Morning Press: Homeless woman gets an assist; Plans for in-person school; Tiny homes

Will the rain stick around this weekend? For details, check our local weather coverage.

In case you missed them, here are some of the top stories from the week:

Neighbors help Vancouver woman, 81, living in car come in from the cold

Loretta Shaw is the kind of person who will say hello to everyone she passes on the street during a walk.

She is also one to buy a sandwich for someone who is homeless and hungry.

At 81 years old, Shaw just sees a need and wants to help however she can.

And she’s homeless herself.

• Community rallies to support homeless woman

WSP: Driver lights himself, his vehicle on fire on I-5 near Kelso

Washington State Patrol troopers Thursday morning connected a 52-year-old Kelso man with mental health resources after reporting he ignited a fire in his car and then tried to light himself on fire.

The incident sparked a brief arson investigation and temporarily closed northbound Interstate 5 near Exit 39 to Kelso, according to a news release. As of 5 p.m. Thursday, no criminal charges had been filed.

• WSP is not releasing the man’s name for privacy reasons

Body of missing teen found in Camas

The Clark County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday confirmed that the body of a teenager who ran away from home Monday was found in the woods near a Camas high school.

Tyler Schmidt, 15, was reported to be missing and endangered Wednesday afternoon. His body was later discovered about 200 yards off Northwest Nan Henriksen Way, according to the sheriff’s office.

• Foul play is not suspected

Everett company’s tiny homeless shelters pop up in Portland, more cities across U.S.

PORTLAND — Sondra Brown spent four difficult years on the streets, and her struggles for a good night’s sleep did not end even last spring as she moved into a city-sanctioned organized camp in the heart of Portland’s Old Town. There were rats that bit holes in her tent, and in recent weeks, a bone-chilling cold would wake her up a half dozen times a night.

Then, two days before Thanksgiving, the camp got a big upgrade — 40 aluminum-framed, insulated huts equipped with bunk beds and heaters that could be run from the electric grid.

•  Pallet Shelters develops prefab tiny house which can be erected in 30 minutes or less.

Vancouver Public Schools details in-person academic help for students

Vancouver Public Schools has detailed its plan for bringing select students into school buildings for in-person academic assistance as soon as Jan. 7.

The district has identified 953 students — 520 elementary, 301 high school and 132 middle school students — for in-person academic pods to help navigate remote learning. That number represents 4.4 percent of the district’s total enrollment, said district spokeswoman Pat Nuzzo. The district also has recalled 85 paraeducators and 152 classified staff, Nuzzo said, in anticipation of upcoming in-building academic services.

• Plan focuses on English language learners, students experiencing homelessness and students deemed academically at risk