Wallace Mayor Finally Quits; It Was The Right Thing To Do

Wallace Mayor Debbie Mikesell reluctantly resigned last week, complaining that she had been forced out of office by malcontents. Seems ex-council candidate John Ruggles and others thought she shouldn’t govern their city and live elsewhere. Count me among the malcontents. Idaho law says a mayor must be a qualified elector. And electors must live in the town where they vote. It’s simple. City Attorney Hollis Anderson should have figured it out, but Anderson advised Mikesell that she could hold office because she ran a Wallace business, got her mail in town and had registered her car there. I’m probably qualified, too - I’ve toured the Sierra Silver Mine, covered a murder trial in Wallace and was asked to run for Huckleberry Festival sheriff. See where this thing leads?

Prosecutor stiffs Bonner County law enforcement

Everything about the case against Ian Higgins is goofy. First, Higgins exchanged gunfire with Bonner County sheriff’s deputy John Givens, who was wounded in the gunbattle. Then Higgins was freed from his hospital bed because charges against him hadn’t been filed in time. Now, Prosecutor Tevis Hull has dropped charges against him - even though a judge had ruled there’s enough evidence to bind Higgins over for trial. Self-defense, said Hull. Nuts, replied Bonner County law enforcement. Count me among the peanut gallery. This case should have gone to trial to reassure line troops they have an advocate if someone shoots at them. The dismissal of charges shows they don’t.

Phone mail: home occupancy permit

You know you have a rough day ahead when your first three phone conversations begin, “Where do you get your facts?” Dan Jacobson, his wife, four neighbors and a friend took issue with a Hot Potato on Thursday questioning a home occupancy permit granted to Jacobson Tree Service. The Jacobsons have been locked in a bitter battle with neighbor Ida Hawkins, who has complained that the Jacobsons are conducting too much business from their property in a restrictive residential zone. I agreed. The four neighbors sided with Jacobson. They said the business doesn’t disturb them and spoke highly of the Jacobson family. Most mentioned that Dan Jacobson decorates a 50-foot tree each Christmas for neighbors to enjoy and he plows their driveways. … Sandpoint subscriber James Kemp took issue with my statement Thursday that Lakeland School District patrons had a civic duty to support school bonds. He said citizens have a civic duty to vote - but that doesn’t mean they have to vote the way I want them to. , DataTimes MEMO: D.F. Oliveria’s “Hot Potatoes” runs Tuesdays and Thursdays. You can comment on the items by calling (800) 344-6718 or (208) 765-7125.