Area resident Vaughn Johnson discusses the litter problem in Clark County

Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are those of the author alone and do not reflect the editorial position of ClarkCountyToday.com

On a recent drive North on Interstate 205 from Highway 14 continuing North onto Interstate 5, my wife and I were aghast at the amount of garbage and litter observed while making this northbound trip. We discussed this issue at length as the garbage just continued mile after mile through Clark County. We both agreed this to be a disgusting example of what our county looks like along these corridors. It is a complete embarrassment quite frankly! 

Imagine picking up friends or family from PDX, and have them see the mess that one can not help but notice here. Washington, the Evergreen State might as well have signs saying “Welcome to Washington, the trash littered filthy state.” Do we no longer have programs that once existed to have work crews from the county jail doing public service picking up litter? What about signage warning of fines for litter that was once seen along the highways? Does the State Patrol still have the authority to issue citations for unsecured loads and littering? Is there still an adopt a highway program that lets volunteers take care of the problem that the county is obviously not doing? 

We were shocked, disgusted and quite embarrassed to see our county in such a garbage infested state. We would like to see some investigative reporting on this issue, we would like some answers from our county commissioners on what is or is not being done about this problem. We would like to see information on how volunteers could donate time to help with this issue. We would like mostly however, to be able to drive through Clark County to see the beauty of what we have here and not the amount of trash strewn mile after mile throughout our county! 

Remember Iron Eyes Cody, the Indian who shed a tear over litter? He would be bawling his head off driving through our county.

Vaughn Johnson
Clark County

---

Also read:

• 
  Opinion: The income tax passed the House – what’s next?
  Washington House approved a new tax despite bipartisan opposition; business leaders and residents signal economic impact and looming legal fights.
• 
  Opinion: Washington’s fight for liberty
  Conservative columnist Nancy Churchill argues that despite the passage of a new 9.9% state income tax, signs of shifting political momentum in Washington state give reason for hope and continued action.
• 
  Opinion: Brandi Kruse and I are feeling discouraged but we’re planning to continue advocating for political change. Will you?
  Clark County Today Editor Ken Vance reflects on a discouraging week in Washington state politics, echoing Brandi Kruse’s frustrations over Democrats’ state income tax victory and local decisions on transit and ICE while urging conservatives not to give up on advocating for political change.
• 
  Opinion:  ‘My thoughts on yesterday’s tragic state income tax’
  Leslie Lewallen argues Democrats passed an unconstitutional “millionaires tax” on March 10, 2026, rejected more than 70 Republican amendments, and set Washington on a path she says will harm jobs, schools, and families statewide.
• 
  Opinion: Starbucks founder flees the new NW tax hell
  Lars Larson argues that Howard and Sheri Schultz are leaving the Pacific Northwest for Miami following Washington’s new millionaires tax and rapid state budget growth in Oregon and Washington.