Vancouver, Wash. ‒ Mosquito season has arrived, and the pesky insect population is higher than years past.

Clark County Mosquito Control District crews are finding a higher number of mosquitoes throughout the county this season than they have the last several years. Most recently, the area east of the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge has been a mosquito hotspot.

Mosquito control district officials suspect the mild weather during the winter, followed by an unseasonably warm spring, provided ideal conditions for the mosquito population to increase dramatically.

Vancouver, Wash. – Clark County is seeking applicants to fill a vacancy on the Development and Engineering Advisory Board. The position is for someone associated with commercial or industrial development. The term would start immediately and continue until Aug. 31, 2019.

The advisory board reviews policy and county code changes and works on process improvements and fees with the Community Development and Public Works departments.

Vancouver, Wash. – Booklets for the Green Neighbors Natural Garden Tour are now available at garden stores across the county.

Clark County residents will get a chance to wander through 12 diverse natural gardens that showcase earth-friendly gardening techniques from 10 am to 4 pm Sunday, July 15.

Booklets with the map and details about the free, self-guided garden tour can be downloaded from www.clarkgreenneighbors.org/gardentour or found at:

Vancouver, Wash. ‒ Clark County citizens have until Monday, July 9, to submit a mail-in voter registration form to be eligible to vote in the Aug, 7 primary and special election.

Online registration applications can be submitted up to 11:59 pm Monday, July 9. Visit the Elections Office website at clarkvotes.org and click on MyVote to register online. 

Vancouver, Wash. – With fireworks sales beginning Thursday, June 28, Clark County reminds residents to comply with local and state laws and use fireworks safely and responsibly.

In unincorporated areas north of Northwest/Northeast 219th Street, fireworks can be used from noon to 11 pm June 28, 9 am to 11 pm June 29-July 3 and 9 am to midnight July 4. In unincorporated areas south of Northwest/Northeast of 219th Street, fireworks can be used from 9 am to midnight July 4.

Vancouver, Wash. – Jim Rumpeltes has tapped Mitch Nickolds to be the director of Clark County’s Community Development department. Nickolds has been serving as interim director since April.

Nickolds was hired as the county’s assistant building official in February of this year. Prior to that, he worked for the city of Portland as Inspection Services Division manager. He served as the Inspection Services Division manager for the city of Pasco for more than 16 years. Nickolds is a Certified Building Official and has more than 26 years of work experience in community development.

Vancouver, WA – Effective Sunday, July 1, all land clearing and residential burning in Clark County will be restricted due to increased fire danger. Cowlitz and Skamania counties also will impose bans for lands in their jurisdictions.

Clark County Fire Marshal Jon Dunaway is canceling all burning permits issued in Clark County for this year. Permits can be reissued or extended when the ban is lifted. The burning restrictions do not apply to federally managed lands.

Vancouver, Wash. – An exhibition of Erika Bartlett’s artwork 7 Loves is on display at the Rebecca Anstine Gallery in the Clark County Public Service Center through August 2018.

Vancouver, Wash. – Starting this summer, Clark County drivers will have additional help maintaining their vehicles and reducing water pollution caused by vehicle leaks.

A new program, Don’t Drip and Drive, aims to reduce vehicle leaks by working with participating repair shops to offer free visual leak inspections, along with a 10 percent discount for repairs, up to $50. 

In addition, the Watershed Alliance will hold “leak check” events where residents can find out if their vehicle has a leak and learn about repair options from an third party auto technician.

Vancouver, Wash. – The Clark County Council is accepting applications from local organizations for grants that encourage historic preservation and programs, including preservation of historic documents.

The Historical Promotion Grants program is designed to increase awareness and education to better preserve, exhibit, and/or interpret local history and historic preservation.