Does Tyana Kelley Think Gov. Gregoire is Insensitive?

Democratic 9th Legislative District State Representative candidate Tyana Kelley wrote on her blog:

The Republican candidates were out in force at both parades. Each candidate had their own vehicle: either a gas-guzzling truck, or car with an equally big engine. In Albion we were put in the line to walk right in between all these vehicles. It was a bit intimidating. My opponent, Joe Schmick, had the biggest truck, a Ford F-350. With gas at $4.50/gallon, it seemed a bit insensitive.

Huh.

I wonder what Tyana thought of Governor Gregoire's Lentil Festival Grand Parade ride, a Ford Mustang convertible (EPA estimated gas mileage 15 MPG city/23 MPG highway with 4.6L engine and manual transmission)? I think that counts as a "gas guzzling car with an equally big engine."

I seriously doubt the Governor has had to gas up since she signed the 9.5 cent gas tax hike into law 3 years ago. She doesn't feel the same pain at the pump that Washington's working families do.

Democrats Push for End of Free Speech

To welcome Michelle Obama to Seattle yesterday, the Washington State Republican Party produced this video of Washingtonians stating how they were proud of their country (since Mamaobama stated earlier this year that she was proud of her country for the first time.)



Queen Christine called the video a part of "shameful attacks" by the Republican Party and demanded that Dino Rossi denounce them. The Obama campaign referred to the video as part of a campaign of "false and mean-spirited attacks."

Huh? How is expressing love of your country "shameful" or "mean-spirited?" These people are aware of Daily Kos, Democratic Underground, and Move on.org, right? Pretty tame by comparison to what goes on there day after day. Heck, down in Moonbat Central, San Franciscans are going to vote this fall whether to name a sewage plant after the President of the United States as a demonstration of their contempt for him (and the office.)

So Michelle Obama makes herself a public figure by campaigning for her husband, and nothing she says on his behalf can be refuted or criticized?

Yep, thus sayeth the Obamessiah. In an interview published in this month's Glamour magazine, the Obamalord proclaims that, even if the McCain campaign isn't doing it

...but I would say that the apparatus of conservative columnists, blogs and the like. Talk shows, talk radio....When you see in the span of two or three or four weeks essentially the same talking points being used on a whole variety of shows or a whole variety of columns, over and over again....Hillary Clinton was subject to this, others have been subject to this in the past...It is part of our political environment that I'd like to change.

Change the political environment? In what way? Revoking the First Amendment? Thought crimes? Informers? Kangaroo courts? Reeducation camps?

Many Obamaniacs believe that the Dalai Bama is a "enlightened being" not of this world. It's only natural then that heretics and non-believers be purged in an Inquisition.

A cult of personality, a la 1930's Germany. Scary times ahead for the Republic, folks.

Say What?

The Rev. Jesse Jackson and others said they will meet with TV networks, film companies and musicians to discuss the "n-word."

"We want to give our ancestors a present," Jackson said at a news conference. "Dignity over degradation."

Jackson also asked the public not to buy a DVD box set of the seventh season of the TV show "Seinfeld" that was released last week.

- "Jesse Jackson Urges Boycott of 'Seinfeld' DVD Box Set in Wake of 'Kramer's' Racist Rant," November 28, 2006

Civil rights activist Jesse Jackson also spoke on Thursday afternoon outside CBS' offices and called for Imus' firing.

"This is not the first time this has happened on this show," he said, and spoke of previous Imus comments that Jackson characterized as racist and sexist.

"'Three strikes you're out' ought to apply to this position," he said.

- "Newly fired Imus meets with Rutgers players," April 13, 2007

The Rev. Jesse Jackson denounced the rapper's remarks about his desired album title.

"The title using the 'N' word is morally offensive and socially distasteful," Jackson said in a statement. "Nas has the right to degrade and denigrate in the name of free speech, but there is no honor in it.

"Radio and television stations have no obligation to play it and self-respecting people have no obligation to buy it. I wish he would use his talents to lift up and inspire, not degrade, making mockery of racism."

- "Record Label Denies Rap Star Nas' Claim of Forthcoming Album Called 'Nigga'," October 16, 2007

Barack...he's talking down to black people...telling ni**ers how to behave.

