So Much For Unbiased City Survey Results

Boise’s Team Dave has used surveys to guide their efforts for everything from trolley cars and baseball parks to City budgeting efforts. Mayor Dave Bieter is fond of using the “survey results” to justify decisions about public safety and transportation. A reader sent us these Facebook screen shots today, questioning just how valid any survey […]

Under The Big Top Before It Folded

By DAVID R. FRAZIER, editor The recent news that Ringling Brothers “Greatest Show On Earth” will fold the canvas for the final time May 16 brought back a flood of memories beginning some 63 years ago in Lansing, Michigan. My Dad was a photojournalist and he pulled me out of Mrs. Barnes’ second grade class […]

An Observation About The Observation

The recent cold snap and “arctic temperatures,” has prompted weather reports citing readings of “negative 9” or similar figures. For those over the age of 40 there is a slightly unfamiliar ring to these NEGATIVE numbers. For the older set it was always “nine below” or “nine below zero,” even though you didn’t need to […]

Statesman Building For Sale $6.9 million

News to some and “old news” to others, the hometown paper without a printing press will be searching for a new home if the building at Curtis and Irving sells. Don Day at BOISEDEV first broke the story several weeks ago. A reader offered us a “breaking news” tip today and it appears after reading […]

BSU Cactus Bowl Tickets At $4!

A GUARDIAN reader directed us to a “complete story” in the IDAHO PRESS TRIBUNE about the difficulty for BSU to sell more than 6,000 tickets for the BSU-BAYLOR Cactus Bowl in Phoenix at a minimum price of $39.50 when they can be had at $4-$6 on the secondary market. According to the IPT story, the […]

U.S. Election A Joke To Others

Sorry for lack of content. Been busy traveling to Vietnam, chasing lost bag and making photos for the day job. Meeting folks from Australia, Holland, Germany and Canada who ALL think our election and candidates are a big joke.No one has mentioned Russia’s Yeltsin, but that is how they seem to feel. Tourism dominates all […]

Growthophobe’s Delight In Southern Elmore

Boisean Worked For Saint Teresa of Calcutta

Rick Harvey, owner of Artsmith Jewelry was just a bit emotional and bursting with pride as the official canonization of Mother Teresa was completed Sunday before 100,000 faithful at the Vatican by Pope Francis. Harvey is undoubtedly the only Boise jeweler (and goldsmith) to make a legitimate claim of “working for a real saint.” Harvey […]

Bieter To Lead Art Delegation To NYC

The cryptic item on the June 7 Boise City Council read, “David H. Bieter, Mayor’s Office, to attend meetings with potential city benefactor in New York City, NY, on July 28-30, 2016.” Following the shenanigans that led to the ultimate downfall and jailing of former Mayor Brent Coles, a GUARDIAN reader was properly concerned and […]

Crane? “We Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Crane!”

In some professions you have to climb over your fellow workers to get to the top. Sometimes it takes teamwork to get to the top. We noticed a crew in downtown Boise Monday performing a well coordinated rise to the top of a new apartment under construction at 10th and Grove. It appeared they were […]

Flowers Bloom At Craters Monument

Like Phoenix from the ashes, wildflowers are rising from the cinders at Craters of The Moon National Monument along U.S. 20 near Arco. The GUARDIAN took a little drive Sunday and discovered entire hillsides with acres and acres of wildflowers flooding among the cinders. IT looks like a bumper crop of flowers have made it […]

Encountering “The Greatest” In Boise

The death of Muhammad Ali prompted the following memory by editor DAVE FRAZIER. Time has blurred the date, but it was about 25 years ago that I was driving south on Capitol Blvd. when I noticed a great big black man standing in front of Victor’s Restaurant talking to a little boy. I did a […]

Whaddya Say And How Do Ya Say It?

Get out your dictionaries and get ready to do battle! With the micro inspection of all the politicos and the outpouring of political correctness it has become nearly impossible to speak or even go to the toilet without offending someone. For the sake of stimulating conversation we will offer some examples of “wrong talk.” We […]

The Gravity Of Foothills Developments

You don’t have to be Isaac Newton to predict that water runs downhill with the force of gravity, often taking loose soil along with it. In recent history the Idaho Transportation Department learned the gravity/water/soil lesson on Horseshoe Bend Hill, forcing the relocation of Hwy 55 to its present location. Same issue caused massive rockslides […]

Simplot Hilltop Home Demolished

By DAVE FRAZIER, GUARDIAN editor When I saw the news reporting the demise of the J.R. Simplot house on the hill overlooking Bogus Basin Road–and the entire valley, not only was I incredulous, but I actually felt a little empty. It was empty for 10 years even after a group of influential Idahoans pushed hard […]

Words And Definitions We Need Not Know

Since the tragic attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and over the ensuing 14 years, we Americans have learned an entire new vocabulary that would be better left unlearned, if only possible. Here are some random terms and words whose meanings are all too clear. There is no humor here, only sadness: […]

Ada Treasurer No Threat To Victoria’s Secret

Victoria’s Secret probably doesn’t have to worry about competition from Ada County, but we find it interesting to see the new line of feminine apparel being offered on the county Treasurer’s website. Our favorite items being offered are three

The “Thank-You” Flag From D.L. Evans

BY DAVE FRAZIER, editor Dropped by the bank Tuesday afternoon to make a deposit and saw cookies and punch on a table near the teller windows. “What’s the occasion? I asked. “Veterans Day,” said the teller who had previously purchased a couple copies of my book, DRAFTED! I informed her they were a day early […]

Good Veteran’s Day Or Christmas Gift Idea

DRAFTED! Vietnam at War and at Peace “DRAFTED!” is Dave Frazier’s behind-the-scenes account of the mostly involuntary Army of the 1960’s and his personal quest to make the best of an otherwise unpleasant situation and have fun doing it during the Vietnam War. As a young freelance reporter-photographer, Frazier was drafted into the U.S. Army […]

Firefighters Pay Bieter More Than Peavey-Derr’s Entire Fund Raising

It comes as no surprise that nearly every builder, developer, and engineering firm along with lots of lawyers and realtors have made campaign payments to incumbent Mayor Dave Bieter’s campaign war chest. In the game of politics, you have to pay to play. A post by Randy Stapilus at Ridenbaugh Press reveals Bieter has been […]