the Fort Vancouver National Trust

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Anti-light rail group plans to sue city

City attorney says initiative fails to comply with charter

A group of petitioners determined to get light rail on the November ballot will sue Vancouver over the city's charter, Tim Eyman said Tuesday.

City council backs proposed parks deal

It clarifies Vancouver's role in running department; county contracts for services

A majority of the Vancouver City Council on Monday expressed support for a proposed new agreement with Clark County that more accurately describes what goes on behind the scenes at the Vancouver-Clark Parks & Recreation department.

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City may still fight light rail petition

Vancouver's attorney says proposal violates city charter, state law

Clark County Auditor Greg Kimsey on Thursday certified a petition for an anti-light rail initiative, a day after a judge struck down a state law that initially had prompted Kimsey to invalidate hundreds of the signatures.

Vancouver eyes revamping parking spots

City council sets public hearing on creating district near key buildings and adding, updating meters

On-street parking spaces in downtown Vancouver that are currently free may eventually become pay-to-park, if the Vancouver City Council approves a proposal next week.

Man's family sues over jail death

Suit says suicidal inmate's counselor was kept from him

The family of Marius C. Asanachescu, a mentally ill man who died while in custody at the Clark County Jail last year, has filed a lawsuit in federal court against the county and the jail's medical provider.

Vancouver council races draw second challenger

Russian immigrant 'believes passionately in the American dream'

A second challenger has announced plans to run for Vancouver City Council.

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Vancouver Fire Department gets goal for response times

Vancouver council sets targets equal to current results

The Vancouver City Council agreed Monday to set the Vancouver Fire Department's current emergency response times, which they'd heard in January but had questions about, as standards to gauge future performance.

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Vancouver wants to refinance Hilton bonds at lower rate

Savings would pay for capital improvements

The Downtown Redevelopment Authority, the legal entity that oversees the city-owned Hilton Vancouver Washington, plans to refinance bonds to take advantage of lower interest rates.

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UPDATE: High court gives Clark County relief from annexation headache

It could have been forced to take back land from cities

The Washington Supreme Court on Thursday handed a win to Clark County by sparing officials from having to answer this question: "How do you take back land that has already been annexed by cities?"

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River flows through Leavitt's State of the City address (with video)

Vancouver mayor says it, CRC represent city’s future

The Columbia River was the central theme of Vancouver Mayor Tim Leavitt's State of the City address Wednesday, which included praise for many and sharp criticism for few.

Quiet zones advance in Vancouver

Improvement districts will address train whistles

The Vancouver City Council on Monday approved a resolution of intent to form a local improvement district so 467 homeowners near the Columbia River can pay for the railroad crossing safety upgrades necessary for establishing quiet zones at Southeast 139th, 144th, 147th and 164th avenues.

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Proposed light-rail ordinance won't appear on '13 Vancouver ballot

Council votes after attorney advises that law would exceed city authority

An anti-light-rail ordinance won’t go to city voters this fall, the Vancouver City Council decided Monday.

Neighborhood leader to run for Vancouver City Council

She is seeking seat now held by Jeanne Harris

Anne McEnerny-Ogle, whose civic activities include serving as chairwoman of the Vancouver Neighborhood Alliance and president of the League of Women Voters of Clark County, said Thursday she will run for Vancouver City Council.

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Cowlitz casino plan thrown out by federal judge

In a stunning victory for Clark County, the city of Vancouver and other plaintiffs, a federal judge today struck a possibly fatal blow to the Cowlitz Indian Tribe's plans to build a casino west of La Center.

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Slocum House has new tenant

Ridgefield winery plans to open second location, offer event space

The city of Vancouver, which has been seeking a new tenant for the Slocum House in Esther Short Park since last year, has found one: The Vancouver City Council approved a lease agreement Monday with East Fork Cellars.

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Winery will be new Slocum House tenant

City of Vancouver has been seeking tenant since theater group left last year

Vancouver City Council approves lease agreement with East Fork Cellars

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Vancouver hikes fees residents must pay for strays

Starting March 29, it will cost city residents more money to retrieve their stray animals from the Humane Society for Southwest Washington.

