Ridgefield and Fairgrounds
Ridgefield: Renee Kuhn of Ridgefield just isn’t the woman she used to be. That’s because she lost 204 pounds via a national Weight Watchers contest and was named a Weight Watchers 2010 Role Model of the Year. To celebrate her success and kick off its third annual Lose for Good campaign in Ridgefield, Weight Watchers donated 204 pounds of food to the local Neighbors Helping Neighbors food bank. The next Lose for Good runs Sept. 5 to Oct. 23; people are encouraged to donate food to their local food banks — perhaps equivalent to their weight loss — and Weight Watchers pledges to donate up to $1 million to two hunger-fighting organizations: Action Against Hunger and Share Our Strength. Kuhn started out at 361 pounds.
Fairgrounds: Sleep Country USA collected more than 23,000 clothing items from the community during a clothes drive for foster kids. The company is holding it second school supply drive for foster kids through Labor Day. New school supplies can be donated at any Sleep Country USA location.
Fairgrounds: The Bee Barn from the Clark County Fair received a Black and White award from the Washington State Fairs Commission. The Bee Barn was recognized for its agricultural focus, educational displays, public participation, overall look and value to the fair. The Small Animal Barn also received an award. Washington State Fairs Commissioner Trish Meyers was impressed with the participants, displays, the kids and the respect they gave to the public when answering questions about the animals on display.
Battle Ground, Meadow Glade and Hockinson
Brush Prairie: The Prairie Falcon cheerleaders returned with a few awards from the Oregon State Team Camp. Kristina Owsinski, Diana Ferrar, Melinda Erickson, Nicole Walsh, Bailey Tangeman and Kaile Michaud were named All-Stars. The team as a whole won two spirit sticks, two elite ribbons and the “Crazy School Spirit” award. Bree Loyd was named coach of the year and Kalie Michaud was named the No. 1 Camp All-Star.
Orchards, Sifton and Brush Prairie
Livingston Mountain: Although many neighbors testified against it, complaining of noise and traffic impacts and a general disturbance of quality of life, the county has given final approval to expanding operations at the Livingston Mountain Quarry north of Camas. Despite general neighborhood complaints there have been no code violations or enforcements at the quarry. Hearings examiner Joe Turner decided that hours of operation can expand (from the current 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) to 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday plus 25 Saturdays per year, with no blasting on Saturdays. Rock crushing is only allowed 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday plus 25 Saturdays. Noise setbacks can be reduced if a 22-foot-tall sound berm is built as drilling reaches 400 feet of the quarry’s eastern property line.
West Vancouver and Downtown
Esther Short: Erik and Leslie Runyan turned their downtown Vancouver family jewelry business into a doggy park on Aug. 11. They brought a lawn, water troughs and dog treats to their store and an outside courtyard to benefit the Humane Society for Southwest Washington. Tons of playful pooches and their owners took advantage of the event and free custom engraved dog tags.
Esther Short: The city of Vancouver installed two in-street bicycle parking corrals in downtown Vancouver. One is at Eighth and Esther streets. The other is at 1717 Broadway St. in front of Bad Monkey Bikes, Board and Skate. The locations were requested by bicyclists and local businesses. Funding comes
Shumway: Sterling Thomason is serving with a team of AmeriCorps members to support the rebuilding efforts in New Orleans. Thomason and her team are in the middle of a six-week project to rebuild homes for families affected by Hurricane Katrina.
East Vancouver, Cascade Park, Fisher’s Landing and Evergreen
East Vancouver: Firefighters camped out at the corner of Northeast 162nd Avenue and Northeast 18th Street on Aug. 12 and 13. Off-duty firefighters tried to fill their boots with cash from noon to 4 p.m. on both days. All funds raised went to the Muscular Dystrophy Association. They also looked for donations at the corner of Northeast Fourth Plain Boulevard and Northeast Andresen Road. This year they were able to collect $18,000, according to Capt. Kevin Murray with the Vancouver Fire Department. It says a lot about the caliber of local residents to donate so much at a time like this, he said.
Central Vancouver, Minnehaha and The Heights
Hudson’s Bay: Richard Vonk built and delivered a toy P-51 Mustang named the “Chuck Yeager” to his second great-grandson, Mason Vonk. Richard and wife, Peggy, of Green Valley, Ariz., are visiting their six great-grandchildren from Vancouver. In 2007, Richard gave a similar toy to his oldest great-grandson, Christian Wiley. Inspired by the Gee Bee’s unusual style, Richard said it took about six months to build each plane.
Harney Heights: Five-year-old Reagan Alcorn gave up one of her two most-complimented features: 16 inches of hair. “Everyone would compliment her on her eyes and her hair,” mom Kristen said. Reagan said she never wanted a haircut until she heard about other kids that cannot have hair because they are sick, Kristen said, so Reagan donated the hair to Locks of Love. Reagan said she plans to donate again but, “I don’t think she realizes how long it will take,” her mother said.
Central Park: Two Fort Vancouver Regional Library District delivery trucks now sport colorful vinyl wraps, thanks to funding from a Gates Foundation/Renew Washington grant established to promote library awareness and use. The “Delivering on lifelong learning” message on the wraps will be carried along roads throughout the district’s four-county service area as the trucks transport books and other items to the district’s 13 libraries.
East Clark County: Camas and Washougal
Camas: Dumping thousands of rubber ducks into the Washougal River might sound a little random, but it is a yearly happening thanks to the Camas-Washougal Rotary club. Around 3,600 tagged ducks were placed in the river on July 25 to race downstream. Mary Douglas’ fake fowl won the grand prize — a Hawaii condo vacation, donated by Riverview Bank. More than 40 other prizes were awarded. Proceeds from the event go to local and international projects. This was the biggest year in the derby’s history. Typically the club sells a little less than 2,000 ducks at $5 a quack.
North Clark County and Woodland
La Center: A parade, a free movie in Sternwheeler Park, a beautiful baby contest and bands from barbershop to rock were just some of the highlights of the Our Days Festival. It was held from Aug. 19 to 22 all over town. Of course, there was a cruise-in and lawn mower races too.
Hazel Dell, Felida and Salmon Creek
West Hazel Dell: Mike Bates was inducted as a Lowell Mason Fellow by the National Association for Music Education. Bates is a senior member of the newly formed Institutional Solutions Group at Yamaha Corp. of America. He grew up in the Lakeshore area and is a graduate of Columbia River High School.
West Hazel Dell: Brett Aljetts, pastor at Whipple Creek Church, submitted a proposal for the Pepsi Refresh Challenge to try to win a $250,000 grant to build a community center in Vancouver. According to the Pepsi Good Idea website, the church would use $100,000 to buy an existing building; $50,000 to fund a center staff and $100,000 to pay for computers, washing machines, job training and playground equipment. Grant winners are chosen by vote. To see more project details visit, http://www.refresheverything.com/realife.
