Recently, a treasured Tri-City asset, CREHST museum, took a major financial hit when government funding for the display of Hanford history was drastically reduced.

CREHST has approached the city of Richland for a grant from the hotel-motel tax fund to remain open. Even if that grant request is approved, CREHST will still be about $100,000 short for the coming year.

CREHST provides numerous educational programs for the community and has assisted other community organizations over the years. CREHST played an important role in the National Park Service's assessment of the Ice Age Floods in 1999. The result of that study and much work by volunteers and civic leaders across the Pacific Northwest was passage of legislation authorizing the park service to create the Ice Age Floods National Geological Trail.

CREHST also facilitated the organization of the Lake Lewis Chapter of the Ice Age Floods Institute. The Lake Lewis Chapter of the IAFI has donated $1,000 to CREHST in an effort to help alleviate the recent financial loss.

We challenge the people of the city of Richland and the greater Tri-City community to pitch in to keep this valuable institution open.

George Last, Richland, Gary Kleinknecht, Kennewick