U.S. constitution Saved, Once More

In the argument over the right to bear arms, too many people got hung up on the part that says," in order to maintain a well ordered militia," or some such. During revolutionary days, and even through our civil war, militias were raised by villages and towns throughout the nation and enlisted by group with the officers being voted on or appointed by the locals.

It was believed during those turbulent years, that an invasion by a foreign entity could most effectively be repulsed by local people with the arms the founding fathers allowed as a basic right in our constitution.

This need was also felt to be a detriment to any internal threat as well. Too many people apply 21st century solutions to problems without researching the why of the matter. Many modern day historians suggest that forties Germany would not have lost their Jewish population if Germans met the gestapo at the door with a shotgun.

We have enough gun control laws already. It is against the law for any convicted felon to own a gun. It is a huge factor, if you are convicted of a crime in which a gun is used. Mental incompetents have been prohibited from owning or possessing guns. We can pile law after law after law on this issue, and even had the Supreme Court upheld the Washington D.C. law, the criminals would still find a way to have guns. Only when free law abiding citizens have the right, also, is the field leveled, giving potential victims some protection.

It is not lost on me, that many of today's liberals believe the constitution of the United States is outmoded and needs "radical" overhaul. This document, properly enforced, has produced in just a little over 200 years, the single most successful nation on earth, and did so without abridging an individuals liberties. Not everyone in this country is successful, but most have the ability to be so, should they removed themselves from the streets and just try.

Bayview Daze Update

Bayview Daze is here again, featuring six bands leading off the festivities in a gigantic battle of the bands.

The most fantastic of a series of fireworks displays will happen this year. Bayview has, through the community fundraising efforts, increased the fireworks budget for this year by 50 percent. The real treat, though, is that if you are going to fireworks in Sandpoint or Coeur d'Alene or even Post Falls, you don't have to miss Bayview.

The reason? Bayview holds its display July 5, giving everyone the opportunity to double dip. The entire celebration stretches three days: July 4 through 6. The following is a schedule of events:

First up is the street fair. Arts, crafts and all kinds of neat stuff. If you haven't got your T-shirt from the Athol booth yet, here's your chance. Friday finds live music at JD's featuring Wyzer. Not to be upstaged, the Captain's Wheel presents the band, Comfort Zone. July 5 brings most of the events. Entertainment will be appearing all over town. From 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. the feature is a kids' fair downtown with "The Fun Guy." At 11 a.m. there will be a street parade, which travels from Third and Spruce down to Main Street, ending at the Community Center. Entries must be lined up by 10 a.m.

It is also advised that those who are planning to attend the parade, get to town early while there are still a few inches of parking to spare. Following the parade, cars will be displayed at the Scenic Motel for Show and Shine. Parade awards will be presented at Ralph's Internet Coffee house at 2 p.m.

JD's will feature two bands on July 5: Afternoon features David Walsh, and the evening cranks up with the band, Four Times Over. From 4 to 8 p.m., the Bells will appear on the outside stage at the Captain's Wheel. As a special treat, from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. on the main stage inside at the Wheel, the nationally acclaimed band, Too Slim and The Tail Draggers will play. If you are a fan of the blues, this is the one not to miss.

For entries in the Lighted Boat Parade, which kicks off at 9 p.m. at the Bitter End Marina, you must register at Ralph's Cafe by 7 p.m. The fireworks extravaganza happens at 10 p.m. Folks around Bayview who have seen the other shows in the area, including Coeur d'Alene, swear the Bayview show is the best.

By July 6, if everyone is still functioning, one last celebration will be the crowning of the Queen of Bayview at noon, also at Ralph's Coffee shop. For more information about Bayview Daze activities, call Ralph at 208-683-9107.

George Carlin 1937-2008

There are special people that leave us every day. Some of them are better known than others. George Carlin was such a man. Many think he was the guy that created the "naughty breakthrough." He certainly did that, but he did much more.

This man was the world's best at cutting through the bullshit. He could take a human condition, look at it, and reduce it to it's basics. Carlin would be more famous for pointing out the "forbidden words," that couldn't be mentioned on television. When he did that, he opened up the hypocrisy of a society that used these forbidden words everyday on the streets and in the offices of the nation, but could not be admitted to on TV. Kind of like Lucy and Dezi sleeping in twin beds, because to suggest that married people slept together was suggestive.

George Carlin was the master of the ridicule and pointed it at the absurdities of the system in entertainment. He was the boss. A verbal magician. You either liked him or hated him. That, I believe was because he made you look into yourself. Sometimes people didn't like what they found there. The one thought, as I end this tribute, is that without George Carlin, UBob wouldn't have had a vocabulary.