- Reverend Jesse Jackson, off-air comments, Fox & Friends Weekend, July 6, 2008

Jesse Jackson is the true face of racism and race-based hypocrisy in this country. He has no place in any kind of civil rights movement anywhere. He is an utter disgrace and a joke. Why he is relevant at all anymore is a mystery to me.

And Fox News is the face of real cowardism in journalism for attempting to cover up the good Reverend's racism. I have lost all respect for them.

Fox News host Bill O'Reilly said:

I’m not in the business of hurting Jesse Jackson — because it does hurt Jesse Jackson — and I’m not in the business of creating some kind of controversy that’s not relevant to the general subject: one civil rights leader disparaging another over policy. So we held it back. Some weasel leaked it to the Internet.

Not relevant???? This man has made a career of destroying other people's careers over use of the "N-word" and it's not relevant?? I'm not a huge Michael Savage fan, but I can't wait to hear him tear into "The Leprechaun" over this.

"City may make PARD pay for another appeal; Attorney, councilman say they'll seek reimbursement of legal fees if group loses case in Supreme Court"

As a Pullman taxpayer, I'm outraged PARD gets a pass on the appellate appeal costs. And the threat to go after PARD if they appeal to the Supreme Court is moot, as there is a 0% chance the Supreme Court will hear the case.

And I love the hypocritical BS from Citizen Hosick. Hosick said "she'd support a decision to drop the case if Wal-Mart officials opted to locate the super center along the Pullman-Moscow Highway instead of Bishop Boulevard." Please. If you remember, the only PARD member to submit a SEPA comment against the Hawkins development in the corridor was, you guessed it, professional kvetcher Hosick. She stated that she "would have liked to maintain the rural feel of the county." Of course, Hosick also thought SEL's new corporate headquarters was an "absolutely awful example of hilltop development, and a prime example of what any city/county development code in this area ought to prohibit." Basically, she's against everything.

From today's Moscow-Pullman Daily News:

City officials are awaiting a decision from the Pullman Alliance for Responsible Development and indicated there could be financial ramifications if the anti-Wal-Mart group takes its case to the state's highest court and loses.

City Attorney Laura McAloon said she'll recommend the city recoup its legal fees if PARD appeals a recent ruling to the Washington Supreme Court. Both the company and city shouldered their share of the costs in PARD's appeal to the Washington District III Court of Appeals, which ruled in favor of Wal-Mart and Pullman on June 3.

She doesn't think the city should be so gracious if PARD decides to pursue another appeal.

"In my opinion, PARD got a pass last time - they got a good deal," she said. "Should they appeal again, Pullman would absolutely pursue their actual costs ... and I'm confident we'd win."

McAloon said the city and Wal-Mart declined to seek reimbursement of legal fees during a December appellate court hearing in Spokane.

McAloon said Wal-Mart's attorney took the lead in the appeal, and the company likely could have recovered a significant amount of money when the three-judge panel sided against PARD. As a relatively silent partner in the process, the city could only have recovered a statutory fee of about $200.

Mayor Glenn Johnson and City Councilman Barney Waldrop said they would need to discuss the issue with McAloon and other city leaders before deciding to seek reimbursement of legal fees if a PARD appeal is heard by the state Supreme Court.

Councilman Keith Bloom isn't as accommodating.

"The actions by this particular group ... have hurt the city financially in the long-term. I think that would be a responsible step on the part of the city. They certainly cost us something," he said, noting that PARD not only cost the city in attorney fees, but also lost sales tax.

Wal-Mart announced plans to build on Bishop Boulevard in October 2004 and a site plan for the store was approved by city Public Works Director Mark Workman. PARD appealed Workman's approval of the store's environmental checklist and site plan, claiming it would negatively affect Pullman's economy, as well as stormwater run-off and traffic.

A hearing examiner determined the site plan and environmental checklist were sufficient, and that ruling was upheld by Whitman County Superior Court Judge David Frazier.

PARD then took its case to the Division III Court of Appeals.

PARD board member Chris Lupke said the group's leaders need more to time to decide whether to continue their legal battle, adding that they'll continue gathering opinions from supporters before any determination is made. PARD has until July 3 to file the necessary paperwork for the case to be heard by the Supreme Court.

