📰 What's Making News

Columbia River, Prairie Etch Names in Clark County Football Lore

Columbia River head coach DeWayne Patterson and the Rapids are part of a history-making moment for Clark County prep football, alongside the Prairie Falcons. The Columbian's football notebook dives into Patterson's journey — from the spark that convinced him coaching was a lifelong calling to the milestone that now links both programs in the record books. Battle Ground and Mountain View also figure into this week's roundup of gridiron storylines worth following. Read the full notebook.

Camas Artist Jilleen Shahidi Grows a Garden — No Tomatoes Required

Jilleen Shahidi's garden in Camas produced a bumper crop this year, but you won't find a single zucchini in it. The artist channels creativity through her garden-inspired work, weaving themes of growth and self-expression into pieces that have caught the attention of the local art community. It's a profile that shows how Clark County's creative scene keeps blossoming in unexpected ways. Meet Jilleen and her work.

Clark County's Green Team Rethinks What the County Buys

A cross-departmental group inside Clark County government called the Green Team is scrutinizing the environmental footprint of every product the county purchases. Deputy Director of Public Works Jennifer Coker says the team weighs climate, human, economic, and environmental impacts before signing off on materials and supplies. It's a behind-the-scenes effort most residents never see, but one that shapes how taxpayer dollars intersect with sustainability goals. See how the team operates.

25 Firefighters Battle Two-Story House Fire on NE 35th Street

Nine apparatus and 25 Vancouver firefighters responded to a well-involved residential structure fire on NE 35th Street Sunday evening. The two-story home was fully engulfed by the time crews arrived, but no injuries were reported. Fire marshals are investigating the cause, and the department is reminding residents to check smoke alarms and review household fire escape plans. Get the full details.

Who Earned Week 1 Player of the Week Honors? Cast Your Vote

The Columbian has unveiled its nominees for the 2026 Week 1 prep football player of the week, sponsored by Killer Burger. Standouts from Columbia River, Battle Ground, Hudson's Bay, La Center, and Skyview are all on the ballot after big opening-week performances. If you caught any Friday-night action, this is your chance to weigh in and back your favorite player. See the nominees and vote.

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⚡ Quick Bites

$264M Land Sale Preps Tri-Cities for Its First Data Center Campus

Trammell Crow's data center division just picked up nearly 1,000 acres at the Lewis & Clark Ranch in West Richland for close to $264 million. If the complex moves forward, it would be the Tri-Cities' first major data center development — another sign that Eastern Washington is becoming a magnet for digital infrastructure. Read more

Washington's Drought Has Farmers Running on Half Their Water

Growers near Zillah in Yakima County say they're "pleasantly surprised" to receive just over 50 percent of their normal water allotment — a measure of how severe the state's unprecedented drought has become. The situation could ripple through fall produce prices across the Pacific Northwest. Read more

Where to Find a Public Track in Vancouver for Free Runs

A recent newcomer asked the Vancouver WA subreddit for public running tracks, and the thread blew up with suggestions. If you're tired of the treadmill and want a real oval under your feet, the community recommendations are worth a scroll. Check the thread

