Base can be saved

All of us are worried about losing Fairchild Air Force Base. We have been worried during the last 30-plus years. We want to do what we can to prevent the base closure. We focus on the flight path approaches. In the last years, a large prison and a casino have been built under the approach paths. Now some would tell the Spokane Tribe not to build its casino in the West Plains area because it will be under the approach path.

This talk and speculation are wasteful. For years, we have known of the real problem for Fairchild. It is the residential area in Airway Heights south of U.S. 2. This real problem could have been taken care of by Airway Heights – with the help of Spokane and Spokane County this small and mostly dilapidated area could be located.

Furthermore, a Port District could have been formed years ago to take care of the problem. It would have the power under state law to relocate the residential area.

All of us are worried about losing Fairchild Air Force Base. And something can be done.

Stephen Eugster

Spokane