Marano Deserves To Stay
Hmmm. Do you suppose Magistrate Gene Marano is going to be Balsered? For those of you new to the area, Magistrate Virginia Balser was voted out of office a few years ago after she handed down a sentence that resulted in a young teen going to jail for smoking. Charlie Foulk, former owner of The Hungry Horseman on Government Way, spearheaded the successful campaign against Virginia. Now, someone’s out there putting up yard signs urging residents to vote against Marano next month. A magistrate needs only a simple majority to retain his post. I don’t know what the crusaders’ beef is with Marano. But my courthouse sources say the First District magistrate has done a good job, particularly in dealing with families. He makes abusive men show their wives respect. He’s tough but fair on young troublemakers. Sure, he does goofy things occasionally, like let petty criminals out of jail for Christmas. But all judges have their shortcomings. Overall, however, you’d be wrong to vote against this one.
Bumper sticker brings painful reminder
A bumper sticker landed in my mailbox last week, a sober reminder of hunting season’s down side: “Remember Cody Taylor.” Do you remember him? Two years ago Monday, Cody was shot to death in Boundary County by hunting partner Dennis Miner. Miner said he had mistaken Taylor for an elk. Luckily, for him, his attorney persuaded two of 12 jurors that Cody’s death was a mistake and not reckless. So, Miner escaped being convicted of involuntary manslaughter. I also was reminded of Cody Taylor Thursday when a middle-aged man hunting with his father near Calder died after being run over by his all-terrain vehicle. Now, his family will grieve like Taylor’s family at the start of each new hunting season. Be careful out there.
Armey hones fine art of double talk
No wonder everyone’s so confused about nuclear waste this election year. On Friday, House Majority Leader Dick Armey praised Idaho’s delegation for helping the Senate approve U.S. Sen. Larry Craig’s plan to establish a temporary nuclear-waste dump in Nevada. Then, he applauded Nevada’s Republican U.S. Reps. John Ensign and Barbara Vucanovich for persuading House Speaker Newt Gingrich to sidetrack the bill. That shows the two Nevada Republicans have more clout than their state’s two Democratic U.S. senators, he said. Does any of this make sense to you?
, 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.