Food Bank Burglars Caught

Angela Wolfinjer age 38 and her Son,Dale Reah, age 19 were arrested by Kootenai County Sheriff officers, Friday Evening. They were charged with burglary, possession of stolen property and possession of large amounts of Meth. Well, it's too late for them to spend Christmas in jail like I wanted them to, but they are there with no bail, now.

According to a news release by the Sheriff's Department, they found over 40 items purchased at Fred Meyer by the use of the stolen gift cards. In addition to the burglary loot, they got a bonus in finding a large amount of Methamphetamine.

Police are looking further, not having recovered or accounted for many of the missing items, leading us to believe there were others involved.

During the last few days, the account of a scandal at the Idaho Police Academy, has dominated the news.The conversation on the Internet and National Television, has brought up the subject of misuse of police powers. Today, we celebrate the majority, the other kind of officers that are totally dedicated to protecting the public. If one could applaud over the Internet, I would at this time, do so.

PTSD ... To Give or Get

There has been a raging discussion about the ugly motto that a recent graduating class at the Idaho State Law Enforcement Academy. The motto of the class:

"Don't Suffer from PTSD, Go Out and Cause it."

One such discussion had totaled about 80 comments at Huckleberries On Line, listed in this blog as a link. The comment I made, is as follows:

Hopefully, this discussion will end at some point. Having said that, the thought that comes to my mind, well actually, two thoughts are:

For anyone who has ever been unduly hassled by a law enforcement officer, the memory is revived.

Two, I believe that there are many people that have either witnessed as I have, the brutality, or faked probable cause (for a traffic stop)that has turned many citizens into non-believers, or know someone that has.

My particular gripe, is those officers that invent probable cause. I wonder, if a statistic such as this were available, how many court cases start with probable cause being a,"flickering tail light." One that can't be disproven. The serving officer, Dan, continuously refers to the lack of respect that many in law enforcement receive. It hasn't apparently occurred to this man that the deterioration of respect for law enforcement started a long time ago. Probably in the 60's. When citizens started to feel the "us against them mentality" exhibited by some officers.

Police that go trolling for people, instead of waiting for an actual occurrence, those that act like jack booted thugs, these are some of the reasons that I believe lack of respect is present. You must give respect before you can expect to get it.

Those serving officers that do their jobs right, deserve our support, but they, to protect their own reputation, must help weed out the other kind. If they keep quiet, do nothing when they see a fellow officer misbehave, then they are just as guilty as those that perpetrate these acts of misuse of power.

Sure it's more dangerous out there for law enforcement. It is for us too.

Attitude Is Everything

I copied this from Tubob, of the blog, "Unbearable Bobness of Being." I don't usually do this, except that recently I was reminded that there are in fact Law Enforcement officers that act like Jack booted thugs, and they really need to be weeded out. We shouldn't have to deal with Sociopaths carrying guns. Until the general population rises up and demands that officers respect us, they are not likely to get respect in return. Here's Bob:

Well, of course not everyone a cop arrests or intervenes with is a "criminal" which by definition means they've been convicted of a crime. Many are innocent and there's the rub. Cops who view the public that they serve as their enemies who they need to open a can of trauma ass on before it happens to them are really no different than the thugs out there. Both see the community as their enemy and both see their role as to victimize the community before it victimizes them.

The thin blue line, in such an attitudinal crossfire, disappears quickly under the dirt.

We aren't their enemies. They are our servants. They hate to hear that. But it's the truth. They work for us and need to remember that.

Finally, cops who get PTSD have all kinds of professional resources to draw upon, including psychologists and medical and disability insurances. Citizens who get traumatized by cops have much much less to avail themselves of.

God forbid one of these POST rookies takes this small minded macho crotch thrusting to heart and abuses his/her trust and harms an innocent person. That is indefensible.

TINA QUITS

Citing irreconcilable differences, Tina Arendt, the third General Manager of Waterford Park Marinas, resigned today. Tina has managed the Waterford Park Marinas for about two years, traveling through the shark infested waters of Waterford Park Homes, LLC business practices. Noting that she lasted longer than anyone before, she apparently couldn't take the slight of hand, now you see it, now you don't policies of Bob Holland.

