Horiuchi Can And Should Get A Fair Trial In Idaho
The federal government must have contempt for Idaho.
First, U.S. marshals blunder into a shootout that leaves a kid, his dog and one of their own dead on Ruby Ridge. Then, FBI not-so-sharpshooter Lon Horiuchi blows away Vicky Weaver. Now, government-paid attorneys are seeking a change of venue, claiming Horiuchi can’t get a fair trial in Idaho on an involuntary manslaughter charge.
Horsefeathers.
Boundary County Prosecutor Denise Woodbury was right when she said that picking a second Ruby Ridge jury in Idaho wouldn’t be harder than selecting a jury to try convicted Unabomber Ted Kaczynski in Sacramento, Calif., where one person was killed by a bomb, or picking two juries in Denver for the Oklahoma City bombing.
Horiuchi should be tried in Idaho.
Said Woodbury: “The very strong interest of the people of the state of Idaho in sitting in judgment on a crime committed by a federal government officer who intruded into their state should not be diminished by a defendant who killed an Idahoan, committed a crime in Idaho, and who, like the state of Idaho, must have a jury of his peers.”
Randy Weaver and Kevin Harris faced the music in a U.S. District Court in Boise. Horiuchi should, too.
Border League brings back thrill of victory
The advent of the Border League this year is the best thing to happen to area high school sports since Coeur d’Alene High split four years ago. The Border League combined four North Idaho schools with four in Eastern Washington: Coeur d’Alene, Lake City, Post Falls, Sandpoint, East Valley, West Valley, Cheney and Clarkston. A Washington state realignment prompted the merger by removing three teams from the old Frontier League. The best attribute of the new league? Competitiveness. And the second best? Coeur d’Alene High, under Coach Larry Bieber, and Lake City High, under Coach Dave Stockwell, won the first Border League titles in boys and girls basketball, respectively. Yeah, I’m still a North Idaho chauvinist pig.
Give ‘em credit for facing the voters
Kootenai County Commissioner Ron Rankin says his board deserves credit for raising garbage fees before the primaries and (drum roll, please) he’s right. Most politicians don’t raise taxes, fees or salaries until their constituents nod off again. The garbage fee will increase modestly, from $80 to $84 per month. Rankin also deserves credit for pledging to find offsetting cuts in other areas. Two Sweet Potatoes for Kootenai County commissioners? I must be ill.
, 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.