Hot Potatoes — 2/9/07

In the latest Video Journal, SR photog extraordinaire Brian Plonka chronicles: “Libby: A Town Struggling to Breathe.” Above, Dan Freebury inhales medicine to ease his bout with asbestos related diseases Wednesday in Libby, Montana. Like so many others Freebury was contaminated by his daily exposure growing up in Libby playing atop vermiculite piles and playing baseball atop asbestos laden soil. “That company owes me a life,” he says. Click here.

*Freezing fog and slick roads: Semi crash east of Coeur d’Alene this morning closes I-90 for three hours/Spokesman-Review — When are people going to understand this simple formula: fog + freezing temperatures = slick roads? Slow. The. Heck. Down.

*Cougars’ web chokes Stanford Cardinals: WSU reaches 20 wins for first time in 12 years/John Blanchette, Spokesman-Review — Gonzaga who?

*In-flight magazines will feature Coeur d’Alene: Horizon, Alaska features are second straight for Inland Northwest/Paula Davenport, Spokesman-Review — Remember how giddy we used to get when some national magazine wrote a feature about us? Now, I want to strangle the Hagadroids who are running travel writers through their $10M spa for the publicity that continues to attract newcomers.

*Seven weeks into job, Akey still on the move/ Mark Nelke, Coeur d’Alene Press — Yikes! He’s on the move! Already? Oh, wait a minute. We’re talking about Rob Akey here. Not Dennis Erickson. Carry on.

*Church vandalized third time in 3 months: Extensive damage threatens fundraiser for youth group/John Craig, Spokesman-Review — I doubt that Garland Alliance considers the third time charming. Wonder what excuse the responsible Sad Sack is going to give when they catch him — My mommy didn’t hold me enough when I was little?