Public Periscope

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District 81 school board members spent about 90 minutes at a recent retreat learning to deal with reporters interviewing them about breaking news. Longtime board member Terrie Beaudreau was not impressed: “Who cares whether they get their story or not?” … Steve Becker, a former newsman turned consultant, told her reporters believe they’re seeking information on behalf of the public. “That’s a crock!” she responded. Becker suggested someone else get the job of spokesperson when reporters call. … By the way, the district wants the newspaper’s help in recruiting volunteers for two committees, the Affirmative Action Council and the Instructional Equity Citizens Advisory Committee. Any member of the public who is interested can call 353-3301.

Reform is on their minds

The Spokane County chapter of the Reform Party is planning a meeting to discuss a platform for the upcoming state convention. There’ll also be speeches from local attorney Steve Eugster, political activist and new mayoral candidate John Talbott, plus state co-chair Stan Emert at 6:30 p.m., Aug. 12, at the Shadle Park Library … The party’s state convention is Aug. 23 at the Bellevue Best Western.

Into the fray

Speaking of the Reform Party, local party official Steve Thompson is running for Spokane City Council. His candidacy is surprising because, less than a month earlier, he made something close to a Shermanesque statement about running for office … “Questions have been made concerning whether or not I will be running for Spokane City Council,” he wrote in a July 9 letter to the newspaper. “The answer is NO. It doesn’t pay enough and it’s not a part-time job if one is truly informed prior to rendering proper decisions” … It’s absolutely a candidate’s right to change his or her mind, so we won’t chide Thompson for his reversal. Instead we’ll offer a gentle reminder that since he is running against Phyllis Holmes, he might want to start spelling her name correctly in future campaign press releases. It’s a courtesy thing.

Because you asked

Bill Joy of Spokane wanted to know whatever happened to the money that former House Speaker Tom Foley got for a Centennial Trail bridge over the Spokane River. The short answer is, nothing … $480,000 was set aside in 1991 in the U.S. Forest Service budget, but a site for the bridge has not been chosen. The state Parks Department wanted to tap that money for a replacement for the rotting bridge in Riverside State Park, but Friends of the Trail were less than enthusiastic. The city, the county, the state and the Friends are sharing in a $30,200 study to find a place for a bridge.

This time he’ll be on the other side of this press conference

KHQ-TV anchor Randy Shaw, journalist and longtime news reader in Spokane, is lending his reading skills to a new statewide literacy push. Shaw will be named the Eastern Washington co-chairman of the campaign, which will coordinate adult education programs, at a news conference with U.S. Sen. Patty Murray this afternoon.

Kudos passed out

Three state workers from the Spokane area are among those being given Brainstorm Awards for finding ways to save the state some money … Ted Olson and Keith Kopp of the Department of Social and Health Services split one award for their suggestion to convert a soon-to-be replaced wastewater treatment plant into a pumping station. Kathryn Stoy, another DSHS employee, suggested some of the department’s forms be computerized to make it easier to compute overpayments … All told, some 35 state employees came up with ideas that will save at least $64,000.

, DataTimes MEMO: Public Periscope, which is published Mondays, is compiled by Jim Camden from staff reports.

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Compiled by Jim Camden from staff reports