Many were surprised, since she has managed to bear up well, as a loyal to the core employee. Apparently, the core was reached.

Some of the projects still up in the air with Waterford Park are rumored participation in the allegedly sold trailer park and motels, respectively. Also, the erection of a three story parking garage, in an area that has an illegally diverted stream and lies in a flood plain, which we are told by the building department will not be approved. Duplexes at Vista Bay and Harborview Marinas are also in the planning stages.

Many good people have come and gone, that were hired by Holland. Seemingly immune to local opinion, Holland has ran through everyone that would wok for him, that lives locally. One can surmise that he finally went to far, and Tina, living for many years in this small lakeside community of Bayview, probably couldn't reconcile her personal reputation with that of the interloper/developer that has allegedly, a slash and burn mentality, while searching for the last almighty buck.

BITE ME!

For those in the main stream media that constantly harp on Idaho's past brush with a scattered few Nazi types, Bite me. The true spirit of Idahoans surfaced late this week, as the news that our local food bank had been burgled. A security camera caught views of two or more young people, just after 4:00 am, Thursday Morning. Entering the office for the day, Athol City Clerk, Charlotte Hooper, found to her dismay, three doors broken into. With the key apparently in a place that was discovered by the punks, they opened the safe and took all the cash and approximately $3500 worth of Fred Meyer shopping cards, all activated. That was then, this is now.
As of my last available report, Kootenai County Sheriff's Department had in custody, one of the alleged perpetrators, with knowledge of the others involved. Their Christmas will be spent in jail.

When the news broke, Thursday, donations started to trickle in. By Friday, it was a torrent. People drove for miles to either go Christmas shopping for the people that were to depend on the missing gifts, or to drop off money. I sat and watched as one after the other, folks waited patiently in line behind those waiting for assistance. When one man's turn came, he handed Charlotte Hooper, Food Bank director, two crisp one hundred dollar bills, turned on his heel and walked out of the office. Some were the Who's Who of our area, some were kids that wanted to give back, and everyone in between.

Silverwood Theme Park donated an amount equal to the estimated stolen cards, plus two pallets of stuffed toys and t-shirts. The Shoshone County Sheriff's Department, took the seats out of a prisoner delivery van, filled it with things they had gathered for local people and drove it all down to Athol. Rathdrum Food Bank donated $1000 worth of food. This my friends, is the real North Idaho.

By the end of office hours Friday, donations had totaled over $15,000 in the two days following the break-in. At this writing, I have mused that in all probability, the givers were the biggest winners. To those nose high in the air, Eastern reporters and editors that think we are all knuckle dragging, mouth breathers here in our part of the Country? Again, Bite Me!

Christmas at the Wheel

Our annual Christmas Party kicked off last Sunday with a big Pot-luck dinner, and entertainment provided for by James Adams. Special guest performer was Slim Dossey, Country Music Hall of Famer, and local resident. Slim, now 89 years old, is growing weak, and wasn't sure he could sing, or remember the words, and wondered if he could try sitting in a chair while performing.

Well, that didn't play out. As soon as he approached the stage, (standing up) he reverted to the old trouper that he is. As he started to step up on the stage, his Son, Jim, was heard to say, "don''t try it, Dad!" Slim Dossey, always performed these 65 plus years from a stage, and wasn't going to quit now. He needed a little help, but once he got up there, you couldn't stop him. Formerly with the Son's of the Pioneers, and other groups, he performed some tunes from the past, such as, Cool Water, and others. After three songs, he stepped down to a huge round of applause.

Long time performer, Slim played with Gene Autry, and pretty much everyone that was anyone in Country Music, back in the forties and fifties. Tex Williams, Autry, The Son's of the Pioneers, the list goes on and on. Slim Dossey made our day. James can be heard at the Garwood Saloon, week-ends.

Teacher - Student Relations

These are actual comments made on students' report cards by teachers in the New York City public school system. All teachers were reprimanded but, boy, are these funny!!!

1 Since my last report, your child has reached rock bottom and has started to dig.

2. I would not allow this student to breed.

3. Your child has delusions of adequacy.

4. Your son is depriving a village some where of an 'idiot'.

5.Your son sets low personal standards, and then consistently fails to achieve them.

