Pend Oreille River Tourism Alliance Birding Map.
Newport, WA, July 22, 2008: Pend Oreille River Tourism Alliance (PORTA) hosted dinner for the first-time visit to Pend Oreille County by the Washington State Senate Natural Resources Oceans and Recreation committee. The event was hosted at the Clubhouse of Eagle’s Landing RV Resort Community in Cusick on July 21.
The Committee, which is chaired by Senator Ken Jacobsen (D, Seattle), and included Sen. Bob Morton (R, Index) and senate staff, toured Pend Oreille County on a fact-finding mission. The agenda included a stop at the Wilson Ranch near Sacheen Lake to observe working lands conservation, TeckCominco Mine in Metaline Falls, Gardner Cave at Crawford State Park, and a forest health briefing by the Department of Natural Resources near Tiger. The final stop was a cougar population briefing presented by WSU and WDFW in Spokane.
Included at dinner Monday were the Pend Oreille County Commissioners: Laura Merrill, Dean Cummings and Ken Oliver; and the PORTA Board of Directors: President Bob Spencer, Vice President Bob Briggs, Secretary Peggy Greene, Treasurer Joyce Weir, and Board members Chris Evers and Loyce Akers. PORTA member James Daw, manager of Blueslide, obtained and prepared dinner from food locally grown in Pend Oreille County. Mr. Daw worked for many years as head chef in Kauai and brought culinary artistry to the local bounty.
PORTA presented its development as a visitor bureau and tourism marketing outreach organization. It was suggested to extend the ‘shoulders of the season’ of available activities like Gardner Cave so that it remains open through October and opens in May. This extension encompasses scheduled Lions Club train rides and provides additional activities for train riders and visitors to north Pend Oreille County. PORTA also recognized the opportunity to develop winter activities in conjunction with 49 Degrees North to attract those visitors within short driving distances of the County. PORTA encouraged the Committee and Commissioners to provide support to tourism as an economic engine county-wide, recognizing that tourism is one of several existing avenues available to benefit business development in the region.
The Praise-a-Palooza Festival is a weekend of music, entertainment for all ages, fellowship, and ministry. It all takes place at the County Fairgrounds in Cusick, Washington. The festival features a variety of Christian Bands, an Open Mic Session on the Main Stage, Speakers, Sunday Service, Arts and Crafts Booths, and Food. Cusick is located on Hwy 20 about 60 miles north of Spokane, and about 15 miles north of Newport
