Quick scan around the region's papers for interesting commentary and columns:

Jim Ruffalo, Auburn Journal - City Council considers offer to pipe into Lincoln's sewer

Another change that may be in the air - well, in truth, a bit below that level - could be the Auburn city sewer system.

The City Council is currently mulling an offer from the county to join in a consortium that will hook up with the so-called "super sewer" system at Lincoln. The council is mainly looking at financial figures, but is somewhat frustrated because the county's alleged offer has yet to be put into writing.

For the record, the county's most recent sales pitch quoted a price of about $65 for each Auburn hookup, down from a final offer of $100 made just a few weeks ago. But, again, that latest figure was not in writing.

Granted, the county is genuinely interested in having Auburn in the mix.

"It makes no sense for us to have North Auburn hook up to Lincoln without having (the city of) Auburn also involved," said Jim Durfee, the county's director of facility services.

The Auburn Augur - Placid Placer Politics

HOLMES ON THE RANGE � Auburn�s Mike Holmes remains steadfast in his determination to replace John T. Doolittle in the House of Representatives. He gave it a shot in the June 2006 Republican primary election and lost 2 to 1.

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KFBK�s Tom Sullivan, a darling of the far-right, now says he won�t run for the 4th Congressional District seat even if incumbent J.T. Doolittle, a dear pal, opts not to seek a 10th term next year (seven other House Republicans already have decided not to run again). Sullivan�s reason? The Bee reports that he�s expected to head for New York City and become a fixture on the Fox Business Network, a cable TV network that starts airing in mid-October. One less pain-in-the-neck for Mike Holmes...Charlie Brown, a cinch to again be the Democratic nominee for the same congressional seat, will talk at the Auburn Area Democratic Club�s monthly meeting next Thursday the 4th in the Auburn Library�s Beecher Room, starting at 6:45 p.m.

Sierra-Sun Editorial: Our View: Investing in health and education

Nearly three out of four voters supported the Tahoe Forest Hospital�s ambitious $98.5 million bond measure in a mail-in election that ended Tuesday.

Even with several hundred ballots remaining to be tallied, it�s clear that area residents have passed Measure C.

Now, administrators of the public hospital district will chart a course to retrofit existing buildings to meet state earthquake safety standards and improve the community hospital�s services.

The vote was a ringing endorsement of the need for quality emergency and long-term medical care in a region that is relatively isolated and subject to unpredictable mountain weather.

In supporting a measure that will tax property owners $9 a year for every $100,000 of assessed value, residents brushed aside concerns over the hospital�s past spending practices, as well as the claims of critics that the hospital should pay for improvements out of its operating budget.

In a broader sense, though, the hospital�s victory is another example of Tahoe-Truckee residents willing to tax themselves to maintain the area�s extraordinary quality of life.

Rick Keene Op-Ed, Colfax Record: Communities need help improving sewer plants

Most of us do not think about wastewater too often. In fact, we probably try to avoid thinking about it. Out of sight, out of mind. However, the realities of increasingly onerous state and federal regulations have forced local water officials to grapple with wastewater issues on a regular basis.

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Water provides health, energy, jobs, recreational opportunities and numerous other benefits. It is California's lifeblood. However, while we must remember the importance of water to our state, we must also recognize that water regulations and standards must be practically achievable if local communities can be expected to comply.