American Legion Eligibility

I have debated with myself for many weeks now as to whether I wanted to write this. But I am both a communicator and have an axe to grind. Several years ago I was recruited by the Athol Post 149 by a member that was trying to line up votes in which he was running for something.

When we discussed eligibility dates, I explained that I served in the Washington National Guard from November, 1953 to June, 1956 at which time I enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. I served for four years from June 1956 to June 1960. After that service I was awarded a service connected disability for the period of active duty.

A problem exists here. You see the Legion doesn't think I'm a real veteran because I joined the air force after Korean eligibility expired January 31, 1955. Eligibility started up again in February 1961 through May 7, 1975.

During both Korean and Viet Nam, as many served in Europe and North Africa as did in combat zones. The ones in Germany were waiting for the Soviets to come charging through the Fulda Gap from East Germany. It was the height of the cold war. But I digress. Those that never heard a shot fired in anger who served in places other than combat zones are eligible to join the American Legion.

I too served during the cold war. Our air force was so worried about Soviet nuclear attack that they designed a rapid relocation program called Reflex Alert. An entire SAC wing would relocate for a 90 day period either in Morocco or Libya. We had three bases in Morocco. Sidi Slimane, Ben Guerrere and Nouaseur, just 21 miles south of Casablanca. I was at Nouaseur. We were there to facilitate the SAC Reflex TDY's. I remember standing on the wing of an aircraft, fueling it when I observed three generations of bombers on the ground at the same time. The monster B-36 with 6 pusher props and four jets, the B-47 that appeared to be a fighter on steroids and the venerable B-52. I spent 18 months there followed by two years at McChord AFB in Tacoma, Washington.

But I'm not a real veteran according to the hierarchy in the upper reaches of Legion leadership. The only justification I can come up with is that they, being combat veterans think they are above the rest of us. Soon the old men running the legion will find themselves alone, since the young vets from Afghanistan and Iraq are not interested in joining an old men's club, which is the result of stagnation.

Am I bitter? Bet your ass I am.Whether a war was or wasn't being held during my service of four plus almost 3 years of reserves was not my choice. I was there for whatever happened. Draftees that polished tanks in Germany for two years are members in good standing.

I finally decided not to be a member of an organization that didn't want me. I quit. One person even had the gall to suggest Son's of the Legion or Auxiliary. a blatant insult to my service. No longer am Iwilling to associate with those that I was essentially lying to.

Rooster Postscript

Since the aggrieved party didn't mention names, I won't either. But I do know who the rude neighbors are. After seeing DFO's Sunday column, apparently they felt the heat and got rid of the rooster. In every city, (Bayview is unincorporated) where chickens are allowed, roosters are not.

Jeanna contacted David Stewart, commissioner for the second district who paid attention to her dilemma. He contacted David Callahan, director of planning and zoning for Kootenai County. The zoning in the affected neighborhood is restricted residential. Callahan was proactive and was poised to jump all over this chicken caper. (pun intended)

Sunday morning came and went. No new crows were heard. Apparently believing that it would be counter productive to push any further, they avoided not just the official response, but a very lot of adverse publicity of which I would have participated.

All is well that ends well. One would hope that deliberate harassment of neighbors will cease. The need for the county commissioners is follow up. It would be very simple to enact an ordinance covering dense packed residential areas which would prohibit Roosters, Pigs and other obnoxious animals. 

THE UNZENS

I received a surprise this weekend as a call came in Saturday from Scott Unzen and his lovely wife saying they were boating south on their annual  trek to Bayview. I met them about four years ago when they introduced to me their love of my blog, Bay Views. Most of the time I get very little feedback, except when someone disagrees with me.

These were genuine fans of the blog. I humbly accepted the good things they had to say, knowing that they might be a majority of two. Actually, there are a few others, as my page views are approaching 393,947 page views since a Guy named Dave Oliveria, Ring master of the circus called Huckleberries on-line held a clinic on blogging back in 2005.

I was so ignorant of how the Internet worked that he had to practically tell me how to turn the power on. He led me by the hand, along with several other helpful friends until I learned to copy & paste, load photos, etc.

When the Spokesman-Review started the Idaho Handle Extra and the neighborhood special editions, I called and asked the then editor why Bayview wasn't included. His name was Tad. A victim of cost cutting he stood on his principles and quit. But first he hired me as an corespondent. He then added Athol and spirit Lake to my territory.

One thing led to another and I suddenly was a journalist. That last about five years, when they jerked the string and decided Idaho wasn't profitable. Rather than blaming their advertising department, they pulled out, not realizing that the bean counters were wrong and content and reader satisfaction was paramount. In short, they stopped being journalists and became as I said, bean counters.

There are two areas that drive newspaper income. Advertisers and subscribers. Advertisers count your subscribers to determine the exposure they get. Subscribers were dealt several blows. First, in pulling out of Idaho, just Bayview and Athol subscribers lost 60. These were people that enjoyed reading about themselves and their neighbors.

Then the extra money they get for selling the back page of a section overwhelmed the good sense of journalists who did jumps from the front page to interior pages causing folding and unfolding and sometimes skipping stories. The final blow, was when they started doing reverse jumps.   That is where they start a story on page 9 and continue it on page 8.

The total disregard for the reader has cost them hundreds of subscribers, which then push the advertisers to other venues.  Bean counters run the S/R, not journalists. The paper continues to shrink while subscriptions go up in cost. This is a prescription for failure. I feel sorry for my friends that write and photograph for what was once a great daily and soon will be a weekly.

Interesting Relatives

Most families have at least one and possibly more, interesting relatives. I will talk about those in my family, other than myself, who many have considered ... different for many years. But no, the award today goes to my Aunt Anna Huseland Gibbons.

When my Grandfather, Gunder Asbjornson Huseland died in 1908 just (in a reversion to a Norwegian, slip I originally spelled it yust) a short time after migrating from Wisconsin with my Dad, Amos, the youngest at seven years old and six older sisters. The family had established a homestead in an area of Stevens County, Washington know as Aladdin. Aladdin does not exist anymore, but the old highway between Colville and Northport is known as the Aladdin Highway. Since 395 was built, it now serves as a rural road serving folks who live in the farming areas along Deep Creek.

This homestead was called a timber claim and was 160 acres straddling Meadow Creek, a short distance from Aladdin Hwy and Meadow Creek Road. This intersection was prior to Highway 20 which took a long leisurely route from the Colville Airport through the mountains and ending a few miles south of Ione, in Pend Oreille County.

Back in the day of my family though, Meadow Creek Road travelled a short but steep route up over what was then called Huseland Hill, past Big Meadow Lake and on down to Ione. This was a very short rout for those living in the area of Aladdin, but to those in Colville not so much.

But I digress. After the death of Gunder, there was absolutely no income for the family. Zero, Zilch. The older sisters journeyed to Spokane, where they entered domestic service. They then send money home to Mom. Eventually, Seven years later, Gunder's widow married a man whose homestead was just a few miles north. His name was Pat Grace.

During that period the older sisters married as well. One, Anna, married a man who's occupation was tattoo artist. Working for Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Baily Circus, he soon convinced Anna to allow him to tattoo her. All of her. Eventually, she hired on with the circus as Artoria, the tattooed lady, where she worked for years. Her only child, a wonderful lady, lives in retirement in rural South Carolina, near antebellum homes and cotton fields.

Now that you know some of out secrets, how many of you have those long kept secrets that beg to be released. Tell us about them.

Seasonal Changes

It never ceases to amaze me how abruptly our seasons change. But this year tops them all. Going from almost consistently above 90 degrees and smoke, to the '60's and rain in just a day or so is huge.

With fires burning everywhere,  the rain, unusually, is very welcome. I'd sure like to see our resident Climatologist's prediction for this Winter. We need a decent snow pack this year or we are in big trouble.

Although this labor Day weekend is going to produce cool, rainy weather, next week end looks great.

I have a ton of green tomatoes yet to ripen. During the real hot months, fruit doesn't set. So a tomato grower gets two crops. An early one and then a pause where only green tomatoes exist, then if we are lucky, warm September weather will produce a good second crop. Or, there is always the indoor ripening process with numerous methods. (They all work)

I just spread a newspaper on my little used dining room table and lay them down not touching each other. Another way, is to wrap them individually and store in a cool dark place. The problem with that, though is you cannot see which ones are ripening when.

