Tentative Shot At Blight Along Highways As Laudable As It Is Late

A possible move by Kootenai County commissioners to ban new billboards in unincorporated areas won’t accomplish much, although their heart’s in the right place. The damage has been done.

If you don’t believe me, take the freeway through Post Falls. Every few hundred feet, Obie Media Corp. and other out-of-state companies have erected a monstrous sign that obscures our pine-covered hillsides. The visual blight is unbearable at State Line, where a half dozen billboards greet visitors to an area once known for its pleasant view. Maybe we should declare U.S. 90 a scenic highway, from State Line to Fourth of July Pass, and go to war against the billboard companies. The Montana Transportation Commission did that on U.S. 2 some 23 years ago and now, finally, has issued an ultimatum to firms that own the 10 signs along the western approach to Glacier National Park. Get rid of them or else.

It’s easier to eradicate knapweed than billboards. But, Commissioner Ron Rankin and his playmates do deserve a Sweet Potato for tilting at this windmill.

‘Pride of the North’ roaring again

Coach Larry Bieber has had a dream year at Coeur d’Alene High. First, his boys basketball team surprised everyone by winning the state A-1 title behind seniors Luke O’Dowd, Jesse Hoorelbeke and Jim Rupp. Now, his girls softball team has battled its way back through the losers bracket to win the state tournament behind sophomore pitcher Casey Hoorelbeke. Throw in the second state title in three years by the boys golf team, led by junior Jarrod Batchelder, and it’s apparent the “Pride of the North” has fully recovered from the 1994-95 high school split. All that’s needed now is for the community to upgrade rundown CHS for future Viks. The $19.8 million plant facilities levy goes before the voters today.

Gendarmes looking for drivers unleashed

I buckle up about 80 percent of the time. I know I should do so 100 percent. But sometimes, frankly, I don’t want to - like when I’m running around town. I’d be miffed if I got ticketed for not wearing a seat belt. It’s my business if I want to put myself in harm’s way. Why am I thinking about seat belts? This is National Seat Belt Safety Week, or something like that. And the local gendarmes say they won’t tolerate non-users. It’ll cost you $60 if they catch you unharnessed. So, buckle up or keep your fingers crossed until this invasion of privacy passes.