Amazing technicolor institutional memory

Before the meeting, investigative reporter Bill Morlin walks by wheeling a rolly cart. Bill—Bill—what are you doing, asks assistant managing editor Carla Savalli. He says he’s moving files. It takes a cart to do that. He pushes it to the other side of the room. Morlin has a humongotrove of documents and has a reputation for remembering exactly where to find material from years past.

As an example of Morlin’s story memory, photo editor Larry Reisnouer said when white supremacist Buford Furrow shot people at a Jewish community center several years ago (1999), Morlin went to him and said, Hey Larry we have photos of him (of Furrow). Lo and behold, we did. They hadn’t even been published yet by then. A close-up at right, taken by Sandra Bancroft Billings of The Spokesman-Review.

Multimedia rundown

The MarQuee Lounge (produced by Parker Howell)

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Racecar driving class (produced by Dan Pelle)

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And the non-smoking, non-drinking, plant-eating local übermusician and recording engineer Joe Varela is moving to sunnier climes. Mr. Varela, Spokane will miss you.

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Keyworded slices

BALLS : All ages descend for Hoopfest check-in .

GUNS : Gun-rights backers hail decision (local story) | Seismic ruling on gun law (newswire)

SACKS : Museum believes vintage flour bags , once used for everything from dresses to towels to underwear, might also make a fine exhibit. Kudos - a story you don’t expect to ever read, until you’re almost done reading it, editor Steve Smith said.

SWIMS : 2 Spokane club members head for trials . For this story, folks wondered how photojournalist Rajah Bose took the below underwater shot. There are two possibilities, Reisnouer said - either Bose has his own underwater equipment, or the photo department also has sealing bags. More information later.

Mason Shaw of Coeur d’Alene and and Jenni Dole, a Mead graduate, are headed to the U.S. Olympic Trials in Nebraska. RAJAH BOSE The Spokesman-Review

Coming Up

A surprise story about critters. The accompanying photo has a marmot. We should say “Buy this paper or we gas the marmot,” Smith suggested. (Animal-lover Carla Savalli says: “Mean!”). But the surprise story promises to be good, so “There’s no point in writing anything else tomorrow,” said reporter Kevin Graman who is working on something else today. (Savalli: “Nice try, Kevin”)

Also, a story in the Today section about DNA testing for dogs. Good for.. breed determination, paternity tests, sex crimes?