This Is A Brain On Drugs

Harlan Collinsworth is living proof that marijuana impairs judgment. Collinsworth? He’s the 20-year-old Coeur d’Alene man who reported three items stolen from his home last weekend: a VCR, a bong AND a film cannister stuffed with marijuana. Seems Collinsworth suffered a Bud … Bud … Bud-WEIS-urrrr attack after smoking part of a $20 bag of grass. So, he walked to a nearby store and bought some brewskis. Never mind that he’s too young to buy alcohol. His weed and an $80 red, white and blue ceramic bong were gone when he returned. The thief, however, left Harlan’s marijuana pipe behind. This Harlan willingly showed to surprised Coeur d’Alene police officer S.W. Childers, who cited him for possession of paraphernalia. Incredible? There’s more. A few days later, police followed tennis shoe tracks from several burglarized cars back to Harlan’s rental and arrested him. If stupidity was against the law, this guy would be a lifer.

Ex-KHS teacher should lie in bed he made

Most, if not all, Idaho schools have zero tolerance policies against weapons on campus. One strike and you’re out. The state also should have zero tolerance for teachers who bed down students. The sordid tale of exKellogg High instructor Mike Holzer is a case in point. When his marriage fell on hard times, Holzer struck up a “relationship” with a student aide that got physical after she turned 18 (and no longer was jail bait). That led to Holzer’s resignation June 25. Now, he’s fighting to keep his teaching certificate. At a hearing of the state Department of Education’s Professional Standards Commission Tuesday, Holzer’s wife and four Kellogg High teachers supported him. His attorney emphasized that the affair was only one mistake in an exemplary 12-year teaching career. But we’re not talking about stealing a box of chocolate mints from a candy sale here. Holzer’s “mistake” was as serious a violation of trust as a teacher can commit. He needs to find another line of work.

Small issues need love, attention, too

After 2-1/2 hours of hearings, Coeur d’Alene Councilman Kevin Packard was upset that the council spent so much time deciding The (Not-So-) Great Blimp Debate. Ultimately, the council voted 4-2 Tuesday to let Coeur d’Alene Honda fly its advertising blimp. After the dust settled, Packard groused that council members should be embarrassed that they wasted so much time on one issue. But isn’t that why we pay council members $400 per month? So the rest of us can do something more productive on council nights - like stay home and watch “Seinfeld” reruns?

, 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, or by sending e-mail to daveo@spokesman.com.