Published: July 09, 2008 05:10 pm            

It couldn't happen here

U.S. Forest Service officials say Micah and Ross Curtis saved their own homes as well as those of several tenants from wildfires burning near Big Sur, Calif. They organized family and neighbors to clear fire breaks around 55 acres of property the family owns. They pumped water out of swimming pools to douse the flames, and when all else failed, they lit several backfires to channel the flames away from the buildings. Firefighters say they couldn’t have done it better themselves. They also say the brothers’ efforts not only saved their homes but a small village below them. But they also say that lighting those backfires was illegal. State officials have arrested Ross Curtis for starting the backfires that saved all those homes and businesses. Micah Curtis notes that they got no help from firefighters. “They have some computer program that says our place is undefendable,” he said.

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According to an Arizona newspaper, race track owner Jeremy “Jerry” Simms has admitted to bribing a California coastal commissioner and has loaned large sums of money to a “mob frontman.” Maybe that’s why the state Department of Racing is investigating him. Fortunately for Simms, he knows Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio. He complained to Arpaio, and the sheriff’s office has opened an investigation of the racing department for investigating Simms. Arpaio says he is not giving Simms special treatment because he has been a campaign contributor. Simms isn’t talking, but his attorney says he asked Arpaio to investigate the racing commission only because two agencies refused his requests. Newspapers report records show the state Auditor’s General Office and the Department of Administration found no grounds for investigation. Sheriff Joe claims to be America’s toughest sheriff. I don’t know about that, but he sure keeps some interesting company.

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How would you like a contract that allows you to take almost half your time off and still get paid? Well, apparently you need to get a job as a school superintendent. The Clayton County school system pays superintendent John W. Thompson $285,000 a year plus a $2,000 a month housing stipend plus a $28,500 annuity. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Thompson’s contract calls for 240 working days over its 14-month life. That’s pretty sweet. By my count, most of us would have about 280 working days in a 14-month period. But it gets better, much better. The contract allows Thompson to spend up to 107 of those 240 working days — 45 percent — on vacation, on holiday or doing outside consulting work. Oh, and those days off don’t count any time he might take off for professional or educational conferences. Thompson’s lawyer told the AJC that the contract is typical for an experienced superintendent.

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When Becky Clark Cornwell found some neighbors were circulating a petition to get the city of Parker, Colo., to annex their neighborhood, she did some research and decided her taxes would go up and the services she got wouldn’t improve. So she and her husband put up a couple of signs in their yard opposing the annexation. Some neighbors asked for signs, and soon there was an active movement to oppose the annexation. That’s when two other neighbors, who supported the annexation, filed suit against Cornwell, her husband and their allies. They said they broke state campaign finance laws by not registering with the state. Cornwell says she didn’t think they needed to register since there was no actual election at stake. She went ahead and spent the $1,412 needed to register, but that apparently didn’t stop the lawsuit. Somehow I overlooked that part of the First Amendment protecting free speech only for those with government approval.



Charles Oliver is a staff writer for The Daily Citizen.

        

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