Boise Guardian

White Paper Explains Constitutional Challenge To Voter Rights

August 31, 2010 ⋅ 7 comments

This is the first in what we expect to be many discussions of three constitutional amendments before Idaho voters on November 2. The GUARDIAN will be crusading like an old time newspaper editor to preserve our voting rights, defending the Idaho constitution and the rights of citizens to hold the “power of the purse” when [...]

Buckin Bull Lands Gun-Totin Deputy In Deep Doo Doo

August 27, 2010 ⋅ 18 comments

An off duty Ada county sheriff’s deputy has proven that even after 21 years on the force coppers still do stupid things. He got caught packing heat–two pistolas–while riding the mechanical bull at a Boise saloon in July. It came to light this last week. Bartenders spotted guns on their buckin patron and called the [...]

Rural Fire Costs $$$ Thanks To Growth

August 24, 2010 ⋅ 11 comments

When it comes to fires “threatening structures or lives,” firefighters pull out all the stops and use available resources to protect the assets at risk. Such was the case Tuesday afternoon when a grass and brush fire broke out off South Cole Road. Boise FD, Kuna FD and the BLM battled a 200 acre fire [...]

ACHD Joins County In Spending Hold

August 23, 2010 ⋅ 4 comments

Here is the second self-serving press release from a government agency, but we have to give them the space. ACHD joins Ada County and has not taken the 3% budget bump allowed by law while Boise City has taken the max. PRESS RELEASE FROM ACHD ACHD Commissioners are expected to adopt a hold-the-line budget for [...]

Ada Commishes Hold Line On Spending

August 20, 2010 ⋅ 12 comments

Of course it is a self-serving press release, but the facts from the Ada Commishes sure paint a different picture from the 3% maximum budget increase in Boise City and subsequent levy hike. PRESS RELEASE FROM ADA COMMISHES: On Tuesday, August 17th, the Board of Ada County Commissioners officially adopted the County’s Fiscal Year 2010-11 [...]

Ada Commish Candidate Tells Cities To Pay Up

August 19, 2010 ⋅ 13 comments

Commenting on the conflict between Ada County and cities regarding payment for magistrate court services, Ada commish candidate Larry Rincover sent the following statement to the GUARDIAN. The cities were mandated by the Idaho Supreme Court to provide the services which resulted in an agreement between the cities and Ada County. It seems that the [...]

Ada Commishes Send Boise “Past Due” Message

August 14, 2010 ⋅ 16 comments

Looks like the GUARDIAN isn’t the only one with whom Boise officials can’t get along. The STATESMAN ran an enlightening piece Saturday by reporter Cynthia Sewell about the ongoing rift between Boise City and Ada County over the issue of who pays to provide magistrate court facilities. Ada Commishes are backing out of various financial [...]

Canyon Fails Miserably On Jail Bond Vote

August 4, 2010 ⋅ 10 comments

Canyon Politicos who just wouldn’t take NO for an answer got their lunch eaten Tuesday when voters turned down yet another attempt at a jail bond. This time around county officials and a well organized group of supporters were humiliated. When the tally ended at 10:35 p.m., jail-bond advocates had captured 43 percent of the [...]

Former Fair Mgr./Commish Weighs In On RV Park

August 3, 2010 ⋅ 11 comments

Roger Simmons is a former manager of the Western Idaho Fair as well as a former Ada Commish. He offers a historical perspective on the recent post about the RV park and issues surrounding the proposed evictions and expansion. By ROGER SIMMONS In 1987 when I was hired as the Manager of the Western Idaho [...]

Fair Report On Ada Fair Land Use

August 2, 2010 ⋅ 8 comments

Twenty years ago Ada County Commishes inked a deal to allow an RV trailer park at the Fairgrounds along the river for $50 a year for a term of 20 years. The land has an estimated value in excess of $3 million today. Former Commish Mike Johnson told the GUARDIAN the intent was strictly to [...]

Dirty Pool At Canyon Fair

July 30, 2010 ⋅ 9 comments

If the action of the Canyon Commishes and their Fair staff is any indication of how the county will conduct Tuesday’s Jail Bond Election, the name of the game is DIRTY POOL! The commishes set the Aug. 3 election at the last possible moment which was long past the deadline for applicants to get space [...]

Potential Reduction For 2C Bus Service

July 26, 2010 ⋅ 3 comments

Our transportation expert paints a sad picture of mismanagement and missed opportunities in the following GUARDIAN EXCLUSIVE special report. By Jimmy D. Bus Guardian Transportation Correspondent Canyon County residents face the prospect of reduced bus service if Valley Regional Transit plans become reality. The service changes would begin in October 2010 and cover both the [...]

Ada County Electric Trash Deal Is Shocking

July 9, 2010 ⋅ 5 comments

Ada Commishes may be moving a bit hasty with plans for an incinerator at the Hidden Hollow landfill in an effort to get some of the “stimulus funds” from the Feds. On the face of it, a plan to allow an Eagle firm to build an incinerator and pay $1 a year for rent sounded [...]

If Vern Were To Bite GOP Bait…

June 26, 2010 ⋅ 13 comments

Regarding having Vern step down, the GOP county central committee would choose a successor, most likely Fred Tilman. This is what they are aiming for. The voters have spoken. Vern won. It doesn’t matter with whom he associates. Tilman and Yzaguirre supported Democrat Paul Woods, at least informally. In a search of 2010 Sunshine Reports, [...]

Ada Dump Seeks Green Power Trash Talk

June 18, 2010 ⋅ 5 comments

The Ada Commishes are trying to generate some trash talk–or talk generating with trash– with the idea of making prime real estate out of the county dump. They issued a “REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST” for anyone willing to talk about using trash to generate energy and potentially building a “Renewal Energy Industrial Park” at [...]

2C Prosecutor Deal Typical Local Government

June 17, 2010 ⋅ 9 comments

Canyon County Prosecutor John Bujak finds himself in a big financial mess with personal debts overwhelming his ability to repay and a murky agreement with the city of Nampa to provide private prosecutor legal services through his public Canyon County elected job. The Nampa-Canyon-Bujak deal has caught the attention of the legal community–both public and [...]

Bieter Seeks To Abolish Citizen’s Right To Vote

June 3, 2010 ⋅ 13 comments

Using an appearance before the Chamber of Commerce as a “bully pulpit,” Boise Mayor Dave Bieter urged citizens to approve a proposed constitutional amendment that would serve only to abolish rights citizens currently enjoy to approve bonds to pay for airport facilities. We find it ironic the good Mayor seeks to abolish the right of [...]

Our Take On Election Results

May 26, 2010 ⋅ 7 comments

In the interests of space, we will use bullet points and allow GUARDIAN readers to take over the discussion on the election results. These three races were of most interest to us, but feel free to add your voice on any race. –Guv Butch Otter will have a November fight on his hands against Dem [...]

Don’t Forget To Vote Today

May 25, 2010 ⋅ 5 comments

While today’s election is only a primary, it serves to decide several county races–since there are no Dem opponents–and the Supreme Court seat is also decided today. FIND YOUR POLLING PLACE at the Ada County website. If you are a loyal Dem, don’t forget to go out and vote for the worst candidate and if [...]

Coppers Watch You On ACHD Cameras

May 21, 2010 ⋅ 19 comments

In a program with which we can’t really argue, Ada County Highway District is making its extensive network of traffic cams available to coppers at the dispatch center. ACHD Commish Sara Baker revealed the arrangement on her blog yesterday and noted several recent crimes and emergencies which involved police use of the system. You too [...]

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