Annoying Yipping, Yapping Sounds Reported

Thu., April 1, 1999

D.F. Oliveria The Spokesman-Revi

Gov. Dirk Kempthorne said what? That he signed the Dead Dog Bill only after the Idaho Racing Commission pledged to monitor out-of-state dog tracks that broadcast their races in Spudland? Ahaha. Talk about the fox guarding the henhouse. The racing commission wouldn’t say “boo” and risk losing its cash cow - er, greyhound - even if it had a mountain of rotting dog carcasses dropped on its head. Basically, The Guv’nah, who (wink, wink) opposes gambling, bowed to Main Street in signing the bill that allows greyhound simulcasting to continue. Promise a Republican pol a few minimum-wage jobs and he’ll follow you anywhere.

You say, Notre Dame, I say, Notra Daum

If Notre Dame had selected Gonzaga’s Dan Monson to coach its Fightless Irish cagers, would newscasters have had trouble pronouncing the university’s name? … Say, didn’t you used to be an Aryan Nations security guard? … Can someone explain why hard-pressed college students are charged income tax on work-study earnings? … I enjoyed listening to Leslie Gore in the early ‘60s. You know, “It’s my party, and I’ll cry if I want to.” Now, we Baby Boomers are turning 50 in droves, which means we’ll cry more than sing along with Gore next month at Sandpoint’s “Lost in the ‘50s” celebration … When Shoshone County Commissioner Jack King said he was seeking re-election to complete unfinished business, I had no idea he was talking about his condo remodeling project in Hawaii. Yep, he’s MIA again on the Hawaiian front. How do I sign up for commissioner?

Sweet Potatoes: Kempthorne vetoes no-brainer bill

Sweet Potatoes to Gov. Kempthorne for vetoing a bill that would have allowed Generation Y to pack heat to school. (But wasn’t that a no-brainer - for anyone but an Idaho legislator?) … Sweet Potatoes II to the Idaho Transportation Department for moving its timetable up two years to fix the horrible ruts on I-90’s Spudland side … Where have all the scandals gone? Bombed to the back pages every one. When will we ever learn? When will we ev-v-ver learn? … Item: Levy for new Bonners Ferry high school fails to get even 50 percent of the vote. Observation: Do you suppose parents who raise school-age children in Boundary County can be charged with child abuse? … The same crowd that brought us globaloney warming is back, claiming the Douglas fir beetle epidemic is a figment of the U.S. Forest Service’s imagination. A ruse to chop trees. Now that that’s settled, I wonder where the enviros stand on the Easter bunny?

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.