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Vancouver Fire Department takes the heat (with video)

Firefighters confront tough budget, staffing issues and seismically unsafe stations

The Vancouver Fire Department, responsible for providing emergency medical services for more than half of Clark County's population, has been experiencing pains of its own: a growing deficit, a shrinking workforce and stations that would not withstand a major earthquake.

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Varied calls fill firefighters' day

The call came in as an unconscious 42-year-old male, and the person who called 911 didn't offer emergency responders much help figuring out what might have happened.

City weighs own ambulance contract

Vancouver officials want more control over service levels

Since 1992, Vancouver has contracted with Emergency Medical Services District 2 for ambulance services, and the current contract expires next year. On March 4, the Vancouver City Council said it was interested in a new arrangement.

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County motion in casino case denied

Federal judge refuses to throw out revised opinion about Cowlitz

A federal judge in Washington, D.C. on Thursday denied a motion by Clark County and other plaintiffs to throw out a revised opinion that had reaffirmed the Cowlitz Indian Tribe's right to establish a reservation and build a casino west of La Center.

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Clark County dealt stormwater setback

State high court refuses to review unfavorable ruling

Clark County, which has been fighting rules about controlling polluted rainwater runoff for years, was dealt another blow Wednesday, this time by the Washington Supreme Court.

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East Vancouver residents near river might pay to quiet train horns

Relief from train horns could be in sight for east Vancouver residents who live near the Columbia River.

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Lawsuit against county to proceed

Federal courts can hear stormwater dispute, judge rules

Plaintiffs who successfully challenged Clark County's stormwater management plan in state court have been given the go-ahead to proceed with a federal lawsuit.

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Portrait special section: Clark County constantly changing, growing

Options to live, work, learn and play continue to expand

Turn to The Columbian's annual Portrait section, a compilation of stories about ways we live, learn, work and play. You can find it online beginning today.

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Vancouver aims to link past, future

City hopes waterfront project will provide broad benefits

Dr. John McLoughlin set up the Northwest headquarters for a British fur trading company here in 1825, nearly two decades after famed explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark passed through the area and more than 100 years before Pearson Field was the landing site for the world’s first non-stop transpolar flight.

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Commissioners consider advisory vote on CRC

Legal counsel says county could ask voters about money

Clark County commissioners said Wednesday they might put a nonbinding advisory vote on November's ballot regarding the Columbia River Crossing.

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Madore: Consider county's general fund to cover elimination of park fees

Stuart against making up loss with $325,000 from public services

Clark County Commissioner David Madore, who made a campaign promise to eliminate parking and boat launch fees at county parks, said Wednesday he wants a public hearing on whether the county should cut the fees and make up the difference by taking $325,000 out of the county's general fund.

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Seeking a sister-city bond with Croatia

Music group hopes to sponsor a Vancouver-Dubrovnik link

Vancouver Mayor Tim Leavitt on Friday met at City Hall with the mayor of Dubrovnik, Croatia, as part of an effort to establish a sister-city relationship with the popular port city on the Adriatic Sea.

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Leavitt announces re-election bid

Vancouver mayor will run in November

Vancouver Mayor Tim Leavitt made it official today: He'll seek re-election.

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Vancouver, lawmaker pursue Pearson fix

Herrera Beutler bill would give city control of museum

U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler will introduce legislation this week that would turn control of Pearson Air Museum and surrounding land to the city of Vancouver, her aide said Tuesday.

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Vancouver council grants city manager 1.5% pay raise

Eric Holmes commended for taking on additional duties

The Vancouver City Council on Monday praised City Manager Eric Holmes and gave him a 1.5 percent pay increase, equivalent to what all non-represented city employees earned for 2013.

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Light-rail opponents file suit

Group will challenge state law that invalidated signatures on petition

A group that failed to collect enough signatures to force a vote on light rail filed a lawsuit Monday, challenging a state law that invalidated some of their signatures.

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