Enjoy snapshots of local history written in past issues of the Reflector from 30, 20 and 10 years ago, respectively.
A look back at September, 30 years ago
• In September 1994, Pastor Rocky Shanks was informed that his congregation’s church, the Open Door Baptist Church operated by Cherry Grove Friends Church, would need to close within 90 days due to county code requirements. Under rural estate zoning regulations, churches were required to occupy at least 2 1/2 acres. The church was located on just one acre. Built in 1905 and operating as a church for four years, the church had an average attendance of 70 people. The congregation had spent $60,000 the previous year upgrading the facility by improving the parking lot, reroofing the building and completing interior repairs. Shanks’ options were to either purchase adjacent land to meet the 2 1/2-acre requirement, apply for a conditional use permit or sell the property and relocate. Shanks had previously purchased a house on six acres of land in Dollars Corner, which could potentially serve as a new location, but that plan depended on securing the necessary permits and selling the existing church.
• Work to straighten and widen state Route 503 from Brush Prairie to Battle Ground began following a groundbreaking ceremony kicking off the project took place Aug. 31, 1994. The $10.6 million project aimed to widen the highway to four lanes and straighten the 4.5-mile stretch from Northeast 144th Street to Battle Ground. The plan also included constructing a new bridge over Salmon Creek. Dave Hudson, the project manager for Waterworks, the contractor overseeing the job, expected construction to last 251 days, with completion projected for the fall of 1995.
• The Steel Man, a beloved art piece in Yacolt created by homeowner Darrell Leischner in 1991, was toppled by vandals. The vandals went to great lengths to knock over the Steel Man, which had been deeply anchored in the ground, by ramming a car into it. Leischner had originally built the Steel Man to hold his mailbox and newspaper tube and later included his neighbors’ mailboxes in the piece. Several other Yacolt residents had long struggled with vandalism, having their own mailboxes damaged or knocked down. Previously, the Steel Man had been shot with a .22 rifle, covered in mayonnaise, mustard and wax, and was spray-painted. Although two individuals claimed responsibility for toppling the Steel Man, the Clark County Sheriff’s Office could not verify the claims.
A look back at September, 20 years ago
• On Sept. 22, 2004, The Reflector reported that two tame cougars owned by Battle Ground resident Gerald Rhoads were shot in separate incidents 6 miles north of Battle Ground. Rhoads’ ownership of the exotic animals had prompted Battle Ground officials to pass an exotic animal ordinance in 2000. State Fish and Wildlife enforcement Sgt. Rick Webb explained that the cougars could not be donated to a zoo because they had been declawed. Following a legal challenge, Rhoads relocated the animals to a site 6 miles north of Battle Ground. In late July, one of the cougars exhibited aggressive behavior and was shot by the new property owner. The other cougar escaped its cage and was shot in late August near Lucia Falls Road by a different homeowner, who feared the animal might attack their children. Webb also cautioned that wild cougars still inhabit the area.
• On Sept. 27, 2004, the City of Battle Ground held a dedication ceremony for a new park and an engraved boulder honoring the Cresap family, who played a key role in the founding of the city. The park, located in southeast Battle Ground, is near the site where Robert Cresap, a Civil War veteran, raised his family starting in 1866. Cresap’s descendants were instrumental in the development of what would become the incorporated City of Battle Ground. His eldest son, Ed Cresap, performed 17 marriages and held court trials as justice of the peace. In 1922, Frank, John and Bob Cresap paved the road from Battle Ground to Hockinson. Bob also played on Battle Ground High School’s first football team. The park, located at 1814-1914 SE Second Place, still exists today and features a children’s playground and a paved walking path.
A look back at September, 10 years ago
• In September, family members for teenager Jack Fletcher, who was injured in a car crash, reported he was able to speak and walk on his own again, although he suffered some short-term memory loss. On July 30, 2014, the 18-year-old Fletcher, a Prairie High School graduate and fire cadet, was involved in a serious head-on collision on Highway 26 near Brightwood, Oregon, when a Ford pickup truck crossed the center line and hit his Subaru. Fletcher, who was training with Crook County Fire & Rescue, sustained a traumatic brain injury, multiple broken bones and facial fractures. He underwent several surgeries and spent time in intensive care at OHSU before being transferred to Randall Children’s Hospital for rehabilitation. His recovery included physical, occupational and speech therapy with some lingering memory issues from the brain injury. Jack’s family, John and Kelly Fletcher, received strong support from the Battle Ground community and the fire service cadets, who organized yard cleanups and fundraisers to help cover his medical bills. Events like the North County Wine Run and a fundraiser at Mill Creek Pub contributed to the effort. The community tracked Jack’s progress through a dedicated Facebook page, and a GoFundMe account was established to aid the family during his long recovery.
• On Sept. 16, 2014, the La Center City Council discussed measures to address a projected $413,000 budget shortfall for the following year, primarily due to a significant decline in gambling tax revenue after the closure of Chips Casino. Former Vancouver Finance Director Paul Lewis presented potential options to offset the deficit, including raising the city’s gambling tax on card rooms from 10% to 11% and implementing new taxes on utilities and cable television services. La Center Finance Director Suzanne Levis noted that a $500,000 revenue decline in 2014 was covered by the city’s $17 million reserve fund, but council members were hesitant to rely on reserves again in 2015. Other potential actions included cutting city staff, such as reducing police department personnel, which would save $105,000 but impact 24-hour patrols, or adopting new utility taxes, which could generate up to $350,000. Council members, including Mayor Jim Irish, agreed that a combination of revenue increases, spending cuts and gradual measures over several years would be needed to solve the deficit without burdening residents too heavily. Discussions about long-term solutions included diversifying the city’s economy and possibly expanding businesses at the junction, though infrastructure challenges such as extending sewer services needed to be addressed first. The council planned further deliberations the following month to develop a more concrete budget plan.
