Public Periscope

Nutty critter

Mike Budig isn’t sure how many customers have hopped over to Ever Green Lawn & Tree Care since his company wrapped a city bus in a realistic landscape scene. But a Spokane Transit Authority driver says a squirrel was so taken with the scene that it tried to jump into the $13,000 mural. The critter staggered away before the driver could fill out an accident report.

In other animal news …

Gov. Gary Locke paid homage to the bats that infest the executive mansion in Olympia by wearing a Batman costume to greet trick-or-treaters. … Our source at the capital couldn’t explain the significance of 8-month-old Emily Locke dressing as an eggplant.

It’s not unnecessary if it helps him

Steve Thompson insisted he’d cut unnecessary spending if elected to the Spokane City Council. But two days after he lost to incumbent Phyllis Holmes, Thompson sent a letter to county commissioners suggesting taxpayers fund local voters information pamphlets before future elections. Thompson, who limited his campaign spending to $2,000, said his message didn’t get out.

Our idea: ‘Y’all Trickle On Down’

The Spokane Interstate Fair board wants ideas for a 1998 fair theme. The rules: It can’t be longer than 15 words and it’s got to be based on the 1980s.

Why theme a fair around a decade of power ties, Reaganomics and Michael Jackson? Because the 1996 theme (“Bee Bop A Moo Moo”) and the 1997 theme (“Foot Loose”) were supposedly based on the ‘60s and ‘70s, said business manager Dolly Hughes. (Although, technically, the movie “Footloose” and its popular soundtrack came out in 1984.) Looking ahead, the 1999 fair will have a ‘90s theme (we assume attendees will be asked to dress in ‘90s attire). And the 2000 fair will have a turn-of-the century theme.

The deadline for submitting those ‘80s themes is Nov. 30. Contestants should write their ideas - as well as their names, addresses and telephone numbers - on postcards and mail them to Spokane Interstate Fair, 404 N. Havana, Spokane 99202-4663. The winner gets four pairs of Wrangler jeans.

Hide it under the mattress

A warning to all those puritanical souls rushing to get a copy of the county’s new adult entertainment ordinance: If the 36-page document were a movie, it’d be rated NC-17. The ordinance goes into explicit detail about which body parts may be revealed and which may not - and at what state of arousal.

Mark your calendars

There was some confusion Tuesday about the date the ordinance will take effect. Courthouse attorneys now agree that the date is Dec. 4. But the county may allow another 90 days for the affected businesses to comply. That means erotic “lap dancing” probably won’t be banned until March 3.

Now, patients can give the checkups

Washington residents can learn whether their physicians have been disciplined by the Medical Quality Assurance Commission by calling (360) 753-2287 during business hours. It’s a new service from the state Department of Health.

Opportunities

The county engineer’s office is taking applications from Newman Lake residents for a four-year term on that community’s flood control zone panel. The deadline is Nov. 21. Call 324-3443 for information.

There also are openings on the county’s golf advisory board, planning commission, water quality advisory board and community development advisory board. Call 456-2265 soon to beat the various deadlines for applying.

, DataTimes