CONTINUING ON AFTER MIRA

    Both Spitz and Krill noted that there is no single way to advertise. It had to be a combination of radio, flyers, weekly newspaper, and physical presence. Spitz acquired a cute red cottage right on the highway for her computer classes. Their own presence and energy seemed very strong compared with the problems faced by all these declining timber industry towns. I said it was hard to imagine what the places would be like without optimistic individuals. Krill said that when she arrived 25 years ago, the town was "pathetic and apathetic." Since then she has seen individuals and groups take charge and turn the place around, but it has been cyclical. Nnow, as logging industry employees leave Priest River they are replaced by retirees and people with a long commute to Spokane, Washington. The town increased 12% between 1990 and 2000. Krill said the young people are still leaving after high school. According to MIRA team member Alice Booth, about 70% do not go on to college. The team would like to give them a place to hang out, but they all realize that needs to be supplemented by jobs. These energetic folks are still working with a high energy level toward their goal of the community center. There is talk of starting a 501(c)(3) non-profit to act as an umbrella organization, but other groups in town with a more narrow focus also want to do the same. There is still some MIRA money which they hope the city will match so that they can hire Jim Birdsall for more consulting, but they seemed to realize that time was short. Krill talked about Priest River becoming a historic district and she remarked, "It's going to be a cute place to shop in the next few year or it's going to blow away." That is hard for me to imagine with this part of the MIRA team still working toward their goal.