As far as pulling the plants and hanging them upside down is the mess that is created unnecessarily.
Just pick the easiest and run with it.

Smoke No More

It is becoming difficult to remember when we had clear blue skies. That is turning into a ruined last month of Summer. It isn't just about weather, it is all about tourism. The restaurants and stores along with marinas are suffering a dearth of people.

First, we had the Cape Horn Fire, which through thoughtless  publications from the Spokane TV Stations, kept on hammering on smoke, fire and the proximity of these fires, gave the impression that Bayview was out of bounds due to near by fires. I put that (fire) out by seducing  TV crew into actually learning the facts, rather than just using press releases about  percentages of containment rather than on scene reporting.

Then the three Sister Fire, which never actually was seen in Bayview.

Now we have the smoke. For days, now, smoke has settled into our little valley and has stayed. Smoke from fires north and west of us has joined into a devilish cloud of smoke, dust and hey, a couple of sprinkles of rain.

No end is end sight save the age old forest service statement that only the winter storms will put these fires out. It doesn't just end there.

Next spring, we will see devastating mud slides, baring rock that will not grow new trees. Homes that were not destroyed from fire will succumb to these land slides.

It's going to get worse. Much worse. Only time will tell how bad. In the mean time, the restaurants, marinas and other businesses have lost their best months of profitability  and are faced with the winter people that number about 300 to the 3000 summer crowd. The boat owners,Float home people and other fair weather friends, will be gone, and some of the Great recession effects will be present.

Alien Voters

The stage is set for non-citizens to vote in U.S. elections. Obviously only citizens can vote. Some states are issuing drivers licenses to illegals. Federal courts are striking down protections for proof of citizenship.

Today, a non-citizen can register to vote by merely claiming that they are citizens and the states cannot make them prove they are. Idaho currently requires a picture ID at the polls In other states, the courts have ruled that it makes too tough for low income voters to comply with.

At this point there is no way that citizenship can be disproved. Is this a liberal conspiracy? I don't know, but it certainly works in favor of the Democrats who would inherit much if not all of the votes from these people.

Congress needs to step up and enact legislation that would protect us from these illegal acts.

Forest Fire Causes

For many years the Sierra Club and other extremist ecology groups have packed the courtrooms of this nation stopping forest managers from timber sales, thinning of forests and prescribed burns.

This Summer, the worst fire year since 1926, finds trees packed together in out of control brush is a direct cause of crowded forests burning during dry years. For every action, there is an opposite reaction. This is it.

Steep slopes that burn will lose their top soil to erosion which will take thousands of years to regenerate, if ever. Whether we will learn from this experience or not is problematical. Most extremists never get the message that normally comes from logic.  

Lead Point School

My son Brian and I took a road trip to the furthest reaches of NE Washington State Yesterday. The purpose was to meet with the Superintendent of the Northport School District to explore the possibility  of forming a volunteer group to repaint and do other minor rehab items, then applying for National Historical status. After all, what is a better historical item in an agricultural area, than the venerable one room school house.

Where our interest came from was that Nina Baron Huseland's first teaching job was at the Lead Point school in 1929. She was my Mom.

Our trip was for more than one purpose. I wanted to show Brian the original short route from Colville, Washington to Ione, in Pend Oreille County. Currently, the Tiger route beginning at the Colville Airport, is the main well paved road. This was not always the case. For many years the direct but steep route was from Aladdin at the west terminus, following Meadow Creek past Big Meadow Lake and down into Ione. It is about one third the distance of the Tiger route. Still a dirt road, is is well groomed. The western portion used to be referred to as Huseland Hill, since it bisected Gunder Huseland's homestead.

We picked a bad time to do this though. Forgetting that road construction season was upon us, we passed an ominousness sign. Road work 33 miles. They were chip sealing 33 miles of the highway. Finally, we made it to Ione whence we ascended the aforementioned short route.

On into Northport we traveled, passing another what used to be a one room school which had two names. Doyle school and Deep Creek School. It is now a storage building on the farm it resides.

We were well received by Don Bribault, Northport Superintendent of Schools, along with a school board member who's name I didn't write down. They appeared interested in the concept, since for several years they had failed to sell it. As a home, the building had some obsolescence. The bathroom was limited to an outhouse. No indoor plumbing, a well that was probably only about 20 feet deep, as the area is near the shallow end of what is Deep Lake, sub-irrigating the land under the school. We were impressed, as Don, after discussing our planned visit the next day, drove the several miles to check out the school before meeting with us.

It badly needs paint, was the exterior is deteriorating. (Lead based paint, of course) I am about to start a Facebook group, as soon as I find a way to do it without getting stuck part way through the process. We will gage interest, as well as willingness to contribute to the fund. In short, it would be cheaper to build new, rather than to rebuild this un-insulated building into a legal residence. What is a kudo to this mostly ghost town, is that vacant since 1960, after multiple neighborhood use, not one window pane was broken.

Wish us luck as we attempt to save this educational icon, the One Room School house that offered 1-8th grades to area farm kids. Without school buses, the schools had to be within walking distance of the homes it served, ergo the plentiful numbers of them that existed back in the early 1900's. Those that are left are easy to spot as they all used the same plans when built, probably given free by the U.S. Government.

Paper saving was in effect even back then, as wrap-around blackboards decorate the walls.

Fifties Revolution

I decided this weekend to revisit the dulcet tones of 1950's tunes. I started with the Crew Cuts:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9G0-4TWwew.

Hm, well how about Bill Haily & the Comets:This was the start of real Rock and Roll. Their hit, "Rock around the clock" took over the charts from the gradual slide from Rhythm & Blues, which then became a part of the rock generation. There were many others, but I'm coming on with the pioneers in music.

The mid-fifties  which coincided with my junior-senior years in high school, was the most revolutionary period in music. Elvis blasted upon the scene which brought many country singers to score well in both genres. Faron Young, Ferlin Husky, (my neighbor's ex husband) The Big Bopper, who could forget Ritchie Valens and La Mamba.

Then there was the star attraction in those days,  Buddy Holly & the Crickets. The three were touring together during cold winter weather, on unheated buses. Holly decided to fly to the next venue, which was North Dakota. Waylon Jennings, the bass player for Holly, gave up his seat to one of the other head liners. They all died along with the pilot on that cold snowy night.

There were others that met the same fate, as making it to a commitment was gospel for these performers.

To sum up the fifties, is that we had some horrible lyrics like Shboom, Shboom, and some great music. During the three years I was in High School, 1954-56 we had holds overs from WW11, like the Andrew Sisters, the McGuire Sisters, and other trios and quartets.

The music that grew out of that mishmash produced great harmony in the 1960's like the Everly Brothers and many others.

After reviewing a long line of musical changes, while I wouldn't give up the musical crossroads, better music came in the 1970's. Credence Clearwater, the Doors, the Hill Top Singers who recorded a CocaCola commercial that went viral. They had to go back to the studio to record those famous words: "I'd like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony..." .

But my all time favorite goes back to the 1964-68 career of the Seekers, with Judith Durham, an Australian like the rest of the group, perhaps the greatest female lead ever.  They mostly recorded in England, where with two top hits, "I'll never find another you," and shortly thereafter,"A world of our own, both of which knocked the Beatles off the Number one charts. Check them out on YouTube.

Bayview Wins

A bloodbath was averted Thursday afternoon at the candidate interviews for Water & Sewer Board. Susan Weeks, attorney for the water district organized and pretty much led the interview process. The beauty of it all is that everyone played nice.

There were some very qualified applicants, with the unanimous winner, being Richard Doney. Richard has owned his home in Cape Horn Estates for 15 years, with residency beginning 6 years ago upon retirement from the Monrovia, California Policy Department. He spent 30 years and held just about every position except police Woman.

A detective, a Helicopter pilot for the department, who just in case, always sat on his bullet proof vest. Richard was a detective for 22 or those years before transitioning to helicopter pilot. He taught law enforcement at Rio Hondo College, as well as the California Police Academy.

