Climate, traffic revisions and more in a mixed bag of mail
You probably won’t be surprised to hear that I get a lot of mail.
That tends to happen when you write an opinion column that’s read by thousands of people.
It’s also not a shock, I suppose, that when readers take the time to email or post something on our Twitter account, they think maybe their thoughts will be mentioned by name here in the column.
If you’ve sent a meaningful (or even critical) message and haven’t seen a reference to it in print, please don’t be upset.
There simply are more than I can handle, but ...
My bad is that I don’t do “mailbag columns” often enough — grabbing some of your stuff and addressing it in print.
So I promise to do better.
Starting now ...
ITEM: I’ve been waiting and waiting to get this in print, because a gentleman named Stephen Petersen from Coeur d’Alene sent me a massive package of books and reference materials — back when we discussed the prospect of climate change here in the Northwest.
Peterson left no stone unturned: The giant envelope included a DVD concerning the history of weather patterns in Greenland and a book called, “Biblical Prophecy and the Weather.”
Bottom line, I think Stephen comes down on the side of nature causing everything — because another of his books had a title just like that.
Anyway, he dropped off this package of goodies with our receptionist, and asked that everything be returned.
Stephen, you’re going to be picking it up, because it would cost me a month’s salary to mail this stuff.
But thanks for all the trouble, brother.
ITEM: You’ll recall that we’ve had discussions about that mess on Northwest Boulevard around Ironwood.
The city and state are working on a left-hand turn lane (to Seltice) that theoretically will move northbound traffic faster with long green lights.
Reader Dwight McCain, however, suggests that will only solve part of the problem.
“Yes, the NW Boulevard, Ironwood and Seltice intersection is a pain, especially around commute times,” McCain wrote. “But the problem is not the alternate left turn/straight lane. (That’s a major problem at Kathleen and 95).
“What’s happening at NW Boulevard is that vehicles coming from Ironwood and Seltice and wanting to enter on to I-90 westbound are plugging up the northbound lanes, and sometimes the intersection, so the northbound NW Boulevard traffic cannot even move when their light turns green.
“So, those drivers that are used to high congestion traffic play the odds by staying in the right lane hoping that someone will create a gap which they can cut across two lanes to jump in.”
You know what?
He’s right, and I don’t have a clue how to fix that one.
ITEM: At least we can leave you with some good news today.
Rathdrum has been voted one of the top 10 safest cities in Idaho, so applause is due for the citizens and law enforcement folks up in my neck of the woods.
A study by the SafeWise Report placed Rathdrum at No. 6 in the state.
Rathdrum had just 1.04 violent crimes per 1,000 people in 2017.
Unfortunately, no other city in Kootenai County made the list (too many tourists, most likely).
Want to guess the city that was ranked No. 1?
If you pulled Rexburg out of a hat, give yourself a gold star.
Meanwhile ...
Take a bow, Rathdrum.
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Steve Cameron is a columnist for The Press. A Brand New Day appears each Wednesday through Saturday.
Email: scameron@cdapress.com.
Twitter: @BrandNewDayCDA