Last week I wrote a post about the 100th anniversary of the Inland Empire Paper Company mill in Millwood, so this seemed like a good time to pull out a historic photo of the mill. This photo, courtesy the Spokane Valley Heritage Museum, shows the mill at its present location in Millwood in the 1940s. Don't you just love all those old cars? 

The Spokane River flows quietly past the Inland Empire Paper plant in Millwood in 2010. SR file photo.

If you have always wanted to see what goes on inside the Inland Empire Paper Mill in Millwood, now is your chance to take a peek. The company will be hosting tours Friday and Saturday to celebrate 100 years in business. The 45 minute tours be begin at 10 a.m. Friday and 8 a.m. Saturday. The final tour will begin at 3 p.m. on both days.

Visitors are required to wear closed-toed shoes and the tour isn't appropriate for children under age 10. The company will provide safety glasses and hearing protection. Visitors should call 924-1911 ext. 316 to set an appointment for a tour.

Inland Empire Paper is owned by Cowles Co., which also owns The Spokesman-Review.

FORESTS — Hunting access is taking a new twist this season in Southwest Washington as Rayonier starts selling permits for entry to some of its lands most coveted by sportsmen.

The timber company’s new hunting permit program for 46,000 acres near Grays River in Pacific County follows fee-access programs initiated several years ago by Potlatch in Idaho and Inland Empire Paper Co. in Eastern Washington and Idaho.

However, Rayonier’s program is more restrictive and expensive, according to a Longview Daily News story.

Rayonier is selling 175 permits to enter its 31,000-acre Fossil Creek area Aug. 15-Dec. 31 for a flat $225.

Though private timber companies like Rayonier have restricted access to their lands in recent years, they haven’t charged hunters they do let in.

“Hunting is going to become a rich man’s sport,” said Vern Eaton of Longview, who has been active in hunting access groups. “I hate to see it come,” he said.

Read on for more details from the story by outdoor writer Tom Paulu.