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Here are the top stories on columbian.com this week:
BRUSH PRAIRIE — Bi-Zi Farms’ two-year battle with the state Department of Ecology over water rights isn’t over yet, but a recent ruling by the state agency could drive the business closer to closing its doors for good. Co-owner Bill Zimmerman said he received a letter from the state Saturday detailing the ruling.
“They were pretty explicit: ‘Don’t use that water to grow food for the community,’” Bill Zimmerman said in an interview Wednesday.
The Camas Police Department on Wednesday said there have been recent sightings of a black bear near Lacamas Lake.
The bear was most recently spotted Wednesday morning by a resident from their yard near the lake, according to a post on the police department’s Facebook page.
Fall salmon fishing in the entire lower Columbia River will be open beginning Friday (Sept. 22) and remain open indefinitely, Washington and Oregon officials agreed Wednesday.
That means the closure scheduled to begin Friday between Warrior Rock near St. Helens, Ore., and the current closure between the west end of Puget Island near Cathlamet are rescinded.
RIDGEFIELD — Just about anywhere you drive in Ridgefield, you’re likely to come across a new development, whether it’s new homes, Costco, an industrial project or possibly an In-N-Out Burger. On Monday, members of the city council, planning commission and parks board hopped on a bus for a special development tour of past, present and future projects.
“What we hope is that our advisory bodies and our council will better connect with each other and the shared issues that they face,” City Manager Steve Stuart said.
Vancouver’s westside grocery shoppers can officially rejoice. New Seasons Market announced Thursday its Main Street Vancouver store will open Oct. 18. A grand opening celebration will be held at 8 a.m. that day.
“For decades, the No. 1 request from residents and workers in downtown Vancouver has been to bring in a grocery store. The opening of New Seasons Market in downtown is the answer, at long last, to that request,” John McDonagh, president and CEO of the Greater Vancouver Chamber, said in a statement Thursday.