"We're getting there, but it's taking longer than we expected," he said. "It's complicated and it involves a lot of people. We're trying to make this democratic ... I think it is important to get a read on the broader constituency that PARD represents before we make a move."

Lupke said PARD executive board members are meeting with the public and sharing the responses amongst themselves in an "informal process."

"I would hesitate to characterize it," he said. "I would just say that we haven't come to a decision yet."

PARD board member Cynthia Hosick hopes a decision is reached sooner rather than later.

"I don't see any point in holding off for a long, long time," she said.

Hosick said she'd support a decision to drop the case if Wal-Mart officials opted to locate the super center along the Pullman-Moscow Highway instead of Bishop Boulevard.

"I don't like Wal-Mart and I don't shop there, but I won't stop anyone else from shopping there," she said. "It would be a lot easier to swallow if they built it in the corridor. I would support that individually.

"Even if that's not an option anymore, I would still like to see the city ask Wal-Mart if they would relocate. It's not likely to happen, but it's worth a shot."

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"WSU, Ecology state their case; Entities ask Washington Pollution Control Hearings Board to stick to water rights ruling"

The silliness continues.

Meanwhile, I understand one of the appellants in this case was recently seen and photographed on the putting green at Palouse Ridge. One thing we never run out of in Pullman is bullshit.

From last Friday's Moscow-Pullman Daily News:

Washington State University and the Washington State Department of Ecology have asked that a panel of judges uphold its recent ruling regarding WSU's water rights, despite conservationists' request for reconsideration.

Sarah Mack, a Seattle-based attorney representing the university, and Washington assistant attorneys general Alan Reichman and Sarah Bendersky have submitted documents requesting that the three-member Washington Pollution Control Hearings Board maintain its April 17 ruling. The board determined that a 2006 ruling by the Department of Ecology allowing WSU to consolidate its water rights did not harm nearby water users tapped in to the Grand Ronde aquifer.

The board also determined there was not enough evidence to prove that the state erred in granting the consolidation, and that an analysis of the declining Grand Ronde aquifer does not need to be pursued at this time.

WSU and Ecology's requests to the board are in response to a motion filed late last month by Rachael Paschal Osborn. The Spokane-based attorney with the Center for Environmental Law and Policy represents the Palouse Water Conservation Network, the Palouse Group Sierra Club and Pullman-area resident Scotty Cornelius. They claim the consolidation will allow WSU to annually pump more than three times as much water as it pumps now.

The group also contends that the university has contributed to the dropping levels in the aquifer and point to the 18-hole Palouse Ridge Golf Club as a project that will create more drawdown of the area's primary water source.

Osborn's motion asked that the panel reconsider a portion of their ruling, and require that an analysis of the aquifer be performed. The analysis would determine how low aquifer levels can drop before the state intervenes. The outcome of the analysis, called a "reasonable and feasible pump lift," could lead the state to limit the amount of water used by major pumpers, or put a freeze on water right applications.

Osborn was given a chance to respond to the defendants' comments, and said she did so Thursday. Once her response is received, the board will take both sides into consideration.

The defendants argue that the appellants are way off base in asking for a reconsideration.

"The appellants' argument is flawed because this case involves applications for water rights changes and does not involve applications for new water rights," Reichman and Bendersky wrote in the state's response. "The quantities of water WSU is authorized to pump has not been increased as a result of the changes. Ecology evaluated whether the consolidation would cause interference or interruption to Mr. Cornelius' availability to use his exempt well for domestic water use and determined that it would not. ... the impairment analysis for changes stops here and there is no requirement for ecology to make a pumping lift analysis in the area."

In her response, Mack points to groundwater code, which says the state has the power to determine whether granting permits will hinder existing rights.

She views the appellants appeal "as a vehicle to force Ecology to promulgate a groundwater regulation that would limit aggregate pumping in the Palouse Basin," she wrote. Most significantly, it "glosses over the fundamental fact - established by their own expert's testimony - that changing the location of WSU's pumping will not injure or damage Mr. Cornelius or any other existing groundwater user."

