Valley Hit Big By Burglaries

A wave of burglaries has hit Walla Walla, Columbia and Garfield counties in the past few months, prompting some local law enforcement officials and citizens groups to get better organized.

They're asking for help from residents and hunters to be on the lookout for suspi­cious activities, hoping citi­zens' tips will lead to arrests. During the past several months, cabin owners, busi­nesses and residential house­holds alike in the mountains and down in the valley have experienced a spike in break-ins and vandalism.

In Columbia County alone, 16 burglaries occurred since Sept. 1, with six hap­peni...