My Turn
See the latest My Turn columns here!
MY TURN: North Idaho College is proof voting works
There will always be a need to safeguard the gemstone of our community.
No, even cops aren't perfect
I have read every article written about the Arfie/Officer Kelley incident in the Readers Write columns in the Coeur d'Alene Press, including Terrence Wolferman's letter in the Oct. 3 edition of your paper.
Idaho public education: Rural schools matter, too
To people not fortunate enough to live in this great state, Idaho is a sparsely populated expanse of rugged mountains and open space as far as the eye can see. Scattered throughout this varied landscape are a diver…
Sandpoint hops on coal train controversy
"Sandpoint seeks to provide railroad input... A new rail line proposed to ship coal from Montana to the West Coast, the Tongue River Railroad is the latest coal shipment proposal the city is acting upon..."
Businesses can instill college-going culture
It's no secret that Idaho's college enrollment rate is one of our state's most critical challenges, with far reaching implications. The Coeur d'Alene School District saw a 6 percent drop in its "go-on rate" from 20…
Boogie for books - and kids
Up-to-date, relevant learning materials in each of our school libraries are a vital component for a quality education system. The Coeur d'Alene Education Partnership, an independent, nonprofit education advocacy gr…
John Bujak: Shades of Jesse Ventura
John Bujak, the Libertarian Party candidate for governor, is making the effort to pull off the biggest political upset since Jesse "The Body" Ventura went from the wrestling ring to governor of Minnesota. But if he…
Tempest brews over Fernan Lake
Mr. Miller's response to the My Turn piece I wrote requires some clarification. Apparently a public airing is what is required to elicit a response from the Fernan Lake Conservation and Recreation Association (FLCR…
ACA isn't panacea it's cracked up to be
As a former recruiter in the health insurance industry, and for someone who has been negatively impacted by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) personally, I take issue with the Guest Opinion written by Zelda Geyer-Sylvi…
How can Idaho build a culture of respect?
In the last couple of weeks we have been flooded with images of Ray Rice of the Baltimore Ravens punching his fiancee and kicking her down the hall and descriptions of the open wounds left on Adrian Peterson's son'…
Global warming comes home
I'm 62 years old and I've lived in the Coeur d'Alene area for the past 28 years. Growing up, with my parents and brother and sister, I spent every summer until I graduated from high school visiting my grandparents …
Today's pit bull is yesterday's shepherd
I am so weary of pit bulls being labeled because of human training and breeding faults. There was a time when German shepherds were labeled similarly but now people are seeing the intelligence, loyalty, and love of…
What it takes to fill key office
I like Lawerence Denney.
Judiciary Act of 1789: A cornerstone for constitutional uniformity
The forthcoming celebration of the 225th anniversary of the Judiciary Act of 1789, virtually unrivaled as a statutory cornerstone of American Constitutionalism, shines a light on a law enacted by the First Congress…
Anniversary reminder: Ice is nice!
The hardcore skeptics said it couldn't be done: no way the Kootenai Youth Recreation Organization (KYRO) could raise $800K of the $2.8 million needed to build …
BearCat vs. packed jail: Here's one alternative
It's been a few years since I served on the Kootenai County Jail Commission so I Googled a few questions about criminal recidivism. Purpose was to get a handle on new studies influencing whether spending $300K+ for…