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Contract crews work to replace historically-accurate cedar shake roofing at the Cedar Creek Grist Mill on Thursday, Oct. 8.

Preserving history: Work continues to restore roof on 150-year-old Cedar Creek Grist Mill
Trending Content
Satanic Temple member delivers first invocation at Battle Ground council meeting

A member of the Satanic Temple of Washington delivered the first invocation under a new Battle Ground City Council policy, marking the start of a practice intended to bring opening prayers, …

Second of two-alarm fires on Friday, October 2 displaces Ridgefield family, kills 8-month-old puppy
Fatal collision involving C-TRAN bus closes Northwest La Center Road
Featured Stories
Battle Ground residents embrace and sing gospel outside of Battle Ground City Hall on Monday, Oct. 5 prior to an invocation read by a member of the Satanic Temple of Washington.

Satanic Temple member delivers first invocation at Battle Ground council meeting

A member of the Satanic Temple of Washington delivered the first invocation under a new Battle Ground City Council policy, marking the start of a practice intended to bring opening prayers, …
A large pumpkin in the pumpkin patch field at The Patch at Whalen Oaks Farm on Friday, Oct. 9.

Pumpkin patch highlight: memories to be made at The Patch in Woodland

Family focused fall festivities are in full swing this month at The Patch at Whalen Oaks Farm in Woodland. “The atmosphere is all about families having a good time, parents bringing children …

Battle Ground council weighs options for city manager search

Battle Ground City Council members began outlining their approach to hiring the city’s next manager during their Monday, Oct. 5 meeting, debating whether to evaluate internal candidates first or …
Commercial development construction continues at Royle Ridge Station, anchored by Grocery Outlet in Ridgefield on Saturday, Oct. 10.

Clark County Council approves contested growth expansions after two-day public hearing

Clark County Council approved several contested urban growth expansions on Monday, Oct. 5, including expansions around Battle Ground, Ridgefield and La Center, despite repeated testimony from …

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The Reflector October 14 2026

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Local News

Society of Washington Artists puts on second annual art market in Hazel Dell

Vancouver United Church of Christ, off 68th Street, hosted the Society of Washington Artists for their second annual weekend-long Fall Creatives Art Market on Oct. 9. The hall was filled with …
The backyard/patio of 1109 Auburn Place on October 3, 2026.

Second of two-alarm fires on Friday, October 2 displaces Ridgefield family, kills 8-month-old puppy

The fire started on the back patio of 1109 Auburn Place in Ridgefield at 11 p.m. Inside, Preston Pearson was falling asleep beside his wife and their young daughter. Their five other children, …

County seeks public feedback on parks, trails in online survey

Clark County is asking residents to share what they like about local parks, trails and natural areas and what they would like to see improved through an online survey open through Nov. 1. The …

More Local News

Ferguson says resources are insufficient to deal with supertanker spill. A WA congressman warns the project is ‘not ready for prime time.’ Jerry Cornfield and Tom Banse The Washington …
Washington state's plans to electrify private and public transportation sectors and spend hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars on charging infrastructure are still facing numerous logistical and …
State / Regional News

New funding proposed to protect forest lands

Washington’s public lands commissioner is proposing new funding tools to conserve older forests while maintaining revenue for schools and local governments, including raising fees on forestry …

Trump admin aims to shift homelessness grants toward addiction treatment, enforcement

In its latest effort to overhaul federal homelessness funding, the Trump administration is proposing to provide more money to localities that prioritize treatment-first policies such as sober living, …

ICE arrests surge as Central Washington candidates split over enforcement

Immigration arrests in Washington surged this summer, with federal immigration officers detaining about 705 people in June and another 700 in July statewide, according to records from the Deportation …
Members of the Southwest Washington Ukrainian community welcome U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez at Portland International Airport after she voted to advance a package of sanctions on Russia.
Members of the Southwest Washington Ukrainian community welcomed U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Skamania, at Portland International Airport after her vote to advance a package of sanctions …
Washington's average diesel price hit a record $7.47 per gallon Wednesday, while the Tri-Cities reached an even higher $7.53 per gallon, as rising fuel costs put new pressure on transportation, …
Life

Cowlitz County organization gives $5,000 grant to Woodland Senior Enrichment Group

On Wednesday, Oct. 7, the Woodland Senior Enrichment Group received a grant from United Way of Cowlitz and Wahkiakum Counties to fund the nonprofit’s activities and social events. “We’re …
A lone flower on an aster provides one of the final blooms in Reflector reporter Cade Barker’s backyard habitat on Sunday, Oct. 11.

As summer fades to fall, the uncertainty caused by drought will test a backyard habitat

While summer is in the rear view as fall has arrived in Southwest Washington, Reflector reporter Cade Barker's native-plant habitat begins to tell a story of the issues with extended drought.  …
The wood-fired soaking tub at Kickback Sauna and Cold Plunge consistently sits at 105-degrees fahrenheit.

New sauna and cold plunge business gives Clark County a place to slow down and relax

Tucked among evergreen trees north of Battle Ground is Clark County’s newest spot for relaxation. Kickback Sauna and Cold Plunge is a hot and cold therapy place owned by husband and wife duo …
The grand opening of sámn at ilani on Thursday, Oct. 1, marked another step in the Cowlitz Indian Tribe’s ongoing development of its Ridgefield destination, with tribal leaders emphasizing …
Basalt, bones and big explosions fill the walls and screens of the Mount St. Helens Creation Center in Castle Rock. The visitor center was started in 1996 by Lloyd and Doris Anderson, country …
Sports

Hockinson girls soccer builds momentum with 2-1 victory

Hockinson High School’s girls soccer team is working to establish its identity as a young roster navigates a challenging league schedule, and a 2-1 victory over the R.A. Long Lumberjills on …
The Clark County Cup trophy sits behind the first tee box at Royal Oaks Country Club in Vancouver as high school golfers compete in a match play event on Monday, Oct. 5.

