Cheers: To generosity. This year’s Give More 24! event generated more than $1.6 million in donations for 169 Clark County organizations. The annual fundraiser, powered by the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington, surpassed its goals for both money raised and the number of donors, with 4,391 people digging into their pockets to help those in need.
This marked the sixth year for the innovative midnight-to-midnight online event, and Jennifer Rhoads of the Community Foundation said, “The friendly competition and urgency of 24 hours creates excitement that you can see and feel.” That excitement touched people in 44 states and four countries — including Australia. While Give More 24! is limited to one day, its impact lasts throughout the year for local charities and is a testament to the always-generous nature of Clark County residents.
Jeers: To overzealous police work. A Vancouver Police Department K-9 escaped his handler’s grasp last week, ran across a street and attacked a bystander. A video posted online shows a suspect being handcuffed and led to a police car; it then shows the dog running across the street and going after a man who was just minding his own business.
The K-9 bit and tugged at the man, who was treated at the scene for minor injuries. Police officials say they are investigating, and the dog will be removed from active duty for the time being. We hope his trainers can teach him some new tricks.
Cheers: To a great place to live. Admittedly, we are a bit confused by this one. A new report from Car Insurance Comparison ranks the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro metropolitan area at No. 3 on the “most popular and affordable” places for millennials. According to U.S. Census Bureau data, the region’s millennial population (typically defined as people born between 1981 and 1996) grew 13 percent between 2013 and 2017.
We can understand the “popular” designation, yet there are many who would disagree with the “affordable” portion of the analysis. But while housing costs have been rising quickly in this part of the country, the region still is less expensive than destinations such as Seattle, Denver and San Francisco. So, I guess we won’t argue and instead will enjoy the benefits of living in an attractive area.
Jeers: To delinquent boat owners. Derelict vessels have been in the news lately, with officials in both Washington and Oregon struggling to cope. The Washington Department of Natural Resources says boats are being abandoned faster than the resources they have to remove them, and the longer an abandoned vessel stays there, the more it contaminates the water.
In the Snohomish River, a derelict fishing boat is being dismantled piece by piece while an abandoned sail boat sits nearby. In Oregon, a coalition of agencies and community groups have renewed efforts to remove vessels along the Columbia River. All of this is costly to taxpayers, and officials often have trouble identifying or tracking down the owners.
Cheers: To seeing Washington. Lindsey Pollock of Winlock apparently is the first person to complete the County Courthouse Pass. The program, created by the Washington Association of Counties, provides participants with a “passport” that can be stamped when they visit one of the state’s 39 county courthouses.
Pollock filled out her passport in three weeks, covering everything from Pend Oreille to Asotin to Wahkiakum counties. The goal of the program is to encourage residents to explore their state, which we suppose makes Pollock the Magellan of Washington.