What most of us didn't know, was that the Cape Horn Fire Brigade was activated during the Sunday start of the big blaze and operated with their tanker trailer for 36 straight hours. Richard Doney was right there with the other 12 resident/firefighters. They doused hot spots and saved at least 6 houses from destruction.

Currently, Richard is president of the Cape Horn Estates Home owners Association. Please welcome this super qualified new member of the Bayview Water & Sewer Board of directors. His motto is, "What is good for the Goose, is good for the Gander." A straight shooter, who does nothing behind any one's back.

Water & Sewer Board Election

Today is the day that the Bayview Water & Sewer Board elect a 5th member. As it stands now, two are holdovers and two are the newly elected members. Agreeing on a 5th could be challenging.

For well over 20 years, elections were unnoticed, unadvertised and ended up with appointments rather that transparent efforts to adequately represent the wishes of the absent voters.

As it sits now, 2 are holdovers that never ran for office, but were appointed. Two ran and handily beat their incumbent opponents. Both have different agendas. Exhibited by the hasty meeting held 5 days after Chuck Waller's passing, an attempt was made by the holdovers to maintain a 3-2 majority and hold onto what some wags have referred to as "Big frog, Small pond" attitudes.

Since neither side can have a majority, it is hoped that common sense will prevail and a person with good qualifications and ties to neither side will be elected. If that doesn't happen, then a person will be selected by the state. It is preferable that this slot be filled with a knowledgeable personable individual with a positive attitude, rather than plunging deeper into disarray.

We are about to find out which will occur.

Cape Horn Fire Pictures

 

The first three pictures show the total destruction of several houses near the shoreline. I have seen burned homes before. Never have I seen such total destruction. No charred wood or plumbing, chimneys ... Nothing. Just what looks like concrete rubble.

What I found remarkable though, was when I drove out to the end of the Cape. Not one house was damaged on the uphill side. Where the fire burned all the way down to the road, and knocked on the back doors of some homes, all were saved except the 6 that were grouped on the same access road on Lake Front. I hear one home owner rented a float home while waiting for insurance issues to work through. I think I can speak for all of us that live or recreate here, that one we feel for the people that were burned out, and two, the heroic efforts of the fire fighters saving most of the homes that were at risk.

While on the cruise Thursday, we saw a spot fire up the mountain and in an area that hadn't burned. There was a thunderstorm 3 days previous, which was most likely the cause. The wind was dead calm and the smoke was vertical. Friday we were out all day and not even a wisp of smoke. 

The last picture shows the only place a shipwrecked couple could have got out of the water. Both sides for quite a distance were sheer rock walls clear down to the water. This would explain why the panicked firing of flares, given the rough water conditions then. Lacking training that might have made them understand what happens to a flare that is fired into the wind and an up angle it is no wonder why it curved back over their heads and started the fire.

We can second guess them and many will. But untrained and in distress, the chose to use the only life saving means at their disposal. That they had flares, required on all boats, was to their credit. Unfortunately they should have fired them at a shallow angle. Even then, using a hand held radio and calling for help would have been safer for all.

Community Organizations

There are three public entities in Bayview. Bayview Water & Sewer, The Community Center Foundation and the so called Chamber of Commerce.

The Water & Sewer issues have been well aired and need not be repeated here. Of the other two, the dba Bayview Chamber of Commerce, is not a Chamber of Commerce, but a dba. It is not affiliated with either the Idaho Chamber or the U.S. Chamber. I doubt that the official Chambers of Commerce have given Bayview permission to represent themselves as such. Many members of this community, having experienced the wake-up call that all three groups tend to be incestuous, insofar as they are controlled by a small group of insiders that do not particularly want other in the community to participate.

If I recall, there is a rule that Foundation board members must be members of the dba Bayview Chamber of Commerce. This is very questionable as to it's legality. But then many practices have been questionable in the past. It would be desirable for the Foundation to publicize their charter, so that the residents can understand the basis it was formed and for what purpose.

I challenge both groups to publicize their election processes, board members and scheduled elections in the near future. This will allow enough knowledge for members of the community to participate if they wish. It is obvious that the community at large have demanded transparency. We can do it the hard way, or the easy way. Refusing Stephen May's paid ad in the Chamber news letter was not appropriate. Neutrality should have been observed.

Slander

I am addressing this issue today because my computer froze up Friday and I couldn't get it fised until today.

An e-mail widely circulated came back to be as they always do. It was written by Norma Jean Knowles and was about the Water & Sewer Board election and installation. In it she accused me of doing the bidding of Chan Karupiah.

That she would make such a wild accusation about Chan, who she hates, and now me astounds me. Anyone who knows me would tell you that Chan neither before or during a new post. I'm sure he agrees with some and not with others, but we seldom compare notes, or discuss Bayview politics.

For an individual to start a fund raiser to stop Karupiah from investing in Bayview Properties is ludicrous and makes one wonder what logic was used there. Norma Jean has the right to speak about any subject she wants, but there are penalties for naming a person with inaccurate accusations.

Slander is a false accusation that is both inaccurate and made with malice. It does not include asking a question, only a statement about a specific person. The old guard has run Bayview's activities without challenge for a long times.

The recent election wasn't about either of the incumbents. It was about cleaning house and making ways to assure accountability.

It would behoove the holdovers to quit playing defense and cooperate with this town. Times are a changing and people must also change.

***Additional comments that were e-mailed to me anonymously. It is well written and makes great points:

I do not understand the statement regarding the new Board members being very adversarial and bent on destruction, not working as part of a Board to make things better or work cooperatively. From what I saw, they participated in the meeting, made motions and were complaint with the process of going through the agenda. Since there was an agenda, there was not an opportunity to give the current Board and the employees any credibility of the things they have accomplished or are trying to work on, not wanting to learn or listen to why things have been done the way they have been.

Certainly the community attendees were vocal because they thought that an appointment had been made during a secretly held meeting that excluded the new Board members. And, actually, that was the case, and that’s why people seem to think all the Board members have been acting illegally, unethically and secretly. In addition, that was why the Press was apparently interested. It’s news when people’s access to their elected officials is interrupted.

Similarly, the accusation that Sharon Meyer and Steve May were meeting secretly themselves amongst other members of the community and that this is somehow wrong is ludicrous. Because they were all appointed, the veteran Board members all seem confused about the fact that they represent constituents. The bizarre acknowledgments that all the Board members were expected to sign, promising that they would not discuss Water Business outside of the Water Board group, totally defeats their ability to represent the members of the community. However, speaking with constituents is seen as “creating havoc”.

Likewise, there seems to be a misunderstanding regarding the Idaho Statutes and what is required of the Board. Actually, I think the statutes that are applicable are IC 42-51 not IC 42-32 as some have referenced. Regardless, I can assure you there is no stipulation in the Idaho Code regarding community members’ not being able to speak to the Board about concerns. 

As for continually attacking policy, procedures and character integrity of the others that hold a seat I do not see that happening. What I do see is an organization that was never properly set up to handle a half million dollar budget; with unwritten Policy and Procedures; apparently no By Laws and a history of “because I said so, we’ve always done it that way”.

And that, like it or not, makes them look arbitrary and poorly managed. There are no personal accusations needed. It is not personal, it is business. It is what it is and it is fixable with some hard focused teamwork.

There should be no need for WW III Bayview style. There are probably talented people in the community who would assist with policy and by law development. People do care and are helpful, but nothing gets done when everyone has a pile of chips on their shoulders and go around all butt-hurt.

Cape Horn Aftermath

These two pictures are of a peek-a-boo look at the luxury home and the lot next to the house where the fire reached the road.

The third and fourth pictures show where the fire crowned and crossed down to the water.

That the fire only got away once was either a miracle or a very highly trained and dedicated group of expert fire fighters, or perhaps both.

Charts, statistics and press releases just do not tell the story of this fire. I drove out this afternoon expecting to see massive damage. Certainly, up hill where the fire really took off was harder to control and even harder to get pictures.

After driving to the end of the road, except the gated community, of which I did not want to intrude, one thing stood out all the way to the end.

