Stories by Patty Hastings

Columbian Social Services, Demographics, Faith

Office manager Sherri Owens restocks Bethel Community Church’s refrigerator with water bottles. “We have a really good church family that’s willing to step up and help,” she said.

Agencies, churches, volunteers ready to help fire evacuees

September 6, 2017, 8:12pm Clark County News Free

With a change in the winds, Wednesday was a calmer day for emergency evacuation sites in Washougal. But the people manning these sites are on standby in case wildfire conditions worsen. Read story

Alexander Fuller of Vancouver walks down Main Street in Vancouver on Tuesday wearing a face mask to protect himself from smoke and ash in the air caused by the Eagle Creek Fire in the Columbia River Gorge.

Officials extend air-pollution advisory, caution residents

September 5, 2017, 9:24pm Clark County Health Free

Health officials are urging people to limit their exposure to outdoor air as smoke and ash from wildfires in the Columbia River Gorge blanket Southwest Washington. Read story

Haystack Rock overlooks Cannon Beach, Ore.

Interesting day trips, explorations an easy drive from Clark County

September 3, 2017, 6:01am Clark County Life

The day trip is something that’s mastered through carefully crafted itineraries. Visit Vancouver USA, the agency promoting tourism in Vancouver, recently updated its website with itinerary ideas. Locals and visitors alike use the city as a home base for exploring the region. Read story

Park rangers Brett Roth, left, and Tyler Gordon demonstrate how historical weapons were used on the Fort Vancouver Parade Ground on Saturday. The demonstrations will return during the Campfires & Candlelight event happening Sept. 9.

Fort park rangers demonstrate historical weapons with black powder

September 2, 2017, 9:28pm Clark County News

When fired, the 1861 Springfield rifle-musket and the 1873 Trapdoor Springfield rifle both make a sharp clap. The 1841 Mountain Howitzer, a cannon, provides a louder, bigger boom. All three weapons — loaded with blanks, of course — were fired off Saturday in a demonstration on the parade ground at… Read story

Wildfire burning near Cascade Locks’ Eagle Creek Trail

September 2, 2017, 5:50pm Clark County News

See a big plume of smoke that appears to be near Washougal? That’s actually a wildfire near or on the Eagle Creek Trail in Cascade Locks, Ore. Read story

Vancouver might decriminalize camping

Tents and belongings line the street edge outside Share House, the men’s homeless shelter on the west edge of downtown Vancouver.

The Vancouver City Council may decriminalize the city’s unlawful camping ordinance. The current ordinance making it illegal to camp in public between 6:30 a.m. and 9:30 p.m. is a misdemeanor but could be demoted to a civil infraction. Read story

Fourth Plain on foot

Fourth Plain Boulevard is pictured on Aug. 15, 2017.

I’ve never walked Fourth Plain until now. At 9:23 a.m. I toss my car keys in my backpack and head toward Fourth Plain Boulevard with Columbian photographer Alisha Jucevic. She has been on staff only a couple of months, so this is new to her too. Read story