Bypass vote shows support for Sand Creek route

Florida had its recount and the Daily Bee now has had its do-over in what has become our weekly attempt to find out what the public thinks of the proposed Sand Creek Byway.

As you may recall, last week we threw out the results of the online poll because of widespread hacking and cheating. We had 2,600 votes cast and 55 percent disliked the Sand Creek option and 45 percent appeared to be in favor of Sand Creek.

A local minister stopped by the office to let anyone who would listen know how to cheat in the poll. Some might call that a sign.

Now the do-over.

This week we allowed only original ballots from the Daily Bee. No copies, no ballot stuffing, no nothing.

The results were decidedly different. There were 579 votes cast and counted. Again, we only counted original ballots and only one per customer.

"Is the proposed Sand Creek Byway good for Sandpoint and Bonner County?"

Yes — 60 percent, 350 votes.

No — 40 percent, 229 votes.

Had we counted the duplicates, the photocopied votes and assorted votes scribbled on napkins and the such, the no votes would have added 64 votes and the yes votes would have added seven votes. Still, the Sand Creek option would have come out on top with a 55 percent to 45 percent margin.

It was interesting to note that the online attempt at a poll last week was thwarted by a handful of people who wanted the no vote to prevail. This week, the vast majority (64-7) of people who chose not to follow the rules were also against the Sand Creek route.

With this, we will not poll again on whether Sand Creek is the best option for a byway.

It will take us some time to process the many byway letters we have received. What will take longer, unfortunately, is trying to convince all of the no voters that having original ballots to dissuade cheating really wasn't an attempt to sell more papers.

Really.

Some people have asked for an "official" poll to establish how the public feels about a byway. City Clerk Helen Newton reminds us there was an advisory election in 1993. The polls were open March 1-5, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and one evening until 8 p.m.

The Sand Creek option garnered 69 percent of the vote. There were no do-overs.

Is she Carol Winget, or Carol Wingnut? In last week's Bee, a caption under a photo said one of the ladies showing off auction items was named Carol Wingnut. It was a joke, perpetuated mostly by Carol's co-workers at the Festival at Sandpoint office.

Carol's last name was changed several years ago in press releases distributed by the FAS. She had laughed off the joke until recently when the IRS sent her a letter.

Actually the letter was addressed to Carol Wingnut. Gulp.

Cedar Post staffers Megan Brewington and Yarrow Frank left an impression at the Edward R. Murrow symposium last week at WSU. They each won awards and had a chance to sit right up front to hear Peter Jennings speak. It got better, they each had a chance to chat with the ABC anchorman.

Brewington listened quietly while Jennings shared a few stories. When Frank had a chance for a little face-to-face, she lunged toward Jennings and patted him on the back and gave him an "atta-boy" punch in the shoulder.

"It was a Canadian thing, " Frank told her fellow Cedar Posters.

A Bonners Ferry reader brought in a Franklin Covey day planner page with this entry: "Constabulary notes from all over. Received a midnight report of an apparent fire on the Katka Ridge from Officer Jack Parker. At 12:13 a.m. Parker reported that upon further investigation he'd determined that the apparent fire was in fact the rising moon. — From the Bonners Ferry Herald."

Great news! The Wooden Boat Show is coming to Sandpoint July 9-11. The second-annual event promises to be bigger and better than last year's over-the-top opening act.

Larry O'Leary, Gary Ballew and Chris Knapton are still raving about last year — and they expect to have up to 60 boats in the water this year. Also, some SHS students are going to build a wooden boat this year to raise scholarship money. More about that later…

This week's online poll question was: "Do you think Dirk Kempthorne should run for a third term?" No, 61.1 percent. Yes, 38.9 percent. There were 131 votes cast. This poll has a plus or minus of roughly 131 votes if you judge by recent weeks.

This week's question: "Do you think the Iraq war will figure into the presidential race?" Cast your vote (singular) at www.bonnercountydailybee.com.

If Dyno Wahl is thinking about running for City Council, she has my vote.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention the passing of my friend, Ralph Anglen. Mr. Anglen wrote a fishing column in the Bonners Ferry Herald for 30 years. The funeral for this 91-year-old gentleman was Monday and I was touched to see the number of youngsters and oldsters Mr. Anglen touched.

He attracted fish and friends and would never throw either away.