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📅 Mark Your Calendar

Tuesday, September 8

• Enhance Fitness Classes – 8:30 AM at various locations around Clark County. Free evidence-based exercise classes for adults 60 and older, tailored to every ability level from seated to full mobility. No pre-registration needed — just arrive early if it's your first time. More info
• Playgroup – 10:00 AM at Firstenburg Community Center, Vancouver. A safe indoor play space for kids ages 9 months to 6 years to run, jump, climb and explore while parents socialize. Self-monitored by parents. $7–$9. More info
• Take Your Genealogy Search Beyond with Free Research Guides – 10:00 AM at the Clark County Genealogical Society, Vancouver. Break out of your usual search patterns and discover resources beyond Ancestry and MyHeritage. $20. More info
• Camas Public Library Food Drive – 10:00 AM at Camas Public Library, Camas. Running through September 30, donations benefit the Camas School District's Family-Community Resource Center. Special need for lunchbox snacks, canned fruit, pantry staples, hygiene items and laundry pods. Drop off near the north entrance. More info
• I Got You Poo Ribbon Cutting – 10:00 AM at Esther Short Park, Vancouver. Meet the team behind this veteran-owned Vancouver pet waste removal and lawn deodorizing business at their ribbon cutting at the Salmon Run Bell Tower. More info
• Tween & Teen Tabletop Role-Playing Game – 4:30 PM at various FVRL library locations (Ridgefield & Three Creeks). Create a character and dive into Dungeons & Dragons — beginners and experienced players welcome. Ages 9–19. Free. More info
• Shut Up and Write! Writers Group – 5:15 PM at Vancouver Arts Hub, Vancouver. A weekly gathering for writers of all levels featuring dedicated writing time, introductions and a wrap-up session — no readings or critiques. Free parking. Free. More info
• Spanish Conversation Group – 5:30 PM at Camas Public Library, Camas. A casual weekly group for beginning Spanish speakers. No registration required. Free. More info

Wednesday, September 9

• Build Garden Boxes for the Community Pollinator Garden – 9:00 AM at Curtin Springs Wildlife Habitat. Help Clark County Public Works build garden boxes for a community pollinator garden. Open to volunteers 13 and older. Wear closed-toe shoes and bring water and snacks. More info
• Reclaimed Creations Exhibit at OMSI – 9:30 AM at OMSI, Portland. Artist Sayaka Ganz transforms thousands of discarded plastic objects into soaring animals and rushing waves. On view through September 30. More info
• Providence Academy Tours – 10:00 AM at Providence Academy, Vancouver. Tour the stunning 1873 neo-Georgian brick building constructed by Mother Joseph of the Sacred Heart. Open Wednesday–Friday by reservation. Free. More info
• Contemplative Prayer – 12:20 PM at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Vancouver. Quiet music and contemplative prayer from 12:20–12:45 PM. Free. More info
• Wearable Art — Artists Talk & Runway Show – 1:00 PM at Art at the Cave Gallery, Vancouver. Sixty hand-crafted garments by 25 local artists hit the runway, plus work from eight jewelers. Free. More info
• Serving Up Civic Engagement: City Boards and Commissions Open House – 2:30 PM at Cascade Park Community Library, Vancouver. Chat with current City commissioners and staff over sandwiches and refreshments. Learn how to join a volunteer board that helps guide decisions on everything from public safety to parks. No registration required. More info
• Camas Farmers Market – 3:00 PM at Downtown Camas (temporary location on Birch Street between 3rd and 4th Avenues). Every Wednesday 3–7 PM through the season. More info
• Teen & Adult Magic the Gathering Social Club – 4:00 PM at various FVRL library locations (Cascade Park & Vancouver). Open game play with decks provided or bring your own. Free. More info
• Kids & Tweens Create: Origami – 4:00 PM. Drop-in creative projects for ages 5–12. Free. More info
• Community Dragon Boat Paddle – 5:30 PM at Ridgefield Public Boat Launch, Ridgefield. Try dragon boat paddling for free — no experience needed, equipment provided. Ages 14 and up. More info
• Leathercrafting Workshop with Dragon Half Art – 5:30 PM at The Arts Centered, Vancouver. A hands-on session for beginners and seasoned crafters alike. $40–$45. More info
• Weekly Swing Dancing at the Valiant Ballroom – 6:00 PM at The Valiant Ballroom, Vancouver. East Coast and Lindy Hop swing dancing — intermediate lesson at 6 PM, beginner lesson at 7 PM, social dance 8–9:30 PM. Singles, partners and groups welcome. $5–$10. More info
• Disabled American Veterans Monthly Meeting – 6:30 PM at the 40 et 8, Vancouver. DAV Chapter 4 holds its monthly meeting. Free. More info
• Moving a Loved One into Memory Care – 6:30 PM at Camas Public Library, Camas. Tami Calais guides attendees through helpful questions to determine if it's the right time to transition to memory care. Register at camaspl.org/MEMORYCARE. Free. More info

