Voices

The candidacy of local Demo chairwoman Bev Moss in the House District 4A race against Repub incumbent Marge Chadderdon has caused heartburn among local R's – particularly those who failed to take over the CDA council last fall. Bev put her name on the ballot as a strategic move to hold the spot until another Demo steps forward to run this fall (which could happen next week). At that point, Bev will withdraw from the legislative race to allow that person to be selected to fill her spot. At deposed city planner Mary Souza's Web site, there was some speculation that Councilman Mike Kennedy would be the one to replace Bev. A silhouette to illustrate a post speculating about the possible Demo who will replace Kennedy resembled the first-term councilman. Local Repubs are paranoid that Kennedy has the popularity and community support to seek and gain higher office. As a result, they attacked him unsuccessfully during his first municipal campaign when he bested Souza in a three-way race. Kennedy'd be a quality candidate for the county commission or the Legislature. But he told Huckleberries that he's much too busy raising a family of six young children to consider higher office – this year. Et tu, Sterling

Today BACKSTREET DIXIE (JAZZ) – Noon, Park Place Stage, First and Cedar, Sandpoint, 263-6139.

Space is currently available in the summer session credit courses North Idaho College has created specifically for senior citizens age 60 and older. •Tai Chi for Seniors runs Monday through July 24, Monday through Thursday, from 5:15 to 6:05 p.m. The class focuses on increasing health potential by learning how to live a longer, more active lifestyle through principle of balance, flexibility, strength, coordination and movement.

Every vote counts. Bonner County residents learned that lesson on May 20 when, for the second time in three years, a plant and facilities levy for improvements in the Lake Pend Oreille School District went before voters. In order to pass, the levy required a 55 percent plus one voter approval. When the final votes were tallied, the amount in favor of the levy totaled 55.9 percent, passing by a mere 40 votes.

Opportunity Christian Church will host missionaries Ana and Tod Gobledale during a potluck luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Monday at the church, 708 N. Pines Road. The couple have worked overseas with Global Ministries for the Disciples of Christ and the United Church of Christ since 1983. They have been in Australia for the past four years and before that served in southern Africa and Zimbabwe.

The Post Falls and Coeur d'Alene school districts will serve breakfast and lunch all summer long. The only thing children need to bring is an appetite.

For 05-31-2008

For the week of June 2-6 Monday – Rosemary chicken over garden rice pilaf, vegetables, whole wheat bread, cinnamon- raisin applesauce.

Mention severe weather and most people think about severe thunderstorms – with their gusty winds and hail – or tornadoes. This has been a deadly and destructive year for tornadoes, with nearly 1,200 storms resulting in 110 fatalities reported so far. The death toll makes this the deadliest tornado season since 1998, and there are still several months left in the prime tornado season. Parkersburg, New Hartford and Dunkerton in northeast Iowa were the latest communities to suffer the costly effects of a killer tornado. On May 25, a strong tornado packing winds of up to 205 mph carved a damage path of 43 miles and up to 1.2 miles wide through the state.

Logging baron Charles Beardmore was a driving force behind Priest River's early development and his Beardmore Block was at the center of it all – serving as the site of a general store, butcher shop, barbershop, apartments, offices, movie hall and all-around community gathering place. But as timber's domination over Priest River's economy faded, so too did the Beardmore and downtown Priest River. Shops closed, businesses moved up to Highway 2 and the buildings began to decay.

What shall we do with the nine miles of commercial development along Sprague Avenue in Spokane Valley? Some say, "Leave it alone." Others say, "No skin off my nose. I'm not a business owner." Why should residents care at all? One very good reason is that businesses provide 62 percent of our general fund revenue through sales taxes and real estate taxes. Without businesses in our city, our real estate tax rate would have to increase by 336 percent to cover the cost of city services. Business is the boat that keeps government afloat.

For 05-31-2008

Best-selling author Christina Crawford will be the keynote speaker Wednesday at the Power Women's Summit presented by the Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce and NAWBO Inland Northwest. The Chamber bills the event as a summit to celebrate women in business. The event runs from 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Mirabeau Park Hotel, 1100 N. Sullivan Road.

Candidate listed in wrong race The Eye on Olympia column published in last Thursday's Voices listed legislative candidate Judi Owens in the wrong race because of a reporter's error. She initially filed for a state House seat but is now running against state Sen. Bob McCaslin.