Area prep golfers take on Royal Oaks Country Club for Clark County Cup

High School golfers from various high schools around Clark County converged at Royal Oaks Country Club in Vancouver on Monday, Oct. 5. Now in its third year, the Clark County Cup offers a rare …
Girls cross country runners from Ridgefield and Hockinson run side-by-side at the start of the varsity girls race in a 2A Greater St. Helens League cross country meet on Wednesday, Oct. 7, at Hockinson Meadows Community Park.

Hockinson’s Graysen Aldridge leads the way at home meet

Hockinson High School senior Graysen Aldridge finished first in the girls race with a time of 19 minutes, 11 seconds, at a 2A Greater St. Helens League cross country meet on Wednesday, Oct. 7, at …
They are seen at most sporting events, from youth sports to professional sports. Pumping up the crowd and their team, using chants with choreographed on, or off the ground movements. Sometimes …
The Battle Ground Tiger football team overcame a 24-13 halftime deficit on Friday, Oct. 9, to earn a gritty 41-30 road victory over the Evergreen Plainsmen, fueled by a dominant rushing performance …
Outdoors

The fallen colors of autumn

Perhaps the biggest draw to fall colors is the vibrance it brings in the trees. Well, as we all wait patiently for those couple of days when fall colors peak around the region, the leaves that …
A great egret catches a vole in a field at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge River S Unit on Thursday, Oct. 1.

Dry start to fall at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge

Fall officially began on Sept. 22. By Thursday, Oct. 1, conditions had remained incredibly dry. The dry start to fall has impacted the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge as migratory waterfowl …
A vine maple shows off fall colors of red, orange and yellow on the same branch along the Tarbell Trail in eastern Clark County on Wednesday, Sept. 30.

Meet the vine maple, a champion of fall colors

As the first hints of fall begin to reach the forests of Clark County, one native shrub turns the understory into a colorful display. Vine maple, a familiar sight along wooded trails throughout …
The low water levels for the East Fork Lewis River and a calm, sunny morning created a pristine reflection of the Moulton Falls Bridge and surrounding scene on Thursday, Oct. 1.
Before you know it, orange leaves and rainy days will be encompassing everyday life in Clark County. The Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge’s River S Unit is one of the best places to visit …
Opinion
Editorial
In his 1963 book The Press and Foreign Policy, Bernard Cohen stated, “the press may not be successful much of the time in telling people what to think, but it is stunningly successful in telling …
A logging truck is pictured near the headwaters of the Chehalis River on Weyerhaeuser property upstream of Pe Ell.
Leaves change color, they fall and nature transitions to handle our cold, wet, quiet winters. Spring ushers in warmth, growth, the flush of leaves and the return of the birds. Everything has an …
Pope Francis smiles and waves in this photo from 2014.
The world feels quieter today. Not because a man has died, but because a voice — steady, grounded and full of grace — has gone silent. Pope Francis is gone, and for those of us who …

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Community
Furry Friends Fundraiser Auction: Through Sunday, Oct. 18, at 8 p.m. Bid on a variety of items and experiences during Furry Friends Cat Rescue’s fall fundraiser. Proceeds will help cover rising …
Fireside Tales of Horror: Saturdays, Oct. 3-24, 7-8 p.m., The Historic Covington House, 4201 Main St., Vancouver. Listen to an evening of bone-chilling stories around the fireplace at Covington House …
Jovie Esene, not yet 1 year old, has ascended to the group finals of the “Baby of the Year 2026” contest. Jovie “loves to laugh and is already very determined when she wants something,” …

More about: Community

Letters to the Editor

More about: Letters to the Editor

Obituaries
Marilyn Kathryn Wilken
Marilyn Kathryn (Harler) Wilken, 89, of Vancouver, Washington, passed away peacefully at her home on October 3, 2026. She was preceded in death three months earlier by Dale, her loving husband of 68 …
Dolores Currey Wolk
Beloved wife and mother, Dolores Currey Wolk has gone to be with her Lord. Preceding her in death were son Laurie Allen Wolk and her brother, Ray Currey. Survivors are husband Gerald, children Jerry, …
Dana Combest Pucci
Dana Combest Pucci, born Donnaleen Arona Davis on May 5, 1943, in Charleston, West Virginia, passed away peacefully in hospice care in Portland, Oregon, on June 21, 2026, at the age of 83, following …
Joyce Conrad , 79, of Ridgefield, died Sept. 3. Arrangements are under the care of All County Cremation and Burial Services, 360-718-7948. Georgetta Skillings , 74, of Battle Ground, died Sept. …
Charles Douglas Shaul was born to Rex and Elizabeth Shaul on May 22, 1937, in Akron, Ohio. The son of a career military father, Doug lived in many states and attended many schools, spending his …
Patricia Helen “Patsy” (McCarvel) Olsen
Patricia Helen “Patsy” (McCarvel) Olsen was born September 1, 1946, in Anaconda, Mont., to Thomas Joseph and Margaret Loretta (Ridge) McCarvel. She passed away on September 24, 2026, in the …

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