Our take on the news

• The Columbia River Treaty between the United States and Canada, which the two countries will start renegotiating soon, is one international news story the local community needs to watch. It can affect everything from how much water remains in local lakes to whether, as some very hardy canoeists on the front page would like, we build fish ladders around Grand Coulee and Chief Joseph dams.

• Even while trying to form a better advocate for growing tourism via a local tourism board, the chamber of commerce continues in the interim to entice local governments to invest hotel/motel tax funds into the promotion of tourism instead of their balance sheets. The city councils should take that advice, because this is one instance when not spending the money actually hurts the community. It’s meant to be spent to stimulate the tourism industry. Not spending it hurts local industry and costs jobs.

• We hope anyone who has anything to contribute to the fledgling museum effort in Elmer City will do so. See the wish list in this issue.

• We’re looking forward to some fun at the new Harvest Festival this weekend. See you there.

Scott Hunter

editor and publisher