Diamonds aren't forever

COEUR d'ALENE - Diamond Cup officials reluctantly conceded late Friday that the hydroplane races are sunk for this summer.

"The Kootenai County sheriff's obdurate refusal to accept an application for a marine-event permit in conformity with his statutory obligations under Idaho law caused the cancellation of the race," Diamond Cup organizers said in a press release Friday.

Obdurate, according to Merriam-Webster: "Refusing to do what other people want, not willing to change your opinion or the way you do something."

John Magnuson, an attorney for the race organizers, said all ticket sales for the Labor Day weekend event ceased within hours of Sheriff Ben Wolfinger's July 1 announcement that he would not approve a permit for this year's race.

"When you take away the ticket sales, you take away the security of the financing," Magnuson said late Friday.

The sheriff "refuses to acknowledge what the statute provides," Magnuson said. State law, he pointed out, obligates the sheriff to accept a completed application for a marine-event permit 30 days before the races.

"As late as yesterday afternoon, when asked again by Diamond Cup representatives to honor the letter of Idaho law, the sheriff refused, citing his staffing needs and demands," the press release said.

There is not enough time to take the sheriff to court over his decision, Magnuson said.

Diamond Cup organizers like president Doug Miller have worked to host the event this year to repay debts from last year's race.

"With tighter crowd-control procedures and a minimum of 30,000 tickets sold, the Diamond Cup would have achieved its goal of retiring its 2013 debt, funding the 2014 race, and being financially sound going into 2015," organizers said.

They promised that any current ticket holders would be reimbursed.

"We will continue to pursue all avenues for a 2015 race," organizers said.