Public Periscope

The media are the message

Some Republicans tend to talk rather freely - dare we say liberally? - about the “liberal media” as though the two words could never be separated. So it was a bit of a surprise last week to observe members of the news media at a debate of GOP gubernatorial candidates.

The panel of questioners - radio talk jocks Mike Fitzsimmons of KXLY-AM and Richard Clear of KGA, plus Spokane Valley News publisher Rob Allen - all were introduced to the crowd as “distinguished Republicans.” Hosts were careful to place Allen between Fitzsimmons and Clear, who recently sparred in a war of words over Clear’s airing of a rumor about Seattle Democratic Mayor Norm Rice. … Of the two remaining members of the media in the room, at least one didn’t fit the epithet of “liberal.” Valley Herald publisher Clark Hager was busy passing out fliers touting his candidacy as a delegate to the Republican National Convention - to support Pat Buchanan.

Got to plug those leaks

Rest easy - Spokane County officials are putting your tax dollars to good use. … The newspaper reported last week that county investigators have concluded that Interstate Fair Manager Paul Gillingham had sexually harassed a woman security guard. … Instead of disciplining Gillingham, county Chief Administrative Officer Jim Lindow ordered a high-paid manager to investigate the source of the news leak. … Meanwhile, Gillingham’s fate will be decided this week.

A Pillsbury lawyer?

Former Spokane attorney Ronald Kappelman, who pleaded guilty in the 1994 Operation Doughboy cocaine bust, is hoping to get back in the business - law, that is; not illegal drugs.

He’s supported by a hearing examiner for the Washington State Bar Association, who thinks laws against sniffing or selling coke are unconstitutional. The bar association’s disciplinary council disagrees and is fighting Kappelman’s attempt to start practicing law again.

The state Supreme Court will decide the matter sometime this summer.

While waiting to rejoin the bar, Kappelman slings espresso at his Fly-By java hut on West Fourth.

What kind of education?

Washington State University issued a press blurb last week trumpeting a $1.2 million donation from Hewlett-Packard Co. for computers and that kind of thing.

The release said: “The equipment will assist WSU … in developing virtual education statewide, shortcutting the distance between students and faculty …”

The ones with virtual education usually get the virtual jobs.

Who owns what?

We received a legal-sounding letter this week advising us to refer to a certain disciplinary program used in Spokane area schools as “The THINK TIME Strategy for Schools.”

The term “think time” - oops, we mean “THINK TIME” is a trademark, you see, like Band-Aid and Frisbee, and should be capitalized.

THINK TIME is owned by The Cyprus Group Inc., a Spokane company that will market the disciplinary program for its creator, Eastern Washington University Associate Professor Ron Nelson.

Here’s a thought-provoking academic question: When you design a classroom program in public schools with federal taxes (THINK TIME was developed over a three-year period with $400,000 in taxpayers’ money), who owns the product?

Stand for Children

Shannon Selland, Spokane child advocate and day-care provider, flew to Washington, D.C., last week to attend Saturday’s Stand for Children march on the Capitol.

The Spokane City Council gave Selland a banner, signed by council members, to take with her to the march. Selland’s trip was paid for by the state’s Children’s Alliance.

Selland said she hopes to return this week with concrete ideas to help improve the quality of life for children in Spokane.

, DataTimes MEMO: “Public Periscope,” published Mondays, is compiled by Jim Camden from staff reports. If you’ve got a question about local government, growth or development, we’d like to help you find an answer. You can write us c/o The Spokesman-Review, Box 2160, Spokane 99210. Or send e-mail to jimc@spokesman.com. Or send a fax to (509) 459-5482 or call Cityline at 458-8800 on a Touch-Tone telephone, then press 9120 to leave a message.

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Compiled by Jim Camden from staff reports