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Stories by Dameon Pesanti

Columbian staff writer

The I-5 Ridgefield interchange in March 2015. The interchange is within the Discovery Corridor, which stretches from Washington State University Vancouver to the Ilani Casino Resort, and has long been targeted for development.

Port of Ridgefield eyes ‘dark fiber’ loop

The I-5 Ridgefield interchange in March 2015. The interchange is within the Discovery Corridor, which stretches from Washington State University Vancouver to the Ilani Casino Resort, and has long been targeted for development.

December 13, 2017, 8:24pm Clark County News

The Port of Ridgefield plans to lay the groundwork that could help transform empty land north of Vancouver into a kind of mini Silicon Valley. But without intervention from the Washington Legislature, those plans could be significantly compromised. Read story

Drivers merge off and on state Highway 500 and Interstate 5 via East 39th Street last week. Unlike most interchanges, which directly connect one highway to another, the one at Highway 500 partially requires the use of surface streets, which can be an annoyance for some.

Clark Asks: No northbound I-5 ramps from Highway 500?

Drivers merge off and on state Highway 500 and Interstate 5 via East 39th Street last week. Unlike most interchanges, which directly connect one highway to another, the one at Highway 500 partially requires the use of surface streets, which can be an annoyance for some.

December 13, 2017, 6:02am Clark County News

Why is there no direct on- and offramp to (north) Interstate 5 from state Highway 500? Read story

The Port of Vancouver Board of Commissioners, from left, Eric LaBrant, Brian Wolfe and Jerry Oliver listen to public testimony in March before voting on whether or not to cancel the Vancouver Energy oil terminal lease at the Port of Vancouver.

Union, business interests voice support for oil terminal

The Port of Vancouver Board of Commissioners, from left, Eric LaBrant, Brian Wolfe and Jerry Oliver listen to public testimony in March before voting on whether or not to cancel the Vancouver Energy oil terminal lease at the Port of Vancouver.

December 12, 2017, 4:56pm Business

Labor unions and business representatives turned out in numbers at the Port of Vancouver commissioners meeting Tuesday to urge port leaders not to cancel the lease with Vancouver Energy. Read story

Salmon Creek Watershed Council board chair Maury Harris describes the benefits of the pond at Pleasant Valley Park on Wednesday morning, Dec. 6, 2017. The rearing pond provides a side channel habitat for juvenile salmon as well as a thriving habitat for the insects that the salmon will feed off of. The Lower Columbia Fish Enhancement Group built the habitat in 2011 and the Salmon Creek Watershed Council has taken over managing the habitat to ensure it thrives and continues to assist the native wildlife.

Salmon Creek Watershed Council questions its future

Salmon Creek Watershed Council board chair Maury Harris describes the benefits of the pond at Pleasant Valley Park on Wednesday morning, Dec. 6, 2017. The rearing pond provides a side channel habitat for juvenile salmon as well as a thriving habitat for the insects that the salmon will feed off of. The Lower Columbia Fish Enhancement Group built the habitat in 2011 and the Salmon Creek Watershed Council has taken over managing the habitat to ensure it thrives and continues to assist the native wildlife.

December 7, 2017, 5:59pm Clark County News

The Salmon Creek Watershed Council that has championed restoration, stewardship and advocacy for the rapidly urbanizing riparian area for more than a decade is facing something of a watershed moment that could determine its future. Read story

U.S. Forest Service workers clean up a trashed campsite on Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument late this summer. Forest Service officials say they saw an increase in litter this year. Courtesy U.S.

Garbage flowing on Mount St. Helens

U.S. Forest Service workers clean up a trashed campsite on Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument late this summer. Forest Service officials say they saw an increase in litter this year. Courtesy U.S.

December 4, 2017, 6:00am Clark County News

Keeping garbage off public lands and convincing campers to pick up after themselves are perennial struggles for land management agencies, but local officials with the U.S. Forest Service say they’re seeing more trash now than at any point in recent memory. Read story

Mark Matthias, owner of WareHouse ’23, describes new remodels in the ballroom at the former Red Lion Hotel Vancouver at the Quay.

Floating the future of WareHouse ’23

Mark Matthias, owner of WareHouse ’23, describes new remodels in the ballroom at the former Red Lion Hotel Vancouver at the Quay.

November 30, 2017, 6:25pm Business

Two weeks ago, WareHouse ’23 made its first official expansion. Read story

Carol Seaman of Citizens for a Clean Harbor, center, celebrates the EFSEC council ruling with fellow opponents of the Port of Vancouver oil terminal at the John A. Cherberg Building in Olympia on Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 28, 2017.

EFSEC unanimous in vote against Port of Vancouver oil terminal

Carol Seaman of Citizens for a Clean Harbor, center, celebrates the EFSEC council ruling with fellow opponents of the Port of Vancouver oil terminal at the John A. Cherberg Building in Olympia on Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 28, 2017.

November 28, 2017, 4:10pm Business

The plan to build the largest rail-to-marine oil terminal in the United States suffered a major blow Tuesday at the hands of the state body tasked with its evaluation. Read story

Peter Brown, a former public relations and marketing specialist, believes Vancouver is the ideal city for a large biodiesel facility. Now — armed with a dream, lots of passion and a business plan — he’s looking for others to buy in.

Should Vancouver be betting on biodiesel?

Peter Brown, a former public relations and marketing specialist, believes Vancouver is the ideal city for a large biodiesel facility. Now — armed with a dream, lots of passion and a business plan — he’s looking for others to buy in.

November 24, 2017, 7:37pm Clark County News

With the earnestness of a missionary, Peter Brown will proselytize about the eco-friendliness of biodiesel and methane digesters — or extol their virtues with the already converted. In his mind, Vancouver could be to the green-energy movement what the San Francisco Bay Area was to the digital revolution, if only… Read story

One of The Vine buses leaves Vancouver Mall in January 2017. C-Tran replaced two 40-foot buses on Route 164 with two new 60-foot articulated buses like those that currently operate on The Vine in the Fourth Plain corridor.

C-Tran to run longer buses on key route

One of The Vine buses leaves Vancouver Mall in January 2017. C-Tran replaced two 40-foot buses on Route 164 with two new 60-foot articulated buses like those that currently operate on The Vine in the Fourth Plain corridor.

November 24, 2017, 7:32pm Clark County News

In an effort to give passengers a little bit more elbow room, C-Tran plans to start running larger buses on one of its busiest commuter routes. Read story

David Allen Welsh, currently homeless in Vancouver, plays the piano during the free Thanksgiving meal, hosted by state Court of Appeals Judge Rich Melnick, Chuck Chronis and Mark Matthias at WareHouse’ 23 in Vancouver on Thursday. Welsh played one of several songs he said he’s created in his mind.

Food, song and warmth at free Thanksgiving meal

David Allen Welsh, currently homeless in Vancouver, plays the piano during the free Thanksgiving meal, hosted by state Court of Appeals Judge Rich Melnick, Chuck Chronis and Mark Matthias at WareHouse’ 23 in Vancouver on Thursday. Welsh played one of several songs he said he’s created in his mind.

November 23, 2017, 8:16pm Clark County News

David Allen Welsh was one of the many homeless people who came in off the streets for a free Thanksgiving Day meal at WareHouse ’23, but he quickly sat at one of the pianos and made it sing. Read story