Mack added that the university has made strides to reduce water use, and "has not only met but significantly exceeded water conservation goals and targets in this region."

Osborn continues to stress that an analysis is needed.

"While we disagree with conclusions regarding impacts of WSU pumping on the Cornelius well, that is not the question we are putting before the Board," she wrote in her final response. "Rather, the trigger for applying the 'reasonable or feasible pump lift' arises from the condition of the (Grand Ronde aquifer), regardless of who is causing that condition."

Osborn expects the board to make a quick decision on the request for reconsideration.

Say What?

Regarding Moscow's experience with Wal-Mart [Pullman Mayor Glenn] Johnson says, "everybody else has co-existed over there." Oh really? K-Mart didn't last long. The Emporium moved into the space that Penny's created when they left and now the Emporium is gone, leaving a major hole in the Palouse Mall (along with other mall vacancies) Winco took K-Mart's space but that did in Tidyman's. Many downtown businesses such as Myklebusts and Ken's Stationery have closed.

- Tri-State owner Gerard Connelly, "HIS VIEW: Mayor's reaction to Wal-Mart naive," Moscow-Pullman Daily News, December 16, 2004

Connelly said sales at the Tri-State in Moscow jumped 43 percent the first year Wal-Mart built its store.

- David Cole, "Experts offer Wal-Mart survival tips; When Clarkston gets a super center, other retailers may need to re-evaluate their methods," Lewiston Tribune, May 6, 2008

Gerard "The Man of a Thousand Faces" Connelly's position on Wal-Mart seems to change with regard to both the audience to whom he is speaking and the proximity of one of his stores to Wal-Mart. It does make for entertaining reading.

I'm wondering, however, why Clarkston needed a forum on Wal-Mart. There's already a Wal-Mart in the L-C Valley, as well as big boxes Costco, Home Depot, K-Mart and ShopKo and mini-box "category killers" Pier One Imports, Famous Footwear, Petco, Eddie Bauer, and Ross.

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"PARD campaign intended to promote local businesses"

Back in Spring semester of 2007, I worked on a project with the PR 313 class at WSU. So did Deirdre Rogers and PARD. This sounds suspiciously like their "project," especially the part about "instructors who will assign Web site creation projects to students as part of their class work."

It's too bad Don Pelton didn't live long enough to refute this hypocritical silliness.

From Saturday's Moscow-Pullman Daily News (annontated with my comments in red):

Stores that sell high fashion aren't limited to the big city.

Nate Schafer, co-owner of Straight Up Fashions, said he likely loses customers who figure designer duds can't be found on the Palouse - let alone in downtown Pullman.

"Because of Pullman's size, people have a mentality that they have to go somewhere else to get something," he said. "There's no place in Spokane, Moscow, or Lewiston-Clarkston that you can get fashions like ours."

The 2-year-old Straight Up Fashions is an example of targeted businesses in the Pullman Alliance for Responsible Development's recently launched "Think Local First" campaign.

PARD member Christopher Lupke said the project is meant to encourage area residents to purchase goods from a small business rather than head to big-box stores like Wal-Mart.

"There's a bit of a trend toward corporatization," said Lupke. "I'm not saying we can eliminate and get away from it ... but what we really hope is that we can protect, enhance and maintain local businesses." [Corporatization. Spoken like a true leftist. I'm sure he had disdain in his voice when he said that.]

Lupke said support for small businesses will keep tax dollars in the community to boost the economy and provide jobs. Small businesses also tend to reduce environmental impacts because they generally contribute to less sprawl, are on public transportation routes and add to a vital community. [Excuse me, Lu Laoshi? Keep tax dollars in the community? Reduce environmental impacts? On public transportation routes? Contribute less to sprawl? That's why on the "Think Local First" website, PARD directs you over to Moscow if you can't find something in Pullman, as is likely, since according to the CLUE study commissioned by the No SuperWalMart group in Moscow, Pullman is underretailed in every category except dining out. In fact, they state that "we don't buy into the silly idea that Pullman and Moscow are at economic war." That's funny, because in Chris Lupke's last Town Crier column, he stated that, "Driving seven miles is not going to save any Pullmanite a penny's worth of gasoline." Not to mention it's not going to help those pesky carbon emissions. I've said before that Moscow is Pullman's automobile sprawl. Forget about the thousands of trips made daily by Pullman residents to shop in Moscow stores. How about the 3,000 or so WSU faculty members who live in Moscow and make 20 mile round trips to work every day? It's not sustainable!!!

