Residents Will Shout Down Hydros Again, If They Must

There’s quite a precedent for an advisory vote on hydroplane races - if Tubbs Hill is involved, as currently proposed. Residents, of course, braved wintry weather 10 years ago to overwhelmingly reject the Return of Hydroplanes I. But did you know Mayor James McKinnon and his Greater Coeur d’Alene Party were swept out of office in 1963 for mishandling a Tubbs Hill issue? Yep. The council voted 5-4, with McKinnon casting the tiebreaker, to allow a hotel on Tubbs Hill. Later, the council reluctantly agreed to place the issue on the ballot after 1,900 residents had signed petitions demanding a public vote. McKinnon, his troops and the measure were clobbered in the city elections. And in July 1956, voters rejected a plan to sell 4.6 acres at the foot of Tubbs Hill to a mall developer. There’s a message here if current City Hall denizens are paying attention.

If he’s not a hero, he’s close

Some people question whether Lance Cpl. Zachary R. Mayo of Osburn, Idaho, is a hero and worthy of national attention. After all, his 15 minutes of fame consist of falling off his ship and treading water for 36 hours until Pakistani fishermen rescued him in the North Arabian Sea. A former dogface watching the Osburn-to-Wallace parade for Mayo on Tuesday thought the honors should go to a POW instead. Sure, Mayo isn’t a hero in the classical damsel-in-distress sense. Nor is Scott O’Grady, for that matter. But he’s close. Like O’Grady, young Mayo didn’t lose his head when he found himself in a difficult spot - lost at sea. He had the sense to rely on his basic training and faith, giving himself a chance for survival. How many of us would have done that? Mayo’s courage is worth celebrating in these jaded times.

So what if their feelings are hurt?

So, (sniff!) a couple of Coeur d’Alene School Board trustees (sniff!) had their feelings hurt last week by blunt Chairman Ken Burchell (honk!) They don’t like being told that their attempt to muzzle a parents group was “an outrage and a disgrace” - even though it was. Now, trustees Vern Newby and Tim Olson want a special meeting for “possible reorganization” (read, “Ho, ho, Ken must go.”) According to insiders, Newby is the mastermind behind this coup. Could it be that he’s still miffed at being replaced as chairman by Burchell? The board needs Burchell and trustee Jane Curtis for credibility. Without them, it would resemble the 1989-90 one that blindly followed administrators into the “Impressions” textbook fiasco. Then, that’s understandable. Olson and Newby were part of that board, too.

, DataTimes MEMO: D.F. Oliveria’s “Hot Potatoes” runs Tuesdays and Thursdays. You can comment on the items by calling (800) 344-6718 or (208) 765-7125.