Northwest Headlines (1/11/05)

Photo/Jesse Tinsley: Kootenai County Commissioner Gus Johnson of the Kootenai County commission tried on an outfit for a Post Falls Rotary fashion show in March 2003. Yesterday, he was named commission chairman. See Item No. 3.

* Temperature may hit 14 below: Light snowfall, gusty winds expected in advance of arctic front moving down from Canada / Mike Prager , S-R: OK, let’s start the braggin’. The coldest weather I’ve experienced was 29 below in Kalispell, Mont., back in the days when I was the lead Hagadroid for The Daily Inter Lake.

* Hey, Mr. H, a promise is a promise: Hagadone owes Spokane a hotel – or a garden / Doug Clark , S-R: I beg your pardon. He never promised Spokane a rose garden.

* Commission gets new look: Johnson new chairman, Brodie officially sworn in to office / Erica Curless , S-R: Hot Potatoes hears … that Gus Johnson was doing a little struttin’ after being named chairman. Earth to Gus — you shouldn’t strut when there’s a bull’s-eye painted on your back. It comes with the territory.

* Officer shot is conscious in hospital: Kralicek responds to family members, remains in serious condition, department says / Thomas Clouse , S-R: Very, very good news. We may disagree re. the release of the deputies’ names involved in the fatal shooting. But we don’t disagree that the three officers involved are very brave men involved in a tough job to protect society from its baser elements.

* Spokane Valley voter among the ‘deceased’ / Jim Camden , S-R: You’ve heard of “Dead Man Walking.” Now, we have “dead man” voting. What’ll they think of next?

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