Cheers: To Give More 24! The annual fundraising effort that benefits local nonprofits raised $3.6 million last week, exceeding the event’s goal and providing funding for 216 organizations. More than 11,000 donations were made at an average of $174, and matching funds brought in another $1.5 million.

“We’re amazed once again by the generosity of the community,” said Maury Harris of the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington, an umbrella organization for local nonprofits. “There’s a lot of people out here in Southwest Washington who really care about the community.” Leading recipients ranged from Free Clinic of Southwest Washington to a Catholic school to homeless services. While plaudits are warranted for organizations that help those in need throughout our community, the loudest cheers go to all who donated and worked to support Give More 24!

Jeers: To shoplifting. One example of rising crime rates can be found in incidents of retail theft, as detailed in a recent Columbian article. The Clark County Sheriff’s Office says reports of shoplifting in the year ending Aug. 31 had nearly doubled compared with three years earlier. And much retail theft goes unreported — or initially unnoticed by proprietors.

For small retail outlets, theft is an existential threat. As one store owner says, “It will destroy me, if you shoplift.” State Attorney General Bob Ferguson has created an Organized Retail Crime Theft Task Force to help address the…