The omicron variant of COVID-19 has been detected in two Clark County cases, one of whom is linked to outbreaks among wrestling teams.

The omicron variant was first detected in Washington state earlier this month. As of Wednesday, the state Department of Health had identified more than a dozen cases of the variant, including at least three cases associated with wrestling outbreaks occurring across the state. The Department of Health notified Clark County Public Health of the local omicron cases this weekend.

The Clark County Council today approved an interim ordinance to allow the sale of fireworks from noon Monday, Dec. 27 to 11 p.m. Friday, Dec. 31. The interim ordinance applies only to 2021.

County code allows the discharge of fireworks from 6 p.m. Dec. 31 to 1 a.m. Jan. 1 each year. However, current county code prohibits the sale of consumer fireworks around the New Year’s holiday. Fireworks may only be sold from June 28 to July 4 each year.

The Clark County Medical Examiner’s office has confirmed the identity of a woman whose body was discovered 17 years ago.

The Medical Examiner’s Office recently identified Donna Lee Swindell as the unidentified person found in Hazel Dell on Nov. 6, 2004. Swindell was 57 years old at the time of her death. The cause and manner of her death are undetermined.

Each year, the Clark County Auditor’s Office publishes a voters’ pamphlet for the primary election and mails it to all households in Clark County. It includes candidate statements and photographs and local ballot measures with supporting and opposing statements written by citizen committees. A legislative body placing a measure on the ballot shall appoint a committee to write a supporting statement and another committee to write an opposing statement.

Clark County offices will be closed on Friday, Dec. 24 in observance of Christmas and Friday, Dec. 31 in observance of New Year.

County Auditor Greg Kimsey, Assessor Peter Van Nortwick and Treasurer Alishia Topper remind residents and business owners that the joint lobby on the second floor of the Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin St. will be closed on those days.  The joint lobby is the public-facing customer service center for all three offices.

Clark County is seeking applicants from the Camas/Washougal area for the Portland International Airport Citizen Noise Advisory Committee, PDX CNAC. The county has one appointment to the 15-member committee.

The term begins Jan. 1, 2022, and expires on Jan. 1, 2025.

This committee is charged with:

Clark County has implemented and currently operates eviction prevention rent assistance programs to assist people who are low-income impacted by the pandemic. These programs have provided an unprecedented $33.7 million in financial assistance to 4,225 households, paying for 36,444 months of rent and utilities since August 2020. Approximately $700,000 in financial assistance for rent and utilities is going out to about 90 additional households each week.

Clark County Solid Waste and Environmental Outreach encourages people to take steps to reduce waste as they celebrate the holidays.

Household waste in the U.S. and Clark County typically increases 20% to 25% between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. Trash cans fill up with holiday food waste, shopping bags, bows and ribbons, packaging, and wrapping paper that contribute an additional 1 million tons a week to our country’s landfills. But by taking a few simple steps to reduce, reuse and recycle, the holiday season can be a little greener.

Every election, the Clark County Auditor’s Office provides an online and printed voters’ guide with information about candidates and ballot measures for voters to make an informed decision when voting. The voters’ guide includes statements by and photographs of candidates for elective offices as well as local ballot measures with supporting and opposing statements written by citizens.

The Clark County Charter Review Commission this week voted to place six charter amendment proposals on the November 2022, general election ballot.

These measures are: