Two High Schools In Cda Make For Twice As Much Fun

Coeur d’Alene High’s student body sure gloated when the boys basketball team upset rival Lake City at home Thursday. As the clock ran out, CHS students began chanting (and I paraphrase): “Timberwolves, Timberwolves, don’t be blue; we beat you in football, too.” It was goodnatured stuff. And that’s the beauty of the new sports balance of power caused by splitting up old Coeur d’Alene High. Schools such as Post Falls and Sandpoint now can compete against the Coeur d’Alene schools. In fact, Post Falls has gone from football floormat to champion. More kids are participating in sports and other extracurricular activities. And the rivalry between Coeur d’Alene and Lake City is filling football stands and basketball gyms. A word of caution to CHS, though. The Coeur d’Alene boys have a return game Feb. 3 in the Lake City Timberwolves’ gym. He who howls last howls the longest.

Does Montana know something we don’t?

Don’t look now, but the Montana Legislature is pulling out all the stops to land Micron Technology’s $1.3 billion expansion project for Butte (as in, “after all, Butte is Butte.”) The Montana House unanimously approved a $16 million loan to Micron to pay for a water treatment plant and other infrastructure work. Micron would pay the loan back in tax credits once it is operating. Sounds like tax-increment financing, doesn’t it? Apparently, Montanans aren’t as finicky as some Post Falls residents about welcoming the high-tech giant. “I can’t imagine anyone finding fault with the economy of Montana getting such a boost,” Sen. J.D. Lynch, D-Butte, said. Hello, Post Falls, are you listening?

Fox: Do as I say, not as I do

Don’t believe half of what you hear about Idaho Superintendent of Schools Anne Fox. She was attacked viciously by Democrats and educators during the recent election campaign, and that chorus has intensified with several firings since she took office. Still, she sent bad signals recently by calling for a $30 million cut in the state Department of Education budget - and then ordering $8,000 in office furniture, cellular phones for two lobbyists and a 1995 Ford Crown Victoria for herself. Ex-super Jerry Evans drove a state 1987 Buick with 95,000 miles on it. In this year of the tightfisted Republican, symbolism is everything. Stand in the corner, Ms. Fox.

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