Menu
The Columbian logo tagline
Login
Tuesday,  January 14 , 2025
Current weather Vancouver, WA

Linkedin Pinterest
Photo of Shari Phiel

Stories by Shari Phiel

Columbian staff writer

Twitter
@Shari_Phiel
 phone icon
(360) 735-4546
 email icon
Shari.phiel@columbian.com
Matt Little, left, and Joe Zimmerman.

Clark County Council races close in early results

Matt Little, left, and Joe Zimmerman.

November 5, 2024, 10:10pm Clark County News

Regardless of who wins, the Clark County Council will welcome two new members come January. Current District 3 Councilor Karen Bowerman and District 4 Councilor Gary Medvigy announced in May they would not seek reelection. Read story

Jacob Winstead, president of Washington State University Vancouver’s student association, holds a baby pigmy goat during a “Pet a Goat – Register to Vote” event Monday on campus. Winstead said younger voters are showing more interest in this year’s election than in prior years.

‘Pet a Goat — Register to Vote’: Clark County auditor is expecting 85% election turnout in a year of turmoil

Jacob Winstead, president of Washington State University Vancouver’s student association, holds a baby pigmy goat during a “Pet a Goat – Register to Vote” event Monday on campus. Winstead said younger voters are showing more interest in this year’s election than in prior years.

November 2, 2024, 6:12am Clark County News

Clark County voter turnout for the 2024 general election, now just days away, will likely be similar to turnout for previous presidential elections. Read story

Volunteers and candidates pose for a photo at a Get Out The Vote event hosted the by Washington State Democratic Party on Thursday at the Laborers Local 335 hall in Vancouver.

Cantwell rallies candidates and volunteers as Democrats work to get out the vote in Clark County

Volunteers and candidates pose for a photo at a Get Out The Vote event hosted the by Washington State Democratic Party on Thursday at the Laborers Local 335 hall in Vancouver.

October 31, 2024, 5:30pm Clark County Politics

U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., has a message for Democratic candidates heading out to knock on doors across Clark County. Read story

Earlier this month, the property neighboring the Lacamas Heritage Trailhead was tilled and planted with clover. Some botanists worry it has wiped out most of Washington’s remaining Bradshaw’s lomatium plants, although the property owners disagree.

Camas field containing rare, native plant tilled; owner says species will come back, but botanists disagree

Earlier this month, the property neighboring the Lacamas Heritage Trailhead was tilled and planted with clover. Some botanists worry it has wiped out most of Washington’s remaining Bradshaw’s lomatium plants, although the property owners disagree.

October 30, 2024, 12:37pm Clark County News

In just a few hours earlier this month, nearly the entire remaining population of Bradshaw’s lomatium, an extremely rare native perennial plant species also known as desert parsley, was wiped out after a 20-acre parcel of private property was tilled by the owners. At least that’s the claim made by… Read story

An aerial view of the Washougal quarry near the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. The county has received 22 applications for surface mining zoning, which would significantly expand the county’s mining operations, similar to the Washougal quarry, if approved.

Clark County has 22 requests for new surface mines; 20 are from the same company

An aerial view of the Washougal quarry near the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. The county has received 22 applications for surface mining zoning, which would significantly expand the county’s mining operations, similar to the Washougal quarry, if approved.

October 28, 2024, 12:09pm Business

The number of surface mining operations in Clark County could significantly increase in the coming years. The county received 22 requests, all but two from the same company, for surface mining zoning in northern and eastern rural areas of the county. Read story

Clark County Auditor Greg Kimsey opens a box containing archives of voter registration forms at the Clark County Elections Office. Kimsey’s office handles paperwork for voter registration, which is now becoming increasingly political.

Three people have filed most of the more than 100 voter challenges in Clark County in 2023 and 2024

Clark County Auditor Greg Kimsey opens a box containing archives of voter registration forms at the Clark County Elections Office. Kimsey’s office handles paperwork for voter registration, which is now becoming increasingly political.

October 26, 2024, 6:10am Clark County News

The 2022 and 2024 voter-registration challenges for 18th Legislative District candidate John Ley have been in the spotlight in recent months, but it’s certainly not the only voter-registration challenge the county has received. Read story

Clark County’s drive-thru window opens for tax payments

October 25, 2024, 6:00am Clark County News Free

The Clark County Treasurer’s Office is reopening the drive-thru tax payment window for the last two days of October. The drive-thru window in the Public Service Center’s east parking structure, 1300 Franklin St., in Vancouver, will open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday only. Treasurer Alishia Topper… Read story

Clark Conservation District offers funding for sewage repairs

October 24, 2024, 2:33pm Clark County News Free

The Clark Conservation District is now offering reimbursements to eligible residents for major and minor repairs to on-site sewage systems through the Poop Smart Clark Septic Reimbursement Program. Read story

A complaint has been filed against Chuck Keplar, who is running for Clark County Council, for allegedly failing to disclose payments in excess for $12,000 to the Public Disclosure Commission.

Complaint against Clark County Council candidate Keplar claims he failed to report payments in earlier campaign

A complaint has been filed against Chuck Keplar, who is running for Clark County Council, for allegedly failing to disclose payments in excess for $12,000 to the Public Disclosure Commission.

October 23, 2024, 3:21pm Clark County News

A complaint filed with Washington’s Public Disclosure Commission claims Clark County Council candidate Chuck Keplar violated state campaign finance rules when he failed to disclose earnings he received while running for an Evergreen Public Schools board seat in 2023. Read story

Despite the urging of dozens of residents, the Clark County Council voted Tuesday not to repeal the Chelatchie Bluff surface mining zoning the council previously approved.

Clark County Council votes to keep zoning ordinance allowing surface mining in Chelatchie Bluff area

Despite the urging of dozens of residents, the Clark County Council voted Tuesday not to repeal the Chelatchie Bluff surface mining zoning the council previously approved.

October 22, 2024, 5:24pm Business

Special zoning that allows surface mining in the Chelatchie Bluff area will stay in effect, at least for now. On Tuesday, the Clark County Council voted 3-2 against repealing the ordinance that approved the zoning overlay, despite opposition from dozens of residents attending the meeting. Read story