Public Periscope

High rates for peak times

County Commissioner John Roskelley has been besieged by angry golfers over his proposed increase in greens fees and his claim that golf is for the rich. Well, oh yeah, they retort, Roskelley’s a mountain climber - or at least that was his avocation before the November election. How cheap can that be? … Not very. For example, Roskelley said, the country of Nepal charges $50,000 for each expedition up Mount Everest. Luckily, his many climbs up the world’s highest mountain were bankrolled by corporate sponsors.

Does this tell us something?

Let’s see now. President Clinton gives his State of the Union speech next week to a joint session of Congress. Gov. Mike Lowry gave his State of the State speech last week to a joint session of the Legislature. Mayor Jack Geraghty gave his State of Spokane speech Friday to … the Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce.

Don’t quit your day job

U.S. Rep. George Nethercutt tried a few zingers during his address to the chamber of commerce on Friday. “I met with Gov. Lowry on Tuesday,” the Spokane Republican said. “He was excited that his approval rating had doubled - to 15 percent.” … Maybe it was the lack of the snare drum or the need for more coffee, but the crowd was short on guffaws. Nethercutt’s suggestion that well-traveled Energy Secretary Hazel O’Leary might be able to help him if he has trouble making it back to Washington, D.C., also brought only a few chuckles. … “I don’t think Letterman needs to worry about me,” the congressman said.

Sign of the times

Most unusual placard greeting Nethercutt before his talk was one demanding, “Free Leonard Peltier.” It prompted several queries of “Leonard who?” … Peltier is a leader of the American Indian Movement, serving twin life sentences for murdering two FBI agents during the 1975 Wounded Knee siege. Some human rights groups say he was railroaded; law enforcement officials say he had his day in court and was convicted.

Getting involved

Spokane School District 81’s Citizens Advisory Committee needs new members. It advises the school board and will take on an interesting study topic this spring: Are student drug- and alcoholabuse policies tough enough and consistently enforced? The committee, which tries to represent all parts of the city, needs members from the southwest and near-north areas. Applications are available by calling 353-7613.

Spokane County commissioners have vacancies on the Developmental Disabilities Board, Historic Landmarks Commission, Solid Waste Advisory Committee and Spokane Interstate Fair Advisory Board. … Applications, available in the commissioners office, are due by Jan. 26.

, DataTimes MEMO: “Public Periscope,” published Mondays, is compiled by Jim Camden from staff reports. If you have a question about government, growth or development, we’d like to help find an answer. Write us c/o The Spokesman-Review, Box 2160, Spokane 99210, by fax at 459-5482 or by e-mail at jimc@spokesman.com. Or call Cityline at 458-8800 on a TouchTone phone, then press 9120 to leave a message.

This sidebar appeared with the story: HOT TOPICS Thursday: Here’s a chance to ask questions of Spokane School District Superintendent Gary Livingston and two board members. They’ll be on a onehour live TV program, “Educating Spokane,” on KSPS, which the district licenses. 7 p.m., Channel 7.