Thursday, September 10

• East Vancouver Farmers Market – 10:00 AM at Columbia Tech Center, Vancouver. Over 50 small businesses offering farm, food and artisan products. Every Thursday 10 AM–2 PM through September. More info
• Marshall House Tours – 10:00 AM at Marshall House, Vancouver. Tour this stunning Queen Anne home where General George C. Marshall lived from 1936–1938, featuring stained glass, decorative woodwork and military memorabilia. Free. More info
• Advanced Competitive Bridge Bidding – 10:00 AM at Vancouver Bridge Club, Vancouver. A class for beginning and intermediate players instructed by Ruby Life Master Michael Walker. $10–$50. More info
• GRO Parade of Homes – 10:00 AM at Emerald Grove, Salmon Creek. The Building Industry Association of Clark County showcases eight custom homes featuring smart home systems, indoor-outdoor living and energy-efficient innovation. Open Wednesday–Sunday through Sept. 27. $20. More info
• Soil Health & Cover Crops Workshop – 11:00 AM with the Clark County Conservation District. Learn practical soil health practices, see a rainfall simulator demo, and take home fall cover crop seed. More info
• Menchie's Hazel Dell Fundraiser for Naydenov XCEL Booster Club – 3:00 PM. Enjoy frozen yogurt and support local gymnasts raising funds for competition expenses. More info
• Preschool Shape Detective – 3:30 PM at Camas Public Library, Camas. Preschoolers ages 3–5 use shape finders as magnifying glasses to explore the library. Register at CamasPL.org/shapedetective. Free. More info
• Grand Opening of Exit 16 Sips & Scoops – 4:00 PM at 305 NW Pacific Highway, La Center. Celebrate this new local spot for food, craft beverages, and handcrafted ice cream — including alcohol-infused flavors for adults. More info
• Teen Hangout at Vancouver Community Library – 4:30 PM at Vancouver Community Library. Games, crafts, chatting and snacks for ages 13–19. Every Thursday. Free. More info
• "Take Learning Outside" Kick-Off Event for Educators – 4:30 PM at 28908 NW Main Ave, Ridgefield. A free event for teachers and educators to earn STEM clock hours while connecting with community partners for outdoor teaching. More info
• Composting: Find the System That Works for You – 4:30 PM. Free workshop from the Clark County Composter Recycler program covering indoor and outdoor composting options. More info
• Scarecrow Making Workshop at Pomeroy Farm – 5:30 PM at Pomeroy Farm, Yacolt. Learn the art of scarecrow making with longtime expert Martha Todd and take your creation home. $35. More info
• Vancouver Sons and Daughters of Italy Meeting – 6:00 PM at Family of Christ Lutheran Church, Vancouver. Monthly meeting includes dinner. More info
• Backpacking 101: Adventure by Bicycle – 6:00 PM on Main St., Vancouver. Free workshop from Wild Camp Goods with local cyclist Jasmine "Tater Tot" Baker covering the ins and outs of bikepacking. More info
• Southwest Washington Woodturners Monthly Meeting – 7:00 PM at Friends of the Carpenter, Vancouver. Open to experienced and novice woodturners. Free. More info
• Ghost Town Poetry Open Mic Featuring Adrienne Awen – 7:00 PM at Art at the Cave, Vancouver. Awen blends harp melodies, vocals and effects — her new album "Night Bloom" is out now. Suggested $5 donation. More info

