Cheers: To the Washougal motocross. Clark County’s biggest sporting event returns next weekend, and there is an added attraction this year. The 2024 Washougal National professional motocross race on Saturday will include a military appreciation event and give some veterans an opportunity to climb on a motorcycle and zip around the dirt track at Washougal Motocross Park.
“When we decided to host a military appreciation event for the 2024 season, we wanted to select not only one of our most decorated events, but also an event organizer that has shown a passion for our service members,” one MX Sports Pro Racing official said. The Washougal National annually brings the United States’ best professional riders and thousands of fans to Southwest Washington, along with a national TV audience. Cheers are warranted for a meaningful addition to this year’s schedule.
Jeers: To school turnover. Taking a big-picture view of public education, a recent Columbian article notes that eight of nine Clark County school districts have seen the departure of at least one superintendent since the start of the 2019-20 school year. As one superintendent said: “I love the job and am honored to do it, but I’ll freely admit that the stress takes a toll on you both physically and mentally.”
The reasons for departures vary, and superintendents are well-compensated for the physical and mental toll. But the situation reflects the struggles faced by public education. Instability at the top can hamper a district’s effectiveness and negatively affect all employees — and therefore students.
Cheers: To the Climate Commitment Act. The state Department of Ecology has implemented new rules to reduce the amount of methane gas escaping from landfills. The rules follow a 2022 directive from the Legislature to improve methane monitoring and capture at municipal solid waste landfills, and officials estimate they will decrease landfill-related methane emissions by 38 percent.
As food and garbage decompose at the landfills, they emit methane, a greenhouse gas that traps heat in the atmosphere. To offset the cost of implementation, landfill operators may apply for grants from a fund created by the Climate Commitment Act. Contrary to what critics say, money generated by the act actually goes to programs that benefit the environment and all Washington residents.
Jeers: To impaired decision-making. According to a survey by CardRates.com, 28 percent of Washingtonians admit to turning to alcohol when faced with a major financial decision. Considering that alcohol impairs judgment, this is not a wise strategy, and CardRates writes, “These decisions carry substantial emotional and financial weight, making it crucial to approach them with a clear and rational mindset.”
George Bernard Shaw said, “Alcohol is the anesthesia by which we endure the operation of life.” But unless you are thinking of investing in a microbrewery, save the alcohol until it’s time to toast that brilliant financial decision.
Cheers: To expanded health care. PeaceHealth has announced that it will build and operate a new inpatient brain-injury rehabilitation center. A location has not been determined, but the facility is expected to have 50 beds for adults who have suffered stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury or neurological disorder.
PeaceHealth is partnering with Lifepoint Rehabilitation, a Tennessee-based company, and expects to open the center in 2027. A current facility at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center has a capacity of 14 beds, meaning the new center will greatly increase care for brain-injury patients throughout the region.
