Top Stories: Apple farmers and tariffs, Paul’s gets new owners, Main Street Trader closing

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Here are some of the top stories of the week on columbian.com. Wondering what else was popular this week with readers? Check out our Trending Stories page.

1. ‘Perfect storm’ of factors hits Washington apple farmers, driving bankruptcies, consolidation

WAPATO — A perfect storm of economic challenges is pushing Washington apple farmers out of business.

Small orchardists say they are unable to sustain losses for years on end amid economic conditions they feel will only continue to worsen. The closures are fueling a wave of private equity-backed farmland consolidation.

• Trump’s 2018 tariffs among developments that undercut state’s apple market, devastating small farmers

2. Vancouver landmark diner Paul’s Restaurant gets new owners for the new year

The new year will ring in new ownership for a landmark diner on Broadway in Vancouver.

When Margaret and John Yu bought Paul’s Restaurant at 1800 Broadway in 1992, they considered changing the name and converting to a Chinese menu. Instead, they decided to honor the family-style restaurant’s tradition.

• Restaurant will close for a few weeks but retain its name

3. Expensive gear stolen from Skamania search and rescue as team searched for two Oregon men later found dead

Skamania County’s search and rescue team was hit by thieves over the weekend, just as the team was ending its search for two Oregon men who disappeared in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest while on a Sasquatch hunt.

The thieves targeted the search and rescue team’s storage yard, cutting through a 10-foot barbed wire fence and making off with thousands of dollars worth of equipment, according to the Skamania County Sheriff’s Office.

• Stolen equipment ‘enables us to save lives,’ organizer says

4. A staple in Uptown Village, Main Street Trader, will close shop in late January

After 43 years in Vancouver’s Uptown Village, a family-owned all-wood furniture store is closing Jan. 26.

Main Street Trader, on the corner of 20th and Main streets, announced the closure in a Dec. 26 Facebook post.

• Family-owned Main Street Trader closes its doors after 43 years in Vancouver

5. Sexual misconduct case against Hudson’s Bay High School teacher dropped due to statute of limitations expiring

Citing the statute of limitations, prosecutors Thursday dropped the sexual misconduct case against a Hudson’s Bay High School English teacher who was accused of having sex with a 16-year-old female student at school in 2013.

Shadbreon Gatson, 43, had appeared Dec. 23 in Clark County Superior Court on suspicion of first-degree sexual misconduct with a minor. He was arrested Dec. 20 after the former student, now 27, reported to Hudson’s Bay staff and Vancouver police earlier this month that she was sexually victimized.

• He was released from jail Thursday and a judge dropped Gatson’s no-contact order with minors
• Update: Hurt, betrayal: Hudson’s Bay students plan walkout in wake of accusations against teacher