The Reflector's Best of the Best 2025
Local News
Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue to hold community forum on the impacts of Tax Incremement Financing
Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue (CCFR) will host a community forum on Monday, March 24, at 6 p.m. at Station 21 regarding tax increment financing (TIF) and its effects on the fire district and others. …
Ridgefield earns award for 2025 budget for eighth straight year
The City of Ridgefield recently received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) for its 2025 budget. This is the eighth year the City has …
Ridgefield Main Street program offering “moola” to support downtown businesses
The Ridgefield Main Street program is helping keep downtown businesses thriving in the historic district of the city as growth continues to sprout all around it. The nonprofit program hit the …
First installment of 2025 property taxes due April 30
The first installment of 2025 Clark County property taxes is due Tuesday, April 30. Tax statements were mailed during the week of Feb. 20. If taxpayers are expecting a mailed statement and …
Ridgefield City Council hears first reading of annexation request
The Ridgefield City Council held a first reading Thursday night for an ordinance that would annex 5.8 acres of land near Northwest Meuller Road into city limits. No action was taken, as the …

Clark County victim loses $500k in gold coin scam

Clark County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) detectives are investigating a scam in which a senior resident lost more than $500,000 in gold coins. The victim, a woman in her 70s, was contacted by …
Ridgefield city officials approved converting North Fourth Avenue to a one-way northbound street to improve traffic flow and safety at the Pioneer Street intersection, during a Thursday, March 13 meeting.

Ridgefield City Council approves downtown parking plan update

The Ridgefield City Council unanimously approved an update to the city’s downtown parking plan during its Thursday, March 13 meeting. The updates finalized a series of changes to improve …

Clark County considers future of Tri-Mountain Golf Course after failed sale to Cowlitz Tribe

Clark County officials are reassessing their long-term strategy for Tri-Mountain Golf Course after the Cowlitz Economic Authority withdrew its bid to purchase the property. At its Wednesday, …

Deadline approaching for studded tire removal in Washington state

Spring is arriving in the Pacific Northwest, and with it comes Washington’s deadline to remove studded tires. Studded tires must be removed by the end of the day Monday, March 31, to avoid …
State & Regional News
Trump not held in contempt in Washington state gender-affirming care case
A judge has denied the Washington attorney general’s attempt to hold the Trump administration in contempt over allegations it flouted a court order in a case involving hospital grant funding …
State workers blast Gov. Bob Ferguson’s furlough plan, calling it a betrayal
Attorney General Bob Ferguson pledged to labor leaders in July 2023 that if elected governor, he’d have their back as he set about to change the culture of state government.  …
Gender expansive students to be protected class under bill advancing in Washington state
 A bill that would add several protected classes to nondiscrimination provisions that apply to public schools in Washington state, received a public hearing Monday in the House Education …
Washington state Senate passes bill to speed up carbon emission data updates
The Washington Senate unanimously passed a bill earlier this month that would require the state Department of Ecology to release a report on statewide carbon emissions every year, rather than two …
Four decades after Mount St. Helens blast, sediment continues to cause problems downstream 
Nearly 45 years after Mount St. Helens’ eruption sent almost 90 billion cubic feet of debris into the upper Toutle Valley, millions of tons of sediment still pour down into the Cowlitz River …
Washington state governor emergency powers reform legislation dies — again
The political stars seemed aligned for the Washington State Legislature to pass a bill this session to rein in the governor’s emergency powers, with Republicans eager to pass reform legislation …
Some Washington state gun regulation bills advance, others die before key cutoff date
Several bills regulating firearms survived Wednesday’s cutoff in the Washington State Legislature to consider bills in their house of origin. Other gun bills are likely dead this legislative …
Washington state House passes bill to help farmers avoid paying CCA fuel taxes
The Washington State House of Representatives passed a bill this week that attempts to fulfill a promise made years ago to the agricultural community under the Climate Commitment Act. Engrossed …
Fate of bill to cap rent increases now rests on fine-tuning in Washington state Senate
A bill to cap residential rent increases across Washington will need revisions to pass in the state Senate, according to the chamber’s top Democrat. “There’s still going to be …
Washington state bill seeks to prevent bail bond agents from enforcing immigration law
Tucked away in a corner of Washington’s Yakima Valley is the small town of Sunnyside, made up of roughly 17,000 residents, a majority of whom are Latino and some lack legal status.  …
Opinion
Community
BGPS announces February employee awards
Battle Ground Public Schools (BGPS) announced the February winners of the Employee Recognition Awards in a Feb. 24 news release. The awards highlight staff members who “embody the …
Community Calendar
History of Women's Clubs and the Public Library: 4-5 p.m., Thursday, March 13, Woodland Community Library, 411 Lakeshore Dr., Woodland. Learn about the history of Women’s Social Clubs and their …
What do the residents think of Ridgefield in 2025?
The community of Ridgefield doesn’t seem too pleased with a second Starbucks location, among many other developments coming to fruition in 2025. A post in the Ridgefield, WA Facebook group …
Letters to the Editor