I will miss this giant of a man, and a man that was funny just because he was real.

Cops can be helpful, Too

Sometimes, when you call a cop it’s not to report a crime. In a case most recently, it was for help. This intrepid reporter received a call for assistance from two widely respected members of the community. Bob and Suzanne Rickel, retired farmers started getting pesky notices in the mail from someone claiming to be New York City. They stated that a jeep was illegally parked in the City October 28, 2007, registered to the Rickels. We followed our own advise, and called a cop.

The Rickels in fact do own a jeep. It’s a 1954 model that has been in storage for over ten years, then transported to Suzanne’s brother by trailer to Seattle. The plates, supposedly Idaho number 9875, still reside here in Bayview at the Rickel residence. Enter Captain Ben Wolfinger of the Kootenai county Sheriff Department. We requested his assistance. Captain Wolfinger ran the plate and verified it is the number registered to the Rickels. By the time Wolfinger got involved, the notices had got nastier and more frequent, ending in a default judgement of $107.38.

After determining the facts, Captain Wolfinger graciously mailed a letter to New York City explaining that one, the Rickels had never been in New York City, nor were they likely to go there in the future. Two, the car in question was not white, as the parking ticket revealed, but dark green. The third and we hope the deciding factor, is that the car in question is 54 years old and while restored, isn’t capable of such a journey. One can only hope that the largest bureaucracy in today’s world will understand. If not, Captain Wolfinger does not anticipate his cooperation in an attempt to extradite the alleged offenders.

Many of you have been following the trials and tribulations of little Amber Newton, terribly burned last January. Since then, she has been in and out of hospitals. Several fund raising events have been held. Bayview has a woman that just can’t stay away from someone that needs help. Terry Shepherd, owner of Terry’s Café decided to do something about it. She started a raffle, then invited the community to a burger BBQ with all funds to go toward the Newton’s Sunday was the big day. Some peripheral fund raising is still out there, but from the raffle itself, over $1400 was collected. At deadline, there were still funds outstanding and more information to be gathered. We will report back next week on that progress. We did learn that there is an account set up at the Rathdrum branch of the Panhandle State Bank in the name of Amber Newton for those that wish to contribute.

Summer is heading into high gear with events happening all over the place. Post 149 Athol American legion is holding a charity poker run for both bikes and four wheelers June 28. The route for the bikers is from the Pastime in Athol then The Bonners Ferry Legion post, Popeye’s in Priest River, Curley’s in Hauser, The Captain’s wheel in Bayview then back to the legion in Athol. Contact the Legion at 683-2614 for details.

Saturday night features the Riverside Band at the Captain’s wheel along with some great food. Bayview Daze is just around the corner with the key day being July 5. A street fair will be set up for all three days, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, followed by A street parade Saturday and a brand new fireworks display Saturday the 5th. A boat parade will lead off at dusk, followed by the fireworks. This year, a 50% increase in funds were voted by the Bayview Chamber of commerce. Visitors are urged to donate when they come out to enjoy the festivities. This entire show is paid for by voluntary donations. The first queen will be crowned in over 20 years Sunday at noon at Ralph’s coffee shop. A special Bayview Daze treat is in store for Saturday night revelers. Too slim and the Tail Draggers will appear on the main stage, with the Bells handling the daytime duties on the lawn outside. We have leaned that Too slim has moved out of the shadow of Spokane/Coeur d'Alene, where they were immensely popular back in the early 90's, to a national stage, and seldom play small gigs like this. It may be the only chance to ever see them again.

Sometin' Is Sure Going Around

We just learned recently that Larry Justus has been hospitalized with blood clots in his lungs and some related heart difficulties. He seems to be responding to treatment and hopefully will be home soon. For those of you that do not know him, Larry & Liz operate the Lakeland RV park adjacent to the post office in Bayview.

I've been busy and remiss relative to posting on this blog. As I mentioned previously, I have a new gig. I have been driving a Limo for Rusty's sports Bar in Hayden. For those that aren't sure where that is, it's right next to the Holiday Inn express on Orchard between Government Way and Hwy 95. The Limo is a stretch Cadillac that will seat about seven in a pinch. The service is free. I drive with tips only as my income. So far, most people have been very generous. We can pick you up and take you back home if you live fairly close to the bar. Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays are the nights this service is available. For a pickup it is best to call ahead about an hour to make sure the limo will be there for you. 772-2400

Wednesday nights feature Karaoke. Saturday nights usually have live music. If you haven't seen a good friend lately, chances they can be found at Rusty's, the new "IN" place to be.

