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Friday,  April 25 , 2025

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Photo of Doug Flanagan

Stories by Doug Flanagan

Columbian staff writer

An unidentified woman returned a copy of Danielle Steel’s 1987 romance novel “Zoya” to the Stevenson Community Library on March 22, a little more than 36 years after it was last checked out.

‘We get overdue books, but not this overdue’: Novel returned to FVRLibraries after 36 years

An unidentified woman returned a copy of Danielle Steel’s 1987 romance novel “Zoya” to the Stevenson Community Library on March 22, a little more than 36 years after it was last checked out.

April 3, 2025, 6:10am Clark County Life

FVRLibraries marked its 75th anniversary in unexpected style last month as a bit of history popped up in the form of a book lost for more than three decades. Read story

Washougal School District Superintendent Aaron Hansen chats with students in 2019.

Washougal School District needs to make up to $1.5M in additional cuts as enrollment continues to drop

Washougal School District Superintendent Aaron Hansen chats with students in 2019.

April 1, 2025, 6:05am Clark County News

One year after reducing its budget by $4 million, the Washougal School District is preparing to make additional cuts for the 2025-26 school year. Read story

Clark County Food Bank is assessing the impact of federal cuts on food assistance.

Clark County Food Bank funding sources totaling $900K paused or canceled in USDA cuts

Clark County Food Bank is assessing the impact of federal cuts on food assistance.

March 31, 2025, 6:07am Business

Clark County Food Bank leaders are assessing the impact of cuts to local food assistance after the Trump administration revoked nearly $5 million in emergency food aid for Washington on March 25. Read story

Washougal educator plans ‘play cafe’ for children and parents

March 29, 2025, 6:08am Business

As a mother and a teacher, Nicole Butterfield has spent more than 20 years designing hands-on, creative learning projects for children. Now, she hopes to use that experience to create a children’s play cafe where adults can enjoy coffee and pastries while their children play and learn. Read story

Idaho Vandals guard Beyonce Bea passes the ball against the California Golden Bears during an NCAA basketball game on Nov. 16, 2022, in Berkeley, Calif.

Washougal native Beyonce Bea scoring in international basketball career

Idaho Vandals guard Beyonce Bea passes the ball against the California Golden Bears during an NCAA basketball game on Nov. 16, 2022, in Berkeley, Calif.

March 28, 2025, 7:00am Latest News

Beyonce Bea is moving from one of the smallest countries in the world to one of the largest to continue her basketball career. Read story

Vancouver City Councilor Diana Perez talks to residents at Monday’s community forum at the Educational Service District 112 building.

Diana Perez to seek reelection to Vancouver City Council

Vancouver City Councilor Diana Perez talks to residents at Monday’s community forum at the Educational Service District 112 building.

March 26, 2025, 2:13pm Clark County News

Vancouver City Councilor Diana Perez on Wednesday announced she will seek re-election this fall. Read story

Photo contributed by Washougal School District
Washougal School District Transition to Kindergarten students work on a project in an undated photo.

Washougal district plans to bring back Community Education Preschool but has to wait on Legislature

Photo contributed by Washougal School District
Washougal School District Transition to Kindergarten students work on a project in an undated photo.

March 25, 2025, 6:06am Clark County News

The Washougal School District is tentatively planning to bring back its tuition-based Community Education Preschool program for the 2025-26 school year. Read story

A pedestrian crosses a darkened crosswalk at the corner of 19th and Main streets in Washougal. City Councilor Molly Coston is advocating for the City of Washougal to upgrade the lighting and brighten a dark downtown.

Is it time to light up downtown Washougal?

A pedestrian crosses a darkened crosswalk at the corner of 19th and Main streets in Washougal. City Councilor Molly Coston is advocating for the City of Washougal to upgrade the lighting and brighten a dark downtown.

March 24, 2025, 6:07am Clark County News

While driving back to Washougal after an early morning indoor cycling class in east Vancouver on March 14, Lori Reed couldn’t help but notice the stark contrast between the lighting in downtown Camas and downtown Washougal. To her, the difference was literally night and day. Read story

Isaac Gil, a 2024 Washougal High School graduate, will compete at World Fighting Championships 175 on May 10 in Tacoma.

Washougal grad Isaac Gil drawn to high stakes of mixed martial arts fighting

Isaac Gil, a 2024 Washougal High School graduate, will compete at World Fighting Championships 175 on May 10 in Tacoma.

March 22, 2025, 6:10am Clark County Life

Isaac Gil had a decision to make after graduating from Washougal High School in 2024 — continue wrestling at the college level or launch a mixed martial arts fighting career. Read story

The Columbian files 
 Someone created a fake Instagram pretending to be a Washougal High School teacher and sent sexually explicit messages to a student, according to police.

Fake Instagram account impersonating Washougal teacher sent sexually explicit messages to student

The Columbian files 
 Someone created a fake Instagram pretending to be a Washougal High School teacher and sent sexually explicit messages to a student, according to police.

March 18, 2025, 6:07am Clark County News

Washougal police are searching for a person who impersonated a Washougal teacher on Instagram, using a fake account to send sexually explicit messages to a Washougal High School student. Read story