NOXIOUS WEEDS DEPARTMENT

Meet the people

The Board:

Zone 1  (Underwood to Wind Mountain, including Cook, Mill-A, Willard): Sally Newell

Sally began her service to the county weed board because she realized that invasive species are one of the greatest environmental threats to the West today. She is also a member of the Friends of the White Salmon River Board, The Back County Horsemen of Oregon: Columbia Gorge Chapter, as well as a member of the Gorge Grown Network.

 

Zone 2  (Wind Mountain to Stevenson, including Home Valley, Carson Junction): Steve Hansen  

Steve works for Longview Timber. 

Steve was employed by Forest Products Industry for over 33 years. He is currenly employed by Longview Timber Company and has worked with them for over 32 years. They have been managing approximately 20,000 acres of land in Skamania County since 1984

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Zone 3  (Stevenson to Beacon Rock Area): Kenneth Cole

 Kenneth Cole began his service to the weed board over a year ago. He resides in North Bonneville with his wife Mary Ann of 31 years. He is currently enjoying retirement from a teaching career of 31 years--27 of which for the Stevenson/Carson School District.

 

Zone 4  (Beacon Rock Area to Cape Horn): Kenneth Bajema  

Kenneth is currently the Skamania County representative at the State Weed Board. He began his service to Skamania County in 1988. He is retired from the US Dept. of Interior where he served as a Natural Resource Manager. He is actively farming holly, and among his many other affiliations he is a volunteer consultant with ACDI/VOCA on USAID projects. 

 

Zone 5  (Cape Horn to Mt. Pleasant, including Skye): Larry Wilson

Larry has served many distinguished years on the weed board. He is a joyously retired mill worker who raises cattle.


Exofficio Non-voting Extension Agent: Ole Helgerson

Ole is the Washington State University Skamania County Extension Agent. Ole has more than 18 years experience delivering technology transfer and education programs to woodland owners, loggers, general public and professional foresters, and natural resource specialists. Ole holds a Ph.D. in Silviculture.

 

Staff:

Justin Bush - Weed Coordinator
Justin was hired in 2008. He is a Camas native who left for Hawaii to study Political Sciences until he grew homesick for his home state. He is a graduate of Central Washington University (B.A. Geography & Land Studies 2007). His educational focuses are Water Resources, Geographic Information Systems, Cartography, and Urban Planning. He is responsible for surveying noxious weeds in the county and provides GIS support for the Department. He is an avid outdoor enthusiast, and has has interests ranging from upland bird hunting, to traveling, and SCUBA diving. 
Contact Justin at bush@co.skamania.wa.us or at (509) 427-3941

 

Cyndi Soliz - Knotweed Partnership Specialist
Cyndi was hired in 2005. She is responsible for the knotweed projects in the county. She Grew up in West Richland, WA and attended college in Ft. Worth, TX majoring in engineering materials & Metallurgy. Cyndi is an outdoor enthusiast, and is an avid gardener on her farm in the West end of the County. She is also active in the community; she sits on the Skamania County Planning Commission, is a member of the District 4 Fire Auxiliary and on the Board of Adjustment. In addition to this, she was a co-founder of the Cape Horn Conservancy, is a Columbia Gorge Refuge Steward Volunteer Crew Leader, and finally is a lifetime member of the Appaloosa Horse Club. She loves exploring "gorge-scapes", hiking, canoeing, and horseback riding.
Contact Cyndi at soliz@co.skamania.wa.us or by phone (509) 427-