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The Great Race: From Vancouver to Seattle

Four Columbian staff members took different modes of transportation from Vancouver to Portland: by car, bus, train and plane. To find out who was the fastest, visit columbian.com.

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Orion Fencing in Orchards

Orion Fencing in Orchards

The desire to whack sticks together seems so ingrained, it’s a wonder that fencing — a combat sport where players in protective gear engage in formalized swordplay — isn’t as common as football or basketball. That’s just what Justin Meehan, 53, founder of Orion Fencing in Orchards, would like to see. He and the other coaches at Orion are working to change the perception of fencing as a niche sport played by only a few. In practice, they say the sport is inclusive and adaptable, welcoming a broad spectrum of ages, body sizes and abilities. You don’t have to be a muscle-bound super-athlete to enjoy fencing. You just have to use your noggin and poke the other person before they poke you. “Everybody has these misconceptions about fencing, which tends to get lumped in with rowing and equestrian sports. Everybody thinks that it’s dangerous, expensive and hard.” Meehan said. “Even if you’re not the most athletic person, you can be sword fighting really quickly. You get the joy of the game at a very low ability level.” Video by Tommy Rhodes for The Columbian. Read more at Columbian.com

January 2, 2024

Beacock Music Jazz Band brings the swing to Clark County

Beacock Music Jazz Band brings the swing to Clark County

At a pre-lunch concert one Friday last month, the Beacock Music Jazz Band, an authentic 18-piece big band, was mostly gray and its audience even grayer. But the moment music began, years seemed to melt away and smiles erupted all over the dining hall at Clearwater Springs Assisted Living in West Hazel Dell. The Beacock Music Jazz Band rehearses on Friday mornings. After about eight weeks, the band is usually ready to take what it’s been developing out on that friendly, easygoing retirement circuit, Burton said. The band plays a handful of free one-hour concerts at places like Clearwater Springs before getting back to the Beacock rehearsal room to start all over again. Read more at columbian.com. Story by Scott Hewitt | Photos and video by Taylor Balkom

November 30, 2023

Vancouver police dog Hota sniffs out electronic storage devices to catch criminals

Vancouver police dog Hota sniffs out electronic storage devices to catch criminals

The Vancouver Police Department recently got a new Electronic Storage Device detection K-9 named Sahota, Hota for short, in honor of fallen VPD Officer Donald Sahota. Hota and his handler, Detective Jake Carlow, work in the department's Digital Evidence Cybercrime Unit, which handles cases involving online sexual abuse and exploitation of children. Here, Hota sniffs out an electronic devices hidden around a room while receiving commands from Det. Jake Carlow during a demonstration at the Vancouver Police Department west precinct in November 2023.

November 28, 2023

Drones are cool but do you know the laws in Washington state?

Drones are cool but do you know the laws in Washington state?

About 860,000 drones are registered in the United States, more than three times the number of crewed aircraft, according to the FAA. Judging from the fact that the FAA didn’t respond to The Columbian’s inquiry, the average consumer isn’t likely to get any personalized help either. But the rules still apply. Read more from The Columbian on how to stay on the right side of the law — and not piss off your neighbors — at https://bit.ly/3FUG8sE. (Video courtesy of John Veneruso)

November 10, 2023

A moment of zen at Panther Creek Falls

A moment of zen at Panther Creek Falls

Multnomah Fall may be the most famous in the Northwest but on the Washington side of the river there are plenty of scenic stops where you can feed your should — or your instagram. Visit columbian.com for list of stunningly scenic cataracts outside of Clark County, but still in Southwest Washington. Some require driving on winding highways or unpaved roads in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, but none require traversing an interstate bridge or (now that summer’s over) competing for parking.