2008 Bayview Daze

It's almost that time of year again. We are in the middle of June, and in just three weeks, the sun will be beating down upon us while we watch 4th of July festivities. While there are great fireworks many places on the 4th, we need to remind you that in Bayview, we march to a different drummer. Bayview Daze does coincide with the 4th, but only kinda. The Bayview Chamber of commerce, realizing that to really party down, one has to limit their activities to week-ends. The calendar doesn't always cooperate. Last year the 4th was on a Wednesday. The simple formula in those cases is to use the nearest Saturday to the 4th as fireworks day. Next year, we will be just like everyone else. That is only because the 4th finally falls, as it should, on Saturday.

The moral of this story is this: Go out, enjoy yourselves anywhere on the 4th, then trek on down to Bayview, Saturday the 5th. We have a three day street fair. A parade Saturday Morning, at 11:00, (get here by 10 for parking) A lighted boat parade at 9:00 pm, Fireworks at 10:00. This year, even though the show has always been spectacular, the Chamber added a 50% increase in funding. This is probably one of the only local venues that regardless of the state of the woods around us, we are safe, insofar as the fireworks are always sent up over the lake, from a barge in the lake. Unlike Lake Coeur d'Alene, our pyrotechnicians haven't ever had to dive off because of an unplanned on board explosion.

In addition to the usual festivities, this year we are resuming the Queen contest. One that has been dormant for many years. Rather than the usual beauty contest, this one is open to ladies 8 to 80. Judging will be based on more practical things, like which contestant raises the most in fireworks donations. The only hard and fast rule in this contest, is that Ralph can't enter. Speaking of Ralph, call 683-2218 for details.

Stuff I'm Doing

I thought I would give everyone a break. By that, I mean I'm going to take a break from opinionating just this once. Why? Because I'm doing some exciting fun stuff now. Most of you know that I write a column for the Spokesman-Review. I've had a great time doing just that. Since about April of last year, I've written about 90 columns dealing with every thing from features to hard news when it happens in front of me. I have, and still do, enjoy the heck out of doing this, and hope to continue. Still, with budget cuts, every time I turn around, I'm being hit with budget crunches that threaten to cut back on what I have accomplished in the last year. I do not know where this is going, but I suspect it's the old "do more with less syndrome."

Very recently, I have jumped into a gig with my old pal, Kim Gittel, owner of Rusty's sports Bar in Hayden. Kim, concerned with the numbers of customers that enter his establishment, then drink more than is good for them, bought a Cadillac Stretch Limousine. The plan, is to ask customers to ride home free with our limo, leaving their cars at the bar. If you haven't guessed yet, I'm your driver. We have a further plan that will take a few weeks to break in. That is one that asks customers to call in, ask for a pickup time and day, then go pick them up, carry them to the bar and ... take them back home, absolutely free. Of course, you are expected to tip your driver, who is working for tips only. This service is only currently available Wednesdays (Karaoke night) Fridays and Saturday nights.

It seems to me, that this is a win-win deal. With Drunk Driving fines reaching into the four figure range, plus the license suspensions, not to mention the ten years or so of elevated insurance rates, chucking a twenty or even less to your driver is much the preferred solution. But the big plus, is that you won't hurt or kill someone going home from a night of revelry.

To call for a Limo, you can reach Rusty's at: 772-2400. Tell them when and where you wish to be picked up, give directions, then leave a call back number, so that your less than enlightened driver might call for directions, once he gets lost. Party On, my friends!

Democracy Has Enemies, Some From Within

I, for one, am not sick of the political rhetoric. This, as cumbersome as it may be, is the sound of liberty. Sure,it tends to be repetitive, sure it stinks of empty slogans, people lie, prevaricate, enlarge, distort, but have you people looked at the paper lately?

Zimbabwe: The current ruler had his chief opponent arrested because he caused an unlawful gathering of anti-government adherents,this during an election campaign.

No matter where you go in this world, democracy is a minority. Only here, and a few other countries,can you freely state your views, then freely vote on those issues or candidates that you prefer. I get angry with those of you that smug in your attitudes and/or prejudices, can't look beyond your political views, to see the humanity and the enlightened country we live in.

A country that allows even those that are around the bend, so to speak, to still make their points. I love this country, right wrong, and sometimes, just confused.

The headline tday, that caught my eye, was the one that told of a teen caught counterfeiting in the boys room. Wondering how the head could possibly fit any scenario I could think of, I clicked on the "More" thingee.

