Column: Celebrating National Small Business Week

“Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy.”

A lot of people don’t realize exactly how many small businesses are all around us. Whether it be a storefront on Main Street in downtown Ritzville, the local fruit stand off the highway in Selah, or an online boutique operating out of Winthrop, it is very likely that someone you know can call themselves a “small business owner.”

Last year, I had the honor of meeting Mike Mauk, who owns Mauk Fishing Stuff. Mike has always loved fishing, but he was tired of his fishing pole getting hooked on the elements around him. He and his family c...