By Tracy Stone-ManningWriters on the Range As we mark our nation’s 250th anniversary, it’s worth celebrating what we the people have in common. What we literally have in common — own in common — are our public lands, our national parks and forests. In the West especially, glance at the photo library on your phone […]
Editorials
Writers on the Range – The West is about to inherit more abandoned oil wells if new federal rule is approved
By Will PattizWriters on the Range Here’s a true story about the West: An oil company leases some public land, drills a well, pumps the oil, and posts a $10,000 bond as its promise to clean up the site when the well runs dry. Years later, the company declares bankruptcy — or it simply walks […]
Guest Column – The First Freedom is essential to democracy
By Ellen Hiatt Currently, I live with a view of the Muckleshoot Casino and see its fireworks displays advertising their “Boom City” and heralding their upcoming end-of-June fireworks display. With Independence Day and the freedoms it celebrates just around the corner, I can’t help reflecting on the many challenges we have faced as a nation […]
Building to last
In a volume of historic pictures provided to the newspaper by the Shafer Museum is a historic photo of Twisp’s Glover Street buried under a pile of dirt. In the background are a steam shovel, what appears to be a 1930s-vintage automobile, and what are now The Merc Playhouse and 1908 BBQ & Bourbon buildings. […]
Guest Column – Not every disagreement needs an audience
By Terry Ward There was a time when most disagreements stayed small. Not hidden. Not ignored. Just contained. Two people could disagree, work through it privately and move on without feeling the need to broadcast the conflict to everyone around them. Not every frustration became a public statement. Not every misunderstanding required spectators. That has […]
Celebration and reflection
We’re just a few weeks shy of the United States of America’s 250 birthday. It’s a memorable anniversary in world history, and an ultimate moment for reflection. How do you think we should celebrate? Because we certainly deserve to. It’s been a remarkable two-and-a-half centuries when you think about it — and you should, with […]
Writers on the Range – Multi-faceted mogul Ted Turner left a legacy of protected land in the West
By Todd WilkinsonWriters on the Range Before he died at age 87 in early May, Ted Turner knew that stewardship of land would be his real legacy. Of course, he might also be long known for starting CNN and 24-hour news, as well as building a major league baseball team, his hometown Atlanta Braves. He […]
Writers on the Range – The West heads for coming wildfire season unprepared
By David Calkin The West is staring down a dangerous wildfire year. A dry winter and historically low snowpack have set the stage for a potentially severe 2026 fire season. But the deeper problem is that the nation’s capacity to respond to wildfire has eroded. For decades, large wildfires were managed through the Incident Command […]
Before you say ‘no …’
Voters should give some thoughtful consideration to the Okanogan County ballot proposal that they will be asked to approve in the Aug. 4 primary election. The county commissioners recently agreed, unanimously, to propose a “levy lid lift” in the property tax rate. Without it, the county will face a $2 million deficit in its operating […]
Highway hysteria revisited
We’ve been here before. Once again, the immutable forces of nature have had their way with our vital transportation link to the west side. Winter storm damage has wreaked havoc with big chunks of the North Cascades Highway, and just when we would ordinarily be welcoming springtime traffic the road is instead closed for necessary […]