Friday, September 11

• Patriot Day Ceremony – 9:00 AM at Downtown Vancouver Waterfront Park. A solemn community gathering honoring the memory of those lost on September 11, 2001. Free. More info
• Adult & Teen Craft & Chat at La Center Community Library – 10:00 AM at La Center Community Library. Bring your fiber arts project — knitting, crochet, spinning, needlepoint, cross-stitch, even mending. Ages 13+. Free. More info
• The Portland Maize & Pumpkin Patch – 10:00 AM on Sauvie Island, Portland. Almost 2 miles of corn maze pathways plus a pumpkin patch. Open Friday–Monday in September. More info
• Book Swap at Kindred Vancouver – 10:00 AM at Kindred Vancouver, 2213 Main St. Bring clean, gently used books and take home as many new-to-you reads as you like — no trade required. Sept. 11–13. Free. More info
• Canopy Time at Plas Newydd Farm – 10:00 AM. A monthly nature walk exploring beautiful spots on the farm — part nature journaling, part seasonal observation. More info
• Fall Watercolor Workshops – 10:30 AM at Vancouver Arts Hub, Vancouver. Paint florals, apples and pumpkins with Kathryn Garcia-Stackpole of Kathryn By Design. Beginners welcome. $125 includes all materials. More info
• 60+ Senior Community Meal – 12:00 PM at Calvary Chapel Vancouver. Free Friday lunch for low-income seniors age 60+, served noon–1 PM. More info
• Home School Rides at Oaks Park – 12:00 PM at Oaks Park, Portland. Unlimited ride bracelets for Oaks Park's annual homeschool event. $21.50. More info
• Blood Drive at Magenta Theater – 12:00 PM at Magenta Theater, Vancouver. Donors get a $5 discount on tickets for Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors plus a free Hello Kitty item. Sign up at redcrossblood.org with code magentatheater. More info
• Rose City Comic Con – 1:00 PM at Oregon Convention Center, Portland. A fun, family-friendly 3-day celebration of comics, pop culture and cosplay. More info
• NAMI Art Group – 1:00 PM at NAMI Southwest Washington, Vancouver. A weekly art group hosted by the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Free. More info
• HOPE Dementia Support: Meet Me at the Movies – 1:00 PM at Kiggins Theatre, Vancouver. A monthly musical screening for those living with dementia and their loved ones. $10. More info
• Base Camp at Mount St. Helens – 3:00 PM at the Science and Learning Center above Coldwater Lake. Camp on the north side of the volcano, join guided hikes, and enjoy evening dinners and presentations. $275. More info
• Alderbrook Park Cruise-In – 4:00 PM at Alderbrook Park, Brush Prairie. Classic cars plus disc golf, train rides, mini golf, bounce houses, pool and more. $5–$10. More info
• Into the Crater Hike with Mt. St. Helens Institute – 5:00 PM. A bucket-list guided scramble into the crater of an active volcano led by geologists and professional mountain guides. More info
• Project Huddle Knit/Crochet Circle – 5:30 PM at Dandelion Teahouse and Apothecary, Vancouver. Bring your projects or your unfinished scraps for others to use. Free. More info
• Ridgefield Dragon Boat Paddles – 5:30 PM at Ridgefield. Free community paddling — no experience needed, equipment provided. Ages 14+. More info
• Battle Ground Legacy Night – 6:15 PM at Battle Ground District Stadium. All Battle Ground alumni are invited to the Battle Ground vs. Prairie football game. Dress in the style of the decade you graduated. $10 adults. More info
• Jesus and Friends: An Evening of Acoustic Christian Music – 6:30 PM at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Vancouver. Modern Christian music performed on acoustic instruments. Free, donations encouraged. More info
• Haunted History Walking Tour – 7:00 PM at Clark County Historical Museum, Vancouver. Guides lead groups through downtown Vancouver uncovering tales of lingering spirits and mysterious happenings. $15–$20. More info
• Spirit Tales of the Vancouver Barracks – 7:00 PM at The Grant House, Vancouver. Historian Jeff Davis leads a walking tour of the historic barracks covering its history and hauntings from 1849 to 2011. $17–$22. More info
• Live Music on the Patio at Farrar's Bistro – 7:00 PM at Farrar's Bistro, Vancouver. Enjoy food, cocktails and live performances from local artists on the pet-friendly patio. More info
• The Weeds: Trio of Innovative Original Irish Melodies – 7:30 PM at Old Liberty Theater, Ridgefield. A family trio from Carmel, California blending traditional Irish melodies with original compositions on fiddle, mandolin, Celtic harp and more. $22. More info