Chris also said that the Hawkins development is a bad idea because it will "permanently situate the retail center in and near Moscow, miles from Pullman." Read on, The tortured logic and hypocrisy get worse.]

"I think everyone needs to make this decision for themselves, but the goal is to help people realize the whole picture," he said. ["Everyone needs to make this decision for themselves?" That's obviously why PARD has fought Wal-Mart every step of the way. They want to make the decision for everyone else on where they shop.]

The campaign is outlined on the Web site www.pullman-ard.org/thinklocalfirst, which touts a comprehensive list of area businesses. PARD member T.V. Reed admits there are businesses outside of Pullman promoted on the site, and ShopKo - a national chain - also is listed. [ShopKo??? Well, of course, PARD lists ShopKo, or you couldn't even buy a pair of sneakers in Pullman. But ShopKo? PARD does realize, of course, that by listing ShopKo, they invaldiate many of the arguments they make about Wal-Mart (e.g. big boxes killing Mom-and-Pop stores, proximity to schools, utilization of sweatshop made goods, selling cheap Chinese crap, making Pullman a big-box clone of a thousand other places, etc.) Not to mention the fact that ShopKo violates all the benefits of "locally owned businesses" PARD praises on its "Think Local First" website, such as "a dollar spent in a local business circulates through a community at rate 3-5 times greater than a dollar spent on a mega-retailer that goes mostly to the home office somewhere else." The bullshit here is of Augean proportions.

Noticeably absent from PARD's list are grocery stores, as Pullman has had no "local" grocery store since Jerry Finch retired. And I guess directing folks over to the Moscow Food Co-Op would have been too much hypocrisy even for PARD.]

He said the ultimate goal of the campaign is for people to shop at small, local businesses in Pullman. The next best thing would be to keep their money in the region. [How does "keeping money" in Moscow help us? Those tax dollars are gone forever, headed off to Boise. We in Pullman get absolutely no benefit from shopping in Moscow at all. Better that PARD tell people to shop in Spokane or Clarkston, as at least we may get a tiny return on our sales tax.]

"The reason we called it 'Think Local First' instead of 'Shop Pullman' is because we recognize that not everyone can find what they want in a small town like Pullman," he said.

The campaign also includes free Web site development for businesses who want to increase their customer base. Reed said PARD has coordinated with several WSU instructors who will assign Web site creation projects to students as part of their class work.

WSU students will be the primary targets for the campaign, Reed said. He believes many students are not familiar with vendors in Pullman because they don't frequent areas off-campus. The students - who account for a large percent of Pullman's population - also likely are more familiar with businesses in their hometown, where they may shop during school breaks.

"They're not as aware of what is local and they are by far the most potential market and the least developed market," Reed said.

Fritz Hughes, executive director of the Pullman Chamber of Commerce, applauds PARD's efforts. He said the chamber does have several shop-local campaigns throughout the year and added that PARD's project won't interfere but may in fact help reinforce the idea.

"Anything that promotes shopping locally, the chamber is behind," he said. "Shout it from the rooftops. Anything to get the word out there is good." [Fritz, by the way, has worked tirelessly to bring Wal-Mart to Pullman. He believes, as do the vast majority of Pullman business leaders, that we need a mix of national and local retailers for a healthy economy.]

Schafer also praises PARD's efforts to support local businesses - especially via the Internet.

"Everything is Internet-based. These kids are so computer savvy. Anything you can do Internet-wise is going to be beneficial. It's a huge tool and it's a successful tool," he said. The official Straight Up Fashions Web site will be online soon to provide high fashion to customers worldwide. [Nothing against having web sites for local stores, but that won't solve Pullman's sales leakage problem.]

Leslie O'Dell, owner of At Home Designs, a custom frame shop on Main Street, wasn't aware of PARD's campaign but said shopping locally should be a consumer's first instinct.

"We are the people of the community; that's what people should do," she said. "People should support small business."

