Republic

The small town of Republic is just over the Sherman Pass on the way to Tonasket, only we will go a roundabout way heading north towards Canada border and even smaller roads. Tonasket is the town where my mother grew up and where my grandfather started an apple orchard in 1910.

Republic has lost its logging industry, sadly through the eyes of the dear woman who runs this dry goods store where I bought a pair of 501 Levi's, Tom a pack of underwear, and the fellow washing windows is trading labor for a hat! Any loss of industry is sad, and so often the factors that push these changes in policy are ones that impact people's lives without a whole lot of other work choices.

Now there is gold mining work which surprised me. We will poke around some more before we head up to where there are virtually no towns so no internet either on our way to Tonasket. All city people should get out into these very rural areas, as it puts faces and stories to the vast difference and perspectives politically.