Centennial Trail Boosters Persevere, Near Finish Line
Doug Eastwood, Randy Haddock and other North Idaho Centennial Trail boosters deserve Sweet Potatoes - for enduring. For a decade, these guys have pushed ahead with the 23-mile trail despite constant opposition and hurdles. Now, work has begun on the final 3-1/2-mile section between Post Falls and Coeur d’Alene. When it is completed this summer, the trail will offer uninterrupted use from the state line to Higgens Point, five miles east of Coeur d’Alene. At one point, stiff resistance from the Pinevilla neighborhood and Seltice Way industry jeopardized the whole section between Post Falls and Coeur d’Alene. In fact, former Kootenai County Commissioner Frank Henderson tried to play Solomon by proposing that the midsection be dumped and the Spokane River serve as a symbolic link between the two communities instead. But it’s a good thing trail advocates kept their eye on the goal. It’s hard to bike on water.
Commissioners already do enough damage
Hmmm. I’m having second thoughts about reconfiguring Kootenai County government. In the past, I’ve opined that it might be a good idea to appoint rather than elect the coroner, treasurer, assessor and clerk. You never know when our biennial popularity contests will produce a dud in one of those offices. But goofy actions by commissioners from Kootenai and Bonner counties these past 2 months have changed my perspective. Now, I’m leaning toward government that’s more cumbersome rather than giving one or two radicals the power to appoint important county officials - or to dispose of good people who now hold those offices. If anything, we should increase the number of commissioners and make candidates run within districts, thus diluting the power of a demagogue who might slip into office.
Brand X writer should go back to sleep
Well, I have to hand it to the Coeur d’Alene Press. Just when I thought Brand X would never take a stand on any issue more controversial than motherhood or apple pie, it does. (Apparently, its poll numbers were high enough.) The Little Paper That Simply Can’t wants everyone to drop “the whole thing” now that we’ve had “our little tissy fit” over Commissioner Ron Rankin’s “English-only” resolution. I’d like to remind the anonymous editorialist that his boss is so concerned about North Idaho’s reputation for racism and heavy metals that he has called for an image summit. Don’t they ever talk to headquarters over there? The “English-only” issue isn’t going to go away until Rankin’s folly is rescinded.
, 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.