Few would dispute that Coeur d’Alene’s Kroc Center has been an overwhelming success since it opened six years ago. A recent study commissioned by the host Salvation Army revealed that The Kroc had a social and economic benefit of almost $20.6 million in 2014, or almost three times the center’s annual budget of $7.4 million. This, according to the Coeur d’Alene Press. Why am I telling you this? If you go back a few years, you’ll find that the usual CAVEr (Citizens Against Virtually Everything) suspects fought construction of The Kroc, tooth and nail. One political pest made a commotion about the dirt used as fill for the project. Another predicted that The Kroc Center wouldn’t attract enough users to pay for operation and maintenance. Eighteen to 20 sneaks secretly signed a letter asking a national church-state separation group to investigate plans for the Salvation Army to include space for a church at the new center. When they weren’t attacking The Kroc, some CAVErs fought the purchase of land for the new library, purchase of land for the education corridor, tax increment financing for Riverstone complex infrastructure, and, of course, the impressive upgrade of McEuen Park. The CAVErs haven’t stopped progress in the Lake City. But it’s not for a lack of trying/DFO, Sunday Huckleberries. More here.