March 22, 2023
INSIDE L ocaL N ews
Page 3
Missing for Over a Week
Police search
for missing
Vancouver
mother and
8-year-old
daughter
Arts &
page 7-8
ENTERTAINMENT
c Lassified /B ids
pages 4, 9 - 10
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A Vancouver mother and her
young daughter have been report-
ed missing, and the Vancouver
Police Department is seeking the
public's help finding them. Kirk-
land C. Warren, 28 is accused of
violating a no contact order. Ac-
cording to The Columbian Van-
couver police did not confirm if
Warren is a suspect in the disap-
pearances of 27-year-old Meshay
“Karmen” Melendez and her
daughter, Layla Stewart. But Sgt.
Julie Ballou said investigators
believe there is a criminal con-
nection to their disappearances.
Layla and Meshay, photo courtesy of the VPD
27-year-old Meshay Melendez,
27, and her 8-year-old daughter
Layla Stewart were last seen in
the early morning of March 12 in
the 7700 block of Vancouver Mall
Drive. Meshay is 5′9″ and 185lb
with black hair and brown eyes.
Layla is about 4′ and 50 lbs with
brown hair and hazel eyes.
A vehicle believed to belong
to Meshay was found a short dis-
tance away on March 19. Informa-
tion provided by the Vancouver
Police Department.
Anyone with information about
their location is asked to please
contact Detective Givens robert.
givens@cityofvancouver.us, De-
tective Nolan chadd.nolan@city-
ofvancouver.us, or call 911.
Celebrate the People Who
Keep Our Region Moving
Give ‘thanks’ to
TriMet’s nearly
1,400 bus and
train operators
Gov. Tina Kotek signed a proc-
lamation declaring March 18,
2023, Transit Driver Appreciation
Day. “Every day, you connected
people with opportunity, provid-
ing a safe, reliable ride to work,
school, appointments, services
and so much more,” Kotek said.
Gov. Kotek is inviting everyone
in the state of Oregon to observe
Transit Driver Appreciation Day.
TriMet bus and train operators
always go the extra mile. They’re
up early and out late, maneuver-
ing giant vehicles, often through
challenging conditions. They can
be the first and sometimes the last
person riders see in their day.
They help move millions, yet
welcome one at a time, for a safe,
reliable ride. Although Transit
Driver Appreciation Day tradi-
tionally falls on March 18, TriMet
has moved our celebration up one
day last Friday, to bring it into
the traditional work week, when
March 18th is now Transit Driver Apprecation Day. Photo courtesy
of Trimet News
more people ride and more opera- bus, to let the operator know that
tors are at work, to experience the you’re a nice person and appreci-
extra community support. In case ate their work.
you have missed it this year here
Help make their day! Show
are a few things to remember for common courtesy for our opera-
next year’s Transit Driver Appre- tors and others, by following the
ciation Day.
rules for riding and helping create
Shine a light! If your operator a pleasant atmosphere for every-
is coming to your stop early in the one on board. Consider a not-
morning when it’s still dark, use so-random act of kindness! Say
your cell phone as a light to help thanks in your own way – with
them see you and stop to pick you a wave, a smile or a nice note.
up! Take care not to flash bright Community members can visit
lights directly at the operator. trimet.org/hello to leave a digital
Say hello! Consider sharing a note for an individual operator or
kind word when you step on the the entire team!