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Local News
 Two teens receive community service for old Battle Ground church fire
Two teenagers received sentences earlier this month in the July 5 fire that burned down the old Cherry Grove Church in Battle Ground. In Clark County …
Battle Ground School Board approves budget after levy success
The recently approved levy for Battle Ground Public Schools has enabled the school district to ease some of its belt-tightening measures made in August as it allowed for an increase in spending by …
Clark County Fire District 3 aims to educate during Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month
January is Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month, and Fire District 3 in Battle Ground is working to educate the community about what can happen to firefighters in the field. Zane Norris, a …
Battle Ground High School hosts annual Industry Fair
Battle Ground High School will host its seventh Industry Fair on Thursday, Feb. 17, which helps students connect with jobs both during and after high school. Career guidance specialist Kevin Doyle …
Battle Ground Community Center offers new gymnastics classes for kids
The Battle Ground Community Center will launch gymnastics classes in collaboration with Jump Start Mobile Gymnastics for children ages 2 to 6. Director Kim Cederholm said the classes are a great …
Ridgefield School District accepting referrals for Highly Capable Program
Ridgefield School District’s Highly Capable Program for the 2020-21 school year is currently accepting referrals for testing, according to a news release. Anyone is allowed to refer a …
Fire District 3 responds to structure fire in Brush Prairie
Clark County Fire District 3 was dispatched to a structure fire at around 2:16 a.m. on Jan. 5 in Brush Prairie. As units were enroute, they saw “a visible fire header” from half a …
Battle Ground schools grapple with COVID-19 surge
As the omicron variant of COVID-19 makes its way through Clark County, Battle Ground Public Schools has handled the impacts of spiking virus activity within district borders. In a Jan. 7 letter, …
Local wrestling coaches adjust to recent COVID-19 outbreaks
Local wrestling coaches are trying to get their grapplers up to speed again after a large COVID-19 outbreak in December affected 37 athletes in Clark County. La Center School District Athletic …
Business
County seeks business community member to serve on the Arts Commission

Clark County is looking to fill a volunteer position on the Clark County Arts Commission. The position is open to all members of the business community. The term is four years in length and begins …

State & Regional News
Zack’s Law sparks emotional testimony during first hearing
Legislators in the state’s House Transportation Committee heard emotional testimony on Thursday, Jan. 13 afternoon from a Southwest Washington family who is advocating for a new law that would …
Inslee pushes Legislature to pass laws on climate, housing, education, transportation
OLYMPIA — The Legislature must act this session on climate change, housing and transportation, Gov. Jay Inslee said Tuesday, Jan. 11. In his annual State of the State address, Inslee again …
Inslee calls on hospitals to halt all non-emergency procedures in wake of omicron
With Washington state currently facing a wave of COVID-19 spurred on by the disease’s omicron variant, the state has put a number of measures in place to handle the surge in hospitalizations, …
House panel votes to delay Washington's long-term care tax to 2023
OLYMPIA — A House panel has voted to delay the long-term care tax until 2023. On a 31-2 vote, a House committee approved a bill Thursday to delay the implementation of the tax. On a 23-10 …
Washington Legislature goes virtual for second year amid omicron spike
OLYMPIA — For the second year in a row, the Washington Legislature will be mostly virtual. As the number of COVID-19 cases spikes across the state, the state House and Senate have both …
FDA recommends boosters for 12 to 15 year-olds, full approval expected later this week
Booster doses for 12 to 15 year-olds will likely be approved by two federal agencies by the end of the week. The Food and Drug Administration recommended that kids and teens in this age group …
Washington health department updates standards for rationing care if hospitals get overwhelmed
Washington officials have updated standards hospital officials will use if they get so many patients they no longer have the ability to treat them all. The state's crisis standards of care, which …
New safety guidelines for ‘high-contact’ sports announced after wrestling tournaments led to COVID-19 cases
Certain sports in Washington are subject to new safety guidelines after a massive COVID-19 outbreak at four high school wrestling tournaments led to hundreds of cases of the virus. On Friday, Dec. …
Daily limit returns to 15 clams as WDFW approves seven days of digging 
Razor clam enthusiasts can head to coastal beaches to ring in the new year as shellfish managers with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) confirmed the next round of digging can …
Plastic silverware, capital gains tax and more: Here's a look at Washington laws going into effect next year
OLYMPIA — A new year sometimes means new laws go into effect in Washington, and this one will include changes to taxes, school names and the way you order takeout. Most laws go into effect …
Opinion
Editorial

Kris Johnson commentary: Washington state should seize opportunity to champion the economy

After two years of COVID-19, many Washington families and small businesses could use a break. Fortunately, the Washington Legislature has the means to help. State lawmakers have more than $8.6 …

Opinion

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Community
 Community calendar: Week of July 28
Community events HOPE Dementia Support: 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., Wednesday, July 28 on Facebook Live and YouTube Live. Join international dementia expert, Joao Partel Araujo, for “Answers with …
Clark County COVID-19: county in range for rollback to Phase 2 next week
Both Clark County’s recent COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are high enough that the county would move back into Phase 2 of “Healthy Washington” reopening if numbers don’t drop. Clark …
Inslee visits Fort Vancouver to promote ‘Take It Outside’ campaign
Gov. Jay Inslee urged local residents to “Take It Outside” and visit Washington’s state and national parks as a free way to weather the COVID-19 pandemic this summer. In a statement to the …

