Chukars and truckers

• The centerpiece on Sunday was going to be a legislative photo, which looked less compelling than the art from sports.

“Can I say ‘boring’? Is that fair?” managing editor Gary Graham said.

Strong points: The resulting photos worked well, and the important content appeared above the fold. The final Sunday layout appears at right.

• On retiring Spokane judge Mike Padden’s social connections, the focus of Sunday’s story : “You almost need a flow chart” to organize it, reporter Thomas Clouse said.

• What is a chukar? “Chukar” appeared in a hunting story in Sunday’s Outdoors & Travel section. Clouse, a court reporter, said a chukar (pronounced CHUCK-er) is a game bird between the sizes of a grouse and a pheasant. It does not negatively interfere with the food chain around here. Its natural habitat is the Ural Mountains area between Europe and Asia. The chukar “runs uphill, flies downhill,” and lives in very “inhospitable places.” Editor Steve Smith said that was more than he expected to hear about chukars.

• As Sunday’s Doug Clark column revealed, Steve Eugster (notorious former city councilman and attorney) has enrolled in a school for long-haul truck driving. Managing editor Gary Graham said he had a nightmare about being a long-haul truck driver (He blames Clark’s column).

Photo director Larry Reisnouer said he used to be a truck driver and enjoyed it very much. “I’d go back in a minute,” he said.