Dave Frazier
Three Alarm Fire Near Harris Ranch
One man was bitten by a dog when he and another neighbor forced entry into a burning modular home Wednesday to rescue two canines as a three alarm fire broke out at Harris Ranch east of Boise. Dense black smoke could be seen for miles, leading some to believe the fire was fueled by more […]
Land Board To Get Out Of Business
Five years after the GUARDIAN first broke the story of the Idaho Land Board going into the business of running businesses, the Board has voted to divest itself of more than 20 commercial real estate parcels, most of them in downtown Boise. The big story back then was a STORAGE business. The poster child property […]
GBAD and Visitor Bureau Attract Herpes Convention
The only thing more comical than the Greater Boise Auditorium District landing a convention of herpes experts is the headline in the DAILY PAPER which proclaims: “HERPES EXPERTS IN BOISE AT SAME TIME AS BASQUES.” The Statesman headline writer gets a coveted “DOPE REPORTER AWARD” from the GUARDIAN for perhaps the worst mix and match […]
“Energize Vista” Project Well Intended, But Not Well Thought Out
By DAVID R. FRAZIER, editor Boise GUARDIAN I have been a resident and home owner of the Vista Neighborhood for nearly 50 years. Over that half century I have watched as Boise’s city fathers and mothers–past and present–have dumped house trailers, low cost housing, sex offenders, skinny houses, refugees, and assorted “assistance programs” in our […]
Create A Problem, Pay For A solution
At the risk of yet another “negative GUARDIAN rant,” we feel compelled to comment on two developments which crossed our desk today. The DAILY PAPER posted a story informing us the City Council approved a proposed 173-home development IN THE FOOT HILLS adjacent to the Harris Ranch subdivision east of downtown. The current zoning is […]
Boise Top Cop Moves To City
Just a short note to give a shout out to Boise Police Chief Bill Bones for showing respect to the citizens with a sensitive personal gesture. Once Bones was selected by the mayor and confirmed by the council to replace the retired Mike Masterson, Bones moved from his suburban home into new digs within the […]
Horseless Racing Repeal Veto Challenged In Supreme Court
The Coeur d’Alene Indian tribe has challenged Gov. Butch Otter’s veto of a law passed to repeal the slot machine gambling at Idaho race tracks during the last session. It sounds convoluted at best, but legislators during the 2015 session voted overwhelmingly to repeal a 2013 approval of so-called “instant racing, or historic video racing.” […]
Pine Tree Cut To Look Like Cell Tower?
Amazing how talented the local tree trimmers are these days when it comes to topiary. This tall pine near Federal Way and Vista Ave. in Boise looks just like a cell phone tower. The cell tower in rural France is hard to recognize in this shot, but the French have a reputation for being good […]
City-Wide Conservation Areas Worth The Price
It is gratifying to see Mayor Dave Bieter and his “Team Dave” field a proposal based on a GUARDIAN suggestion. We join other conservation groups with our tentative support of his new plan for a two year “conservation” serial levy. Protecting open spaces throughout the city for wildlife and recreation is a worthy cause. We […]
Ada Property Values Up About 6%
Ada County tax assessment notices have hit mailboxes of property owners and there shouldn’t be too much sticker shock. The median increase was just under 6%–this means that half the values increased more than 6% and half less than 6% (or decreased). It also means there could be some really big increases or decreases. We […]
The Arming Of Garden Valley Schools
UPDATED INTYRO 5p.m. Friday Garden Valley School Board trustee Alan V. Ward seems to be one of the advocates of arming school staff. He is the same guy who was investigated–but never prosecuted–for jamming locks at the school with Super Glue during a time of unrest over school board membership, eliminating staff positions, and dismissal […]
Three Votes For Two Sheriff Candidates
When Ada Sheriff Gary Raney announced his resignation last month, the heir apparent seemed to be Steve Bartlett, a current captain and former “Chief” of the Eagle department run under contract by the Ada sheriff. While they only have “nominating power,” the Republican Central Committee offered up the name of former Captain Randy Folwell, who […]
Downtown Coppers Cost 25% Of Calls
A recent story in the Daily paper about Boise PD creating (recreating) a downtown precinct strikes a revealing cord, not so much about crime, but about financing crime-fighting coppers. While ALL of the tax revenue on new buildings and appreciated value on existing structures in the downtown area goes to CCDC, folks on the bench […]
CWI Project Could Be “Under Water”
In our never ending quest to provide factual information on public issues, the GUARDIAN has posted the following flood plain map from the Corps. of Engineers as it relates to the Bob Rice purchase at White Water and Main in Boise. Since the College of Western Idaho has agreed to an appraisal of the 10 […]
Update: CWI To Get Appraisal
In an unscheduled executive meeting Friday, CWI trustees decided that an appraisal was a good idea after all. They still adamantly stand by their original land deal, however. Here is the complete news release from the CWI Board of Trustees: CWI will Commission Appraisal on Rice Property MEDIA ADVISORY – The College of Western Idaho […]
Boise Public Land Deals Have Dubious History
Latest revelation from CWI is the apparent fact they are attempting to pay 35 times more per acre for land in Boise than land they just purchased adjacent to the Nampa campus. They will close next week on 32 acres for less than they are paying for a single acre in Boise. The recent fiasco […]
No Tax On Private Building Leased By CWI
A little known law allows landlords a tax exemption if they lease to an educational institution has added yet another dimension to the CWI land saga. County records reveal that Sundance Investments has obtained a 100% tax exemption on a building ay 1360 S. Eagle Flight Way for the past six years. The Building is […]
W. Michigan Lost $400,000 on Spud Bowl
The DETROIT NEWS revealed Wednesday that Western Michigan University lost more than $400,000 coming to Boise in December for the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. Like most schools, the big draw was to perform on ESPN TV. The biggest part of the travel bill was for the 305 member marching band. The school has never won […]
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