It's shaping up to be a humdinger of an election
It's shaping up to be a humdinger of an election season.
Rumors are flying around the courthouse as a host of political wannabes are picking up petitions of candidacy.
Edgar Steele, former attorney for the late Aryan Nations and Bud Mueller, former county commissioner, are said to be gunning for Marcia Phillips' job on the county commission.
Jerry Clemons, also a former county commissioner, is already out campaigning for county assessor.
Bob Wynhousen has also tossed his hat into the race for Rep. George Eskridge's seat.
Stay tuned. One thing about Bonner County politics, it is as unpredictable as February's weather.
One thing all potential officeholders should know, that no candidate who has spent the majority of his or her campaign treasury advertising in the Bee or utilizing our graphics department for signs, decals, etc. has ever lost. Ever.
Ask Shawn Keough and roughly eight current officeholders.
Candidate petitions must be turned in between March 6-17. Let the games begin…
I hired a new editor for the Bonners Ferry Herald a few weeks back. His name is Robert James. He's also an attorney. I can't imagine too many lawyer jokes are going to run in the Seen 'n Heard column of the Herald anymore.
Technology is changing so fast in the newspaper industry it is hard for me to decide whether to upgrade the computers and cameras and such or just wait a few months and buy new.
During the past month we rolled out a Simpleblog feature to our website. The Simpleblog allows readers to attach comments on the bottom of stories posted at bonnercountydailybee.com.
Since we rolled out the Simpleblog, there have been more than 300 comments posted to stories on the website.
That's huge. My computer geek friend, Brad, tells me we have more comments to our stories than papers 10 times our size.
We are going to roll out a column based on the web comments because I realize some readers don't use the web and others choose not to.
The main story we ran on the recreation district elicited the most comments — 33. The Eric Hebert story and my editorial combined for 30 comments. Nate Holland had 10, the school district's decision to keep a controversial club has 16 (including Bible verses!)
There are comments on 34 stories.
The busiest day for comments was Feb. 15 with 23 and we have had at least one comment every day we have had the Simpleblog up.
Here are a few random samples of Simpleblog comments:
? Concerning the Drier convictions:
"I hope Judge Michaud and the prosecution enjoyed their time in the spotlight. Please keep in mind that the public's view of a car salesman and a lawyer are the same. What you see here is a son that tried to protect his father."
? Concerning a story on Handyman Services: "We are so glad to see Handyman Services and Tito Tiberi prospering and expanding. His approach to winning and keeping customers makes his company a success. Go Tito!" This note was signed by Kathie Sullivan.
The world of the Simpleblog can be like the wild west if not managed correctly. Comments to the Simpleblog have to be approved by me before they go on the Bee website. This keeps us out of some trouble because the rules of libel still apply in the ether.
A couple of our online partners have attempted blogs only to have to take them down.
People can post anonymously or use a fictional name on our Simpleblog. Both of these practices aren't allowed in the printed Bee. We are not so strict on the website.
If you have a moment, check out the most active news website in Bonner County and try out the Simpleblog.
Speaking on online…which Realtor has a sign on First Ave. that asks people to look him up at his ".con" email address. Most email addresses are ".com" Could this be a truth in advertising move? A cry for help?
It looks like we will soon be discussing funding a new high school in Sandpoint. It would be a shame if the same people who voted the poorly planned recreation district proposal down will blindly vote against a new high school.
Both facilities cost money…but that's where the similarities end.
Wouldn't it be a good idea that if we do need a high school that it is moved away from the junior high? I'm surprised there aren't more accidents in that parking lot after school.
While I am on the subject…who had the wise idea to buy their high school kid a fancy car? Looking at the SHS parking lot reminds me of an upscale auto showroom rather than high schoolers' cars.
OK, I'm jealous. My first car was a 1974 Pinto station wagon that in no way could be described as cool. My plan is to hand over my 1994 Ford Escort to my son, Austin, when he is old enough to drive…in six years.
One would hope the folks from North Idaho College, Sandpoint High School, University of Idaho and Lewis Clark State College would be comparing notes about how best to share facilities.
It wouldn't take much of a leap to discuss a community center and, dare I write it, a skating rink, all be housed in adjoining facilities to best use parking and facilities?
A person asked me how I thought a straw poll of Sandpoint City Council members would turn out if they were asked if they support the Sand Creek Byway proposal.
No guesses here.
The Olympic athletes have nothing on the Community Assistance League ladies! All kinds of records (and CDs, cassettes) are being broken right here in our town!
Walls are being painted at breakneck speed, windows are hurridly washed and carloads of things are arriving in warp time.
Racing to meet their deadline. The CAL gals are on course. Gold is surely in their future.
The above bit of unrhymed uniambic pentameter was penned by Barbi Buchanon.
Email of the week:
YOU KNOW YOU ARE A TRUE IDAHOAN WHEN:
?"Vacation" means going east or west on I-90 for the weekend.
?You measure distance in hours.
?You know several people who have hit a deer more than once.
?You often switch from "heat" to "A/C" in the same day and back again.
?You can drive 65 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard, without flinching.
? You see people wearing camouflage at social events (including weddings).
? You install security lights on your house and garage and leave both unlocked.
? You carry jumper cables in your car and your girlfriend/wife/mother in law knows how to use them.
? You design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit.
? Driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow.
? You know all four seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter, and road construction.
? Your idea of creative landscaping is a statue of a deer next to your blue spruce.
? You were unaware that there is a legal drinking age.
? Down South to you means Utah or Nevada.
? A brat is something you eat.
? Your neighbor throws a party to celebrate his new pole shed.
?You go out to a tailgate party every Friday.
? Your 4th of July picnic was moved indoors due to frost.
? You have more miles on your snow blower than your car.
? You find 0 degrees "a little chilly."
Email question of the week: "Are you watching the Olympics on TV?" We had 88 votes — 58 percent yes, 42 percent no.
This week's question: Did you buy a Powerball ticket last week?
David Keyes is publisher of the Bee. His column runs weekly in print and online.