Columns
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End of a local radio era
Kerri Thoreson remembers when the lights went out on KVNI-1080 radio because she literally flipped the studio swit…
Housing homeless? It makes most sense
Try it sometime: spend the night - or just a few hours - on your driveway in the winter. Pamper yourself; take a sleeping bag and wear a cheap coat. Then see if you can sleep. Area high school students who've tried…
America's Jr. Miss comes home
Madison Leonard of Hayden earned the title of Coeur d'Alene Jr. Miss, and went on to become Idaho's Jr. Miss. Last summer she wowed the judges in Mobile, Ala., to become America's Jr. Miss. I last saw Madison when …
Comfort foods make us whole
"I love scraping out the guts," Quin giggles with her arm, shoulder deep inside a 30-pound Halloween pumpkin. "It feels gushy," she offers pulling out a handful of seeds and slime. I smile as my grandchildren laugh…
Cast your vote with principle
In some places, citizens risk their lives to get to a polling place. If these manage to arrive unscathed, the selections are few or highly censored by oppressive rulers. In other nations, half of the adult populati…
The coldest and mildest winters since 1895 in Coeur d'Alene
Last week in 'Gems,' we featured the all-time Coeur d'Alene snowfall records for the past 116 years dating back to 1895. Each season ends officially on June 30.
Fall - to feed or not to feed?
As another season of lawn mowing and maintenance comes to an end, it's time to do some planning for the coming year. One of the most common questions I am asked is, "should I fertilize in the fall?" I love the feel…
Schools on right path to openness
In the Oct. 22 Press, Duncan Koler provided one side of limiting patron input and Hayden Meadows' Primary Years Program. While Mr. Koler cites only his points of view the school board has the responsibility of cons…
No time like now for conservatives
In the year 1620, one of my ancestors, Mary Chilton, age 13, arrived at Plymouth aboard the Mayflower. Her father, James, was ill and died on the ship, never being able to set foot on this "new land." Legend has it…
County planning isn't getting job done
Tuesday evening, the County held a public hearing for the revised Comprehensive Plan. They took testimony (a good share in opposition from the major communities in the county). In the end they closed the public hea…
China trips just a scam for our cash
I have to say without a doubt I am thoroughly confused by what has been published in the paper regarding the Chamber/China Trips.
Cure for college sticker shock
Families of college-bound students share a common illness: sticker shock. Sure, in-state tuition isn't bad, but add dorm, books, and other costs and parents are looking at a lifestyle change for four to six years. …
Can we tax our way into happiness?
Most Americans see an oxymoron when the words "tax" and "happiness" appear in the same line, but that apparently isn't true of those northern countries that gave the world the Vikings and pickled herring. In a rece…
Change the world
"I'd love to change the world, but I don't know what to do, so I'll leave it up to you," the early 1970s rock band, Ten Years After, plays on the classic rock station in my car. While singing along I wonder, "Do I …
The wonder that was Ace Walden
In his 103 years on this earth, Ace Walden created a template for community involvement and making a genuine difference in peoples' lives. We only came to be acquainted in his 99th year but my life is surely richer…
My first crush
My hands were a sticky mess. The room was loud with the sounds of machine and classic rock. Everyone concentrated on their tasks, but regular laughter highlighted the cacophony that was fall crush on Oct. 22 at Coe…