Top Stories: Mystery cistern; Coming out of homelessness; PeaceHealth strike vote

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Here are the top stories on columbian.com this week:

Construction uncovered a cistern in downtown Vancouver; it could date to 19th century

As construction crews uncovered a brick cistern in downtown Vancouver this week, they unearthed what would prove to be a mystery for the whole community. And a remnant of the Wild West Vancouver of old.

The huge brick tank was found Tuesday under Fifth Street in downtown Vancouver, just east of Washington Street. By Thursday morning, it was no longer intact.

• Tank was discovered as Vancouver-based Hurley Development worked to build an apartment complex just south of Fifth Street

‘Housing is a life changer’: Vancouver couple who spent years living homeless find fresh start, hope in new home

The first morning waking up in their new apartment, Chance Newbill turned to his fiance, Katie Vongthongthip, and told her to soak in the silence.

For nearly a year, Newbill would experience nightmares and wake up every morning followed by a panic attack — a by-product of living homeless and being incarcerated.

• ‘Every day when we wake up here it doesn’t feel real’

Dock of ages: Crews begin demolishing Vancouver port’s Terminal 1 dock to make way for public market

Terminal 1 dock on the Columbia River as work begins to transform the structure into a public market.

Crews began work demolishing the deck of the structure, which sits just downstream from the Interstate 5 Bridge, on Tuesday. Passersby will see more work being done in the coming months.

• Nearly a thousand wood pilings are going to be removed during the demolition process

Salt & Straw coming to Waterfront Vancouver

Portland ice cream icon Salt & Straw announced Monday that it’s set to open a Vancouver outpost early next year at the Waterfront Vancouver.

The scoop shop is expected to open a 1,200-square-foot shop at 740 Waterfront Way in January, according to the company. The announcement said the company has spent years looking for the right spot in Vancouver.

• Portland’s famous ice cream shop will open in early 2024

1,300 workers vote to authorize a strike at PeaceHealth Southwest in Vancouver, St. John in Longview

More than 1,300 health care workers have voted to authorize a strike at PeaceHealth Southwest Washington Medical Center in Vancouver and PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center in Longview.

Last week, members of the Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals Local 5017 voted to authorize a strike at both locations, following what the union described as prolonged contract negotiations with PeaceHealth management. Union members say management has not bargained in good faith or worked to address issues that affect workers.

• Workers represented by the union include respiratory therapists, laboratory scientists, imaging specialists, patient access representatives, nursing assistants
• Related: Kaiser Permanente, unions reach tentative agreement