Another Green Monday: Support KYRS
It's hard to believe, but Bart Mihailovich and I have been doing our weekly KYRS radio show for exactly 9 months. It's been a wonderful experience, and we look forward to many more months to come.
As I'm sure you've heard, our Fall On-Air Fund Drive started last Friday and runs through Thursday, September 16th. This is the most important fund drive we'll ever be a part of. Your support allows great community radio to continue to thrive, and everyone benefits from the in-depth public affairs programming and diverse musical talents aired everyday on KYRS. More importantly, you can help KYRS go from 100 watts to 6,5000 watts and double our coverage area. We are a volunteer-powered, non-commercial, listener-supported, community radio station. We depend on people like you to keep the station going strong. In order to build the new tower site and boost our power, we need to raise $50,000 before year’s end.
For a $50 donation, we’re offering listeners on of the following: Two tickets to Dirty Martinis For Clean Water, a bike ride to Couer d’ Alene with a stop at DOMA Coffee, and a float on the river. Remember, you can pay overtime. Whether you’re a loyal listener or not, there is something about KYRS and community radio that effects you – yes, even those of you far away from Spokane. During the Fund Drive we will be asking for your financial support – but this isn’t just about supporting the operations of the radio station - this is supporting diversity in the community, this is supporting sustainability in Spokane, and this is supporting a free, independent voice here and everywhere.
For $35 you can become a KYRS member. Your gift is tax deductible and you will be making an investment into our community. We encourage you to give whatever you can as every little bit helps.
Please visit this site HERE and consider donating today. If you do decide to support us, support KYRS, and support community radio, please mark in the comments section of “check out” that you’re donating for the Down To Earth show or call 509-747-3807 and tell them Down To Earth sent you.
Bart and I really appreciate whatever you can do!
Image courtesy of Miriam Forester.
Hunting at Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge. Yup. Does “wildlife refuge” invoke the sound of gunshots? Well, officials at the Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge near Cheney have authorized hunting for the first time since it was established in 1937. Apparently, the area has reached its carrying capacity for large elk herds which are causing damage to the habitat and waterfowl are game too. Rich Landers reported seven young hunters have drawn permits to get the first shot at waterfowl. Their season is September 25th-26th and they’re all younger than 17.“We’ve been working toward this since 2004,” said Mike Rule, refuge wildlife biologist. “We figured a youth-only waterfowl hunt was a good place to start.” The Refuge Improvement Act of 1997 required all national refuges to consider expanding hunting and five other priority public uses as officials revised their comprehensive plans, Rule said. Most of the region’s wildlife refuges like Kootenai in North Idaho and the Columbia in central Washington have been open to hunting for decades. Still, I made frequent trips out to Turnbull to view the beautiful, quiet land like so many others in college and this just doesn’t sound right, no matter how strictly officials are monitoring the grounds. Full story HERE.
The Child Nutrition Act. There’s a component of this bill that is big news and it isn’t about more funding and vegetables in school meals - which are obviously important too - but it attacks a government standard that is negatively impacting kids’ health: Sugar. Ed Bruske writes: “Right behind smoking, sugar has become the health scourge of our time, contributing greatly to this country's estimated $147 billion annual tab for weight-related illnesses. Yet in the world of federally-subsidized school meals, sugar not only goes virtually unregulated, but has emerged as the go-to ingredient to boost calories in perpetually under-funded cafeterias.” Full story HERE.
How awesome was SpokeFest? What a great event. The numbers are still being finalized but more than 2,000 participated, an increase from last years 1,700. I loved it when organizer Bill Bender high-fived each rider crossing the finish line and it’s only a matter of time before this event moves on to Hoopfest and Bloomsday! Ful story HERE.
