🌱 What did state auditors uncover in Vancouver’s 2024 city finances?

Morning Vancouver! We've got the scoop on the latest happenings in town. Read on to get looped in. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• What did state auditors uncover in Vancouver’s 2024 city finances?
• Why is Camas selling school property through a Vancouver firm now?

Also on today's calendar: BIGMprov Offers Adult Improv Classes and 2 more events.

Today's riddle: My brother swallowed a box of firecrackers. - Is he all right now? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Thursday: Rain, some heavy, with a high of 55 and low of 43 degrees.
• Friday: Mostly cloudy, a little rain, temps: high: 49, low: 42.
• Saturday: A bit of afternoon rain, with a high of 50 and low of 42 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• State audit dings city of Vancouver's 2024 financial statements, cites errors, lack of controls (columbian.com) — Vancouver’s 2024 city financial statements have been flagged by the Washington State Auditor for errors and weak internal controls, including mishandling of fire levy revenues. The audit found omitted funds and improper recording of $18.3 million from Proposition 2, the voter-approved property tax increase for fire and emergency services, raising concerns about how the city tracks and reports taxpayer money.
   

• Camas School District puts 20-acres, former middle school building on the market (columbian.com) — Camas School District is moving to sell 20 acres of unused land and lease out the former Odyssey Middle School building, working through a Vancouver-based commercial real estate firm. With enrollment down about 400 students since the pandemic, district leaders say they’re shifting from growth to consolidating properties, a move that could reshape future school construction plans near Vancouver.
   

📸 Around Vancouver

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Vancouver

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Thursday December 18

• Paint Night with Elida Field
  Amavi Cellars & Pepper Bridge Winery - Tasting Room, 677 W Columbia Way, Vancouver
  6:30 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Friday December 19

• BIGMprov Offers Adult Improv Classes
  theARTScentered , 1007 E Mill Plain Blvd , Vancouver
  5:00 pm
• Columbia Dance’s Fort Vancouver-Inspired Nutcracker
  Skyview High School , 1300 NW 139th St , Vancouver
  6:00 pm

Saturday December 20

• Kids Holiday Market 2025
  Esther Short Park and Playground , 605 Esther St , Vancouver
  10:00 am

Sunday December 21

• Yoga + Wine at Burnt Bridge Cellars — Yoga + Beer®
  Burnt Bridge Cellars , 1500 Broadway St , Vancouver
  12:00 pm

📣 Vancouver Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Thursday December 18

• Adult Drop-In Tech Help
  Fort Vancouver Regional Library , 600 NE 136th Avenue , Vancouver
  10:00 am
• Adult Book Group at Cogir at The Quarry
  Fort Vancouver Regional Library , 415 SE 177th Ave , Vancouver
  10:30 am
• The Craft of Writing: Writing Workshop and Book Group
  Fort Vancouver Regional Library , 901 C Street , Vancouver
  10:30 am
• Prairie Falcons vs Camas Papermakers
  Prairie High School , 11311 NE 119th St , Vancouver
  5:15 pm
• Adult Book Group
  Fort Vancouver Regional Library , 1661 C Street , Washougal
  6:00 pm
• Magenta Theater Presents: Little Women a Musical
  Magenta Theater , 1108 Main St , Vancouver
  7:30 pm

Friday December 19

• Narnia Wrap Party
  Manor Evangelical Church , 17913 NE 72nd Ave , Battle Ground
  6:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Missing cat?
  This cat has been hanging out on our porch the last few days, we were wanting to check if this is an indoor outdoor cat or if it’s missing? Super… (Nextdoor North Hazel Dell)
• Kitty for adoption at the shelter.
  Hes a 12 year old senior needing a loving home. He shouldnt have to spend his end of age there. (Nextdoor Fourth Plain Village)

• Costco Wholesale Corporation posted a job opening for Maintenance Clerk in Vancouver. Apply here.
• Pizza Hut, Inc. posted a job opening for Team Member in Vancouver. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Vancouver here.

🗞 Nearby News

Brush Prairie

• Death notices: Dec. 17, 2025 (thereflector.com)

Camas

• Boys basketball: Leighton Livengood, Jaxen Appelt lead Fort Vancouver to 82-45 rout of Seton Catholic (theolympian.com)
• Vital Statistics for Dec. 16, 2025 (columbian.com)
• Update: Belkot's legal team submits sheriff's report to its case against Clark County Council (clarkcountytoday.com)

Hockinson

Ok Vancouver! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don’t know. I haven’t heard the last report.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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