Public Periscope

No need to come to a boil

Several opponents of fluoridated water contacted the paper in recent weeks over fears that the Legislature was trying to force the community to do what voters have forcefully refused to do. That is, fluoridate the water … Anti-fluoride forces had put out the word that a certain bill in the Senate would require fluoridation of every water system with 1,000 or more customers. Turns out that’s a bit of an exaggeration for what the Legislature is really considering. SB 5321 is an attempt to expand dental care to low-income families around the state, particularly targeting children for checkups and sealants to protect their teeth … It also directs the state Health Department to “promote the addition of fluoride to communities with public water systems serving over 1,000 connections” … Promote is far different than “require,” and past experience suggests that all the promoting in the world probably couldn’t get fluoride into Spokane water supplies.

Today’s political quiz

How many major political parties are in Washington state? The correct answer is three: Republican, Democrat and Reform … Tim Hill, elections examiner for the Secretary of State’s Office, recently confirmed that fact for the Reform Party, which qualifies as a result of presidential nominee Ross Perot’s showing in the last election. Perot received just under 9 percent of the vote; any party with a statewide candidate that receives at least 5 percent of the vote is a major party … This presents some interesting possibilities for three-way races in next year’s elections. Major parties hold primaries, and the winners of those primaries - even those who are unopposed - advance to the general election.

Giving an earful

The KC-135 tankers from Fairchild Air Force Base are flying more at night, but base officials swear this won’t be a bother to the folks under the flight path. The planes have those new, quieter engines so “the noise impact to the surrounding communities will be minimal,” said Col. Allan Coleman, the operations commander … Why do they need to fly at night? It improves training and cuts down on the hazard of bird strikes. Anyone with questions or comments can call base Public Affairs at 247-5704.

School daze

We trust that this is just a little slip-up by staff and not a sign that Reps. Brad Benson and Duane Sommers have been too long in Olympia. But their recent session update has an unusual venue for their March 22 town hall meeting: Sacajawea Elementary School … While it’s true that Benson is a North Sider, Sommers lives less than a mile from Sac, which has always been a middle school.

Freebie to consider

If things are looking pretty bleak as the melting snow reveals even more debris and dead trees from last November’s ice storm, here’s an offer. The Arbor Day organization has a Community Tree Restoration Program, which gives away sets of 25 blue spruces to help replace trees lost in disasters … Sure, they’re little ones, but we’ve got to start somewhere. Write Arbor Day, P.O. Box 231, Berea, Ky., 40403.

Getting involved

The Spokane Human Services Advisory Board, which suggests ways for the city to spend money for certain social service programs, really needs nominees for three openings. The spots, which are three-year terms, have generated so little interest that the deadline for applications was extended until March 14 … The City Plan Commission also needs to fill the vacancy created when member Cherie Rodgers was named to the council. Applications for both are available at the mayor’s office, fifth floor of City Hall.

, DataTimes MEMO: Public Periscope, published Mondays, is compiled by Jim Camden from staff reports. You can write us c/o The Spokesman-Review, Box 2160, Spokane, Wash., 99210. Or e-mail to jimc@spokesman.com. Or fax to (509) 459-5482. Or call Cityline at 458-8800 on a Touch-Tone phone, then press 9120 to leave a message.

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