[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 161 (Thursday, December 15, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S13652]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

                                 ______
                                 

                    A NEWSPAPER FAMILY FOR 30 YEARS

 Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, keeping a community connected and 
informed is one of the most important functions of a local paper. In 
Cottonwood, ID, this job has been attended to with care and expertise 
by Pat Wherry and her late husband Bob for the past 30 years. In 1975, 
Pat and Bob took the helm of the Cottonwood Chronicle and Bob, until 
his death, and Pat have been serving the community of Cottonwood 
through their hard work and diligence ever since. Their two sons are 
involved in the businesses as well, each currently holding positions as 
editors, one at the Chronicle and the other at the Lewis County Herald. 
Bob passed away in 1996, but Pat has stayed with the paper, working 
hours that as many involved in small papers know far exceed 40 hours 
per week.
  The Cottonwood Chronicle is one of the oldest papers in Idaho, first 
wearing the banner of the ``Cottonwood Reporter'' in 1892. It has been 
the Cottonwood Chronicle since around 1910. At one time, the Wherry 
family also owned both the Valley News in Meridian and the Lewis County 
Herald in Nez Perce, but later sold the Valley News. They have devoted 
their time, resources and energy to keeping the people in these 
communities educated and involved. Editors of small papers especially 
serve many functions--they are the source of news and schedules of 
events. They are the keepers of community opinion and concerns. Pat 
especially is a strong and proud advocate for Cottonwood and I always 
appreciate her information she shares about the exciting things 
happening in this growing community. I congratulate Pat and her sons 
Greg and Steve and wish them well as they continue in their good 
work.

                          ____________________