Let's see if Tater 1 can make it past Air Force 1
It looks like Idaho's Attorney General Lawrence Wasden will make it to town today after all.
For those of you who don't know, Idaho's AG is scheduled to be in town this afternoon to participate in an open meetings/public records workshop. The meeting is slated from 1-3 p.m. at the East Bonner County Library. The public is encouraged to attend.
So far more than 50 public officials and residents have signed up to be there and there is room for more. The workshop is a cooperative educational project of the AG, the Idaho Press Club, Idahoans for Open Government and the Daily Bee.
Wasden is doing all the right things as Idaho's AG. He's tough on crime, pushes victims' rights and informing local and state officials about Idaho's open meeting law and explaining access to public records, makes him very near and dear to the hearts of journalists throughout the Gem State.
At the same time I am writing this column, AG Wasden is rubbing elbows with President George W. Bush in southern Idaho. This morning, Wasden is scheduled to depart the Boise Airport in the state jet to fly here for the workshop.
The only problem is that Air Force One may be still setting on the tarmac at the airport when Wasden has to head north. There is a pretty strict no-fly policy around Air Force One.
Because of that, Bob Cooper, the spokesman for the AG's office, said Wasden might be a few minutes late for today's workshop. It's our hope that in our air space states' rights will take precedent and the state jet, presumably called Tater 1, will be allowed to fly to Sandpoint.
If Wasden can't leave in time, it would be our hope that the Guvertater, Dirk Kempthorne, could step in and make this happen.
There's only one way to find out, come to the meeting today at 1 p.m.
The Bonner County Fair kicks off today in a big way. Rhonda and the overworked, undermanned and barely compensated crew has put together just a great program all the way through this weekend. Check out the Bee for the schedule of events and get out to the fair.
If you are lucky enough to be at the 4-H livestock sale, would you consider buying True Grit? Charlotte Johns, from the Syringa Creek 4-H Club, put in the extra effort to have little green business cards printed up asking me and other business people to purchase True Grit.
Any 4-H'er who puts in that extra touch to sell her steer, I'll bet put in some extra time to make True Grit a special animal.
The money Charlotte makes goes to her college fund.
Congrats to everyone who pushed to get the skatepark open. Kim Woodruff earned "thanks, dude" honors from all of the assembled skateboarders a couple of nights ago at the park.
I talked with skateboarders who came from as far as Missoula and Whitefish who heard raves about the park. There were 20 boarders in the park last Thursday night around 7 p.m.
If you get a chance, check out the athleticism of these young boarders. These young adults are amazing! The park is located at Travers Park on Pine Street.
The Bee's online poll question "Does Bonner County need a building department?" garnered 454 votes. A bit more that 53 percent of respondents voted in the affirmative while 46.3 said the county doesn't need one.
One person stated: "We don't need one. It was abolished once in the 90s, why would we ever want it back. All the people there know nothing about inspections nor do they have knowledge of what they are doing." Another: "Of course we need a building department. Do you notice some of the (barnyard expletive) houses that are being built right now?"
This week's question: "Are you going to the fair." No this question might really deserve a barnyard expletive.
Festival at Sandpoint President Marcella Nelson wants to extend a personal thanks to the FAS board of directors, office staff, executive director and legions of volunteers for the wonderful season.
Nelson is so proud of the Festival she is walking around this week feeling five feet tall.
The Pend Oreille Dog Park is opening Sept. 3 right next to the Pend Oreille Vet Service. This will be the first dog park in Idaho. Admission is free and the park will be open from dusk to dawn.
What a great idea. I hope it goes to the dogs.
Congrats to Fred and Michelle Colby and best wishes for success with Laughing Dog Brewing in Ponderay.
They were featured in the Sunday Bee. The microbrewery officially opens Saturday. Those who have sampled the beer say it is wonderful. Want a free sample and are over 21? Stop by 55 Emerald Park Road this Saturday for a taste. If you tell either of the Colbys a joke, you might get two samples. Why? Because with a joke you will create a brew-ha-ha. Sorry.
A bunch of seats open on the Sandpoint City Council and no takers yet? It looks like former City Clerk Helen Newton and former planning and zoning member B are hanging back to see who is going to run before they toss their hats in.
A big thanks to Charles and Katherine Rieger for their invitation to spend a few hours at their Bottle Bay home Saturday. A beautiful sunset, great conversation and a wonderful party. The Riegers are wonderful hosts — that is unless they are armed with tennis racquets.
As we ease into another school year, it's my hope the communities surrounding Sandpoint address the very serious issue of overcrowding at Sandpoint High School. Even though it looks like the school's enrollment may drop a bit this year, the facility is crammed and is falling apart.
Your thoughts?
E-mail of the week:
"Cows, Constitution, and Carlin"
Cows
Is it just me, or does anyone else find it amazing that our government can track a cow born in Canada almost three years ago, right to the stall where she sleeps in the state of Washington, and they tracked her calves to their stalls. But they are unable to locate 11 million illegal aliens wandering around our country. Maybe we should give them all a cow.
Constitution
They keep talking about drafting a Constitution for Iraq. Why don't we just give them ours? It was written by a lot of really smart guys, it's worked for over 200 years, and we're not using it anymore.
Ten Commandments
The real reason that we can't have the Ten Commandments in a courthouse? You cannot post "Thou Shalt Not Steal," "Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery," and "Thou Shall Not Lie" in a building full of lawyers, judges and politicians! It creates a hostile work environment!
And last but not least …
George Carlin said it best about Martha Stewart.
"Boy, I feel a lot safer now that she's behind bars. O.J. Simpson and Kobe Bryant are still walking around; Osama bin Laden, too, but they take the one woman in America willing to cook, clean, and work in the yard, and haul her (barnyard expletive) off to jail."
David Keyes is publisher of the Bee. His (barnyard expletive) column runs weekly.