October 9, 2023

CEO of Vancouver-based RealWear talks hands-free computing on the job site

CEO of Vancouver-based RealWear talks hands-free computing on the job site

Dr. Chris Parkinson is CEO and co-founder of Vancouver-based RealWear Inc. This week he demonstrated the RealWear Navigator 520 headset for The Columbian and talked about the benefits of hands-free computing everywhere from car repair to preventative maintenance at Amazon.

September 19, 2023

Forestry experts outline recovery efforts for hundreds of acres burned in Nakia Creek Fire

Forestry experts outline recovery efforts for hundreds of acres burned in Nakia Creek Fire

Columbian environment reporter Lauren Ellenbecker and photographer Taylor Balkom visited a logging site in the Nakia Creek Fire burn zone in June 2023. Logging the burned trees is the first step in recovering the land, according to forestry experts. No one has ever been charged in association with the fire, though law enforcement released a video showing persons of interest in the case in 2022. Read more about the recovery efforts and the next steps for the land at columbian.com.

June 28, 2023

Xavier Foley performs for Vancouver Public Schools students

Xavier Foley performs for Vancouver Public Schools students

The Oregon Symphony's Artist-in Reisdent Program Director brought Xavier Foley, a world class soloist to Jason Lee Middle School and Gaiser Middle School on Tuesday to perform for students. Both facilities in Vancouver Public Schools have seen their music programs grow in recent years.

May 30, 2023

Sports Videos

Highlights: Union closes 4A GSHL baseball slate with bounce-back win over Battle Ground

Highlights from Union's 6-3 win over Battle Ground in each team's final 4A Greater St. Helens League baseball game of the ...

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Varsity360: New Mountain View football coach Sean McDonald in studio

Varsity360: New Mountain View football coach Sean McDonald in studio

After coaching Kalama to three state football titles and Woodland to a league title last year, Sean McDonald takes the reins at ...

April 25, 2024

Highlights/Interview: Prairie softball outduels Heritage behind Rylee Wall's dominant day

Highlights/Interview: Prairie softball outduels Heritage behind Rylee Wall's dominant day

Highlights from Prairie's 3-1 win over Heritage in a 3A Greater St. Helens League softball game on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, ...

April 23, 2024

Evergreen baseball: Seniors Will Goth and Landon Rayner talk about the Plainsmen's win over Kelso

Evergreen baseball: Seniors Will Goth and Landon Rayner talk about the Plainsmen's win over Kelso

Evergreen sent top-ranked Kelso to a 4-0 defeat on Monday, April 22. The win was Evergreen's 11th in a row, and Kelso's first of ...

April 23, 2024

Varsity360: All Region Awards Ceremony coming June 5

Varsity360: All Region Awards Ceremony coming June 5

Four-time Olympian Kara Winger will be the featured speaker at The Columbian's first All-Region Awards Ceremony on June 5 at ...

April 18, 2024

Highlights: Makenzie Henthorn, Mark Morris shut down Ridgefield in 2A GSHL softball clash

Highlights: Makenzie Henthorn, Mark Morris shut down Ridgefield in 2A GSHL softball clash

Highlights from Mark Morris' 3-1 win over Ridgefield in a 2A Greater St. Helens League softball game on Wednesday, April 17, ...

April 17, 2024

The Columbian 2024 All-Region gymnastics team

The Columbian 2024 All-Region gymnastics team

The best in high school gymnastics in Southwest Washington for the 2023-24 season, including All-Region gymnast of the year ...

March 21, 2024

Varsity360: Camas coach Scott Thompson in studio

Varsity360: Camas coach Scott Thompson in studio

Camas girls basketball coach Scott Thompson joins the Columbian's Micah Rice and Meg Wochnick to share memories and ...

March 7, 2024

Skyview wrestling twins Jonas and Mason DesRochers at Mat Classic XXXV.

Skyview wrestling twins Jonas and Mason DesRochers at Mat Classic XXXV.

Skyview wrestling freshmen Jonas and Mason DesRochers bring plenty of big-tournament experience to Mat Classic, where they ...

February 16, 2024