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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Bowlers Have All The Answers

I’m happy for Miss Idaho, Brandi Sherwood of Idaho Falls, who was first runner-up in Wednesday’s Miss USA Pageant. But I’m sad for Miss Florida. I can’t remember her name. She was the redhead who dominated the preliminary competitions. Unfortunately, she tripped over a semifinal question that separated the women from the girls. When asked what one thing she’d save if her house was on fire, Miss Florida couldn’t limit herself. She said she’d have to save two things - her dog and family photos. The pooch cost her the title. Meanwhile, Miss Idaho aced the semifinal question and almost passed the final exam, too. Miss Idaho’s poise and Miss Florida’s stumble were discussed at the Sunset Bowling Center Thursday. “Well,” asked one member of the 3C’s League, “what did they ask Miss Idaho?” Before a teammate could respond, someone on the next lane interjected: “Are you a member of the militia?” Badabump. Onward.

No, no, a thousand times no

Sometime this week, Kootenai County Commissioner Ron Rankin will file the Fourth Coming of the One Percent Initiative. That means three things: 1. He can’t take an resounding “no” for an answer. 2. He still has too much time on his hands. 3. And he doesn’t mind wasting taxpayers’ money, in salaries and overtime paid to county employees throughout the state to check petition signatures. Apparently this goofy idea, which crippled California’s schools, libraries and public resources in its incarnation as Proposition 13, won’t go away until Ronnie One Note does. So, let me be the first editorialist to recommend that you vote no on the One Percent Initiative in 1998. Also, in the year 2000. In 2002. Etc.

One last word (maybe) on school project

Apparently, School District 271 is going ahead with its plan to seek a judge’s okay for a $1 million administration building. A legal ad Friday set a 1st District Court hearing on the proposal for 2 p.m. March 3. Now, I’ve said about all that I’m going to say about the judicial confirmation process. I don’t like it. It skirts a public vote. Nor do I think a new administration building/bus barn is the most pressing need in the Coeur d’Alene district. On the other hand, I believe now that the district has a legitimate space crunch in its administrative office. And Idaho’s draconian supermajority law, which requires a two-thirds vote to pass school bonds, sometimes makes school administrators desperate. Still, I’d like to see the Idaho Legislature tighten the judicial confirmation process, so school districts can’t skirt voters.

, 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.

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.