Folks, this is entertainment you just can't get anywhere. This young man carted a color printer into a restroom because he was homeless and didn't have a way to plug it in. Cops caught him printing brand new ten dollar bills.

When asked why, he replied, I'm homeless and didn't have anywhere to plug it in. It turns out that he was only going to print $90 so he could buy some Pot. My thinking here, admittedly somewhat jaundiced, is that with this kind of thinking, given a little capital, this guy could be our next CEO of a fortune 500 company. This needs encouragement, not suppression.

Tuesday ... A Tragic Day

Everyone in Bayview was shocked to learn that we lost three residents Tuesday. Ron Olson, former sales representative for Waterford Park Homes, Died of a massive heart attack. Life Flight was called in, but to no avail. Ron hadn't lived in the community that long, but he will be missed by many.

Two others, long time residents and outstanding citizens were lost the same day. Archie Orth, former commander of Legion Post #149, avid fisherman, golfer and fly fishing expert. died after a long battle with cancer. His funeral will be held Saturday, June 14 at 11:00 am at the Legion post in Athol.

Archie's Brother-In-Law, Cliff Hohnwaldt, former Legion club manager, also died, the same day. We haven't any details yet as to when or if services will be held. We'll write more as information becomes available.

Just Some Ranting

It would appear that after several years of chasing Osama , Republicans will now start chasing Obama. I sure hope that's where the similarity ends. We here in this country have enough problems what with 47 different positions on every issue. We certainly don't need suicide bombers, Kamikaze Pilots, or any other of the sick crap that passes for Islam.

Which brings me to the point. How, in this age of terrorists, are we going to be able to survive as a civilized nation, without being able to protect our borders. It isn't about Mexican farm labor. It's about anyone that believes we can catch terrorists that try to infiltrate our borders, if itinerant farmers and their wives and children can freely cross in large numbers. Hell, we can't even seal the borders of Iraq, or even Afghanistan, where the most dangerous borders are a few mountain passes.

In Afghanistan however, we could easily blow up the narrow passes into Pakistan, sealing off the border. The problem? political will. We are trying to create a Palestinian Nation, while protecting Israel's territorial integrity. Has anyone figured out how you can do that with the West Bank and Gaza separated by Israeli territory? Without geographically common borders, it's a joke. The best the do-gooders are going to be able to do is create two Palestinian Countries.

I'm not just griping about our present administration, but the past several. Where was Carter, or for that matter, Clinton. Did either of them say wait, this won't work? No. All of them are afraid to upset the Arab oil producers. Yes the oil producers, you know, the ones that after taking our money, want still more, then when they think we are on our knees, spend that money for weapons to destroy us.

If Armageddon is to be, I don't want it to happen while we are asleep at the switch. The liberals and environmentalists have tipped over so far, that no longer, or perhaps never, have they planned on unintended consequences. Can't drill for oil on the continental shelf. Can't drill in the Arctic. Can't build safe nuclear power plants. Why? Because since the sixties, nuclear, power has been held hostage by ban the bomb radicals that think bombs and power plants are one and the same.

Somehow, some way, we need to take our country back from extremists of all ilk and return to a practical existence. ... If we can find the way back.

Convention Junkies

This is for you, convention junkies. As the prospect of a brokered convention looms nearer, I thought, since I'm one of the few of us that actually is old enough to remember experiencing one or more, I'd pass on a few remarks.

Looking at the Clinton/Obama race and projecting Clinton hanging in, you might ask yourself, why is she doing this, when she has apparently lost. Don't forget the old adage, age and experience will win out over youth and naivete every time. There are other less polite versions of that adage, but I'm sure you get the idea.

The Clintons, while certainly not as all powerful as when Bill was president, still have many people in the party that owe much of their success to this couple. Sure, there are probably an equal amount that aren't a part of this group. The party machinery will kick in at the convention. When the pros take over, rulings from the chair, credentials committee and others will weigh in heavily.

If the delegate count holds up at the present level for each candidate, Obama will have the lead going into the convention, but not enough to secure the nomination. This is where wile and deviousness come in handy. (refer to the above paraphrased adage) States vary as to when,after how many ballots, etc. that their delegates are free to change their votes, but lets just pick the third ballot as an average.

After delegates are free to choose or to change their vote, the floor fight begins. It's a fight that the party professionals are adept at. All bets are off and its a mini-campaign all over again. I feel certain that this is the strategy that the Clinton crew are fixin' to exploit. Hey, there's judgeships to promise, federal jobs, the list goes on and on. It's not exactly pretty, but it works. Do any of you remember Kefauver vs. Stevenson? Maybe not. That was in the fifties. Stay tuned.