Letter to the editor: Expensive light-rail is not required on the bridge, nor is it needed

A Feb. 17 article, “Gluesenkamp-Perez, Newhouse invite new Secretary of Transportation to visit I-5 Bridge,” failed to mention the growing cost of the I-5 Bridge plan, currently estimated …

Sports
Life

Remnant Farms Feed and Supply struggling after big losses in 2023 from road closure

After opening in 2005 and experiencing hardship during the 2008 recession, Remnant Farms Feed and Supply store owner Rick Pettit says the impacts from 2023 road closures have created the most …

Outdoors

A furry friend takes a peek at human life from its home

A field mouse with a family of four peeks out from its nest in a tree stump in north Clark County on Monday, March 10.

Obituaries
Death notices
Cary Joiner, 64, of Battle Ground, died March 4. Arrangements are under the care of Northwood Park Funeral Home & Cemetery, 360-574-4252. James Avery Jr., 68, of Vancouver, died March 7. …
In loving memory of Daniel Glaser: 1934-2025
Daniel S. Glaser, 90, passed away peacefully at home in Vancouver, Washington, on Feb. 28, 2025. Born on Sept. 27, 1934, in Glen Ullin, North Dakota, Daniel, affectionately known as Dan, later moved …
In loving memory of Ruth Williams: 1929-2025
Ruth Marian Williams was born on Feb. 20, 1929, to John and Hilda Luokkala in Thomson Township, Minnesota. She died on Jan. 17, 2025, at Gabriela’s Quality Care adult family home, where she had …
In loving memory of Teri Davis: 1943-2025
Harriet “Teri” C. Davis, born 81 years ago, experienced a childhood marked by moving from Framingham to Waterbury, Connecticut; Crown Point, Indiana; Weston, Connecticut; and Westport, …
In loving memory of Robert Slawson: 1938-2025
Robert M. Slawson, 86, passed away on Feb. 18, 2025, in Vancouver, Washington, surrounded by family. Born on Dec. 18, 1938, in San Diego, California, Bob grew up in Battle Ground, Washington. He …
In loving memory of Carol Adolphine Domench: 1944-2025
Carol Adolphine Domench was born in Kingsville, Texas, in 1944 to Lena Ewing (Heller), a masters-level high school teacher, and Harry Ewing, a Navy Officer and Aviator, who trained pilots for the …
In loving memory of James (Jim) Wayne Cook: 1959-2025
It’s with great sadness the Cook family announces the death of their brother, James (Jim) Wayne Cook. He was a loving husband to Caroline and father to Melissa Ordway-Cook, Jessica Staggs, …
In loving memory of Georgianne Elizabeth Duback: 1951-2025
Georgianne Elizabeth Duback, a devoted wife, sister, mother and grandmother, took her last breath on Feb. 24, 2025, in La Center, Washington. She was born on March 8, 1951, in Portland to Peter and …
Death notices: March 12
Hugh Forbis III, 77, of Woodland, died Feb. 28. Arrangements are under the care of Woodland Funeral Home, 360-225-8441. Paul Boling, 58, of Vancouver, died March 1. Arrangements are under the …