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Friday,  November 22 , 2024
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Stories by Scott Hewitt

Columbian staff writer

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scott.hewitt@columbian.com
Pro trumpeter Fred Forney of Battle Ground played one gig with Tony Bennett in the 1980s in Arizona.

Battle Ground musician played for Bennett

Pro trumpeter Fred Forney of Battle Ground played one gig with Tony Bennett in the 1980s in Arizona.

July 21, 2023, 8:46pm Clark County News

While Fred Forney didn’t have close contact with Tony Bennett, he was lead trumpet player in a big band behind the great crooner one time in the mid 1980s. Read story

Tyler Hokama, the interim executive director of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, grew up in Vancouver.

All the world’s a stage for Fort Vancouver grad

Tyler Hokama, the interim executive director of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, grew up in Vancouver.

July 20, 2023, 6:05am Clark County Life Subscriber Exclusive

Tyler Hokama isn’t concerned about how long his back-from-retirement gig as interim executive director at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival may ultimately last. What worries him more is preserving the future of theater by doing the best job he can right now, he said. Read story

Jermaine Boddie surveys the sandbox of his dreams -- which he's created in his West Hazel Dell front yard -- on a recent afternoon. "My yard is basically an expression of my childhood.

Hazel Dell homeowner shows his creativity in fantasy yard display

Jermaine Boddie surveys the sandbox of his dreams -- which he's created in his West Hazel Dell front yard -- on a recent afternoon. "My yard is basically an expression of my childhood.

July 13, 2023, 7:55am Clark County Life Subscriber Exclusive

Jermaine Boddie hopes his fun front yard sparks a little old-school, hands-on, imaginative play that owes nothing to electronics or screens. Read story

A side trail along the Grouse Vista Trail leads up a slope where you can take in this view of Pyramid Rock, the peak of Silver Star Mountain and far-distant ridges to the southeast.

The past, future of Silver Star: ‘The vision plan will come to fruition over the next 50 years’

A side trail along the Grouse Vista Trail leads up a slope where you can take in this view of Pyramid Rock, the peak of Silver Star Mountain and far-distant ridges to the southeast.

July 8, 2023, 6:04am Clark County Life

An exceptionally dry summer, a “devil wind” blowing from east to west and, unfortunately, boys messing around with fire led to the kind of regional catastrophe in 1902 that worries us even more today: wave after wave of intensely destructive wildfire. Read story

Pyramid Rock rises alongside the Grouse Vista Trail.

Spectacular Silver Star: Recreation planners foresee area as next big zone for increased hiking and camping access

Pyramid Rock rises alongside the Grouse Vista Trail.

July 8, 2023, 6:03am Clark County Life

On a June day when it was 90-plus degrees in Vancouver, snow still coated some upper reaches of the steep Grouse Vista Trail to Silver Star Mountain. Read story

David Boyajian, right, of Portland, throws a disc toward a basket at the Hockinson Meadows Community Park disc golf course. The course is the first 18-holer in Clark County.

A park above par: Hockinson disc golf course beautiful, big and challenging

David Boyajian, right, of Portland, throws a disc toward a basket at the Hockinson Meadows Community Park disc golf course. The course is the first 18-holer in Clark County.

June 24, 2023, 6:04am Clark County Life Subscriber Exclusive

The air is full of colorful plastic circles and the happy music of clinking chains. Read story

Linda Meanus, center, is held by her mother, Josepha, and flanked by her grandparents.

Chronicling Celilo Falls childhood: Indigenous elder’s memoir ‘My Name is LaMoosh’ remembers vanished way of life

Linda Meanus, center, is held by her mother, Josepha, and flanked by her grandparents.

June 17, 2023, 6:04am Clark County Life

A little girl once told Warm Springs elder Linda Meanus during a school visit that she didn’t know Native Americans exist at all anymore. Read story

An image from Vancouver filmmaker Dru Holley's documentary, "Buffalo Soldiers: Fighting on Two Fronts." (The Columbian files)

Documentary created by Vancouver resident ‘Buffalo Soldiers’ coming to PBS

An image from Vancouver filmmaker Dru Holley's documentary, "Buffalo Soldiers: Fighting on Two Fronts." (The Columbian files)

June 10, 2023, 6:00am Clark County Life

Vancouver filmmaker Dru Holley’s “Buffalo Soldiers: Fighting on Two Fronts” debuts on Oregon Public Television at 9 p.m. Monday. Read story

Rattlesnakes have excellent camouflage and don't always rattle before striking. Enjoy your eastern Gorge hike, but stay aware of your surroundings and don't step where you can't see.

Hiking in eastern Gorge? Follow these tips to avoid encounters with rattlesnakes, what to do if bitten

Rattlesnakes have excellent camouflage and don't always rattle before striking. Enjoy your eastern Gorge hike, but stay aware of your surroundings and don't step where you can't see.

June 6, 2023, 6:02am Clark County Health

I was just starting the climb at Coyote Wall, the sunlit hiking trail in the Columbia River Gorge, when a distinct whooshing sound arose. Read story

Cars snake along the Historic Columbia River Highway along the waterfall corridor in the Columbia River Gorge. Congestion on busy days has been so bad the traffic impairs the ability of emergency vehicles to respond to accidents.

Car-free visits to Columbia River Gorge sites are possible — with planning

Cars snake along the Historic Columbia River Highway along the waterfall corridor in the Columbia River Gorge. Congestion on busy days has been so bad the traffic impairs the ability of emergency vehicles to respond to accidents.

June 3, 2023, 6:03am Clark County Life

Judging by ease of public-transit access, one might conclude that the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area is entirely inside of Oregon. Read story