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Glider Fans Up In Air Over “Bottum Line” At Hammer Flat Launch Site
December 6, 2011 
By John Kangas For 35 years, silent and beautiful Hang Gliders and Paragliders have graced the Boise skyline above the Highway 21 and the iconic Crow Inn. Many have enjoyed eating steamed clams and just watching the gliders. Generations of Boise gliders have enjoyed their first flights on the Crow’s gentle hill. There is nothing […]
Hammer Flat Sale Appears A “Done Deal,” Hang Gliders To Be Grounded Forever
Boise’s City Council is about to consider the sale of the Hammer Flat land to the Idaho Fish and Game Department after acting as the “straw man” purchasing the parcel on behalf of F&G almost two years ago in a secret deal. In a Sunday editorial, the DAILY PAPER questioned deal, noting the city and […]
F&G Cosmmishes Approve Hammer Flat Funding
Idaho Fish and Game Commishes meeting in Coeur d’Alene approved in principal the $4 million purchase of land known as Hammer Flat east of Boise. It was purchased by Boise City for $4 million in a secret deal. After repeated attempts by the GUARDIAN to reveal the true details of the purchase, city officials revealed […]
Hammer Flat Declared “No Fly Zone”
Hang glider enthusiasts are at odds with Boise City–especially Team Dave–because they have been banned since the land came under public ownership using $4 million in public Foothills Levy funds. John Kangas, spokesman for the group claims his fellow flyers have soared over the eastern edge of the city for 35 years from the Crow […]
F&G Still Looking For Hammer Flats Money
Working on the upcoming “best of 2010” stories list, we came across the May 29 HAMMER FLAT land deal announcement between Boise City and Idaho Fish and Game, prompting an update. Seems Boise’s cash payment for the wildlife habitat still hasn’t been repaid by F&G seven months after the deal was revealed by the GUARDIAN. […]
Secret Deal Puts Hammer Flat In Limbo, Public Access To Truth Denied
Sneaking around citizens has once again caused an otherwise good project to get a bad rap in Boise. The proposed Cliffs subdivision (known as Hammer Flat) on the plateau above Lucky Peak Dam has long been a winter home to deer antelope and elk. Wildlife groups fought the developer at public hearings and the development […]
Guv Says “Possible Deal Only” On Hammer Flat
Guv Butch Otter made news on Thursday when he called the GUARDIAN birthday gathering broadcast live on KBOI AM 670’sNate Shelman show to tell us, “There is no deal on Hammer Flat. There is only a possible deal.” He said no Fish and Game funds would be used unless hunting is allowed on the 700 […]
Boise Deceives Citizens On Hammer Flats
Any trust citizens may have had in Team Dave evaporated with the sale of Hammer Flats which was consumated in secret and announced in the Idaho Statesman Thursday. The GUARDIAN QUESTIONED since March the motivation of Boise’s purchase of the winter deer range using Foothills levy funds. We have filed public records requests which were […]
Nailing Team Dave On Hammer Flats Purchase
Our guest post is written by a guy who describes himself as Lifetime Boise Resident and Spokesperson for the Idaho Hang Gliding Association By JOHN KANGAS Back in 2001 Boise voters passed a $10 million dollar open space serial levy to do five specific things. By statute, serial levies must do that which they say […]
Hammer Flats Sugar Daddy In Bushes?
If the info we got from a usually reliable source is correct, the Foothills money glass may not be empty after all. In fact it may be 41% full very soon. Old Crow told the GUARDIAN of a conversation with a fellow flying friend: I am a supporter of the Foothills Levy and would support […]
Foothills Levy Nothing But A Slush Fund
Question: Shall the City of Boise City, Idaho protect clean water and drinking water, wildlife habitat, critical open space, and native plant species, and enhance recreation opportunities and trails through the establishment of a fund from a temporary override levy enabling the purchase of property and improvement projects in areas such as the Boise Foothills […]
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 […]
Big Money For Bieter Bond Proposal
Proponents of the bond measures that could put Boise into debt to the tune of $51,000,000 have collected about $137,000 to push the ballot question. The Boise WEEKLY checked the campaign finance reports and came up with the following highlights: ESI ($15,000) Gardner Property Holdings ($15,000) Thornton, Oliver, Keller ($1,000) Old Boise Properties ($1,000) Boise […]
“Buck-A-Month” Sales Pitch Ignores $51 Million Debt and $18 Million Interest For Boise Bond
Gotta hand it to Team Dave on the sales campaign for the proposed debt question before voters in November. The NorthEnders have been mobilized and the council candidates have all avoided the issue in a joint campaign brochure. Even the DAILY PAPER editorial has offered an endorsement while addressing–almost point by point–the GUARDIAN concerns. We […]
Park Bailout Needed Due To Bad Management, Citizens Deserve Voice In Spending
ANALYSIS OF THE PARK BOND Mayor Dave Bieter has promoted his voter-financed bailout of needed fire department facilities and additional parks as “A buck a month,” project. The GUARDIAN sees it as a whopping $51,000,000 expenditure of tax money. The ballot fine print legalese says: “The total amount to be repaid not later than twenty […]
Smooth Sailing At Crow Hill, Spring Planting
After a year of talks with glider enthusiasts, Idaho Fish and Game has agreed to allow folks to take to the skies east of Boise at the Hammer Flat land purchased from Boise City. The Season will begin May 1 and run through November 15. This Saturday, March 2nd at 8:00 am folks will be […]
Mayor Hotline December 17 to 23
Since the hotline provided by the Mayor’s office has become more cryptic and less informative, the GUARDIAN this week will insert editorial comment to put selected comments in perspective. This is the same document provided to City Counselors. Perhaps they will switch to the GUARDIAN for more insight. 12/19/11 Tamba Vaughn Las Vegas ISSUE: Complaint […]
Priming the News Pump–Choose Your Topic
With many of our readers gone and much of the legacy media not reporting any news, we are left to fend for ourselves with some “make news” topics of discussion. The GUARDIAN has been reporting from Hawaii the past week where we shared top visitor billing with the Obama family, hence little in the way […]
Mayor Hotline October 15 – 21
2011 10/17/11 Robert Lambrou PO Box 4554 Boise, ID 83711 ISSUE: Concerned about son’s high trash bill. PW 10/17/11 Patrick Harper ISSUE: He wants a status update on the Hammer Flat deal. Mayor 10/18/11 Robert Deacon Deborah Place Boise, ID ISSUE: Supports smoking ban in bars, parks and public places. Mayor
Foothills Lockout Not Popular With Neighbors On Eve Of Levy Celebration
Some neighbors in the eastern foothills area purchased by Boise City at a cost of $4 million last year are joining forces to protest a lockout by Idaho Fish and Game on the public land. No two ways about it, Boise has been less than transparent with the expenditure of public funds and the subsequent […]
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