My Birthday

Providing I last until March 23, I will celebrate my 80th birthday at the Captain's Wheel Saturday March 24 at a no host party.

Right now, the only thought I have about turning 80 is that it took a very long time to get there.

I'll have updates as we approach the fateful day.

Racism From the Left

I think I finally figured it out. If you are a "Black lives Matter" person, or an ultra liberal from Hollywood or San Francisco, you are winners.If you are  are white, you are either a racist, a Nazi or a redneck. Not since world war 11 has the term been so over used.

Never in my lifetime has a minority turned the tables and are now the privileged class. No longer is it good enough to be equal, they now have taken over. Even communists are currently being honored.

You cannot find a commercial on television that doesn't have black people in it. Black millionaire football players, playing t o a captive audience, spew hate and disrespect for our flag, our anthem and our country. Equality is no longer enough. Black Lives Matter folks would have to give up too much to go back to equality.

One wonders how long the sports fans will continue to spend their money on football, since a large majority of adults have served proudly in the military. 

Reverse Racism

When I watch TV these days, seldom if ever do I see a scene or commercial without a black person in it.

Police are maligned and shot by minorities, yet when as in Chicago no media that I have seen shows any black on black violence which after all is prevalent. Nor do they show police officers assisting civilians.

This is a one sided show that misrepresents the reality that prevails in 95% of police shootings. In Kootenai County, Idaho the sheriff advertises for officer trainees with no results. Why would any young person  set themselves up in a dangerous job that is also thankless.

Yet we the white race are pummeled with hate from people that are not downtrodden, but are actually being treated as a privileged class. 

Disrespect

I am glad that I will probably die in the next few years. The parents that populated San Francisco in the 1960's with pot, free love and radical political positions, have spawned a generation of anti-American  radicals that are now running our country into the ground. These radicals now are grandchildren of the '60's radicals

While anti-Vietnam rallies were probably the largest harm to this country, their spawn is even worse. They have been raised by those weirdos from the 1960's.

Enter the riots in eastern cities in the east, like Baltimore, Missouri and others Now, instead of blaming black criminals for the deaths when shot by police, the leftist press is making the officer the villain, while protecting the communities they serve.

Segue to the present and we have football players, most  who are bringing down millions in pay, feel oppressed.  How anyone can feel sorry for players that have taken advantage of our system and with great effort climbed the hill of success then claim they are downtrodden.

I have been a Seahawks fan since I attended their first game in 1976. No longer. This team, management and ownership have chose political correctness, (read leftist agenda) over honoring our flag and trashing old fashioned patriotism.

How about being straight up here and naming it a fake issue.

Nuclear War

Well, we have finally achieved an enemy that s both crazy, and capable. New North Korea is targeting San Francisco. Frightening?

Wat a minute. There are some potential advantages here. They nuke San Francisco 
 and we bomb  Their capital.

Tit for tat. They lose their entire government, we lose Pelosi. I consider this a good trade off.  Just sayin.

Seasonal Changes

I think we can all agree that fall has arrived with a vengeance. From 80 straight days of heat and drought to heavy rain, hail and cooler temperatures... Overnight.

Now, once the fires are out we can prepare to bitch about rain, snow and  other nasty weather. By spring we will all pray for global warming again.

Boats are leaving Bayview in droves as cruising weather is gone. Staying of course are the fishing boats that are preparing for the fall Derby September 30-Oct 1st. See Ralph at 683-2218 for info and tickets.

Charities

There have been many criticisms of various charities during ts trying time with Harvey and Irma. I think some of the remarks about the Red Cross perhaps unwarranted.

When a disaster strikes, many new charities pop up, most of them legitimate, but not all. These temporary organizations disappear after the emergency is over.

Not so the Red Cross. While yes, there are permanent staff that are well paid, so would any standing business that had such wide spread links and functions. They do not invent themselves when an emergency happens, but are standing by fully prepared to jump in with all of their facilities, immediately.

Obviously, they have a higher overhead than the temps. We should try to examine all of the factors before demonizing some without solid facts.

Dreamers

There is much controversy regarding illegal immigrants that came to this country with their parents as young children. I woke up after a dream sequence a couple of days ago and before the president declared the program dead after 6 months. This gives congress ample time to either pass a law legitimizing these people who are now productive adults or not. These laws that were ignored by President Obama, but without the law permitting it should not have been done.

I am in favor of law abiding Dreamers being allowed to stay and either work or pursue an education. Having said that, congress needs to step up and do it's job.

It's poop or get off the pot time.

Weather Relief??

