Cheapskating In Bonner County

Thu., Dec. 28, 2000

D.F. Oliveria The Spokesman-Re

For years, Bonner County Sheriff Chip Roos and his faithful sidekick, Nick Krager, bought their own firearms. So did the rest of their department. Such were the financial straits of the B.C. budget. This year, however, the county scraped together enough cash to buy pistols for the officers. So, what do you suppose happened when Chip and Nick asked to take their new pistols with them into retirement next month? Believe it or not, the boo-birds chirped. Here are two public servants who’ve worn themselves out protecting their county. They deserve a small token for services rendered. And a new Glock beats a gold watch.

At least `Roots’ doesn’t have frontal nudity

Nah, the Coeur d’Alene School District shouldn’t lift its ban on R-rated movies. Rather, trustees should ask the charter academy why it wants to waste time in class showing “Amistad.” At best, Hollyweird’s version of history is questionable … A Potatohead is still laughing about that Dec. 20 headline in the Bonner Daily Bee. You know, the one above a story in which a judge warns racist Richard Butler not to use the names Aryan Nations or Church of Jesus Christ Christian: “Butler told to turn over intellectual property.” Intellectual property? Ahaha … French Fries (or, “Don’t Look Now, But Dubya’s Top Picks Are More Diverse Than Willie’s): 1, Christie Whitman; 2, Condoleezza Rice; 3, Alberto R. Gonzales; 4, Mel Martinez; and, of course, 5, Colin Powell.

These prosecutors practice what they preach

Sweet Potatoes - to the Bonner County Prosecutor’s Office. Not only are prosecutors cracking down on domestic violence (55 convictions in Y2K, compared with only three in ‘99) - but the office adopted a battered woman and her kids for Christmas (read, gifts and all the trimmings) … Mike Dancer, the guy who blew the whistle on Shoshone County Assessor’s Office shenanigans, is being investigated. The guy deserves a medal … “I was told by somebody I could get a lot of money if I changed my vote. But I didn’t consider it for a number of reasons. One of them was the Lord would strike me dead and I wouldn’t get a chance to spend the money.” - ex-Idaho Gov. Phil Batt, joking about why he didn’t switch and cast his electoral vote for Al Gore … This edition of Hot Potatoes is brought to you by the No. 1. Or, Idaho’s ranking among 48 states in successfully prodding welfare recipients back to work. Or, ain’t tough love byootiful?

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