U.S. Senator Mike Crapo paid a visit to Bonners Ferry Saturday, spent two hours fishing on the Kootenai River and brought in a sturgeon for tagging, then met for lunch with local officials to talk about local concerns and to applaud the efforts of the Kootenai Valley Resource Initiative, a group dedicated to find long term solutions to land use issues, including forestry and wildlife recovery, through collaboration.

In attendance were Ron Abraham, Gary Aitken and Patty Perry from the Kootenai Tribe, county commissioner Dan Dinning and Bonners Ferry Mayor Dave Anderson.

“I can't remember who told me the one thing you really need when you collaborate is patience,” Crapo said. “The KVRI has a solid record of achievement, and that gives us in Washington the opportunity to advocate for programs that are important to you. Congratulations.”

Topics during the informal get together were wide ranging, from Craig-Wyden funding to the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus, an organization with leaders from both major parties and both houses of Congress that not only advocates outdoor sport and recreation, but gets together regularly to shoot and participate in such sports. Crapo is Republican chairman from the Senate.

On Craig-Wyden funding, which pays counties in-lieu of taxes on federal lands, Crapo sounded less than optimistic.

“This Congress is out of control,” he said. “While everyone else is tightening their belts, spending in Congress is up 20-percent, but our ability to get funding approved for programs as important to local governments as Craig-Wyden are getting harder.”

In addition to visiting Bonners Ferry, Crapo also made a stop in Post Falls, where he participated in the opening ceremonies of the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life events before flying back to Washington, D.C.