With only one crown fire that crossed the road and would have caused all of the homes that were consumed to burn, all along the road there were burn patches where they held it from crossing Cape Horn Road.

Time after time the fire would creep up to the uphill side where some very nice homes sit. They are all still there. In one case, a luxury home on a large tract with a blacktop driveway curving up to the house was framed by trees along the way. It appeared from the road the the fire had knocked on their back door, only to be refused by the firefighters.

The lot just to the west burned all the way to the road, where once again it was turned back.The one place I referred to as having  crossed the road and burned down to the lake, is just a block or two east of the slide area.

With nice homes lining Cape Horn Road, not one of the uphill homes were sacrificed. The pictures  I took are not spectacular, because they show where the fire wasn't allowed to spread.

Bayview Citizens Angered By Board

An angry crowd of at least fifty citizens of Bayview, and also Water & Sewer customers greeted a very defensive board of directors yesterday, July 21. In addition to the two new board members, there was a third that was hastily appointed just 5 days after the president, Chuck Waller, died.

The board, claiming an emergency, had quickly appointed one of the two losing candidates from the spring election. Two things were obvious. One was to maintain the old guard majority of 3-2, which would have negated any effect the two new members might have had. The second is they forgot that a 24 hour legal notice must precede any sudden unscheduled meeting.

I walked out after a loud mouth board member referred to us as Persona Non Grata. This type of attitude unfortunately, was what led to the contested election this spring. The first such open contest in my memory, and I've been here 20 years.

After the meeting I learned that the unlawful appointment at an illegal meeting was reversed. At some point in the near future, a proper appointment will be made. The law requires a replacement within 30 days of the vacancy occurring. The open solicitation for applicants apparently will take place. At this time, with only four voting members participating. This will prove interesting since it tends to show the old guard vs the newly elected reformers as a 2-2 standoff. If the chairperson cannot vote except to break a tie then the decision would fall to the new comers.

Some great comments, all in objection to the sitting board, were shown in the Coeur d'Alene Press Wednesday am. Although holding onto a big frog/small pond attitude, the greatest service the incumbents could give the community would be to resign, allowing a makeover long over due. The employees do a fine job, although the manager probably should refrain from volunteering as a bouncer, since he may be answering to new bosses that actually respect the public.

Interestingly, while shouting down those that wished to speak occurred for some, others were allowed to speak freely. There was a young man from JUB Engineers, who though not recognized by the chair interjected comments at will. Another, a woman rose to a point of order and was allowed to speak. The majority of the rulings came not from the chair, but from board member Gardner who visibly sneered at the public gathering.

Somehow, I sense a recall election may take place to cleanse the board of arrogance.

SMELL TEST

The Bayview Water and Sewer board, consisting of two incumbents and two expired terms met July 8 to appoint a successor to Chuck Waller who died 5 days prior. Faced with losing their majority, the surviving two held a rump meeting  without notice and without inviting their secretary.

Both Waller's death and the meeting at which the illegal board met were after July first, the date the new members were official. That they weren't sworn in is immaterial. If the president of the united states dies, the vice-president is immediately president regardless of when the swearing in happens.

Faced with a two-two tie, the incumbents acted quickly, and I believe illegally to cement a 3-2 majority, appointing one of the two losers in the recent election, Chuck Murray. This isn't about people, it's about legal acts, honesty and transparency. The obvious correct way to have handled this is for both factions to agree on one outsider that doesn't have an ax to grind. Also, electing a new president after the two losers were already out of office is disgusting, and also probably illegal.

They just don't get it. This kind of weaselly behavior is what got new members elected. This district and it's members have long been kept in the dark as to accounting for expenditures. At a meeting which many community members attended, an audit was still 2 years late, when legally required to be annual. Now, two years later, the audit is four years in arrears.

The second act and where the smell test applies, is the Bayview Water & Sewer board invested in a brand new large capacity paper shredder. This in anticipation of an audit?  Stay tuned. A court of law can take over, lock, stock and barrel in these situations, and damn well should.

This is, unless the board gets their act together quickly, will probably end up in a law suit. It will be interesting when auditors, Magnuson-McHugh are subpoenaed to testify as to why they rejected the audit. Is it possible that the district  wouldn't supply the auditors with the material needed for the audit?

So then,  we have a new/old board member who along with the other former member, voted for one of them to replace Waller, AFTER their terms expired. If all else fails, these incumbents will fall in the next election.The public strikes back after being sucker punched too many times. I would encourage the citizens of Bayview to take up a collection for the hiring of an attorney that can then file a suit, demand disclosure  and discover where the rats are eating the cheese.

Does someone have something to hide? Stay tuned.

Bayview Still Deserted

While the permanent residents of Bayview are home, the summer people are not. Float home owners, boat owners and RV people are missing in droves. In talking to one marina owner, it is the over hyped television media that is misrepresenting the Cape Horn fire status.

The "50% contained" mantra is said over and over. The truth of the matter is that the skies are blue, no smoke in the air, in short, a normal summer day. What isn't normal is the enduring silence that exists as the streets are empty and for no legitimate reason.

The portion of the Cape Horn Fire that is not controlled is miles north of Scenic Bay. The rugged mountains north of Cape Horn are difficult to access, but very few homes are anywhere near the head of the fire which is traveling even further north as the prevailing winds dictate. There is absolutely no fire burning on the south slope of Cape Horn. That fire is completely out.

The mountains between Cape Horn and the naval research establishment are still in danger, but the fire is moving very slowly.

In the mean time, our restaurants and marinas are close to empty as television viewers are led astray. It is past time that KHQ, KREM and KXLY stop sensationalizing routine recovery. They are killing Bayview. "If it bleeds it leads," is a true description of the wolf pack mentality of the broadcast media.

Get a sense of responsibility people, or you next story will be the mysterious decay of a once thriving tourist destination.

Fire Aftermath

Actually this isn't the aftermath, since the Cape Horn Fire is very much alive, but burning on the north slopes. Smoke is not visible here as the wind is apparently blowing it north.

I ran into a firefighter in the Mercantile yesterday who had two things to say. One, he had never been treated so well as here in Bayview. There were restaurants giving free meals to firefighters and hospitality is rampant.

Secondly, and bizarre, If it is dry enough Wednesday, they are going to start a back fire that should kill the blaze. I thought it strange that the firefighters wanted it dryer.

Life has returned to normal in most of the areas, except Cape Horn. On a sad note, one of the homes that burned down created a mystery. The authorities couldn't find the owner. Finally, she was located ...At a hospital. Can you imagine the trauma when the doctor says, "You may go home now."

Thunderstorms have been circling around, but other than a five minute sprinkle, none have reached Bayview, which could really use some heavy rain. We have had an entire summer's experience just half way through. Many are wondering what next?

Thunderstorms Prowling The Area

The sun is back out after dodging yet another thunder bumper. We got just a few sprinkels and one peal of thunder. Mot of the storms this year have traveled to the south of Bayview, Idaho. This tends to work against the Silver Valley, as they get hit head on.

Another wave is due in about 30 minutes. We shall see. But prior to the serious stuff arriving, there were some beautiful towering cumulus clouds overhead.

Humongous Thunderstorm

A humongous Thunderstorm is heading up from the south, now perched around St. Maries, Idaho and heading our way. Like we need more fire. It may hit here, or not. Thunderstorms are notional and pretty much go where they want.

You can tell though with weather radar. Storms tend to circle a cold or warm front. This one has a monster center south of the panhandle, and is heading due north. It will probably turn east toward the mountains, but if it doesn't, look out.

Tomorrow will tell the tale. I am still traumatized from the last evacuation and will not go next time, if there is a next time. It has been many years since a firestorm has obliterated a city here in Idaho. 1910 to be precise. What is now Farragut State Park was destroyed in that fire, which burned up Bernard Peak and joined the main blaze in the  Silver Valley.

I have water, sprinklers and mucho protection from losing my home. If another fire comes along, I'll be out on my deck playing my banjo, which I have neglected, while between wetting down the deck. When you have a bone dry wood deck 8x30 in front of a single side mobile home, it would destroy the entire deal.

