Opinion

We’d like to make you aware of a few developments here at Feather Publishing. First, this year’s Plumas County Visitors Guide is now available. Look for it on local newsstands, or stop by your nearest Feather Publishing office to pick up a free copy. You can also find the guide on our website, plumasnews.com.

The 116-page guide covers everything you need to know to plan a trip to our beautiful county, or to help friends and relatives plan a trip. From lodging to events to activities — the guide has it all. The guide is a joint venture between the Plumas County Visitors Bureau and Feather Publishing and is the most powerful marketing piece for Plumas County tourism.

We have major economic problems to address. Our politicians are rolling up their sleeves and digging in their heels at the same time. But the dialog is healthy and that is good.

We all agree on the problems. Our national debt is spiraling out of control. The recession might be technically over, but the technical definition of a recession only matters to economists. Wall Street has not yet rebounded to its pre-recession levels, but it’s well on its way.

People have been trying to wrest a living from the nooks and crannies of Plumas County since the last ice age. The Maidu (and the Washoe and Paiute summer visitors) focused on native and cultivated plants, and fish and game. The miners sought gold. The railroaders sought logs out of the backcountry. The ranchers raised crops and livestock on the 250,000 acres of rich meadows. Overwhelming all was the extent of the forest, the bounty of the waters, the beautiful valleys, and a climate that winnows out the weak.

My mom used to take my book away, shove me out the door and lock it behind me, saying “Go play!” I hated it.

Today I recognize the value of that directive, but given a choice, I read; I read a lot — two or more books a week on average.

Not all my reading consists of the masterworks of literature. I like mysteries and thrillers. I read finance, political science, biographies, history, pulp fiction and best-sellers. I’ll read anything that looks interesting.