Voices

BOISE – When Idaho’s portion of the Electoral College met this week, the four electors dutifully cast their ballots for Republicans John McCain and Sarah Palin. Secretary of State Ben Ysursa, who was presiding along with Gov. Butch Otter, said, “They are free to vote their conscience.” But all four, John Erickson, Melinda Smyser, Ben Doty and Darlene Bramon, followed the state’s election results.

Enjoy Christmas as long as you can It’s Christmas again. I just want to remind everyone how quickly these seasons pass. If we’re lucky, we have maybe 85 Christmases in our lifetime. That sounds like quite a few. However, we have only 18 with a child. And even worse, only about 10 of those do they even want to be around us at Christmas. Only 10 years, that’s far too few.

Today “ANNIE” (MUSICAL) – 7:30 p.m., Lake City Playhouse, 1320 E. Garden Ave., Coeur d’Alene, 667-1323.

The Spokesman-Review’s Dec. 3, article, “Idaho proposal could reopen Farragut shooting range” is full of misinformation, as was presented by Idaho Fish and Game, Regional Director, Chip Corsi. In these tough economic times, Idaho Fish and Game plans to spend $400,000 dollars on a shooting range at Farragut State Park. An unbelievable fact is that when they spend this money, of which they have already spent $270,000, and if they are successful in proving the range is safe, they will only be able to allow 500 shooters per year.

For the week of Dec. 22-26 Monday – Beef stew with vegetables, corn, biscuit, oatmeal fruit bar.

Noting the frost crystals covering the lawn, I hastily traversed the area between our front door and the paper box. I knew the Thanksgiving edition of The Spokesman-Review would be huge, but I didn’t expect it to challenge the dimensions of the box. I futilely tugged, turned, and pulled at the paper, while “blessing” its’ container. It had never before occurred to me that having previous work experience in a girdle factory could enhance one’s career as a newspaper carrier.

Over the last week, the region was hit with two storm systems. Last Saturday’s storm was a bust over Spokane/Coeur d’Alene in regards to snow, though the winds and cold temperatures did descend upon us with a fury. The second storm came with much less wind, but blanketed a large area with record-breaking 24-hour snow amounts. Both times we were under a "winter storm warning.” What then, made the outcomes so different? Ahead of the first storm, we had some relatively mild air in place with above freezing temperatures. While snow can easily fall even with temps in the middle or even upper 30s, it makes sense that such warm temperatures really keep a lid on any accumulations. During that particular storm, the computer models put the Spokane/Cd’A area right at the border line of rain and snow. Forecasting accumulations then becomes a challenge, because a couple of degrees up or down can make the difference between a heavy, wet 4-6 inches of snow, or a puddle of nearly nothing. Meteorologists use what’s called a “snow to liquid ratio” to calculate how much snow can be produced by a certain amount of water. When temperatures are near freezing, the snow to liquid ratio may be 10 to 1 or less. In other words, .1 inches of water would make 1 inch of snow or less. This storm dropped about .3 inches of water over 2 days, amounting to 3 inches or less of snow locally. It was just a little too warm, and some locations saw a few hours of plain old rain. What snow did fall once the cold air started filtering in, blew around so much that coverage was spotty. Higher elevations did pick up 6-plus inches, along with a few spots which got caught under localized heavy snow bursts. Again, it became more of a wind and subsequent cold event for Spokane/Coeur d’Alene.

The Spokane Valley Parks and Recreation Department wants to know which movies residents would like to watch outdoors. Don’t laugh: The two free movies won’t be screened at Mirabeau Meadows Park until next summer.

Although most of us have seen U-Haul trucks and trailers on the highway all of our lives, we probably haven’t ever considered the size of this company. According to its Web site, U-Haul has nearly 16,000 outlets in all 50 states and Canada. And in Coeur d’Alene, it’s getting bigger. Storage units are a natural way for a “moving” company to expand, and that’s what is happening here. The company has about 70 storage units at its 750 W. Appleway facility, and it will be adding about 900 more. Construction will begin in the spring on the complex, which will have a variety of sizes and 24-hour access and security

Fairfield City Council – The town has received an Inland Northwest Community Foundation Community Strategies Program grant for $11,957 to pay for a new furnace for the Community Center. A public hearing was held on the 2009 budget, which was approved. An executive session was held to discuss legal and employee matters. (Source: City Clerk Mary Kinsey) Rockford City Council – Council members approved the 2009 budget and also voted for an ambulance interlocal agreement with Valley Fire. (Source: City Clerk)

Two weeks before Christmas in 1972, I received a check for half my inheritance from my Grandpa Graham’s estate. I received the second check just before Christmas in 1973. My Grandpa Graham, a hard-working Nebraska farmer, raised seven children during the depression-era of the 1920s and ’30s. My father had been one of his two sons. He left his farm to find work, finally relocating the family to Boise in the years before the war. After his death, his estate was equally divided among his children by my Uncle Kenny, who served as executor.

For 12-18-2008

Throughout the year, Kevin Hintz plays the role of dentist. But for one wintry day a year, he and his Family Dentistry staff turn their Post Falls office into a Santa-worthy workshop for families in need. Earlier this month, on Dec. 5 – known by those at the clinic as the annual Shared Blessings Day – a handful of local families, including six children, were hand picked by Hintz and crew for examinations, cleanings and to address any immediate dental issues. Since Kevin Hintz Family Dentistry opened in 2005, the eight-member staff has volunteered a full day of their services to help the less fortunate prior to Christmas.