As traumatic as the evacuation was, and the errors in judgement by the fire bosses, we and they survived to fight again. I haven't yet congratulated our heroic fire fighters, but better late than never. They were magnificent,fighting an uphill out of control blaze, while experiencing 95 degree heat.

The businesses out of order for two days will be OK. If you want to help, donate to the Timberlake Fire Department emergency fund, or their retirement fund. There has apparently been yet again a shakeup with several including the chief suspended. As usual, no information is being given out. This would explain why the Northern chief was the spokesperson.

If this ever happens again, please try to avoid treating us like sheep.

Bayview Is Open To All

Bayview is open to all as of this morning. Cape Horn just for residents. The traumatic experience may be over, but we still have the thunder storms coming in which could spell trouble.

Ralph Jones tells me that there are bulldozers running a line the north face of Cape Horn, a 60 degree slope. That takes brass Whatchacolits.

Anyway, all blockades into Bayview have been lifted and everyone is free to come on down.

IF, IF, IF

I finally found someone that was knowledgeable about what was going on in the card game, fire versus public interest regarding the ability to access their homes and regain the life that was interrupted last Sunday Afternoon.For all, it has been traumatic. For us older folks it was much worst.

You see, the older you get, the more the loss off one's comfort zone is. When I left Bayview Sunday afternoon, it was in anticipation of a monster traffic jam of the three day weekend crowd leaving all at once. I left at 2:00 pm. Staying with friends complicates two things. My routine was destroyed, and so was theirs. To there credit they were very kind in saying it was a pleasure to have me over. You see, the urge to help those in need was a paramount issue with them.

Thank You John and Jan Land, for your kindness. I also got an invitation from Jana Tritto, the caregiver of several forever children, of all ages. These patients, or family members range from preteens to adults that will never be able to cope with life on their own. I think the current label is developmentally disabled, but I never can keep up with politically correct terms.

Yesterday, by hook or crook, I slid into Bayview and  reunited myself with my home. I don't care what burns down, I have sprinklers in both my front and back yards. I will stay with my home 'til hell freezes over. No more living out of a suitcase, I'm fighting back.

Rumors of public access to Bayview, from reliable sources, suggest that with the exception of the predicted thunderstorms with heavy winds could derail that effort. We will hope for the best. The local restaurants are open, have been resupplied by the wholesale suppliers, as did the Mercantile.

I will be back mid morning with news of the day. Stay tuned...

Bayview Resident Restrictions

We  here in Bayview have some unique problems. During the Winter months we probably have 450 year round residents. Some of those have their permanent residence in Bayview and can prove their residency.

Then there are those that are currently prohibited from entry, that live year round in an RV. Winter? Usually Arizona or perhaps Palm Springs. They then spend every summer in Bayview. They are part of an expanding herd of constant travelers. All but a few RV guests are gone, having been repeatedly told they are not welcome here because they are not residents. Admittedly, these are uniquely difficult times. Still, cannot we make adjustments for seasonal residents?

For those of you in government, a great amount of taxes are collected from seasonal residents. Are they then taxed without any privileges?

The there are the float home owners. Most of them live elsewhere in the winter and live here in the summer or on weekends. Are they not able to access their summer homes? The entire bay is made up of Marinas. Some fall into the category of float home residents, but many populate  a very lucrative marina businesses, for week end boaters. They pay taxes here too.

First, I encourage all seasonal residents and boat owners to bring with them any receipts or other evidence that they are not just looky loos, which get in the way of the fire fighters but have a legitimate reason for coming to Bayview. They have a financial interest in this place.

To the State, federal and county authorities, Bayview starts in the winter with a flock of snow birds, then  expands to thousands in the summer. Restaurants, marinas and other businesses that stayed, busting their butts to serve the community, are you willing to take away the two months of income that keep them going all year?

This town is unique and must be treated as such. Otherwise, after several years of recovery from fishing and recession problems, you are going to see this town destroyed financially and it will come not from the fire itself, but from the scattered stupid lack of a plan and coordination between information sources and agencies. The fire itself, except for the timber holdings, will not affect Bayview or Cape Horn much in the long run.

What will, is the destruction of tourism here. Get your collective heads out of your asses and cure problems, not create them.While get out of town information came quickly and regularly, there are still residents that don't know they can come home. This county needs and deserves a better system to communicate other that the laughable 765 number who apparently wasn't informed correctly either. You have unnecessarily disrupted this town to the brink of disaster. Not from fire, but from ignorant handling of public information. I see law suits on the horizon.This is the 105th anniversary of the great collection of fires called the 1910 fire. They didn't have a plan either.

FREE AT LAST

After Ralph Jones interrupted Sheriff Ben Wolfinger last night at the community meeting the subject of why in hell the cops blockaded Pier Road to keep traffic out of the cape when they could have blocked Lime Kiln at the top where Cape Horn Road joins, the sheriff, who probably was unaware of the stupidity of someone n his chain of command, opened the road this morning at 8:00 am.

Unfortunately, those that were turned away have no way to know they can come home now. My thoughts go to Yvonne Wallis who, disabled, was turned back yesterday along with myself, and many others. Unnecessary closures occurred at two marinas and the Captain's Wheel because the order to close Lime Kiln was misinterpreted to mean at the bottom, not the top at the juncture with Cape Horn Road. Some like Yvonne do not have a computer and their only means of communication is TV will not know they are sheep anymore. As this is written, the Captain's Wheel is opened again, along with the Bitter End, (how aptly named) Scenic Bay Marina. Businesses may not prosper just yet. As long as non-residents are turned back these boaters that live elsewhere are still unable to travel to Bayview.

Unfortunately, the folks that live out Cape Horn are still unable to freely access their homes. They can however, met with the sheriff dept at the community center for scheduling supervised visits to their homes to check for damage and regain access to their important belongings. The treatment of us has been as if we were sheep and it will long be remembered how we were recklessly and thoughtlessly treated. B-a-a-a-a.

PS:A new smoke plums occurred NW of Bayview, a spot fire. The firefighters are addressing it as well as another closer to the original fire.  Cherokee Road is now closed and fire equipment was seen on that road.

The Sound Of Silence

I awoke this morning to a vague sound of a lawn mower. Realizing the improbability of that happening, opened the door to the vague sound of a far away Helicopter. I saw a car passing up the hill on the verboten Lime Kiln Road and wondered what sort of influence this dude had.

There was a community meeting at the Community Center last night that was probably informative if I could only have had transportation. I was forced to leave my car at Ralph's and hitch a ride with neighbors who had a golf cart. The convoluted logic is that it is alright to use Lime Kiln if you are traveling in a golf cart or ATV, but not a car.  Two blocks in my car and I would have had an escape option if the fire kicked up again. Now, on foot and lame, I have no option but to man the hoses and keep things wet.

The silence is unheard of this time of the year. That helicopter is gone and only total silence can be heard. One can hope that the delivery of food and beverages will be delivered by tomorrow, or the mercantile will be unable to supply food any longer. Will the trucks be get through? Will they even try. Those that do not have computers have no way of getting news, since the newspapers are not delivering.

Had the powers that be blocked Lime Kiln at the junction with Cape Horn Road instead of at Pier Road, they would have had an effective blockade. Instead they isolated the Captain's Wheel Resort, The Scenic Bay Marina and it's office which administrates five of the seven marinas here in Bayview, nor to mention my home which I managed to get to by bumming a ride on a golf cart. I want my car back now. I have at this point no transportation options, except walking, which I no longer can do for any distance.

That I am disgusted with the bureaucratic and yes, autocratic handling of this business of herding the citizens around like  minor irritants is a given. The current rumor is that it is OK to pass golf carts because they take up less room than a car. Well, since I came home yesterday afternoon, not one piece of fire equipment has been seen here. For the obstinate attitude that taking a car two blocks and parking it off road they have left me and others adrift as refugees in our own communities. No access to food or other necessities. Am I pissed? You betcha.

Do you remember Yvonne Wallis? She was the victim of a viscous hammer attack a coupe of years ago. Completely recovered now and disabled, she was refused entry by the same deputy that stopped me from driving home.I can throw a rock at her house from mine. She is now adrift, without the funds to support her away from home. To be able to access your home hitching a ride on a golf cart, only to be set adrift and afoot is stupid and thoughtlessly cruel.

