Dave Frazier
Top GUARDIAN Stats for 2014
We have slowed down the pace over the years when it comes to posting new stories. Total posts for 2014 was 129. Top commenters were Zippo (162), Easterner (132), Rick (120). Top story for comments goes to Boise Police Chief Mike Masterson who garnered 45 comments on the campus gun bill post, “Masterson, Other Coppers […]
Ada Gang Of 3 Boost Bronco Nation
We got a press release image from the Ada Commishes today wishing residents a Happy New Year and good luck to the BSU Broncos in the Fiesta Bowl. Apparently things are slow at the court house. The image of the “Gang of Three” will no doubt be remembered by many readers, residents, taxpayers and future […]
Bones Named Chief of BPD
Mayor Dave Bieter surprised no one with the selection Monday of Bill Bones to succeed Mike Masterson as chief of the Boise Police Department. The appointment must be approved by the City Council, but it is a sure deal. Masterson, whose last day is January 29 pretty much groomed Bones to fill the post, appointing […]
GBAD Seeks Second Chance To Deny Public Vote
The Greater Boise Auditorium District has spent tens of thousands of dollars in a quest to deny citizens their constitutional right to approve long term debt for a new ballroom and kitchen. That quest continues with the filing of a new petition in 4th District Court. GBAD was ordered by 4th District Judge Melissa Moody […]
Final Round Of Top Cop Q&A
The final round of questions and answers from retiring Boise PD Chief Mike Masterson is presented here. He will leave in January, becoming the second longest serving chief in the department history. GUARDIAN readers have provided significant input for the department over the years and the chief has been an active commenter. Question relating to […]
Idaho Beer Brewers Balk at Belgian-Brazilian Boys
A bar fight is brewing between the local craft beer producers and the big multi-national Anheuser-Busch Budweiser boys who recently acquired 10 Barrel Brewing at 9th and Bannock in Boise. Idaho Beer and Wine Distributors Association, which represents 18 distributors that employ 900 people says Idaho law grants special rights to small breweries – which […]
“Cleaning Woman” Is Bieter Council Finalist
Three years ago she wasn’t good enough to mop floors for Boise City and today Sylvia Hampel is among seven finalists seeking appointment to the City Council to fill the vacancy created when David Eberle moved to Garden City. As CEO of Clearview Cleaning Service, Sylvia Hampel was awarded a contract in 2011 to clean […]
ESPN, CBS Rule Statesman Newspaper, Bronco Football
In an apologetic column in the Saturday STATESMAN, editor Vicki Gowler explained why the newspapers have been delivered hours late for two weekends in a row: It’s all the fault of ESPN! Not only does the commercial sports TV network set the starting time of BSU football times, that also determines when the DAILY PAPER […]
Use of Force And Ombudsman Complaints
BREAKING NEWS: A real estate blog has just named Boise the #8 safest city in America. Looks like coppers are #8 and Bronco footballers are #22! Due to the length of responses about Boise coppers as Chief Mike Masterson takes questions from readers in his last month of service, we will group the responses by […]
Chief Responds To Copper Cameras Question
Due to the length of responses about Boise coppers as Chief Mike Masterson takes questions from readers in his last month of service, we will group the responses by topic. The Questions have been gathered in a previous post in the comment section. Body worn cameras are inevitable. BPD is taking a slow deliberate analysis […]
Questions & Answers For Top Copper
This is the first for what we anticipate will be a series of responses. As Chief Mike Masterson prepares to sing his swan song after more than 10 years as Boise’s top copper, he has agreed to have a “good-bye session,” with GUARDIAN readers. He tells us there have been many good policies and insights […]
Proper Report By Second Grader Results In Massive Panic
When a second grade student at a Middleton elementary school noticed “a gun” in the backpack of a fellow 7 or 8-year-old second grader, he did the right thing and told his teacher. The teacher did the right thing and notified school officials. From that point it got weird according to a report in the […]
4 Alarm Fire Guts Broadway Strip Mall
One of the biggest structure fires in recent memory gutted a strip mall Thanksgiving eve on Broadway between Pennsylvania and Iowa streets. It was first reported about 10 p.m. It appeared the fire started either in or close to a nail salon. The entire mall will likely be closed for months, but at least half […]
Mass Transit Needs Masses, Too Expensive
Ron Harriman is a guy who tends to use science and math to make his points. Here is his take on recent calls for a TRANSIT SYSTEM in the Treasure Valley. By Ron Harriman My research has led me to conclude that in a basically rural area, transit fares will only cover 8% of the […]
Consultant: State Should Avoid Commercial Property
Four years after the GUARDIAN revealed the Idaho Land Board was operating a commercial storage business, a consultant has concluded the state should stay out of commercial investments. “It’s the concentration issue, the lack of diversity,” explained consultant Janet Becker-Wold of Callan and Associates. “If something happens to that property, then your whole portfolio can […]
Do Idaho Potatoes Have Cancer Potential?
In what appears to us to be a bungled marketing attempt for a genetically modified potato, the J.R. Simplot company raises the specter of cancer in potatoes currently being marketed to and by McDonalds. The company claims the new “Innate” variety has less asparagine, which has the potential to become a carcinogen – acrylamide – […]
Ombudsman Low Priority For Boise Leaders
Despite repeated promises to hire an ombudsman to review “critical incidents” and other complaints within the Boise Police Department, Boise’s mayor and city council has been more concerned with squeezing 10 foot three inch buses into 10 foot traffic lanes. More than a year ago Councilor Maryanne Jordan told the GUARDIAN, “The position is important […]
X-Country Drive Observations
We have been on the road delivering the 12-year-old family car to a relative in Florida. The drive prompted a bunch of observations worth sharing from the 3,000 drive. –Speed limits have increased to the point there is little risk of a ticket. The old 55 mph has been replaced with 70 m.p.h. on state […]
The Voters (Some) Have Spoken
Apologies for the lack of content lately. Been on the road doing family business. We wanted to give readers a place to bemoan their loss or crow about their victory, so here is a post. Not many surprises out of the election, unless you were a hopeful Dem. We were surprised at the margins in […]
Are Ability AND Integrity Impossible For Politicos?
We often hear the lament, “I am not voting because it is always the lesser of two evils.” A story in the Saturday DAILY PAPER by reporter Katy Moeller seems to enforce the evil issue. Seems that Ada Coroner Candidate Dotti Owens “forgot” about criminal charges for fraud and a bankruptcy when she completed a […]
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