On Friday, we were discussing gadfly Dan Gookin's announcement that he planned to run for the Coeur d'Alene City Council seat now held by Deanna Goodlander. In the process, Nic/Rants, Raves & Random Thoughts, brought up the "Wild Goose Chase" that Gookin (shown with biologist Beth Reinhart above) led a coupla years back and provided an archival link to it. Which I've posted below. Kathy Plonka/SR snapped the 2007 photo. Enjoy.

Apparently, Dan Gookin got a tip from someone with concerns that Marshall Chesrown and Black Rock Development had illegally diverted the Spokane River in front of the Bellerive residential project on the shoreline next to Riverstone. He told reporters that before he spread any rumors he wanted to find out the true facts. Afterward, he apologized for leading everyone on a “wild goose chase”/DFO, Huckleberries Online, April 12, 2007. More here. Or below.

Question: The 'Wild Goose Chase', of course, has become HBO lore. It can be viewed two ways -- as the attempt by misinformed community activists to catch someone violating the law. Or as another example of the same activists going off half-cocked as part of an agenda to undermine local civic and community leaders. How do you few the episode?

Apparently, Dan Gookin got a tip from someone with concerns that Marshall Chesrown and Black Rock Development had illegally diverted the Spokane River in front of the Bellerive residential project on the shoreline next to Riverstone. He told reporters that before he spread any rumors he wanted to find out the true facts. Afterward, he apologized for leading everyone on a “wild goose chase.”

After a few calls to the media, a meeting was set up this afternoon with the local U.S. Army Corps of Engineers representative. Environmental Resource Specialist/Biologist Beth Reinhart met Gookin along with Duane Rasmussen, Matt Roetter and Ron Johnson in the Starbuck’s parking lot so she could investigate the alleged wrong-doing. A CdA Press reporter, who set up the meeting, also tagged along as did a Spokesman reporter and photographers from both papers. Gookin lead the group along the shoreline, where crews are building condos. Reinhart inspected the silt fences, the rock retaining walls, and the pilings for the public boardwalk and concluded that everying looked good. “This looks like a good job, a really good job,” Reinhart said. She politely answered the groups questions and said she would investigate to see who owned the property and if they had proper permits.

Then the group moved downstream to the Mill River development to see if the alleged river diversion was there. It wasn’t. Again, Reinhart didn’t see anything wrong. Gookin and the group tried to get the anonymous tipster on the phone to get more specifics just to ensure they weren’t missing anything. They never got in contact with the person. After the meeting, Reinhart went to the Black Rock office, where George Schillinger presented her with copies of the required permits. “There is no issue,” Reinhart said in a phone message to the Spokesman. “They are in compliance with permit. It’s not really a story.”