Candidate Needs Time To Come Clean
Cheri Erwin’s quixotic campaign for lieutenant governor just got curiouser. The Twin Falls quick-stop manager and Donald McMurrian are running as a Democratic tandem for the state’s top two executive spots. Ten days ago, Erwin pulled out of a televised League of Women Voters debate in Boise to protest the lack of media coverage she has received. Last Tuesday, McMurrian called our CdA newsroom from the local Motel 6 to cancel an afternoon interview. Why? Erwin had just crawled into the tub and she’d be awhile.
A super supermajority
On Wednesday, McMurrian and Erwin finally made it to The Idaho Spokesman-Review office, where the former declared he backs the current supermajority vote needed to pass school bonds: three-thirds. (And all this time, I thought our two-thirds rule was a bit high.) … Sight ‘em: Larry and Susan Canfield spotted actor Drew Carey chowing down at Perkins at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday. Carey’s black Porsche and bleached hair caught Larry’s eye. The Canfields realized they were looking at a TV star an instant after they wondered, “How come an old guy has bleach-blond hair?” … Say, wasn’t that state copper Wayne Longo who ran into a Spokane parking meter while Channel 4’s cameras were covering Bloomsday?
Disastrous response
Not only did poor communications delay the HazMat response to Wednesday’s mock disaster by three hours, but incident commanders flubbed, too. They evacuated students, taking them to the east to Garwood Elementary School - after deciding the chlorine plume was drifting to the east, too. Good thing Saddam Hussein wasn’t dispensing the practice gas. … Meanwhile, Ron Rankin was relishing his role as the sole Kootenai County commissioner on duty. In case of an emergency, a single commissioner has the authority to issue orders that generally would require a forum. Said Rankin: “I’ll have Kootenai County out of the United Nations by 5 p.m.!” … Rankin, author of the county’s controversial English-only resolution, received “Happy Cinco de Mayo” wishes Wednesday from seven constituents. … Then, receptionist Colleen Allison was overheard telling a caller: “No, you can’t get arrested for speaking Spanish.” Comprende?
Huckleberries
Cars for sale by owners are sprouting again like dandelions in the public right of way along Northwest Boulevard, attracting Coeur d’Alene police with their ticket books. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. … Deep Thoughts By D.F.: “If it’s tourist season, why can’t we shoot them?” … Recently, Huckleberries mentioned two Coeur d’Alene sisters who were amused by a Spokane bum’s sign: “Won’t Lie, Need Beer.” Later, a beggar approached me in downtown Spokane and said: “I won’t lie to you; I need a buck for beer.” Apparently, “Will Work for Food” signs are passe. … Hmmm. A Coeur d’Alene High School senior gets bounced for repairing a book cover with a Swiss army knife, but Project CdA enrollees are allowed to shoot real arrows during PE Friday morning? What’s wrong with this picture? … Trustee John Goedde has picked up bad habits during his brief time on the CdA School Board. He’s a leading advocate of U.S. Highway 95 reconstruction, but Goedde disinvited the press to a brainstorming session with area legislators to discuss the issue. He preferred to meet privately with the lawmakers and then brief reporters after he’d gotten his ducks in a row (which is how the school board conducts business).
Parting shot
The military might have overlooked Omer Karns, “the forgotten victim” of the Fairchild Air Force Base shootings in 1994, but the Rathdrum Veterans of Foreign Wars didn’t. Former Rathdrum Mayor John Heitstuman says Post 9894 has decided unanimously to post a flag on Omer’s fresh grave at Pine Grove Cemetery this Memorial Day. It’ll be the only nonmilitary grave shown that respect. Said John: “Omer did more for the military through his volunteer work for Disabled American Veterans than some veterans ever do. He deserves this.” Bingo.