The Hot Seat A Weekly Look At People In The News

Maybe we can just let the kids play on the greens

Shame on County Commissioners Harris and Hasson! Instead of taking a strong stand to improve our county parks, they buckled under to a whiny minority of golfers. The same whiny minority that silently “played through” when the county pumped $1.8 million in improvements into the courses. John Roskelley’s proposed fee increase would better maintain the golf courses, and update our crumbling county parks. But the golfers attacked, the commissioners retreated, and the quality of recreational space for children in the county continues to decline. Does the bumper sticker “We’re Spending Our Children’s Inheritance” come to mind?

Quick, Martha! Turn off the TV, it’s the post-game interview

Imagine. You’re watching the football playoffs when your favorite athlete makes a great play. You leap from the couch, hurdle the coffee table and do the funky chicken in front of the TV. Minutes later that player shouts the f-word in a post-game interview. You administer damage control to the 8-year-old who was watching the game with you, then you listen as the media debate whether the word is acceptable in today’s culture. ENOUGH! We’re not prudes, we’ve used that word before but never in front of kids. It’s not right today and it never will be right. There are no excuses.

Fate of hydroplane races still undecided

Rumors are flying about whether Coeur d’Aleneians will let big, noisy, boats race on the lake - fouling the water and drawing spectators who will trash Tubbs Hill, tie up city streets on a holiday weekend and create general mayhem. However, there is no truth to the rumor that the races have been canceled because the Hells Angels got busted and will be unable to provide security.

, 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.