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Stories by Lyndsey Hewitt

Columbian Staff writer, news assistant

Port of Vancouver Environmental Specialist Phillip Martello checks on bat boxes, brush piles, snags and new plant survival at a mitigation site off Lower River Road.

Working in Clark County: Phillip Martello, Port of Vancouver environmental specialist

Port of Vancouver Environmental Specialist Phillip Martello checks on bat boxes, brush piles, snags and new plant survival at a mitigation site off Lower River Road.

August 26, 2019, 6:04am Business

Environmental specialist Phillip Martello sometimes can be found wandering down abandoned back roads and into the weeds. Read story

Vancouver Parking Enforcement Officer Tim Brown patrols the streets surrounding the Clark County Courthouse last week. The area around the courthouse gets busy and the officers’ goal, he said, is to create turnover. “We’re not trying to punish people,” he said.

Working in Clark County: Tim Brown, parking enforcement officer with the city of Vancouver

Vancouver Parking Enforcement Officer Tim Brown patrols the streets surrounding the Clark County Courthouse last week. The area around the courthouse gets busy and the officers’ goal, he said, is to create turnover. “We’re not trying to punish people,” he said.

August 12, 2019, 11:13am Business

The scene by the Clark County Courthouse was calm last week. Dreary for a summer day, people hurried in and out of the building, then jumped in their cars and zoomed away. Read story

Jason Young, operations superintendent at the Clark County Fair, coordinates setup from his radio while simultaneously helping to set up a ticket booth Thursday, the day before the fair opened. Young’s first job in the event planning world was helping venues in Portland with booking and promotion.

Working in Clark County: Jason Young, superintendent of operations at the Clark County Fair

Jason Young, operations superintendent at the Clark County Fair, coordinates setup from his radio while simultaneously helping to set up a ticket booth Thursday, the day before the fair opened. Young’s first job in the event planning world was helping venues in Portland with booking and promotion.

August 5, 2019, 6:00am Business

Jason Young’s reality can drastically change with the squawk of his walkie-talkie. Read story

Pete Roberts, foreground, saws into PVC pipe during the installation of a septic tank at a home in Amboy last week. Roberts has owned Bloomquist Septic Inspections since 1997, after spending more than 10 years in the military. He never set out to work in the septic business, and acknowledges that it’s a dirty job.

Working in Clark County: Pete Roberts, owner of Bloomquist Septic Inspections

Pete Roberts, foreground, saws into PVC pipe during the installation of a septic tank at a home in Amboy last week. Roberts has owned Bloomquist Septic Inspections since 1997, after spending more than 10 years in the military. He never set out to work in the septic business, and acknowledges that it’s a dirty job.

July 29, 2019, 6:00am Business

The scene at a rural Amboy property last week looked like it could have been an archaeological excavation. Read story

Dr. Katherine Manning spent six years in school to get all the credentials she needed to be a dentist. She originally wanted to work in graphic design, and initially studied art. She still found a connection between both fields. “It brought all the eye-hand things that I had learned from my art background together with that desire to constantly want to learn. That was really fulfilling to me,” she said.

Working in Clark County: Dr. Katherine Manning, dentist at Grin and Bear It Dental

Dr. Katherine Manning spent six years in school to get all the credentials she needed to be a dentist. She originally wanted to work in graphic design, and initially studied art. She still found a connection between both fields. “It brought all the eye-hand things that I had learned from my art background together with that desire to constantly want to learn. That was really fulfilling to me,” she said.

July 22, 2019, 6:01am Business

When entering Dr. Katherine Manning’s dental practice — called Grin and Bear It — you’re promptly greeted by a wooden statue of a bear, currently dressed in summer beachwear. Read story

Simon Rommel, 15, left, completes a walk-around of the Wake´s Driving School car before sliding behind the wheel.

Working in Clark County: Larry Bowman, driving instructor at Wake’s Driving School

Simon Rommel, 15, left, completes a walk-around of the Wake´s Driving School car before sliding behind the wheel.