Weather relief may be just around the corner. While most of us revel in the nice weather sometimes happening after labor day weekend, it is not typical. Recently the long range forecast (Accuweather) said no rain until the 27th of September here in the North Idaho Panhandle.

Today a different story. Monday, September 11 shows a significant thunder storm followed by a day of rain and drizzle. This then follows a pattern of off and on rainy weather, punctuated by some sunny days.

The following week the day temps should fall into the '60's. Yeas, you heard me right. Bye bye, 90's.

We can only hope that this is true and some of the wild fires will drown.

More Bayview W & S

I do not know the source of this artical but am publishing it for your information. I do not attest to it's accuracy.

 

NOTICE TO BAYVIEW SEWER CUSTOMERS -

Let it be known that the new board has voted to terminate the last remaining employee, who possess current licenses to operate all aspects of wastewater collection, treatment and land application as well as water distribution.

The BW & S board has now contracted with a water management company who does not hold licenses to operate the wastewater treatment site, and as such, this operation has been shut down months early and all waste water is being diverted to the leach fields, intended only for winter usage. The Department of Environmental Quality intervened, since the district was out of compliance with licensure requirements.

If you are concerned with this action, please come to the district Budget Hearing special meeting this Thursday at 3:30, Community Center.

Disembowled Bayview W & S

I was shocked yesterday when I learned that the longtime manager of the Sewer District quit his job about four months ago. Where was the news. It certainly rated a story in Bylines. Is it possible that only news that the writer agrees with is published?

Then on top of that, The only qualified person left, Reed, was dumped in favor of bringing in an outsider that has no knowledge of the infrastructure here.

I, at this point feel the board of directors are out of control. I deeply regret my vote and the backing of the two recent candidates. If there is a valid reason for this action, almost doubling the salary that Reed received, for a stranger, we need to hear  about it and right now. This appears to be power run amok.

Political Insanity

Political insanity is evident, or is it. Either the far left and the typically leftist media has totally lost it, or it is a deliberate attempt to disrupt this country.

Don Lemon of CNN claimed President Trump is trying to create a new Civil War. At what point is opinion legitimate and incitement to riot cross.

Yesterday, in a typical political rally, the obviously pro trump crowd ate up his every word. One issue that he raised, was the championing of the veteran's choice program. Unfortunately, he was not informed by his VA director, that funding for the very successful program had just ran out of funds and has been suspended.

The horror though, was when the rally broke up and guests began to depart, they were violently attacked by leftist thugs. Perhaps we are on the cusp of a new civil war. But if we are, credit the radical media for pouring gas on the embers.

I called three of Labrador's offices. Coeur d'Alene, Meridian and Washington, D. C. Nobody was home at any of them. I finally called our other U.S.representative's office. Simpson's office was not aware of the lack of funding in the Choice program, and though I am not in his district, they were thankful for the heads up.

I will have more in the coming days.

USS Zumwalt

http://www.verizoninternet.com/bookmark/uss-zumwalt/

The death throws of the Spokesman-Review

During the retirement party at the Fort Ground Grill, DFO told me of a total of ten buyouts, all long term quality writers. Landers is gone along with Greg Lee who covered local North Idaho prep sports.

Gone is the iconic Clark and Huckleberries on line with Dave Oliveria. All of these so called volunteer early retirements suggests rats leaving a sinking ship. Get out whole while there are still options left.

The blogging community of which I am one is going to fly apart without Hucks as the glue that held it together.

I don't have the names of the rest, but you can draw a line under long term staff. I think Betsy will leave as well. It turns out Curly wasn't hired as an editor but as a funeral director as the S/R guts itself. Perhaps they will trek on with correspondents like editor Smith tried to do a few years ago or maybe they will just shut down. The once icon daily is in a death spiral.

Farragut History

Tuesday, August 1 was the fiftieth anniversary of the Boy Scout World Jamboree, held at Farragut State Park. 40 to 50 visitors gathered in celebration of the event where some of the original scouts came together along with current scouts and leaders. One such was a retired man from Australia who traveled from down under all the way to North Idaho for the original Jamboree, then came back this year for the reunion.

In recent years the park is undergoing a face lift, but the venerable brig, or navy for jail is the only structure left from World War 11. It was turned into a museum which is constantly evolving. A new wing commemorating local history and the scouts was opened a year ago and new exhibits abound in all areas. Erin Bair, park ranger and mother hen over the museum is still in fine form.

