Thanks to the Inlander and the Spokesman Review for your very generous articles on our little experiment. We started the year as a family trying to sort things out, and in a surprise gift, we now find ourselves part of an encouraging community of fellow travelers.
This turn of events has reminded me how important local media is to our community life in the Inland Northwest. Our local reporters and and editors are our storytellers. They reflect the character and voice of our lives in ways that USA Today and CNN could never hope to do. We are also unique in that the paper for the Spokesman goes from wood chips and shredded recycled paper, to pulp, to newsprint, right here in Spokane at Inland Empire Paper in Millwood. IEP also manages large areas of forest in the area that provide them with wood chips. Our paper couldn't get any more local.
So go buy a paper today or pick up an Inlander. They are telling our stories.
Inland Paper also provides access to it's vast forest lands. There is an increasing problem of forests shifting from lumber to private individuals. This seemed like a good move at first for those that have fought bad lumber practices but now as the no trespassing signs go up we are starting to understand how important access issues are. The New York Times did an excellent article about it a couple of months ago. Most people don't realize how small Mt. Spokane State Park is because it is padded with many acres of Inland Paper property that is open to cyclist, hikers, horses and atvs. Someday they may be inclined to sell that land and we will lose it forever. Just another reason to hope that the Spokesman can weather the changes in the daily print media industry.
Posted by: David Blaine | April 10, 2008 at 10:58 AM