Reed isn't surprised some business owners weren't aware of PARD's project. He said the first step of the campaign was to launch the Web site. The next step will include fliers and advertisements, and the group then will gauge the campaign's effectiveness by talking with local business owners.

"It's not centered around the businesses," Reed said. "They're not helping us. We're doing this for them." [That's the one thing in this article I believe. Dale Hammerly and our own April Coggins, both of whom have been attacked publicly by PARD, have their businesses listed (Jerry's Auto Repair is conspicuously missing. Hard feelings still I guess.) There are several other businesses listed whose owners are no fans at all of PARD either. I have a feeling that the list will grow somewhat shorter in the next few weeks.]

O'Dell said she's appreciative of the free advertising, but isn't sure she wants customers to associate her with PARD's longstanding opposition to a proposed Wal-Mart Supercenter in Pullman. She has mixed feelings about the retail giant potentially locating on Bishop Boulevard and doesn't want her business to suffer if customers see her name on a PARD Web site.

"Being listed on that, maybe they'll connect me with that," she said. PARD was formed several years ago to appeal the store's environmental checklist and traffic studies. The appeal still is pending. [I said this in an open letter to TV Reed almost two three years ago. By pushing this Wal-Mart issue so aggressively and by continuing their costly legal appeals when there is no further point, PARD has burned their bridges with the community. Even if this wasn't a anti-Wal-Mart smoke screen (it is) and the "Think Local First" effort was being conducted for the best of reasons, it doesn't matter. PARD has destroyed any political capital they may have once had. They are too hated and too controversial to be effective at doing anything in Pullman.]

Reed said the local campaign is not related to PARD's protest of Wal-Mart locating in Pullman per se, but mirrors efforts nationwide to encourage consumers to buy goods from small businesses in their communities. The time is right to spread the word about the benefits of keeping dollars local. [Per se, that's baloney. This campaign is right out of the Wal-Mart Haters handbook: "Step #6 Present An Alternative"

On their "Think Local First" web site, PARD says, "try a local small business first, if they can't meet your needs, then try a Pullman-based national chain, or a Moscow independent business." Well, I think we all know what non-independent Moscow business they don't want you to go to, and the initials are WM. Come on.

Speaking of the "Think Local First" web site, it is located on the PARD web site. I'm sure they are hoping that people who visit there will look around at the anti-Wal-Mart propaganda elsewhere on the site. It's just a publicity gimmick. If PARD truly had wanted this effort to be separate from their Wal-Mart bashing they would have used a separate domain name. Domain names are very inexpensive to purchase.]

"It's long overdue," Reed said. "I hope the whole community will get behind this." [I'm sure they will TV, just like your "affordable housing" campaign.]

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"Legal arguments linger over Hawkins water sale; Lamar questions whether IDWR will approve extension"

I'm glad someone on the Moscow City Council realizes the hypocrisy that was involved with Moscow obtaining a water right to drill a new well while opposing the Hawkins Companies attempting to do the same thing.

From yesterday's Moscow-Pullman Daily News:

Moscow City Councilman Tom Lamar suspects the Idaho Department of Water Resources may deny the city's application to extend its water service area into Whitman County.

Lamar was the lone council member to vote against accepting Public Works Director Les MacDonald's report about the application at Monday's City Council meeting. The city seeks to provide water for the Hawkins Companies' proposed retail development on the Pullman-Moscow Highway, just across the state line.

"I guess I still haven't acquired any additional comfort in doing that, so I just wanted to state my continued concern for this process," Lamar said.

The city agreed to make "prompt application" to IDWR in a settlement with Hawkins, reached during closed-door mediation in February. MacDonald will send a copy of the application to Hawkins for review before it is sent to IDWR.

City Supervisor Gary Riedner said the city will notify the public when the application is sent to IDWR.

The application requests a modification of the city's service area, which usually is the same as the city's corporate limits. The application states the water will be supplied to Whitman County for use by "a commercial development located immediately adjacent to but outside of the city's corporate limits."

MacDonald said the application would not modify Moscow's water rights in any way other than extending services. It does not ask for additional water rights, surrender any rights or make other changes to current services.

