Still a lot to keep us busy

Editorial Gary MugFirst of all, we hope you had a good Fair – it was perfect weather wasn’t it? The numbers may have been down some, but there was still lots to see and do.

While summer’s ended that doesn’t mean that things are going to slow down any time soon – back to school and the fair is just the beginning. Now it’s school sports season and as you can tell by our Fall Sports Preview, Brent Baker has already been busy getting the information you need to know about our Tonasket and Oroville teams.

Speaking of school, it’s hard to fathom not having a place for your kid to go to school, but just north of the border kids in B.C. schools are staying home due to a prolonged teachers’ strike for more money and smaller classrooms. It already seemed like our neighbor’s kids went to school later in the summer than ours do – what’s it going to be like when they finally get back to class? Last day just before Canada Day maybe? Maybe the strike is Oroville’s answer to falling enrollment, according to the last school board meeting there have been Canadian parents inquiring about enrolling their kids in the Oroville District. It wouldn’t be the first time there’s been some cross border school shopping.

Speaking of school kids, just a reminder that the Oroville Booster Club Auction Dinner, which used to take place later than the event at the American Legion, is next Saturday, Sept. 13 at Veranda Beach Resort (see the ad on page 2). They tried this out last year and it was a big success. So go and show your support for our local youth. The other Booster Club Auction will take place in October.

You can also support our local youth from Oroville and Tonasket by taking part in the upcoming Explorer Golf Tournament at the Oroville Golf Course Saturday, Sept. 20 at 11 a.m. The fundraiser helps the local Troop, which is sponsored by the U.S. Border Patrol. The Explorers have become a very visible part of our communities, especially at events where they do everything from park cars to help with security. For more information contact Keith Harris at keith.harris@dhs.gov or call 509-476-3622.

Although it seems like it was a long break, the Oroville Chamber of Commerce is starting up their meetings again. This Thursday, Sept. 18, tonight, they have a special evening meeting at 6 p.m. at the Plaza Restaurant. The “Hot Topic” as Chamber President Clyde Andrews says is the Hot Lake.

The first meeting of the fall will feature a presentation by researchers from the Pacific Northwest National Labs, writes Andrews. The PNNL has for several years been conducting research on Hot Lake, a very small pond less than two miles northeast of Oroville that does not freeze over in the winter.

Clyde says if you plan on ordering dinner (not required), arrive at 6 p.m. The presentation will be from 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

“Located in Richland, Wash., PNNL employs 4300 and is one among ten U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) national laboratories managed by DOE’s Office of Science. Their research strengthens the U.S. foundation for innovation, and they help find solutions for not only DOE, but for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the National Nuclear Security Administration, other government agencies, universities and industry. Come learn what they hope to find by studying Hot Lake.”

Might be worth checking out – I’ve always been curious about the lake, which is near the family ranch.