Did You Remember To Wash Your Hands?
An Associated Press story about Operation Clean Hands brought to mind the late Larry Stem. A recovering alcoholic, “Stemmer,” as he was known, worked for me as a reporter in Kalispell, Mont. He could be annoying. He’d shoot photos while on vacation at Yellowstone National Park and then try to hit me up for mileage. On the other hand, he had more news sense than any three reporters. The first and last column the old-timer wrote for me urged people to wash their hands after using the bathroom. In it, he harangued the great unwashed for spreading disease, ranging from common colds to diarrhea. The spiel ended with Stemmer barking: “Just do it.” I thought the column was a waste of space. Now, Operation Clean Hands has discovered 39 percent of men and 26 percent of women don’t wash their hands after relieving themselves. (You don’t want to know how they found out.) The public health campaign is urging bathroom users to wash their hands under warm water for 15 seconds to avoid spreading germs. So, Stemmer was ahead of his time. As for you? Just do it. (Operation Clean Hands may be watching.)
Press corps up to old tricks
Ex-Vice President Spiro Agnew, who died Tuesday, was ahead of his time. As baby boomers recall, Spiro annoyed the media by calling them things like “nattering nabobs of negativism.” He may have been right. Consider: When Republican Bob Dole declined an invitation to address the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People convention, Tom, Dan, Peter and their ilk bared their fangs. African-American columnist Leonard Pitts Jr. harrumphed that Dole’s reason for snubbing the NAACP convention “probably played well in Klan klaverns.” But where was the outcry when President Clinton declined an invitation recently to speak to the Christian Coalition? Do you suppose he’s a religious bigot? The media’s silence is deafening.
Murray folks know who should move
Doesn’t the Federal Highway Administration realize that Murray is a historic town? Gold was found in them thar hills once. More than likely, the bureaucrats don’t care. Retirees and cash-poor merchants who inhabit modern-day Murray are up in arms that an $8.6 million highway project is flooding them out. Seems Highway 9 reconstruction has created a damlike barrier that holds water in the old mining town. When townspeople complained, a highway engineer simply shrugged. Said he: Move. Residents already are lining up heavy equipment to take out the road next time the rains come. Molly B’damn would be proud.
, 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 or by sending e-mail to daveo@spokesman.com.