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Letters to the Editor

Letter to the editor: I oppose this proposed pump storage electricity project

I read Don Brunell’s column in the Dec. 17 edition of The Reflector in which he wrote about the virtues of “pumped storage electricity.” He said it could benefit many people and …

Letter to the editor: You can lead an ignorant person to information

Individuals worked into an emotional frenzy rarely think clearly. They usually cannot see beyond the lies they have been fed to accept the truth. The science and truth that could keep them healthy in …

Letter to the editor: Stop the COVID-related mandates

I have lived and worked in Clark County for 43-plus years, have kids in school, and have a construction business with around 20 employees. These last few years have been bad. Since the COVID-19 …
Life, Sports & Outdoors
Life
HOPE Dementia Support group unveils new trail map in Ridgefield

The HOPE Dementia Support group has a series of trail maps for people with dementia and their families across Clark County. The organization recently created its third map of the Ridgefield Wildlife …

Vancouver transportation organization provides services to north Clark County and gains new vehicle Community in Motion acquired a new minivan to provide transportation to senior citizens and people with disabilities. The organization now has two minivans and a minibus. Founded in 1957 under …
Ridgefield School District announces January employee, students of the month Officials from the Ridgefield School District recognized its January employee and students of the month at the school board meeting on Jan. 11. Maggie Butler, with the Ridgefield District Office, …
Local cat foster nonprofit breaks records Furry Friends, a Vancouver nonprofit that cares for homeless and abused cats, adopted out 456 pets in 2021. They are hoping to maintain those numbers in the coming years. Marketing Director Diane …

More Life coverage

Sports
Boys basketball season starts up at Battle Ground’s six middle schools

After a 40-year hiatus, sports returned to middle schools in Battle Ground last week as the sound of sneakers on the court and coaches shouting instructions could be heard throughout gyms. The …

Prairie boys basketball team aims to make a comeback The Prairie High School boys varsity basketball team has encountered erratic weather and ever-changing COVID-19 regulations this season, but the team is unwilling to let that deter them. Coach …
Hockinson High School girls basketball team hosts Teddy Bear Toss The Hockinson High School Hawks girls basketball team held its first Teddy Bear Toss on Dec. 18, as spectators threw stuffed animals onto the court during a break in the game against Woodland. The …
Three dozen COVID-19 cases in the county linked to outbreaks at wrestling meets Parents and students expressed frustration about a recent suspension of wrestling events in Washington state as the Clark County Board of Health said they can’t push back on recommendations …

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Outdoors
The Ape Cave Has Reopened: Take a Trip to St. Helens for Some Bigfoot Lore and Hidden Gems

If you’re looking for some climbing, some slime and some Bigfoot lore, the recently-reopened Ape Cave at Mount St. Helens may be the sweet spot. The pitch-black cave provides a trek into where …

Mount St. Helens beckoned climbers on final day of permit free climbs Neal Kirby, an avid hiker, was among dozens of climbers to take advantage of the last day to ascend to the summit of Mount St. Helens without a permit on March 31.  Kirby, 68 of Centralia, …
Ape Cave to reopen with a new reservation system   Located on the south side of Mount St. Helens, the popular Ape Cave Interpretive Site will reopen to the public on May 18. The site was closed to the public in Spring 2020 in response to the …
Washington State Parks recruiting for permanent and seasonal Park Ranger 1 positions Washington State Parks is hiring for many different Park Ranger 1 positions across the state. Both permanent and seasonal positions are available. Those in the Park Ranger 1 position have the …

More outdoors

Obituaries
 In loving memory of Donald Cedric Krause: 1922-2022 
Donald Cedric Krause, 99, a longtime resident of Ridgefield, passed away quietly on Thursday, Jan. 6, surrounded by his family. He was still at home living in the house he built more than half a …
In loving memory of Lorrie Patricia Rushing: 1956-2021
Lorrie Patricia Rushing, 65, lifelong resident of Ridgefield, Washington, passed away suddenly on Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021, at Legacy Hospital in Vancouver, Washington. She was born on Dec. 22, 1956, …
In loving memory of Wayne Harris: 1930-2021
 Wayne Alvin Harris passed away at his home on Dec. 21, 2021, surrounded by loved ones. He was born on July 9, 1930, to Doc and Bessie Harris in Sunnyside, Washington. He was raised on a farm in …
In loving memory of Paul John Lehner: 1949-2021
Paul John Lehner was born to John and Alice Lehner on April 2, 1949, at their home in Battle Ground, Washington, and died at his home in Battle Ground on Dec. 29, 2021, after a battle with …
In loving memory of Susan (Sue) Marie Summers: 1947-2021
Susan (Sue) Marie Summers passed away from complications of COVID-19 on Dec. 6, 2021, in Vancouver, Washington. Sue was born on March 20, 1947, in Seattle, Washington, to Oscar and Elva …
In loving memory of Rhonda Marlys (Redinger) Greene: 1960-2022
Rhonda Marlys (Redinger) Greene, 61 of Battle Ground, Washington, passed away on Jan. 4, 2022. She was born March 24, 1960, in Deadwood, South Dakota to Harry and Marlys Redinger. She grew up in …

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