Stories by Shari Phiel

Columbian staff writer

@Shari_Phiel

(360) 735-4546

Shari.phiel@columbian.com

At least 10 homes were evacuated Thursday afternoon when firefighters were called to a major natural gas leak on Northwest 99th Street, directly in front of Columbia River High School. The leak reportedly happened after a contractor working on a water line project in the area accidentally punctured a gas line.

Gas leak forces evacuations on NW 99th Street near Columbia River High School

July 25, 2024, 6:33pm Clark County News Updated 3 hours ago

At least 10 homes were evacuated Thursday afternoon when firefighters were called to a major natural gas leak on Northwest 99th Street, directly in front of Columbia River High School. Read story

Signs warn visitors of toxic algae blooms at Vancouver Lake on Thursday afternoon. The county is spraying the lake with algaecide in an attempt to prevent a toxic bloom.

Clark County takes proactive approach to Vancouver Lake’s algae blooms

July 25, 2024, 5:31pm Clark County News Updated 8 hours ago

Vancouver Lake’s popular swim beach was closed for a few hours Thursday as technicians applied algaecide to the lake’s surface. This is the first time a proactive treatment has been tried to prevent the toxic algae blooms that have become commonplace at the lake. Read story

Lingering fall color is seen at Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge as low-lying clouds provide a scenic backdrop in December 2023. The Port of Camas-Washougal and U.S. Fish and Wildlife’s negotiations for a land swap are nearly complete.

Washougal’s port, wildlife refuge swap land to smooth property access

July 24, 2024, 5:00pm Clark County News

A land swap between the Port of Camas-Washougal and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that may expand the port’s inventory of usable land near Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge is nearly a done deal. Read story

Clark County seeks volunteer for parks board

July 24, 2024, 4:50pm Clark County News FreeUpdated 2 days ago

Clark County is seeking a volunteer to serve on the Parks Advisory Board. The open position is for an unexpired term that begins immediately and ends Dec. 31, 2025. Read story

Clark County begins work on N.E. 182nd, 172nd avenues

July 24, 2024, 4:41pm Clark County News FreeUpdated 2 days ago

Clark County Public Works has begun its summer road preservation work. Northeast 182nd Avenue between 172nd and 159th avenues will be closed Aug. 1. Northeast 172nd Avenue between 99th and 159th streets will be closed Aug. 5. Read story

Clark County rejects plan to reclassify private road leading to gravel mine

A truck prepares to leave the Zimmerly gravel pit near Washougal in 2018. The Clark County Council voted against a request by Zimmerly to convert the private road into a public road.

July 22, 2024, 5:39pm Business

Residents living along Southeast 356th Avenue in Washougal arrived at the Clark County Council’s July 16 meeting to drive one point home: The county should not approve a mining operation’s request to convert their private road into a public road. Read story

‘There is no moving forward’: Clark County Council at impasse on railroad

Portland Vancouver Junction Railroad conductor Brad Johnston watches as a train moves down the tracks near St. Johns Road in May 2023. The Clark County Council recently decided not to move forward with hiring a consultant to complete regulations for the section of rail line set aside for industrial development. The question of where the county goes from here remains unanswered.

July 22, 2024, 4:02pm Clark County News Updated 2 days ago

The Clark County Council’s decision not to spend nearly $100,000 on a rail consultant, made during its July 10 meeting, caught many by surprise. Council members Gary Medvigy, Michele Belkot and Karen Bowerman previously supported hiring a consultant to complete development regulations related to the roughly 400 acres along Highway… Read story