The Hot Seat Our Weekly Look At Who’s In Trouble

We’re with you Wanda

Wanda Wilson was mailing a letter when Josh Kolthoff, a cigarette smoking 14-year-old, referred to her in terms so vulgar we can’t print them. The kid spat in front of her and flicked cigarette ashes at her. Wilson snapped. She slapped that son of a city councilman. But Josh’s dad, Newport City Councilman Jim Kolthoff, claims junior is “basically a good kid.” Now, the 46-year-old grandmother has been made into the villain, charged with assault and ordered to stay out of taverns, though she’s not been accused of an alcohol related offense. And Newport residents wonder why they have problems with their teenagers. Go figure.

Who made up this Constitution anyway?

Whump. That sound you heard Thursday was a thousand windbags hitting a brick wall. The nation’s angry white screamers thought they had taken over. That wall they hit? It was the Constitution, which they wanted to amend. Sorry, boys. The Constitution isn’t about balanced budgeting, it’s about balanced power. Its safeguards protect this country from political stampedes. Congress remains free to balance the budget. Amending the Constitution is tougher. Thank you, James Madison.

Wetle shows his mettle, or lack of it

Stevens County Prosecutor Jerry Wetle is trying to cut a deal reducing by half the sentence of a five-time felon with a history of stalking women. Last year, David R. Rickard broke into a Colville woman’s house. Her 4-year-old watched as Rickard climbed on top of her mother, shoved his fingers down her throat and tried to rip off her nightgown. Her mouth was punctured, her tongue partially detached. Wetle says reduced charges are justified since Rickard never took his pants off. Unbelievable.

MEMO: The Hot Seat is a feature of the Sunday Opinion page. If you would like to nominate someone for The Hot Seat, call Scott Sines at 459-5405.