Public Periscope

No end in sight for weasel wars

King Weasel’s benefactors can remain anonymous, at least for the time being. A campaign disclosure bill adopted by Congress last week apparently does not apply to U.S. Term Limits, the group that bought the King Weasel costume last year and uses it to dog Republican Congressman George Nethercutt at public appearances.

It galls Nethercutt, who became one of the organization’s chief targets when he reneged on his pledge to serve only three terms, that the group doesn’t have to report the names of its contributors.

The bill requires groups organized under Section 527 of the U.S. tax code to disclose who gives them money for political campaigning. Up to now, the socalled 527s have been exempt from reporting the names of their contributors.

Nethercutt’s staff was hopeful Thursday that the new legislation, which is expected to be signed by President Clinton, would drive King Weasel’s sponsors out into the open.

It’s not going to, however.

“We are not a 527,” Stacie Rumenap, a spokeswoman for U.S. Term Limits, said Friday. “It does not apply to U.S. Term Limits.”

What price love?

Dealing with the “I Love You” computer virus cost the city of Spokane an estimated $10,000 in staff time and lost productivity, city computer guru Garvin Brakel said last week.

And it all began at the desk of Assistant City Manager Roger Flint. Flint apparently was the first to open an e-mail with the infected “I Love You” attachment.

That little click sent the city’s computer network into turmoil.

Flint apparently had good reason to open the e-mail, however. “It was from Nick,” he said in his defense. That’s Nick Dragisich, one-time assistant city manager and Flint’s former boss.

Excursion for sale; cheap

A videotaped demonstration of how a massive Ford Excursion could navigate its way through the tight spaces in the River Park Square parking garage was shown to the Spokane Public Development Authority on Wednesday.

The Excursion was on loan from Empire Ford, owned by City Councilwoman Roberta Greene and her husband, Nate.

Councilwoman Greene looked on with proprietary interest as the tape was shown over and over in Zapruder-like fashion. Her close scrutiny drew teasing comments.

“We’re trying to figure out how they got 140 miles on it just driving it in the garage,” said Dan Cenis, a city accountant.

“I appreciate how carefully you are driving it,” Greene noted. “It looks like a new vehicle.”

“Actually, there are some scratches, but they didn’t come from the garage,” said mall manager Bob Robideaux. “Oh, God,” exclaimed Greene.

When animals attack

Yanks heading to British Columbia may be jumpy about grizzly bears. Provincial statistics suggest they should worry more about horses.

Of the 133 animal-caused deaths reported to the B.C. government during the past 30 years, 47 were caused by horses (typically from people being tossed or kicked, or from car-horse collisions). Bear attacks killed 19 people, as did car-moose collisions. Hornets, wasps and bees stung 16 people to death. Cougars killed five children.

In Washington during the past two years (the only period for which species-specific statistics are available), 11 people have died on Evergreen State roads due to car accidents involving animals. There were four caused by deer; three by dogs; two by elk; and two by cows. In the 10 years ending in 1998, 16 Washingtonians and one visitor have been killed by insects. Horses killed 32 riders. State statistician Ann Lima said there were no fatal attacks by snakes, moose, bears or cougars.

Goose repellant

Prompted by last Monday’s Spokesman-Review story about the growing population of urban geese, a reader recommended a resource for those trying to cope with the critters. It’s a 50-page publication from Cornell University, with the snappy title: “Managing Canada Geese in Urban Environments - A Technical Guide.” Cost is $10.50 for the pamphlet or $19.95 for a 28-minute video.

To order with a credit card, call (607) 255-2080. Or, send a check or money order to Cornell University Resource Center, 7-8BTP, Ithica, NY 14850.

The report apparently is full of great advice for preventing the problems in the first place. But landowners already dealing with geese and their three pounds of daily feces shouldn’t get their hopes up. The publication concludes there is no silver bullet for banishing the geese - other than real bullets.