Public Periscope

Not-so-divine intervention

Allan LeTourneau a frequent critic of Spokane city government recently took aim at what some consider one of the most sacred legislative traditions: the pre-meeting prayer. As Leonard Jones of Health Care Ministries approached the council podium during last week’s meeting, LeTourneau rushed up to stop the prayer from proceeding … “You’re illegal,” LeTourneau told the council. “Are you going to proceed with this illegal activity?” As LeTourneau read from the state’s Constitution about mixing religion and government, Mayor Jack Geraghty gaveled the meeting to a close. A Spokane police officer at City Hall on other business tried unsuccessfully to coax LeTourneau away from the microphone … LeTourneau eventually took a seat and Jones gave his prayer. LeTourneau later returned to the podium during the public forum to reiterate his complaint about the ritual prayer: “The reason I’m asking you to refrain from this is you’re giving the implication you’ve got God’s blessing in everything you do. Just because nobody stood up to you doesn’t mean it’s right” … City Attorney Jim Sloane said later the practice of opening a government session with a prayer was “deeply embedded in the history of this country” and “within the scope of permissible activities.” No public funds are spent on it, he added.

Trade ya two Roskelleys and a Harris rookie card for your Amend

As previously noted, county officials worry about lapses in courthouse security. Visitors go through metal detectors, but employees need only show ID cards to pass unchecked … Now, comes word that identification flashed by some employees isn’t even their own. Seems ID cards have become the courthouse equivalent of trading cards … This is evident from a warning Deputy Jerry Brady recently sent to courthouse workers: “A few employees have been trading ID cards and then going through security. In the future, the screening people have been instructed to pick up the ID cards and give them to me. I will return those cards to (the owners’) supervisors.”

Putting out the welcome mat

The Avon approach to selling pet licenses seems to be working. Two agents hired for door-to-door sales have visited 5,000 homes since mid-June, selling 439 dog licenses and 205 cat licenses. They’ve collected $13,600, said animal control director Nancy Sattin. License sales at pet stores and other vendors also have increased, which Sattin attributes to the information sheets the agents leave on the door when no one’s home … Commissioners killed one door-to-door licensing program in 1995, after some county residents complained that the agents, who earned commissions, were too aggressive. Sattin said most of the calls she’s received about the program, which uses salaried agents, have been supportive.

, DataTimes MEMO: Public Periscope, which is published Mondays, is compiled by Jim Camden from staff reports. You can write us at The Spokesman-Review, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, 99210; or send e-mail to jimc@spokesman.com; or send a fax to (509) 459-5482.

This sidebar appeared with the story: Hot Topic Saturday: Spokane Valley legislator Mark Sterk will hold a two hour meeting on education and crime, particularly domestic violence, at 3 p.m., Valley Library, 12004 E. Main.

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