Column

Spokane area residents who grew up in the East might remember when waiting up for midnight to arrive on the West Coast made you a person of some standing when it came to seeing in the new year.

Doug names his favorite news stories of the year.

A look back on my favorite stories of 2015

Farewell to the beauty of language. As 2015 comes to a close and 2016 dawns tomorrow with its own new hopes and dreams, it’s official – the diversity and intricacies of our wonderful language have been deemed irrelevant and pronounced dead, officially.

As you might have noticed, not everyone in the Spokane area is enthusiastic about winter. It’s what separates us from dogs. Canines love winter, especially snow.

The Slice had asked about times skiers said “Uh, oh.” “My first (and only) ski run was at Red Lodge, Montana,” wrote Patricia Klingman.

Eye on Boise column for Sunday

So let’s check in on our old pal “Spokane man” one more time before the end of 2015.

I believe some of today’s young people do not send thank-you cards because they know how much pleasure their failure to do so gives certain much older gift-givers.

Give the ultimate gift: Save an animal’s life.

If there’s a break in the clouds tonight, go outside and look up: That big, bright, full moon doesn’t appear for Christmas very often. For the first time since 1977, we’ve got a Yuletide Moon. Only every 38 years does this happen – a full moon falling on Christmas. This year’s moon will be high in the sky overhead, and if the clouds give it any room to shine, it’s expected to provide an extra luminous glow.

One month ago, just two days before Thanksgiving, I drove past my house with my son, and we saw something that filled us both with joy: Light!

And now for a visit from the ghost of Christmas past. Well, at least the ghost of Dec. 22 past. These Slice items appeared on this date once upon a time.

Christmas is still a few days away. But in my world, Santa has already delivered some early presents. One was a boon. One was a bust. And one was a big lump of coal.

From the darkest day, a glimmer of light.

Doug ventures into the attic to look at his son Ben’s Star Wars collection.

Interstate 90 interchange at Wolf Lodge is slated for upgrade.

State Rep. Kathy Sims is up to her old tricks. In the 2014 and 2015 legislative sessions, the Coeur d’Alene Republican fought funding for a much-needed mental health crisis center in North Idaho. After a delay caused by Sims and tea party allies, a center opened this month in Coeur d’Alene. Now Sims is continuing her fight against the urban renewal laws that have helped build the Coeur d’Alene Library, Kroc Center and impressive Riverstone development. P’haps it’s time for Sims to return to selling automobiles full time at her Coeur d’Alene Honda dealership.

Donning a Santa hat does what to your personality?