6. The student has a "full six-pack" but lacks the plastic thing to hold it all together.

7. This child has been working with glue too much.

8. When your daughter's IQ reaches 50, she should sell.

9. The gates are down, the lights are flashing, but the train isn't coming.

10. If this student were any more stupid, he'd have to be watered twice a week.

11. It's impossible to believe the sperm that created this child, beat out 1,000,000 others.

12. The wheel is turning, but the hamster is definitely dead.

Moving Ahead

Jim Kershner. 1982-2007. May his column rest in peace. There have been several bombshells since Black Thursday, at the spokesman-Review. As the paper downsizes amid the reality of the decline in the interest in print media. Some rescues have taken place, not all in their former roles.

Tayrn Hecker, crime writer extraordinaire, Meghann Cuniff, general assignment and school reporter, Paula Davenport, Voices and The Handle Extra. We also lost a very talented young writer, in Jim Hagengruber, who has not been rehired. Taryn comes back as a natural resources writer, Meghann as the night desk reporter, and Paula, temporarily, at least, as receptionist.

Kershner's last humor column is in today's paper. In it, he writes,"This is by rough estimate, my 1351 column. It is also my last." I have personally thoroughly enjoy the subtle,(and sometimes not so subtle) humor that has entertained me, inspired me and kept me chuckling for many years. It isn't quite as bad as it sounds. After all, with all up to date information available, Kershner is not dead, and this is not an obituary, at least not for him, but it is for his award winning column. He, gasp, will be an objective humorless general assignment guy. Hopefully, they will let him off his leash once in a while.

To put a sock in it, as I'm sure by now you are thinking, no more moving ahead with progressive, nauseating words and phrases that tick him, as well as me off. Say goodbye to treatises on nose hair clippers. He's gone, but not forgotten.

HEY!!!

Bayview's annual Christmas party is tomorrow, Sunday, from 3:00 pm to around 7:00 pm. at the Captain's Wheel. This is a don't miss opportunity to see slim Dossey, one more time before he hangs it up. Good N' Plenty will provide the basics with the probability of several other drop-in musicians.

If I'm not mistaken, slim is either 88 or 89 years old. A country music hall of famer, he is the last of the old "Son's of the Pioneers," Played with greats like Gene Autry and many others. Good N' Plenty shouldn't be sniffed at either. They used to play at Betty's, before it became the Rib Ranch, and many other old time venues. They can play just about anything you want to hear.

Food is free, as it is a pot-luck buffet. In reality, that means some very good cooks from around here pile it on, and expect some of you to help eat it. This is about the 12th or 13th straight year that the Wheel puts this party on, and it's really special. Come on down.

Copy Editor Screws The Pooch

Today's "Your Voice," featuring a column by yours truly, got screwed up at the copy desk. To clarify, the Captain's Wheel Restaurant's annual Christmas Party, Sunday, December 16, will feature the band, "Good N' Plenty." Special guest will be country music legend, Slim Dossey, making a rare appearance. Slim used to anchor the party every year, but advancing age and infirmities have slowed him way down. If you remember Slim from his hey day, be sure not to miss this cameo performance. He won't be with us forever, and in fact, probably will hang his guitar up soon, if not right after this gig.

The Burning Gods of Love, shown as the Christmas party band, actually will appear at the 'Wheel, Saturday, December 22. The mystery of the band's name comes from the drummer, Kevin Huff, striking sparks with the singer, and bass player, Daveanna Pleznac-Huff. Lead guitar and singing, features George Bruner.

Something Is Wrong, Here ...

I woke up this Morning, realizing that something was wrong. I at first, couldn't put my finger on it. Then I realized what it was. My house is clean, I see the floors, and can actually identify the color.I can walk clear the length of my house without stumbling over something I casually left in the main walkway.

To appreciate where I'm coming from, I have to go back a ways. Back before Debra, back before Jennifer, even. These ladies, in committed relationships, both, took pity, or perhaps more accurately, were concerned about the over all health of the community. You see, I'm a committed slob. Not that I don't appreciate cleanliness, I mean I wear clean clothes and my grooming is reasonably good. I'm a slob because I litter. Not the neighborhood. I wouldn't dream of dropping trash out my car window, or unwrapping a candy bar , then throwing the wrapper to the ground. But, at home, the other side of me arises.

