A soggy Saturday couldn’t dampen enthusiasm for the opening of a much-anticipated grocery store in Ridgefield as hundreds attended the grand opening of Rosauers Dec. 7.

A small plane had a close call Thursday, Dec. 5, in an incident at Grove Field Airport, though Clark County Sheriff’s Office reports no one was injured.

Patriot Prayer founder Joey Gibson will be reading the Bible as part of storytime at the Battle Ground Community Library Thursday, Dec. 12, Gibson announced last week.

The Southwest Washington Regional Transportation Council is the latest group to throw its support behind reignited efforts to replace the aging Interstate 5 bridge after formally approving a statement earlier this month.

Battle Ground’s city budget for 2020 features a drain on reserves in part due to a continuing structural deficit. Though unlike last year utility rates won’t rise, there will be a small increase in property taxes. 

The city of Ridgefield’s budget didn’t shift as much as it has in the past few years, but 2020’s expenses for the city are preparing for another tide of growth.

A youth mental health and substance abuse treatment center in Brush Prairie can continue to operate after the center and the Washington State Department of Health came to an agreement last month placing conditions on its licenses to operate. 

A Clark County Sheriff’s Office deputy used his vehicle in order to stop a wrong-way driver suspected of driving under the influence at the Interstate 5 and the State Route 502 interchange west of Battle Ground, the sheriff’s office reported.

A planned $2 billion methanol production facility in Kalama hit another setback late last month after the Washington State Department of Ecology ruled a key permit application was insufficient for the department to allow the project to move forward.

A ballot measure that will increase Woodland’s property tax levy to fund more police officers has succeeded as certified results from the November election show the proposition passing by a single vote.

Rick Bannan

Local train operator Chelatchie Prairie Railroad started up its final train rides of the year this past weekend. 

The ports of Woodland and Ridgefield recently received the majority of roughly $5.2 million in funding approved by the Washington State Community Economic Revitalization Board in either grants or low-cost loans, the board announced late last month.

Those looking to take advantage of Clark County’s decision to allow cannabis businesses in unincorporated parts of the jurisdiction can now do so as facility applications for the industry are now available.