Cheers: To Tuesday’s election. While there have been many cheers — both locally and nationally — for relatively high voter turnout, today we turn our attention elsewhere: To the candidates. Kudos for those in our community who stepped up to run for office, demonstrating a desire to serve and to share their message with the public. Cheers also go to all those who helped with campaigns, knocking on doors and handing out fliers and urging the public to be engaged with the democratic process.
Alas, while we thank those who campaigned, we lament that too many incumbents ran unopposed. In Clark County, the auditor, sheriff, prosecuting attorney and two legislators did not face challengers. While this speaks well of the jobs they are doing, it also diminishes our democracy. We hope worthy candidates in our community consider running in the future and provide a challenge that raises the level of discourse.
Jeers: To animal cruelty. Clark County officials say they have responded to the poisoning deaths of multiple cats and raccoons in recent months, with bodies being found in central Vancouver, east Vancouver, and near downtown. About 15 raccoons have been found at Fircrest Park, and a county official said, “It’s clear that someone is targeting raccoons and dumping the bodies in the park.”
Using poison to kill pets or wildlife is illegal in the county and the state, and officials urge anybody with information about the cases to call 564-397-2488. “Death from poisoning in this manner is extremely painful,” said Animal Protection and Control Manager Susan Anderson. While wildlife can sometimes be a nuisance, residents should contact animal control rather than resort to cruelty.
Cheers: Changes are coming to Highway 500. State transportation workers plan to close part of Highway 500 this weekend to reconfigure traffic flow. A portion of the road between St. Johns Boulevard and Northeast Andresen Road will be closed, creating an inconvenience for drivers.
Drivers also should be aware of the changes that are coming. Stoplights will be removed at Northeast 42nd Avenue/Falk Road and Northeast 54th Avenue/Stapleton Road. They will be replaced by new interchanges designed to reduce accidents. Drivers through that area should proceed with extra caution until everybody grows accustomed to the alterations, but in the long run we hope the reconfiguration has the desired effect of improving safety.
Jeers: To unauthorized statue removal. Police aren’t calling it a theft, but the removal of part of a bronze statue in La Center appears suspicious. The sculpture, called “Woman Bathing Child,” features an American Indian woman pouring water over the hair of a young girl, but now the woman is missing. “We don’t know if we even have a victim,” Police Chief Marc Denney said. “It was never reported as stolen by the property owners.”
The statue has stood on the property of a now-vacant building that is scheduled for auction, lending confusion to the case. We hope part of the statue was removed simply for safe-keeping and that bronze woman and child can soon be reunited.
Cheers: To Pat Jollota. Vancouver’s unofficial historian spent 20 years as a city council member and a similar amount of time as curator of the Clark County Historical Museum. In other words, she has been a long-respected fixture in the area.
At 81, Jollota is still digging into the history of the region and has a new book out: “The Murder of JoAnn Dewey in Vancouver, Washington.” The book traces a notorious downtown abduction and murder that resulted in the execution of two Camas brothers. While the case is a lamentable part of Vancouver’s history, Jollota is a delightful one who keeps bringing the area’s past to life.