Each section of the Spokesman-Review, as read, drops to the floor in a disorganized tangle. Clothing lies where I changed out of it, generally on the floor. Time to fix dinner, except: I have no clean pans, or skillets, or plates, or flatware left clean. The kitchen counter is a refuse heap from which strange life forms have emerged. Then, and only then, do I realize that my continued existence depends upon washing the dishes. This rule also applies to laundry. Most people do laundry once a week, even though they still have clean clothes. These are sick minds. Overachievers. Neat Freaks. Bachelors don't wash clothes when they are not out. Even then, the local K-Mart or Wal*Mart is close by.

The" bottom line" here,(does this make Kershner's list?) is that, yes, I love living in a neat clean environment. I just don't like doing what gets me there. Recently, I have had help from two different ladies. I don't even think they know each other. Jennifer, with husband Dan, (he fixed a bunch of my plumbing) designated my house as a public health threat a year ago, and plunged in with both my feet. First question."Herb, where's your vacuum cleaner?" Answer: "I dunno. Haven't actually needed it for a while." "Why not," she asked? Answer: "Um, couldn't find the floor, so I didn't need it."

These were apparently unacceptable answers. We found the aforementioned machine hiding behind a door. From then on, the whole scenario started to remind me of some parts of the marital state. You know, bullying, nagging, that sort of thing. Could I sit back and drink beer? Absolutely not. I even had to participate. Would you believe that she wanted me to throw out or give away at least half of my belongings? She asked:"Herb, how long have you been carrying this from home to home?" " That thing? Oh, about 35 years." " When was the last time you used it? Well, I can't remember." Out it went.

Now I have another bully. Debra, the lady next door. She and her husband, Bob, moved in last spring with three busy little dachshunds. They now have the run of the house, as she does. Clean, nag, clean, nag some more, I tell you, this is out of hand. Why just yesterday, I had my son, Daughter-in-law and three Granddaughters over for dinner. (We'll skip the part about me forgetting to turn the oven on for the stuffed chicken dinner that was 2 hours late)

Thanksgiving, found me entertaining three, well six guests. Debra, her husband, Bob and Bobbie chef extraordinaire from the Wheel, and the three Dachshunds. Since my house is now ruined for comfort, I'm starting to entertain.

I finally realized why I felt strange this morning, walking out of my bedroom. Fantastic! I looked up and there to my surprise, was a sink full of dishes. Now I have goals again. I have to wash the dishes ... Just not today.

Waterford Park Fixes Spawning Beds

In a letter received today, Waterford Park Homes, L.L.C. received a release from the cease and desist order issued last Spring. The message, received from the Idaho Department of Lands and endorsed by Idaho Fish & Game explained that since not only the mitigation of the area damaged by negligence was repaired, but also the adjoining areas that were trashed by years of debris being dumped into the water, no further actions would be taken by the State.

The letter went on to say that no work could continue at Harborview Marina until July first of next year, allowing the current crop of spawning Kokanee to create another class of fry. Cautions were shared with Waterford Park, regarding upland management, and the potential of re-silting the shoreline.

We spoke with Idaho Fish and Game biologists, who said we are experiencing a very serious downturn in spawners in all areas of the lake, including Bayview.

Wazzu vs The Zags

If you are within an hours drive of Bayview, slide on down to the Captain's Wheel for the game on TV. They stepped up today, and ordered the ESPN cannel from Dish and it's on!

Joseph Pulitzer, Then & Now

1847-1911. Sixty-four years was the life span of Joseph Pulitzer. A stalwart right leaning Republican, Pulitzer was home schooled. Did not attend high school or college. He went from a high society Austro-Hungarian family, to a street person in St. Louis Missouri. Speaking very little English, his first job in the newspaper business was with a German language paper.

Pulitzer rose to the top of his profession, more as a publisher, than writer. This might suggest that it takes less education to be a newspaper publisher, than a writer. The reason that I wrote the above paragraph was to illustrate a glaring difference in the business as it is today, and as it was then. In the late 1800's, Pulitzer backed the right wing Horace Greeley against the other Republican, Ulysses S. Grant. He wasn't much for unions, as that was before their time, but he wouldn't have embraced one anyway, because he was a fervent believer in talent over longevity.

