Community Corner

🌱 Why Woodland’s Visitor Center is shutting its doors next year

Make time for HOPE Dementia Support Group – Woodland on the Woodland Patch calendar

Tuesday December 16th Patch AM
Tuesday December 16th Patch AM (Patch graphic)

Good morning Woodland! Your connection to what's happening around town is here. Take a sip of coffee and read on. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • Why Woodland’s Visitor Center is shutting its doors next year
  • Why is a Woodland councilor’s residency sparking such a fierce clash?
  • What state Sen. John Braun told Woodland leaders about taxes and schools

📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Woodland? Post it to Woodland photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️

Find out what's happening in Woodlandfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: Can February March? 🤔 (Answer below!)


Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Woodlandfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Tuesday: Cloudy with a shower, with a high of 58 and low of 43 degrees.
  • Wednesday: Mostly cloudy, showers around, temps: high: 51, low: 44.
  • Thursday: Rain, with a high of 53 and low of 45 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Woodland Chamber announces closure of Visitor Center (thereflector.com) — Woodland’s Visitor Center is set to close in 2026 after the City Council declined to provide the $40,000 in lodging tax funds chamber leaders say are needed to keep it open. Instead, councilors split remaining tourism dollars with Downtown Woodland Revitalization, prompting legal questions and debate over which investments best drive visitors through town on the way to Mount St. Helens.
   

• Dispute over Woodland councilor's unexcused absence escalates into heated argument (thereflector.com) — Woodland’s mayor and City Council are locked in a tense dispute over Councilor Gabe Huston’s unexcused absence and ongoing questions about whether he actually lives within city limits. Heated exchanges at recent meetings, including over the cost of any removal process, highlight deeper tensions about respect, procedure, and representation on the council.
   

• State Sen. John Braun talks affordability, taxes and education (chronline.com) — Woodland business and civic leaders heard directly from State Sen. John Braun at a Woodland Chamber luncheon, where he focused on affordability concerns, taxes and school funding pressures. Speaking at the Oak Tree Restaurant, Braun criticized proposed new state taxes, linked rising insurance and energy costs to state policy, and fielded questions on tariffs and their impact on local employers.
   


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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Need junk gone today?
    I offer fast, reliable junk removal and hauling services. From old furniture and appliances to yard waste, construction debris, and general clutter —… (Nextdoor Northwest)
  • ServiceMaster posted a job opening for Janitorial Cleaner PT Woodland WA in Woodland. Apply here.
  • Builders FirstSource posted a job opening for Load Builder I Yard/Warehouse in Woodland. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Woodland here.

🗞 Nearby News

La Center

  • Death notices: Dec. 17, 2025 (thereflector.com)
  • Bob's Automotive prepares for ownership change after three decades of service (thereflector.com)
  • Nominees for The Columbian 2025-26 Week 10 high school athlete of the week, sponsored by Killer Burger (columbian.com)

Ridgefield

  • 'Keeping it local': Ridgefield Floral and Gifts settles into historic corner (thereflector.com)
  • Ridgefield school board approves new elementary school boundaries (columbian.com)
  • Target Zero: Honoring law enforcement's battle against impaired driving at Night of 1000 Stars (clarkcountytoday.com)

Ok Woodland! 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, but April May!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!


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