Lamar said after the meeting he has doubts there is room in Idaho law for selling water across state lines. He does not know of any example where it was allowed.

He also is concerned that the request could be seen as water mining, which is illegal in Idaho.

"We're taking water out faster than it's being recharged, and now we're going to sell it as a commodity," he said.

City Attorney Randy Fife said he sees no legal problem with Moscow's request "because the Idaho state code provides a mechanism to deliver water outside of the state, and because IDWR agrees that that is an appropriate mechanism."

Fife said IDWR officials want the city to enter a joint powers agreement with a Washington political entity, likely Whitman County, to extend the water service area.

He said he would prefer the city and county reach an agreement before the application is sent to IDWR.

Mayor Nancy Chaney, who does not support selling water to Hawkins, said there should be more communication between the parties involved in the settlement agreement "to ascertain whether being fast or being thorough is preferable" before the application is submitted.

Councilman Walter Steed reminded the council that Hawkins still would have access to 45 acre-feet of water rights should the application be denied.

"Once this is approved and we are able to physically supply water then they are to abandon those water rights and they will be given back to the state of Washington and not be used," he said.

In other business:

MacDonald reported on the city's preparations for Well No. 10, which is scheduled to be drilled on the west end of A Street in 2009.

The city will apply to IDWR to utilize Well No. 9's existing water right for the new well. The amount of water the city can pump will not be increased, but it will be able to pump from either Well No. 9 or Well No. 10. Riedner said the purpose of Well No. 10 is to provide backup in case Well No. 9 temporarily shuts down.

MacDonald said at an earlier meeting he would prefer to apply for a new water right. Councilman John Weber agreed, and voted against accepting the report on the application.

Weber said after the meeting it seems like a waste of time and money to drill a new well but not obtain a new water right.

Steed and Councilman Wayne Krauss said Moscow should not apply for a new right just after asking Hawkins Companies to relinquish its water rights in exchange for the water sale.

"Walgreens will make home in north Moscow; Motel to come down, drug chain to go up"

More "smart growth" in Moscow. Despite Queen Nancy's objections to chain retail in the corridor ruining our "small town charm," wasting our water, not providing "living wage" jobs, and destroying local businesses that are sustainable and don't "siphon money out of the community," a third major national retailer has located in Moscow on her watch. This time it's Walgreens. Where are the petitions? Where are the angry pony-tailed mobs? The environmentally friendly torches? The non-aggressive pitchforks? Where is the concern for poor locally-owned Hodgin's Drug? Remember B.J., when one store goes in to Moscow, another goes out.

From today's Moscow-Pullman Daily News:

Moscow is a blip on another corporate radar screen.

Walgreens, the nation's largest drug store chain, is coming to Moscow.

The business will locate at 414 N. Main St. The site was the home of an America's Best Value Inn, formerly the Mark IV Motor Inn.

"We have 24 stores in Idaho now. A year ago we had 20 stores there and two years ago only 17," said Carol Hively, Walgreens corporate spokeswoman. "Our expansion in Idaho has been steady and we're looking for locations in areas where we see increasing demand for prescription drugs, either due to a growing or older population."

The motel closed March 1 and the contents were sold. Demolition will begin soon with the appropriate safety precautions taken during the process.

The new Walgreens will have 14,800 square feet of space and parking for 45 vehicles, including three handicap spaces.

Construction is slated to start after the building permits are issued by the city in a few weeks.

The business is tentatively scheduled to open in the summer of 2009, but "that's just an approximation, so the opening could move up to spring or even back to fall, depending on a number of factors, including weather," Hively said.

Walgreens is a full-line drug store with more than 25,000 items.

The store will feature one-hour and digital photo services and a drive-thru pharmacy window.

Patients will have several options to refill medications including touch-tone service. Touch-tone allows a patient to enter a prescription number and request a time for a refill without having to speak directly to pharmacy staff. Patients may also arrange for automated refills and receive e-mail reminders of refill status.

The cosmetics department will have full-time beauty advisors to help customers.

The Illinois-based Walgreens had $53.8 billion in sales during fiscal year 2007. The company operates more than 6,200 stores throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. On average, a Walgreens store will have $8.9 million in annual sales.

The Moscow store will employ about 25 people