Tourism
Horse Race Slots Face Constitutional Challenge
The bid by a group to “preserve the horse racing industry” may be galloping toward a constitutional challenge that is anything but a sure bet. Despite legislation that says otherwise, there is a valid argument over the definition of what constitutes a SLOT MACHINE or CASINO GAMBLING–both specifically prohibited under the Idaho Constitution. Ada County […]
Ada Commishes Need To Rein In Racing Slots
The latest euphemism for SLOT MACHINE GAMBLING is a proposal to install hundreds of slot machines at Les Bois Park’s Turf Club under the guise of “Historical Horse Racing.” It may be a “sure bet,” but not for the sucker who thinks he can outsmart a computer game based on a previously run horse race. […]
Up And Down With BOI
First we get news the Boise airport is ranked #7 in a poll of some sort by a travel magazine. On time departures seemed to be the reason for the national ranking. GOOD NEWS! Then, the same day we hear the airport is turned down for a $700,000 grant from the Feds to get flights […]
Ada To Eagle Mayor: “Cease And Desist” At Park
Ada County Commishes have sent a “cease and desist” letter to Eagle Mayor Jim Reynolds over commercial use of Ada land leased to Eagle City for the purposes of a a public park. The latest wrinkle is excavation being conducted at the site off Old Horseshoe Bend Road for a commercial bike “flow trail” activity […]
There’s GOLD In The Boise River
There’s gold in the Boise River! Well, maybe not gold, but plenty of cash. Folks paid about $450,000 dollars to float in a raft or inner tube from Barber Park To Julia Davis this summer–not bad for about 90 days. The season ends at the end of the Labor Day Weekend. The river float gets […]
Eagle Council Approves Snow Park
Eagle’s City Council approved a deal Tuesday that could put a commercial snowboard concession on land the city leases from Ada County off Horseshoe Bend Road. It relies on snowmaking technology. According to Idaho Statesman coverage, the city’s 15-year contract with Ryan Neptune is a concession agreement comparable to the agreement the city of Boise […]
Eagle Offers Ada Land To Theme Park Promoter
In yet another “cart before the horse” project of a local city, Eagle is set to consider an offer Tuesday from a developer to approve a commercial summer/winter theme park on land owned by Ada County–before getting permission from the Ada Commishes. Ryan Neptune, an officer of Gateway Parks has told the Eagle City Council […]
Boise Seeks $700,000 ObamaFare For Airlines
Boise cheerleaders are at it once again, dumping public money into a sales pitch for a corporate welfare plan under the delusion business will flock to the City of Trees if you pay them enough. This time the idea is pay airlines–with federal matching funds–to fly routes that are otherwise not profitable in a free […]
Fire Threatens Sawtooth Hatchery
Idaho Fish and Game employees and local firefighters fended off a wildfire in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area Monday evening which threatened the F&G salmon hatchery. The fire started Monday afternoon about a mile north of the Sawtooth Fish Hatchery near Stanley. As the fire approached the staff dormitory, hatchery crews and firefighters mobilized to […]
GBAD Violates Rules, Installs State Dem Party Official
The Greater Boise Auditorium District had its first meeting Monday with the newly elected board members and promptly solidified its Democrat leaning by hiring Susan Eastlake, the Idaho Dem party treasurer to act as secretary/treasurer for the District. The GBAD legal counsel told the board he felt the GBAD bylaw was in conflict with state […]
Spain/France Visit Enrich Life’s Experiences
A day job trip and summer vacation with Mrs. GUARDIAN is the reason we have offered so little to our readers the past few weeks. By way of apology, here is an expanded post with “my vacation” photos. It was 14 years ago when Oxford University law student Davina came to America and spent a […]
Iron Man Good For Some Businesses, Traffic Nightmare
Several tales of “you can’t get there from here” over road closures due to the Iron Man event Saturday have reached the GUARDIAN. We would like to hear your take on it. Anything from delayed trips to the market, increased business at your restaurant or hotel, to cost for coppers. Who benefits, who suffers? Are […]
Does Anyone Care About Voter Apathy?
Top winners in the Tuesday GBAD election captured about 1.5% of the registered votes. Not only were most voters in Ada County asleep when the Greater Boise Auditorium District (GBAD) votes were tallied last night, they napped rather than vote at all. Only 9,457 of the registered 175,849 voters (5%) bothered to exercise their right […]
Balance GBAD Board To Prevent A Strong Majority
The GUARDIAN has had numerous inquiries of “Who should I vote for in the GBAD election?” The big issue is what to do with a $13 million nest egg from the hotel room tax burning a hole in the collective pocket of the candidates. Some want a publicly funded baseball park. Others want a bigger […]
Do We Really Need GBAD?
The Greater Boise Auditorium District has $13,000,000 burning a hole in its collective pocket–garnered from a hotel room tax on visitors to the City of Trees. With the May 21 board election approaching, candidates are lining up with ideas on how to spend the cash. Perhaps we need a group dedicated to to doing nothing. […]
Unlimited Fish at Little Camas
Idaho Fish and Game on Monday issued a salvage order for the Little Camas Reservoir in Elmore County. The reservoir will likely be drained by early summer for irrigation. Because the game fish in the reservoir likely will be lost, and past efforts at salvaging fish have been futile, Fish and Game would like the […]
Sun Valley Junket MAY be Public Meeting
A Chamber of Commerce-sponsored junket to Sun Valley April 21-23 for Boise Valley politicos has the potential of creating a challenge to Idaho’s Open Meeting law and opening the private conference to all comers. The GUARDIAN has learned a quorum of Boise’s City Councilors–four members–have filed with the clerk to receive $885 in tax money […]
Boise City Travel Expenses Soar 27%
The Daily Paper posted a story today which said an internal audit caught some small issues regarding department travel. Most of the things mentioned by auditor Steve Rehn dealt with late reports and lack of receipts. The big issue that jumped out at the GUARDIAN was a single year jump from $471,300 for travel in […]
Proud Of Bronco Fans And Boise
BY DAVID R. FRAZIER, editor Back in 1965 when I flunked out of Michigan State it was particularly traumatic because I was unable to take the much touted CO-ED Canoeing class. I ended up in Vietnam and three years later came to Boise to start a new life working for the DAILY PAPER. Over the […]
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