Cheers: To fireworks. Sales of loud-bangers and high-flyers started this week in Clark County, allowing residents to prepare for Wednesday’s Fourth of July festivities. Using personal fireworks as a form of celebration dates back to before the founding of the United States and has become a cherished part of the holiday.
Fireworks are not allowed within the city of Vancouver, and regulations throughout the county differ by geography (http://www.columbian.com/news/2018/jun/27/fireworks-sales-in-clark-county-begin-thursday/). We encourage all revelers to be aware of their local laws and to be considerate of neighbors. For those who do follow the law, we hope that a good time is had by all as they employ fireworks to symbolize the freedom that comes with being an American.
Jeers: To fireworks. Yes, as the Fourth of July draws near, it is possible to provide both cheers and jeers for the use of personal fireworks. As noted above, fireworks are not allowed within the city of Vancouver, and other jurisdictions have limits on the times and locations explosives can be used.
The reason for such limitations is that far too many people have mistaken their expression of freedom as an excuse for anti-social behavior. Loud explosions night after night can be a nuisance for neighbors, terrorizing for pets, and traumatic for people suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder — including many veterans. Fireworks also can create a fire hazard if not used with caution. Again, we encourage all revelers to follow the law and to act with courtesy toward their fellow Americans.
Cheers: To the Benson Bridge. The iconic span near Multnomah Falls has reopened for the first time since the Eagle Creek Fire devastated the area 10 months ago. The bridge was built in 1914 between the upper and lower sections of the falls and has become one of the region’s most popular spots for photographs.
Larch Mountain Trail, which leads from the bridge to upper viewpoints, remains closed, but the reopening of the bridge is a symbol of the area’s slow-but-steady recovery. With summer having arrived, it is certain to be a popular attraction in the coming months.
Jeers: To an unplanned chicken run. A tractor-trailer hauling live chickens overturned on state Highway 502 west of Battle Ground this week, spilling hundreds of birds and delaying traffic. Washington State Patrol Trooper Will Finn said the driver attempted an illegal U-turn at the intersection, leading to the crash. An estimated 5,000 chickens were aboard the truck, but no estimate was available for how many fatalities were involved.
As word of the accident spread, a crowd that included animal rights activists gathered. One activist who allegedly picked up a chicken and refused to return it was arrested. It took nearly five hours for officials and workers to clear the road. Overall, it was an, um, fowl situation.
Cheers: To Clark County’s past. The North Clark Historical Museum in Amboy has added a significant new artifact in the form of a steam donkey. Built in the early 1900s, the steam-powered device was used to move and load logs as part of an industry that helped build Clark County.
Leo Bethje and Mike Rotschy led efforts to restore the device and prepare it for display at the museum, a process that took nearly two decades. That included construction of a large sled like the ones used to transport the steam donkey during its prime, and construction of a cover to protect it from the elements at the museum. All that work was unveiled last week as the museum placed the steam donkey on display, providing a touchstone to Amboy’s past.