Saturday, September 12

• VAS BirdBlitz 2026 on iNaturalist – 6:00 AM. Team up with Vancouver Audubon Society to find and document birds across Clark, Skamania and Klickitat counties. Upload photos and recordings to iNaturalist. More info
• Summit Climb on Mt. St. Helens – 6:00 AM. A single-day non-technical scramble to the summit with professional mountain guides. Designed for novice hikers and experienced mountaineers alike. More info
• Downtown Vancouver Farmers Market – 9:00 AM at Esther Short Park, Vancouver. The flagship market with local vendors, open Saturdays 9 AM–3 PM and Sundays 10 AM–3 PM through October. More info
• Salmon Creek Trail Parkrun – 9:00 AM at Salmon Creek Trail, Vancouver. A free, fun weekly 5K — walk, jog, run, volunteer or spectate. Register online before your first time. More info
• Curiosity Kids: Sasquatch Science Team – 9:00 AM at OMSI, Portland. Kids and families use all five senses to explore and wonder about Sasquatch. More info
• Litter Pick-Up at Frenchman's Bar – 9:00 AM at Frenchman's Bar Regional Park. Join Clark County volunteers to clean up the park. Wear closed-toe shoes and bring water and a snack. More info
• Uptown Vancouver Community Clean-Up – 9:00 AM at Kindred Vancouver, 2213 Main St. Gloves, pickers and buckets provided. Help keep Uptown beautiful! More info
• Open Saturday at Pearson Field Education Center – 10:00 AM at Pearson Field Education Center, Vancouver. Flight simulators, a vertical wind table, historic airplanes and hands-on STEAM learning for all ages. Free. More info
• Dandelion Wish Fair – 10:00 AM at Dandelion Teahouse & Apothecary, Vancouver. An outdoor popup market featuring local vendors selling skincare, plants, jewelry, quilts and more. More info
• 2026 Catio Tour – 10:00 AM in SE Portland. Peek into creative outdoor cat spaces from simple enclosures to backyard showpieces. $15. More info
• Flower Bouquet Workshop at OMSI – 10:00 AM at OMSI, Portland. Learn flower arranging with locally grown seasonal blooms, taught by Lexie Criscola of Fruits of Orange. Take-home bouquet included. $55. More info
• Nature Days at Columbia Springs – 10:00 AM at Columbia Springs, Vancouver. Free family exploration with volunteer-led activities, games and guided walks. This month's theme: Fire, Fungi & Other Community Builders. More info
• Bird Stories of Plas Newydd Farm Writing Workshop – 10:00 AM in Ridgefield. Writer Kate Gray leads a workshop inspired by the farm's feathered residents. No writing experience necessary. Coffee, tea and water provided. More info
• Sensory Storytime – 10:30 AM at Vancouver Community Library. Interactive storytime with sensory play and freedom of movement in a smaller, quieter group. Ages 3–9. Registration required. Free. More info
• Chelatchie Prairie Railroad Summer Train Rides – 12:00 PM departing from Yacolt. Ride through a tunnel, across the East Fork of the Lewis River, with a stop at Moulton Station to visit Yacolt Falls. $18–$24. More info
• Paper Collage at Art at the Cave – 12:00 PM at Art at the Cave, Vancouver. Greg Bee hosts a free, stress-free collage day — bring supplies or don't. Open to all. More info
• Bi-Zi Farms Sunflower Festival – 12:00 PM at Bi-Zi Farms, Vancouver. Photos with beautiful sunflowers and farm animals, a free hayride and one cut sunflower with every paid entry. $12. More info
• The Waterfront Vancouver Bluegrass Festival – 12:30 PM at Waterfront Park, Vancouver. Enjoy performances by Jackstraw, The Rosa Lees, Stillhouse Junkies and Jason Carter Band. Continues Sunday with more acts. Free admission. More info
• Camas Car Show – 2:00 PM in Downtown Camas. Stroll beautiful historic streets filled with classic and custom cars and trucks at this 19th annual event. Free for spectators. More info
• OMSI Public Star Party — Autumn Night Sky – 8:00 PM at Stub Stewart State Park, Buxton. View planets, moon, stars and more through telescopes of all sizes with OMSI and Rose City Astronomers. Parking $10/vehicle. More info

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