The Hot Seat A Weekly Look At People And Issues In The News

We’re going to miss you, Kara

Losing Kara Claypool this week took the steam out of The Hot Seat. The picture of Joyce Claypool holding Kara closely when she was near death broke my heart. I guess Kara’s work was done and it was time for her to go. Now it’s up to all of us to practice the lessons we learned from Kara and her friends at Willard Elementary. It’s little solace but we should all be grateful that we had her at all. ‘Bye, Kara.

Remembering Rachel

Rachel Carver is another bright-eyed little girl we lost this summer. Her neighborhood is trying to make sure that Rachel didn’t die in vain. Over 100 people gathered at Shadle Park High School this week to discuss ways to protect the children in their neighborhood. Some ideas were as simple as organizing parents to walk their neighborhoods, and meet, and talk to the kids. Other ideas were more complicated, involving legislation. However, the key for all of us is to act now and not wait for a tragedy to spur us to action.

Wonder how Sandpoint got a reputation for racism?

Sandpoint Mayor Ron Chaney, a rabid Mark Fuhrman fan, is standing by his man even though tapes introduced as evidence in the Simpson trial reveal the detective as a racist and a liar. Fuhrman is heard on the tapes saying things that make Richard Butler look like an affirmative action officer. But according to Chaney, that’s just good storytelling. “I am completely confident, knowing Mark as well as I do, that he was telling a story, and he is a great storyteller,” the mayor said. Well, it doesn’t sound like great storytelling to us, it sounds like the rantings of a card-carrying racist. And Chaney should know that his defense of Fuhrman’s rantings will only damage Sandpoint’s reputation.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 3 Photos

MEMO: The Hot Seat is an irreverent look at controversial issues in the news. The views expressed are those of the writer. Today’s Hot Seat was written by Scott Sines.