If the handling of residents were as smoothly run and the firefighters that have at great risk contained this blaze the inconvenience to the folks that live here would have been a blessing. As it is, we are, as I said before refugees in our own community.

HOME, ALMOST

Herb, currently only the residents on Cape Horn are not allowed to go back in, the residents of the "core" are being allowed to come and go. The evacuations of Bayview, west to Salee Cr were strongly recommended - and still are due to the fire's behavior.

With the myriad of agencies involved in the now 2000 acre Cape Horn Fire,  confusion reigns. The command and control and PIO suck big time. Yesterday, after seeing KREM  TV announce that if you live in Bayview you can go home, I jumped in the car and headed north. I had been staying in a friend's home in Hayden. When I reached the blockade in Farragut State Park, I was turned back.

Today, the sheriff face book page listed an information page and a phone number to call for fire status. This number is 208-765-7243. I called that and was told that with the exception of Cape Horn Road, it was OK for me to return to Bayview. So fine. I thanked my hosts, John and Jan Land with whom I resided the last two nights, stopped at Super One to stock up on fresh food and boogied up the road toward Bayview. Reaching Hwy 54, the lighted sign warning that the road is closed at mile marker 12. With trepidation, I drove on. At the road block I was told that yes, if I could show ID with my address on it I was free to go home.

I'm thinking, FREE, FREE, FREE AT LAST. But no. When I got to Pier Road a very friendly deputy stopped me. He said nobody was permitted to Lime Kiln. I explained that is he was lost, Lime Kiln is considered by all as being part of the core of Bayview. I'd like to be present when an authority told Dick Hansen that he didn't live in Bayview.

So I figured I would need to store my perishables and Marie was more than happy to take care of them at the Mercantile.  I then stopped at Ralph's where the other refugees were gathered. One neighbor that lives on the top of Lime Kiln where it merges into Cape Horn Road was present with a golf cart. They offered me a ride, which brought me to my home at last. You can't walk or drive a car on this road, but they smile and let golf carts through.

I am now home. The 765 number nor the people at the road block have the same information as the cop on the ground, not does the Sheriff Facebook page. Which replied to me that it was OK everywhere except Cape Horn. Unfortunately, the guy with a gun ruled. A friend just stopped by, (on an ATV and offered to move my car to a better place.

The bottom line is that not everyone involved with enforcement and public safety is on the same page and are giving out contrasting and contradictory information.

Oh and to whoever stopped to water my tomatoes, thank you large. Since I have no idea who did it, I would appreciate it if you called me at 683-9107.

Chuck Waller R.I.P.

Many of us had differences with Chuck over his management style, it is real poor form to jump on a person just after they died. Please, unless it is news pertaining to the Water-Sewer
board, let's leave the dead alone. Show some class.

Ima Refugee

Today, I ventured forth to collect some meds and other things firm in the belief that KREM had the facts when they announced that Bayview Residents would be allowed in for a short period to collect  important stuff.                                                                                                                            


Well, they were wrong. The park people were manning  (or womanning the barricades.)

Emphasizing the nobody, not even you Herb goes through here. As I prepared to make the U turn, I spotted Randall Butt and stopped to chat. I suggested to him that under the circumstances, those that so vigorously opposed thinning and prescribed burns might now understand the why of it. He just grinned.

I'm holed up with Dr. John Land and his bride in Hayden until either we can return home, or my son in England e-mails me burglar info so that I can use his home for a few days.

Some are still holed up in Bayview. If you are one of them please run over and water my tomatoes.

Anyway, after a quick trip to the Sandpoint VA for a prescription covering those things I didn't bring with me, then a 1 1/2 hour wait at Safeway to fill them, I now have most of the meds I need. Although much of the information is wrong, the bottom line is we would be in the way.

For evening pictures of of fire fighting try MacDonald's Resort/web cam.

BAYVIEW EVACUATED

I am writing this from a motel room in Coeur d'Alene. Bayview is under emergency evacuation orders due to an uncontrolled wild fire near the East end of Cape Horn. The fire started around Noon to 12:30. I looked up and the Farragut Peninsula was hidden in dense smoke.

None of this has been verified except I did call 9-1-1 who verified the evacuation order. I went from business to business like a modern day Paul Revere telling everyone that they needed to leave. Nobody believed me, but I flagged down a deputy Sheriff who promised to deliver the message personally.

Whether the blaze reaches downtown Bayview is unknown at this time, except the wind shifted as I left Bayview coming from east to west which is not good. As I looked over my shoulder it appeared that the fire had at least doubled in size and was ominously heading toward the town with marinas packed with boats and RV parks filled up.

I understood from a scanner, that fire trucks were unable to address the blaze, as it was climbing up hill in a road less area. Perhaps they can set a fire line somewhere on Cherokee Road. Not unusual, there was more traffic heading into the town than out as people couldn't believe this was happening.

A huge traffic jam is about to occur if it hasn't already. As of the time I left, no helicopters or bombers had responded.

Emergency Averted

I got a call from Ralph Jones, Ralph's coffee house, last night. It turns out the PA system that was stored in the community center basement was a victim of flooding and is ruined. This morning I called around and got help from Rudy Rudebaugh of Victory Auto Parts. He had the equipment and was willing to lend it to Bayview for tomorrow's parade. As we speak, Ralph is at Victory Auto Parts, gathering the equipment. A huge thanks for the ever community minded owner of Victory Auto Parts.

A few tips for those that will b here to celebrate the birth of our nation. Dogs are not patriotic and hate fireworks. Their hearing is at least 10 times better than humans and panic at the sounds of explosions. Every year, someone loses their dog. When they panic they run in any direction and when they stop they have no idea where they are. One year, a dog got away, ran down to the marina and off the end of a dock where it drown. Keep your dogs indoors with windows and doors closed.

Bayview Daze cranks off with the street parade which starts at 11:00. If you want to watch it, be early. Parking is at a premium. If you have no interest in the parade but are heading to your favorite marina to hop on your boat, you will be stopped at around 10:45 so that traffic doesn't interfere with the parade. Time your arrival accordingly. 

Every year somebody calls for starting time for the fireworks show. Duh, it is when it is dark enough for a good contrast. That usually happens around 10:00 pm. Fireworks are prohibited in and around the marinas. Please do not burn Bayview down. Saturday night is the fireworks show. With our show coinciding with the 4th there will be shows everywhere. Ours is the best one in the area. I have had consistent reports from visitors that have attended both Coeur d'Alene's and ours that Bayview has the best.

The Buttonhook has opened in time for the festivities which will take some pressure off of Ralph's, Mario's and the Captain's Wheel. Law enforcement will be plentiful, so for you visiting firemen, please don't make them assist you out of town. The food isn't great at the county jail and booze is not available.

As I pointed out in a previous column, this year there are security cameras all around town. The will be monitored for illegal fireworks. Don't make our businesses eject you. If you bring fireworks take them back home with you. We would rather have you burn you neighborhood down than ours.

We hope you have a great time and a safe one too.  

Onion Creek 100th Birthday

Braving the massive heat wave that descended upon us in record breaking form, I ignored the heat and traveled 150 miles and 83 years to the 100^th year that Onion Creek School District has educated the area children. It was Saturday, June 27 and it was hot.

The 150 miles represented the distance I traveled to get there. The 83 years represents the time that has passed since my Mother, Nina Huseland taught all eight grades in a one room school house. Her first school was Lead Point, a mining town that like many others is now a ghost town. But still standing is the school she taught at in 1929. Her stint at Onion Creek as the school year 1932-33. But I digress.

Arriving at Onion Creek School after 3 hours of hot pavement, the campus opened up to over 100 former students, teachers and former school board members. Choosing to call their own shots, School District 30, has only one school. Still in the spirit of the plethora of the one room school, the original school building, having been added to and supplemented to by a large modernistic building next to the original, as well as a free standing office building. Even the original teacher's cottage is still in use as the Kindergarten.