Would that this rule prevail today. In a market that is rapidly shrinking, in a downhill spiral, we may someday soon, see the Spokesman-Review, and others, sold at check out stands, along with the other shock rags now available. One of the reasons, I believe is that union control over who a paper may retain, doesn't recognize ability or talent, or retainability. It just wants the senior members retained, even though they may have attained the legendary "Peter Principle." That of one who has risen to the highest point of their mediocrity. We aren't suggesting that the folks now working at the paper are mediocre, just that management can't depart from seniority, to retain the best and the brightest.

Unions, as I understand them, were formed at a time that many employers were essentially robber barons, keeping the masses in poverty. Seniority served two purposes. One, to keep management from showing favoritism, and to keep long time union members in their positions.
All of that had a purpose way back when. It doesn't now. With union rules determining the quality, or future lack thereof we are looking forward to a declining industry, with declining quality, with declining circulation and with declining advertising. This slippery slope will go on, until the paper closes it's doors, and sends everyone home, including those loyal union members.

During the current crisis at the Spokesman-Review, Editor Steve Smith consistently refers to the union contract as the (unstated) rule maker here. My opinion is that the paper would be well advised to break the union now, before it breaks them. ...

A lesson Learned

I have been toiling on this blog for, what? Almost three years. I have written about breaking news, Bayview style. I have pontificated on many subjects. Sometimes, I got a lot of action from readers, sometimes not. After all this time, I finally have come to the conclusion that, after last Wednesday, posting about the pretty and talented ladies in my presence, my page views went to 122 Wednesday and 117 Thursday.

I shudda known that a picture of two pretty and talented ladies trumped an informative and chatty blog. Hereafter, I will attempt to show only great ladies, that are both talented and very pretty, as my aforementioned guests were. However, I will NEVER conduct an interview with the previously mentioned talented ladies present. Taryn, I noticed, as I was throwing questions to the almost drowned subject, was busily writing notes. After the gentleman left, she proudly announced that she was going to scoop me. Well, she did. However, considering that I had done such to her in the past, I guess we are even. Oh, and did I mention that she is my favorite journalist?

Early next week, as Steve Smith has mentioned, some laid off reporters will be rehired. Apparently, the union contract stipulated such language, that they had to cut off those without sufficient seniority. Rehiring, however, as I understand it, is on merit and budget. While my young companion, Meghann is probably too junior to be asked back, who can possibly, after following Taryn's fantastic journey through the sickness of the Duncan Case find anyone on staff as talented as she.

The only thing that bothered me was the statement Steve made regarding the voices and the Handle Extra. I think his words were, "for the first time, we will fully staff both." I hope that it doesn't mean a hasty exit for me, as a lowly correspondent. If so, however, I will cherish the months that I have been allowed to grow, as a person, and even as late in life as I have arrived, my short career as a journalist.

Bayview 1st annual Christmas Parade

A bunch of folks got together and decided to have a parade. Hey, if New York, or whatever they call that jungle can have one, why not Bayview. Inside of three days, it was put together. over seven vehicles and uncountable kids, dogs and maybe a parakeet or two ambled through town, visiting all the residential streets and finally coming to rest at the Captain's Wheel. Well, not exactly rest. Hot chocolate flowed for the kids, and um, other beverages for the adults.

The crowd, if one wants to call it that, was around five or six during the parade. When the parade halted at the 'Wheel, the room was suddenly packed. At least several ordinances were violated, as no parade permit was obtained, but then nobody knew who the organizer was anyway. Most vowed to check out the formal way to do this, for next year. I have posted one or two pictures, but most didn't turn out well. Taking pictures without flash after dark is an art form that I haven''t mastered yet.

Breaking News

December came roaring in with ice, snow, and more to come. At around 3:00 pm today, a young man, Seth Mock, was walking down a sloping road in Bayview, that sleds were using. His feet slipped out from under him, causing him to injure his leg. Timberlake Fire District EMT units arrived, and transported the youth, estimated at 12 or 13 years old, to Kootenai Medical Center. Be careful, it's bad and getting worse out there.

Not to be discouraged by the weather, some local residents have organized a lighted Christmas Parade that is about ready to start. New York, or what ever they call it, isn't the only place that has parades.