Local Headlines — 12/8/05

* West challenges successor: Ousted mayor says others better qualified than Hession to run Spokane / Mike Prager & Jim Camden , Spokesman-Review — I hope he’s right. I don’t want another mayor with this guy’s wretched personal/public life. (You can listen to West’s press conference yesterday here , and to Dennis Hession’s here .

* The Front Row: Good kids, parents part of 400 wins for Poffenroth / Mark Nelke , Coeur d’Alene Press — Let’s let CHS junior Jenna DeLong pronounce judgment here: “Ever since he came here, the basketball program has skyrocketed.”

* Spokane lawmaker wants ‘Christmas’ back in Olympia Capitol ‘Holiday Tree’ / Rich Roesler , Spokesman-Review — You go, John Ahern.

* Rathdrum Mountain campaign mounted: Group aims to buy 280 acres and prevent development / James Hagengruber , Spokesman-Review — Now, if our enlightened Legislature would only allow the half-cent sales tax to be used to preserve open space …

* Fallen soldier remembered: Post Falls parents cope with loss of only child / Brian Walker , Coeur d’Alene Press — Greater love hath no soldier than this, that he lay down his life for his country. Salute.