Stories by Jake Thomas

Columbian political reporter

New houses have built up near Camp Bonneville, which could be a fire hazard during summer.

Camp Bonneville neighbors have fire on their minds

June 29, 2019, 6:05am Clark County Life

Wildfire season is just beginning, but in November, one neighborhood association in a rural part of Clark County already had fire danger on its mind. Read story

Clark County's small cities must decide soon if they will allow the production and sale of marijuana within their boundaries.

Clark County continues to eye pot-law changes

June 27, 2019, 5:59am Clark County News

Sticky’s Pot Shop, which unsuccessfully defied the county’s ban on recreational cannabis, will reopen in its Hazel Dell location should the Clark County Council vote to reverse the prohibition. Read story

Adrian Cortes, right, is challenging Gary Medvigy for Clark County Council.

Candidates split on project to industrialize Brush Prairie

June 24, 2019, 6:06am Clark County News

Neither of the candidates running in a special election for Clark County Council want an asphalt plant in Brush Prairie, a failed proposal that once drew strong opposition and continues to haunt the unincorporated community. Read story

Christy Jordan, 56, looks out from her tent in a wooded area in Hazel Dell. She says that all the heaps of garbage nearby were left by campers who have since left and that she keeps her trash in a bag nearby. During her three years of being homeless, she’s camped out in parks in Vancouver. She says she was once given a 72-hour notice to leave by police and cleared out. “I listen to the cops; I’m a good girl,” she said.

Clark County struggles to address homeless encampments

June 6, 2019, 6:01am Clark County News

Over the last year, runner David Crawford said, he’s seen an uptick in homeless encampments along the Padden Parkway bike path. He recalled seeing tents and shopping carts full of old shoes and other items along with garbage. Read story

Michael Swadberg turns in bottles at a Bottledrop Oregon Redemption Center on July 31, 2015, in Gresham, Ore. Over the last year, reports of people rummaging through recycling bins have increased in Clark County. The target of these scavengers has been discarded bottles and cans, which have become increasingly valuable on the other side of the Columbia River. While local governments in Clark County have limited tools and their efforts are just starting, they could soon get help from Oregon. Last week, the Oregon Legislature passed a bill that's intended to deter people seeking to cash in on out-of-state containers.

Washington, Oregon agencies tackle redeemable recyclables issue

June 3, 2019, 6:00am Clark County News

Last month, representatives from Clark County Public Health, the city of Vancouver, local law enforcement, a local waste hauler and a large Oregon-based recycling cooperative gathered in a room in Vancouver City Hall. They were there to discuss a problem they all knew existed but weren’t sure how to address. Read story

New state law will alter property tax relief program

Senior citizens who currently qualify for Clark County’s property tax exemption or deferral program will have to wait a few more months to receive their notice of property value while the county assessor’s office evaluates a new state law. Read story

Clark County Council delays land development decision

The Clark County Council discusses funding for updated software for the Clark County prosecuting attorney’s office Tuesday during a council meeting in Vancouver.

Citing rapidly changing information, potential effects on schools, lingering questions about developer obligations and a desire for more community involvement, the Clark County Council on Tuesday delayed any action that would lay the groundwork for development of 2,000 acres of land north of Vancouver. Read story