Top Stories: Burgerville for sale; dry Salmon Creek ponds; Cowlitz Tribe expands reservation

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Here are some of the top stories of the week on columbian.com.

1. Are the rumors true? Is Burgerville for sale?

Is Burgerville for sale?

The beloved Vancouver fast-food chain confirmed Tuesday that it is looking for new investment to aid in expansion.

• The Vancouver fast-food chain is looking for outside investment

2. Cowlitz Indian Tribe expands reservation near La Center by about 60 acres

The Cowlitz Indian Tribe is expanding its 152-acre reservation near La Center by about 60 acres.

The tribe purchased the property a few years ago, but a 2016 agreement with the city of La Center prohibited the tribe from taking the land into trust, which would place it under tribal governance and outside local and federal jurisdiction.

• La Center council agrees to let Cowlitz Tribe incorporate land east of I-5 into trust

3. Why are Salmon Creek trail ponds drying up?

What is causing ponds along the western edge of Salmon Creek trail to dry up? That’s the question many residents living along the trail are asking.

According to Clark County Public Works, the ponds began drying up about a year ago. Rocky Houston, director of the parks division, said the reason is clear.

• Residents skeptical of Clark County Public Works’ answers; water levels and quality to be monitored

4. Project Safe Haven fills former site of Kasper Recovery Housing in Hazel Dell; Kasper owner files lawsuit

A Vancouver nonprofit has taken over operations of the former Kasper Recovery Housing site in Hazel Dell, rebranding it as Project Safe Haven.

Vancouver’s James Kasper — who recovered from addiction — made waves as he remodeled the infamous Value Motel, 708 N.E. 78th St., into a recovery home in 2020. Kasper Recovery Housing opened in 2021 and served people recovering from addiction. The complex was at its maximum capacity of 58 people and had a waitlist of about 100 people, Kasper said.

• Kasper founder sues owners of former Value Motel, says they broke promise to sell him property after he spent $1.5M renovating it

5. East Vancouver couple prevail over homeowners association on when political signs can go up before election

Homeowners associations can no longer dictate when residents put up political yard signs thanks to a Vancouver couple’s lawsuit.

Under Washington state law, homeowners associations cannot ban people from displaying political yard signs before an election. But the law doesn’t specify how long before.

• Washington Court of Appeals rules HOA can’t impose time limits prior to an election