Between 2009 and 2015, a state of the art sewer system was built which allowed much expansion from when septic systems limited how much growth could occur. This five million dollar project brought forth many changes now in the works in many areas of the park. Two new dump stations which were made available to the public were installed. These dump stations are located near Gilmore and Snowberry Campgrounds.

Gilmore Campground now holds fifty camp areas with partial hookups. This is out for bit to enlarge to 100, double it's current capacity, with the new sites having full hookups. Scott Field, a group campground will soon host up to 600 campers. A new access off of Monagham will shorten the way in.

Sunrise day use area has had remodels of shelters as well as guest cabins re roofed recently.

The newest expansion will be started this fall when Tree to Tree, Idaho will start construction on an obstetrical course at Locust Grove. Among other attractions if will feature a zip line for easy aerial travel. This will be the second for profit concession ever at the park. (Currently, River Odyssey West is operating guided bike rides within Farragut, booked out of Coeur d'Alene)

Several favorite places in the park are Buttonhook Bay, a protected area at the extreme south end of Lake Pend Oreille and Beaver Bay, a swimming area.

 

After the U.S. Government deeded the former naval training base to the state of Idaho, it still hadn't been dedicated as a park until the hurried plan for a huge Girl Scout Jamboree for 1965 was developed. This followed by the world jamboree of boy scouts in 1967.

A four mile former railroad right of way formed another state park between Howard Road and the western park boundary. This Railroad brought recruits from Athol to the training station and was torn out after the nay closed the base. Ironically, a different railway was deactivated just four year earlier when the Lime kilns in Bayview closed down in 1938.

Today the park is managed and staffed with the best crew in years. They rightfully should take pride in the work they do and the attitudes of welcome that prevail.

Stunned

I was stunned by the sudden news that we only have one week left for our North Idaho blog, Huckleberries. It isn't just a blog site, it is the glue that holds our blogging community together.

Only time will tell, but I think many of our blogs will bite the dust when Huckleberries central gos away. DFO got me started blogging when I barely knew how to turn on my computer.

That in turn led to my 5 year stint as a correspondent for the Spokesman-Review. Now we will hear the sound of one hand clapping.

I grieve. 

Boy Scout Reunion

August 1, 1967 marked the First World Jamboree in Idaho for the international Scouting movement. Between 40 and 50 attended this celebration, many who attended the first one in 1967. There were also many current Boy Scouts along with many in scouting leadership.

I met a former scout that traveled all the way from Australia for the first Jamboree, and returned for the reunion.

1:00 pm saw a flag raising, with the Friendship Tower in the background. There are actually two of the awesome towers, but one has been gobbled up by a spreading forest.

Aging

Much about aging sucks. The only saving grace is that you didn't die young. Having said that, as I grow older, (79) I acquire more aches and pains. Since my three siblings all have sleep apnea, I decided to get checked out. Sure enough I have it too.during my sleep study, the technician told me I stopped breathing 29 times out of an hour.

So, I ordered a CPAP machine which gives positive air flow during sleep. It does however, make one look like a Martian. Naturally, as soon as I donned the mask, my nose itched and I couldn't scratch it.

Other than that, I passed my annual physical with flying colors yesterday.

Bonner County Embarrassed

It would appear that the failure of Bonner County's equipment to find John Key's body has resulted in embarrassment for not seeking help from Kootenai County, who may have more sophisticated equipment that would help with the search.

Said help was requested and was granted by sheriff Ben Wolfinger recently, according to a blurb in the paper.

Without a declaration of death by authorities, his widow and family would have to wait seven years for a death certificate to be issued. In the mean time, the family is going to suffer severe financial difficulties in addition to the horror of loosing this fine man and father/husband.

I recommend that his closest friends start a "go fund me" account to help out.

We can only hope that the intensified effort will find the body, even if it isn't recoverable, which could lead to a declaration of death, triggering social security benefits.

Sheriff Wolfinger is to be congratulated for his marine division offering help.

Drownings Revisited

By happenstance, as I was walking up the boat ramp in Bayview yesterday, I spotted a pickup with Bonner County Sheriff lettered on the side. I meandered over and asked the person who was not in uniform why they were not doing more to find Santa.

He introduced himself as the  officer in charge of the marine division in Bonner County. He went on to explain very patiently about cold water drownings. Bodies in the water go to the bottom rather quickly, unlike in warmer areas where they pop up before taking the plunge.

In other words there is no chance of recovery or discovery in water 1100 feet deep. Side scanning sonar is only effective in shallow water above 200 feet deep.

In the interest of accuracy and fairness I felt it necessary to retract the allegations I repeated about Bonner County.