July 15, 2019, 6:02am Business

Many of us can recall preparing for our first driving test as a teenager. It’s often a cocktail of excitement and agony — why, oh why, our teenage-selves lament, can’t we just jump in the car and go? More tests? Read story

Melonie Nielson, owner of Vancouver Yoga Center, center, leads a Yoga Refinements course last month. “The yoga studio came about out of love and passion for yoga and did not start as a plan to open a yoga business,” she said.

Working in Clark County: Melonie Nielson, Vancouver Yoga Center owner, instructor

Melonie Nielson, owner of Vancouver Yoga Center, center, leads a Yoga Refinements course last month. “The yoga studio came about out of love and passion for yoga and did not start as a plan to open a yoga business,” she said.

July 8, 2019, 6:00am Business

Vancouver Yoga Center owner Melonie Nielson, 45, can recall the first time she tried yoga. It was long before the United States experienced a recent onslaught of yoga studios, and with it gimmicky trends like yoga with cats, goats, or even with beer. Read story

Nate Habtom laughs while riding a C-Tran bus bound for Portland with C-Tran Travel Trainer Jade Dudley, far right, during a training session last week. The two have become friends over the last year that Habtom has trained with Dudley, who focuses much of her work on helping seniors and those with disabilities. “It’s helping them gain or maintain independence. There’s really no greater gift than seeing that spark for them,” Dudley said.

Working in Clark County: Jade Dudley, travel trainer at C-Tran

Nate Habtom laughs while riding a C-Tran bus bound for Portland with C-Tran Travel Trainer Jade Dudley, far right, during a training session last week. The two have become friends over the last year that Habtom has trained with Dudley, who focuses much of her work on helping seniors and those with disabilities. “It’s helping them gain or maintain independence. There’s really no greater gift than seeing that spark for them,” Dudley said.

June 24, 2019, 6:05am Business

Public transit. We all know it's available. But not everybody uses it, despite the benefits to the environment from fewer cars on the road, especially as cities electrify their fleets. Read story

Gabe Duarte, a residential garbage truck driver with Waste Connections, collects garbage in an east Vancouver neighborhood last week. August will mark 15 years on the job for Duarte. The Los Angeles native moved to the area with his father in 1989. He never set out to be a garbage collector. “I think it’s decent. I’ve been able to raise my family, my two kids. The benefits are good, I believe. My wife and daughter have different medication they need. It’s helped with that,” Duarte said.

Working in Clark County: Gabe Duarte, residential garbage truck driver with Waste Connections

Gabe Duarte, a residential garbage truck driver with Waste Connections, collects garbage in an east Vancouver neighborhood last week. August will mark 15 years on the job for Duarte. The Los Angeles native moved to the area with his father in 1989. He never set out to be a garbage collector. “I think it’s decent. I’ve been able to raise my family, my two kids. The benefits are good, I believe. My wife and daughter have different medication they need. It’s helped with that,” Duarte said.

June 17, 2019, 6:01am Business

One man’s trash is another man’s, well, job. Read story

Margo Priebe, a legal advocacy specialist at YWCA Clark County in Vancouver, fills her office with plants, paintings and things that bring her joy. “It’s really, really hard work, so you need to have a beautiful environment,” she said. Priebe was a victim of domestic violence when she was a child and was drawn to the job to try to heal herself as well as others.

Working in Clark County: Margo Priebe, YWCA legal advocacy specialist

Margo Priebe, a legal advocacy specialist at YWCA Clark County in Vancouver, fills her office with plants, paintings and things that bring her joy. “It’s really, really hard work, so you need to have a beautiful environment,” she said. Priebe was a victim of domestic violence when she was a child and was drawn to the job to try to heal herself as well as others.

June 3, 2019, 6:02am Business

On any given day, Margo Priebe can most likely be found attached to her telephone headset, working YWCA Clark County's 24-hour hotline for domestic violence. Read story