Magnuson Junior High?

Timothy Rhyne, a Boundary County school trustee candidate, may be on to something. Last week, he was asked at a forum if he would support a school facilities fund to raise private money for school construction. Sure, he chuckled, I support a “Bill Gates Junior High School.” Well, why not? If Safeco can buy the name rights to the new Seattle Mariners stadium, why not ask Duane Hagadone, Harry Magnuson or other area big shots to chip in a million bucks or two for a new school that’d be named after them? Or Idaho Forest Industries? Or Hecla? Etc. Joe Albertson did it and his name lives on at Albertson College.

Judge hands horndog a get-out-of-jail-free card

That slap you heard Thursday was 1st District Magistrate Paul McCabe administering “justice” to the wrists of former chiropractor Jeffrey Schwartz. Probation and community service for hitting on five patients and an employee? Where did duh judge study law? Arkansas? … And another question about our new parade law: How can the color guard march in the Fourth of July parade, if sticks to raise signs are banned? Besides, that pointy part at the top of the flag poles looks deadly … Congrats to Aryan parade protester Gary Edwards for standing up for his right to bear signs - and winning a $15,000 settlement from Kootenai County to buy a new pontoon boat. Now, quit gloating and drop your lawsuit against Coeur d’Alene. You’re beginning to look like just another money grubber.

Hit bomb callers, vandals where they hurt

So, a young punk wants to call in bomb threats to school? If he’s caught, take away his car license or don’t allow him to have one until he’s 18. Ditto for someone caught vandalizing. That formula will cure a large part of those problems, if hand-wringing judges will go along … Quote of the Week: “For some people, it’s throw-up scary” - Tim Sandford, Lake City High’s band instructor on what it’s like to improvise jazz music … Veep Al Gore’d probably blame globaloney warming for inflating high school and college baseball scores. But Region 18 community college coaches blamed aluminum bats, as they voted to return to the old-fashioned wooden ones. Do you suppose wood from old-growth forests makes the best bats?