NIC honors Palin with Distinguished Alumni award

Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin has won this year’s Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award at North Idaho College.

Palin attended the two-year school for two semesters in 1983. She graduated from the University of Idaho in 1987 in journalism.

Prior to her selection as John McCain’s running mate, Palin was elected governor of Alaska in 2006.

Palin was born in Sandpoint but grew up in Alaska.

Palin has also been invited to be the May 2009 commencement speaker.

Spokane

Council amends rules on taxi inspections

Taxicabs in Spokane will no longer have to be inspected by a city mechanic to operate legally.

The Spokane City Council on Monday unanimously amended taxi rules to allow cabs to be inspected by private mechanics certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence.

The new rules mean taxis no longer have to be checked by the city’s fleet services department. Drivers have paid $100 for the annual inspection by the city.

City Administrator Ted Danek said the rules will allow drivers to get inspected and fix problems in one trip to a mechanic. Cabs that were found to have problems by the city would have to be taken to a private mechanic to be fixed and returned to fleet services for a second check.

Council vote on Thailand stems from Hmong request

The Spokane City Council moved in the unusual direction of foreign relations Monday by recommending policy regarding Thailand.

The council unanimously approved a resolution asking Washington’s congressional delegation and the U.S. State Department to work with Thailand’s government regarding the disturbance of Hmong graves at Wat Tham Krabok temple.

Council President Joe Shogan sponsored the resolution. He noted that the Hmong community aided U.S. forces in the Vietnam War and that there is a significant Hmong community in Spokane.

Shogan said the action was requested by Spokane resident Vang Xiong X. Toyed.

No ballot yet? Call your Elections Office

Voters in Spokane County who have not yet received their ballots should not blame the Postal Service. It’s probably not the letter carrier’s fault.

County Elections Manager Mike McLaughlin said the most common reason a registered voter hasn’t received a ballot is that he or she has moved without notifying election officials. A ballot that goes to an old address without any forwarding information is returned to the county.

Some voters may be thinking they’ll just go to their poll site on Nov. 4, McLaughlin said. The problem with that plan is, those poll sites no longer exist. Spokane County – like all other counties in Washington except King and Pierce counties – votes entirely by mail.

Registered voters who are still waiting for a ballot should call their county Elections Office. In Spokane that number is (509) 477-2320.

POTLATCH, Idaho

Information sought on elk shooting, dumping

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game is seeking information about the shooting and dumping of a bull elk found near Crane Point north of Potlatch.

The elk was shot on or around Oct. 14, officers said. The elk was field dressed, its antlers removed and its carcass left in the forest. A black Ford pickup with a black canopy was observed at the dump site. Senior conservation Officer Mike Dafoe, of Potlatch, called the incident “a complete violation of law and ethics.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dafoe at (208) 669-1024; Lewiston Fish and Game at (208) 799-5010; the Citizens Against Poaching hotline at (800) 632-5999; or any police or sheriff’s department. Callers may remain anonymous and may be eligible for cash rewards.