An Unfortunate mix-up caused me not to be introduced, which would have then made possible for those that remembered Mom, or members of those families such as the prolific Lotze family, of which Emma Lotze taught a few years after Nina Huseland and during her one year at Onion Creek, mentored her. Gone was the opportunity for each to meet, but the confusion was not purposeful, and must be considered an unfortunate omission. But then, I won't be around for the next centennial, a missed opportunity. In a search for the ultimate rural school, this certainly would be a candidate for such designation.

Many were honored for their service to the school over the years. Current and past school board members were introduced along with several large families that produced students over the long history of Onion Creek. Congresswoman Cathy McMorris and many others sent congratulations. Unfortunately, I hadn't planned on writing this or would have done some interviews. But I did hear some disappointment that the Spokesman-Review hadn't responded, possibly because nobody told them. As a former correspondent, I felt it my duty to pinch hit.

Lunch was served on a donation basis and music provided by local artists. A great time was had by all, and the several large families that are from them thar hills had a monster reunion. In attempting to find the elusive 1933 student, I missed by only 2 years as one lady announced she was class of 1935.

HINGES OF HELL

Arriving in the middle of an early heat wave, people should note that even though Bayview fireworks are on the 4th, Saturday, not everything is the same. Two differences between Coeur d'Alene and Bayview are, ours are better, and the temperatures will traditionally be 5 or so degrees cooler. The street fair starts Friday the 3rd. Any last minute booth requests will be considered, by calling the Scenic Bay Marinas at: 208-683-2243.
jdscenic@scenicbaymarina.com

There will be a street parade Saturday, followed by the traditional street fair that has become very popular. The will be food galore, at Ralph's Cafe, The Buttonhook, Floating Patio and last but not least, The Captain's Wheel. Both alcoholic beverages and food will be available in most locations.

For information on the parade, call Norma Jean at 683-1980 or Marcy at 683-3276

With the Buttonhook opening recently, there will be more choices for dining but with the huge crowds expected, count on delays in service. No staff, regardless of their normal good service can stay ahead of a once a year crowd that will exceed several hundred. Be patient, or arrange to eat early before the dinner rush. Last year, all hands on deck, the Wheel had to stop taking customers on their waiting list after 1 1/2 hour waits. Everyone hopes they can do better, but second guessing the restaurants is churlish and out of line. Capacity is capacity. The kitchens can serve a maximum, then you get long waits.

Early arrivals for both the parade and fireworks are the answer to traffic problems. Bayview isn't near as bad as Coeur d'Alene, but bottlenecks occur. There will be ample law enforcement to forestall those that wish to abuse our hospitality. Shooting off fireworks privately is prohibited. Shooting roman candles and the like is dangerous to the large crowds and a severe fire danger to the boats in the marinas. There are security cameras throughout Bayview and count on them being actively monitored throughout the week end.

The Confederate Flag

The demagoguery that is in the news is sweeping fair minded people into believing  that all cops are racist, and America is just as bad as it was 100 years ago. Well, many individuals are, of course. But it appears that the Rabble Rousers like Sharpton and others that appear on television are actually fomenting a race war. Some of you may even think the civil war was about slavery. It wasn't. Not until well into the war did President Lincoln declare the first Emancipation Proclamation and it only covered slaves that were in Northern army hands. It was all about farm country not having anything to do with he industrial NE. The importation of new slaves stopped many years ago, after we chased the British slave traders.


Back in those days, states were battled with the new national policy that remains to this day. The states were considered Sovereign to the US Government

These so called black patriots are in fact inciting rioters, up to and including the president of the United States. The riots over burning businesses and neighborhoods. These slime balls proceeded to burn down their own neighborhoods.  Why? because it worked in Watts during the 1960's. Of course the neighborhoods never came back, as they won't in Baltimore.

I'm betting that the city police and county sheriff department are applying anywhere else for continued employment, but where they are. Baltimore police commissioner, a black man along with all the rest of the pecking order, are all black. Police chief, prosecutor, the whole bunch. Even though 3 of the six officers are also black, they have still manages to make it a racial issue.

I hate to say this, but it appears that given the great strides in equality, it has created a we are free now, (more) so we can follow Sharpton  and his demagoguery ilk for power, following that the white governments are backing off, not even prosecuting those who commit crimes, fearing the :racist"
label. (except of course)those not black.

Our cities, full to the brim with  apologetic politicians, like they themselves in the deep south, feel the guilt that has be thrown down with the gauntlet like they were there 200 years ago.

That the pride over election our first black President, is foundering under poor leadership and even the president has spoken against the police in the various venues before the facts are known. My opinion of this situation is that Obama himself will trigger a race war. Look for police officers to abandon their post and go to work under better leadership. Burn another neighborhood? No police will show up.

Back in Birmingham, Alabama, during the 1960's blacks and their supporters marched across a bridge with police and dogs to fight off the marchers. A governor blocked the entrance to a school, and at last the US government  intervened. A democratic regime. We must declare ourselves as  Supporters of Equality, not of any "except" in the language.Equal means for everyone, not just the rioters and their ilk.

The confederate flag is not a symbol of slavery,  but a part of our country's southern heritage that they living there have a right to express their state heritage as many of our states do. You don't agree? You don't have to. Our Constitution spells out the right to free speech, not with standing the war against that freedom with the left wing "politically correct" stuff that contradicts that freedom. Those of you  that do not believe this stuff, sorry, lean more into investigation. You won't it on MSNBC, nor the wacko  blogs.


There are so many contradictions of our rights, I really don't know where to start, bur let's take hate crimes. Our government's, both states an federal have codified a difference between a punch in the mouth due to a disagreement, a misdemeanor, or a white on black (it doesn't work in reverse.) which is a felony. This is bending over backward o the point of ignoring the equality portioned of our constitution.

We are slowing giving up our heritage, our freedoms by the courts meddling in our lives in an attempt to right past wrongs. Our leaders are a captive to minorities that are working hard to become the majority so they can then right the wrongs of a nation that in 200 years, they did without coddling, just hard work.

I have a cousin that lives in cotton country in central South Carolina that I visited a few years ago. They took me on a tour first, a black community that according to history started a slave quarters. My cousin-in-law was born and raised in the  south.  He was bragging about how the blacks of this area,   helped by a black Sheriff made them clean the area up. I was when informed that  but for him it wouldn't have happened. We don't see many neighborhoods here, even close to how Those homes and yards appeared.

DEATH OF RESPECT

While hindsight is reviled much of the time, without it we would have no ties to the past history of man, of countries and of families. I have reconstructed some evidence that the death of respect for country and even for elders, with many side paths to truth.

It all started in the mid Sixties with what was sometimes called the Beat generation and sometimes Hippy culture. The anti war movement was in full swing with slogans chanting, Hell no, we won't go." Veterans of combat that returned from Viet Nam were reviled with wild charges of baby killing and many other vilification's.

By 1980, those that were adult hippies had raised their children in their own culture, breaking the string of generations past, bringing up their children to disrespect the government and authority in general. My childhood which started in 1938 and hasn't yet ended, was filled with lectures on honesty, virtue, honor, respect for others, etc.

No longer have we the formula for decent living. Kids misbehave in School and playgrounds because their parents didn't teach them different. Rules are in opposition to authority, which even reaches into our court system. A child can no longer be disciplined in school and god forbid should a teacher touch, let alone spank an unruly child.

This brings us to the present crop of adults that for three generations were not taught right from wrong. Kids stayed away from church because the education taught by their parents didn't include respect for God, Country or even each other.

When I was a child we played outdoors when weather permitted and entertained ourselves without the Internet, of TV even. Television in it's infancy was made up of wholesome family oriented situations. Dr. Weldon, the Brady Bunch, and all of this with just one channel in the Seattle area, King TV and NBC. We played cowboys and Indians based on those days, B movies with the Lone Ranger, Hopalong Cassidy and many others. We didn't hate Indians, we just didn't know any. We had cap pistols, but none of us grew up to be killers.

While there were extremists around, they lacked the support of their communities. Fast forward to the present, where gun control activists are still trying to eliminate ownership of firearms in the face of the Supreme Court ruling that ownership of guns is a constitutional right. Families have been ripped apart by divorce, or even having babies out of wedlock.

