Political candidates seen around town
Political candidates swarmed Bayview last week, attempting to swing a few last-minute voters.
The monthly Chamber of Commerce meeting hosted several. Rick Curry, incumbent county commissioner, and his challenger, Jai Nelson, represented District 3, while Tim Herzog was the only candidate for District 1 present. In addition to the county offices, candidates for state representative, incumbent Phil Hart and his competition, former Coeur d’Alene School District Superintendent David Rawls, running for Position B.
The lone candidate for Senate present was Jim Connell, former U.S. Air Force B-52 pilot.
Other business before the chamber was a fishery report by Hobart Jenkins. He stressed that Fish and Game officials believe that lake trout are being caught in Priest Lake and turned in to the department for the $15 bounty, which is only offered for fish from Lake Pend Oreille. Authorities have taken the step of sending some of the fish to Washington, D.C., for DNA tests to ferret out the scofflaws. It is said that stiff fines for fraud will ensue if allegations prove to be true.
•Record numbers of celebrants from the Annuals turned out in force this weekend, as they have done for the past 25 years. Starting back when they first turned 21, Steve Henry, brothers Rob and Jim Peck and Tom Cox first came in 1983. The second generation has started to turn 21 and will be joining up in full force next year. Still, there were four Pecks present, including the younger generation: Robbie, and his dad, Rob, plus Tyler and his dad, Rich. Speaking of Rich, an error in first names appeared last week, with Rob being the traditional swimmer. It is and was Rich Peck. Rich tells everyone this is his last cold water plunge and he is retiring. We’ll see.
Joining the swim-in were several of the other participants, and one Lacy Darnell, who shucked down to a bikini and dove in with the others, then exchanging her shirt for a 25th anniversary shirt one of the guys were wearing, sloshed back to duty as the bartender. Later Saturday evening, the overflow crowd danced to the sounds of Comfort Zone.
•On a very sad note, the Coeur d’Alene Police reported that Nathan Peck of Bayview was killed in a traffic accident Friday night near Cenex on Government Way in Coeur d’Alene. Nathan was the son of Neil and Debbie Peck and the grandson of Al and Edie Peck. Nathan and Debbie, were widely known for the Salee Creek gardens that produce fresh produce and flowers for the area. Nathan was 32 and was riding an almost-new motorcycle when a vehicle turned onto the road in front of him. Attempting to avoid the truck, he laid his bike down, but it wasn’t enough. The Pecks are longtime residents, with parts of the family having been here since Bayview was founded.