Public Periscope

FROM FOR THE RECORD (Tuesday, March 3, 1998): Correction Date incorrect: A forum about the River Park Square redevelopment project will be held tonight at 7 p.m. at West Central Community Center, 1603 N. Belt. The date was incorrect in Monday’s paper.

A shocking idea

Maybe it’s just because this is pothole season. Or maybe because that lousy groundhog saw his shadow. For whatever reason, Spokane County commissioners have been a little testy lately … Last week, they discussed purchasing “violent prisoner chairs” - in which prisoners are held down with multiple straps - for the jail. Commissioner John Roskelly suggested they buy one for each commissioner … “Yeah, with electrical cords,” interim county administrator Fran Boxer added.

Put down that ottoman, dirtbag!

County commissioners probably will eliminate a portion of the Spokane County code that prohibits stores from selling furniture, major household appliances, television sets, floor coverings, bedding, draperies or cars “on the first day of the week, commonly called Sunday” … Yes, that is illegal, but before anyone cancels a classified, we should note that the 1950s-era law doesn’t apply to yard sales. Besides, such “blue laws” no longer are considered valid.

Do they ever have that kind of trouble?

City and county coffers may flow more freely as Las Vegas-style gambling grows in Spokane. In fact, city officials expect to rake in more than $800,000 next year - nearly three times the $119,000 collected in 1996 … “It’s almost embarrassing the large amounts of money coming to the city,” Councilman Jeff Colliton said during a recent briefing … “Will we have trouble spending this?” asked Mayor John Talbott. “No,” said Deputy City Manager Pete Fortin.

Husky for a day

Washington State University president Sam Smith on Tuesday will cash in a winning bet on the Apple Cup when he takes over the University of Washington for a day.

Richard McCormick, president of UW, will serve Smith dinner and give Smith the gavel to preside over a meeting with the UW cabinet and students.

The president slept here

Call it a for-sale sign of the times. Marshall Drummond, who resigned two weeks ago from the top job at Eastern Washington University, has put his South Hill house up for sale. Asking price for the home at 428 W. 21st Ave. is $289,000.

A gentle reminder

We’d have listed this in Hot Topics, but feared being sued for false advertising. The precinct caucuses are Tuesday night at locations all around the county … Check Sunday’s paper for the addresses, or call the party headquarters. That’s 838-6162 for Republicans and 324-8525 for Democrats.

Getting involved

The city has openings on the Chase Youth Commission, the Human Rights Commission, the Citizens Review Commission, the Fire Code Advisory and Appeals Board and the Housing Authority Board … Applications for all positions are due by Friday. They can be picked up at the mayor’s office, 5th Floor, City Hall.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: HOT TOPICS Today: State officials will discuss an agreement on what industrial wastes can be burned in Spokane’s trash incinerator with the Spokane Regional Solid Waste liaison board. It has taken two years of arguments to get to this point. 1:30 p.m., 5th Floor Conference Room, City Hall. Wednesday: Do you have a question about the River Park Square development? Ask it during the third in a series of community meetings about the project. 7 p.m., West Central Community Center, 1603 N. Belt.

Public Periscope is published weekly and is compiled by Jim Camden from staff reports. You can contact us by mail c/o The Spokesman-Review, Box 2160, Spokane, Wash., 99210; by fax at (509) 459-5482; or by e-mail at jimc@spokesman.com.

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