We are a society of people untrained in decency. We have explosive movies and computer games that make killing others entertainment. Our families do not dine together, or even do any family outings.

The entire detailed story is too long to tell, and those who need to read it don't read. Our children are being raised by Facebook, not parents. We have the contradiction of free speech, but under politically correct rules primarily set by leftist journalists, no ability to exercise it. Start a conversation about racial issues and you are immediately accused of being racist. None of our problems today will likely be solved. As in Rome, the British Empire and other societies, we are hell bent down hill in full destruct mode with no moral compass and religious people reviled by atheists.

I'm glad I won't be around to see the end. It all came unraveled by an unpopular war which separated the people from the government. The majority of our eligible voters don't participate, leaving the field to Wackos from the left and right. I see no cultural swing back to respect.

Tomorrow the sun starts it's journey  away from us. Just as people are deserting their heritage, It too is leaving us.

Button Hook Opens.. kinda

After liquor license difficulties, the Buttonhook Restaurant and Bar is open again. I dropped in to find the bar packed, Wednesday, only to find that the dozen or so sitting at the bar and tables were all employees.

Noting the linen table cloths, it took me back to  the last time the 'Hook went first class. It was a disaster which lost big time money. Checking the menu, I noted that Steaks ranged from top sirloins at $18.95 up to a humongous 24 ounce Rib Steak costing $35.95.

My experience at the bar was that the owners redefined the term, "soft openings." I was offered a  warm beer, not my usual brand. They were in the process of displaying various wines.  What is a puzzler, is that my sources indicated that none of the suppliers, food, beer and wine  distributors have yet to open an account or receive an order from the Button Hook.I guess that they shopped at Costco.

Anyway, the folks were friendly and promised that the beer would be cold next time I dropped in. I didn't ask the prices for wine, but my warm beer was $3.50.

As always, the people in Bayview will give them a chance, but at these prices, shouldn't expect much local support. While high food prices are common in Spokane, that isn't the case in Bayview.

The target I assume, is the out of town tourists, who are used to paying more for their food and drinks.The liquor license has not been issued yet, so food, beer and wine will be the available menu. 

Anyway, welcome to Bayview and good luck to you.

Visiting The Past

Many of you after reading my blog have noticed the picture of a woman shoveling snow. The location was Lead Point, Stevens County, Washington. The year was 1929. The woman was my Mom teaching her first year of school in a one room school house, grades 1-8

Farm communities seldom found students attending high school, but most managed to get a pretty good education from an eighth grade  graduation. My Mom taught in four different schools before she started a family, of which I was the second baby.

By that time, in 1938, My father, Amos Huseland and mother, Nina Huseland had moved to the Foster area of King County. We moved to Kennydale, in 1943, a then suburb of Renton, where we stayed through our school years.

My son Brian and I and then brother Stan toured the area of the Huseland homestead, Lead Point School, Aladdin School, Onion Creek School and finally Spirit School, just two miles from the farm where Dad &and Mom lived, having inherited the Stepfather's homestead upon the death of his mother.

All but one, Aladdin are still standing. Spirit School is now a residence, Lead Point has been used as a community meeting place and is still in good shape.Onion Creek is still a school, having been added on to and is still educating kids. The original bell is still operational. I got to ring it when I visited a couple years ago.

The reason I chose now to share this with you is that June 27 the Onion Creek School is holding a 100th year centennial, which I have been invited to. My Mom taught there in 1933 or 34.

I will try to attach some photos of these schools, plus the 1910 requirements for an 8th grade diploma. 

Here's a fun link to an 8th grade exam in Washington in 1910:

http://www.eagleforum.org/educate/2004/july04/1910.html

Tribal Ties that Bind

In every in depth story about Afghanistan, Libya, well any country ending in stan along with sub-Sahara Africa one common denominator is the word, "Tribe," Did I mention Iraq?

Any region that is driven by tribal loyalties and power cannot sustain a central government unless the leader is a Saddam Husein type dictator. Remove the leader and bingo it reverts back to tribal politics leaving the entire country divided into tribal enclaves.

When European powers collectively pulled out of Africa and the middle east, it left a vacuum of tribal warriors with little or no education to try to form a government. If any of you can name one that succeeded, I sure can't.

So here we are, attempting to build nations from tribal domains. Ain't gonna happen, folks. Then throw in religious differences and you have the classic anarchy waiting for the first hungry neighbor to feast on them. We need to rebuild and redefine Kurdistan. They are the only power block that can stand in the way of ISIS or Iran.

Iraq is no more. The president of the United States is throwing it's Arab partners under the Iranian bus. It now is too late to unscramble the Syrian mess with several different sides fighting each other for few if any results. Iran is poised, with it's army already in Iraq to take everything south of Baghdad. North will be ISIS vs. Kurds, with the middle belonging to the savages.

Leaders that only control neighborhoods, are tribal leaders. Nothing good ever came of government by rabble.

20 Years, A Bayview Resident.

 

 Picture courtesy of the Spokesman-Review                                                             

It was 20 years ago this Memorial Day weekend, that I uprooted from Dalton Gardens and moved into my elite single wide mobile home. I call it elite because very few trailer trash get the view I have. Chan, when he converted back to RV's was kind enough to allow me to live out my days here on the hill.

For me it is amazing that it happened so quickly. I suspect to others it passed to slowly, but hey, you can't be everything to everybody.

My first experience with Bayview was a summer commute to Coeur d'Alene. As I returned home that day, I found a long line of RV's stopped at the Kiosk which still stands at the entrance to Farragut State Park. The other lane was coned off. When at last it was my turn the bright young blond girl  greeter had charmed three tourists. Unfortunately it was at my expense. Here it was happy hour at the Wheel and I was late.

Having an extensive background in both Real Estate Sales and Mortgage lending, I immediately knew that the Park was in violation of several laws, the most serious being blockading a state highway. Now it is legal to do that temporarily for street  repairs or emergencies. I pointed this out to the young lady, who promptly said, "Not in a state park it isn't. I promised her she would hear from me soon.

The following day I called the State Police office in Hayden to file a complaint. The area commander was at the time, Captain Powell, now commandant of the department. Always the politician, he did the guppy thing and finally said you'll have to put this in writing, so I can forward it to Boise where they will address the problem.

After lunch, I typed out a criminal complaint charging the park manager with a deliberate crime. I then suggested that the park was no better than an individual and that it was blatantly illegal to block a state highway.  When I submitted it that afternoon, I asked how long he thought it would take for this matter to be addressed. He wisely allowed for Government sluggish habits, and promised at least 2 weeks.

The next day, sitting in my office, the phone rang. It was a conference call which included Captain Powell, the Boss men at IDT and the parks department. It turned out that when the captain faxed the letter to Boise, a sh*t storm happened. The competition between state agencies was in full swing and I had given ammo to the Highway Department.

These worthies immediately asked me what it would take for me to back off. I thought about it for a few seconds and said,"keep one lane open for through traffic at all times."They quickly agreed. That afternoon, a little sign painted black with white letters and arrows pointed to park lanes and through lanes. The sign was painted in the  ITD maintenance shop that afternoon. The paint couldn't have been dry long.

The thing that hit me was apparently a couple of state legislators had appealed to the park's better nature. They don't have one. Here I was, a resident in Bayview that essentially knew nobody in town and I was making decisions that really I didn't have the power to make. However I was the nail that was sticking up and they accepted my lead. Later they rerouted park traffic to where it is now, leaving the highway clear. Afterward, I called a spy in the transportation department who told me, "The Parks Department thought they had more horsepower than us. They were wrong."

The parks department tried to hedge on this but I insisted that they state in writing that they would never block the road again. I got a hold of one of the officers of the Bayview chamber, and gave them the letter for safe keeping. It is still filed under 1995 documents.

Not all of my 20 years have been so interesting, but hey, what an introduction for a new resident. From time to time I take issue with things, but by and large, I just try to live my life, not others'.

Here is the story by Susan Drumheller:

 https://mail.google.com/mail/#inbox/14d929081008f1b7?projector=1