Prosecutors Desk 1-9-11

This past December 31 marked the last day of employment for Esther Hillbrant.  She retired after many years of service to Stevens County in various offices. The last 20 years or so were in the Prosecutor’s office.  She was always ready to help in any way she could and was always of a cheerful heart and manner.  She has many friends here in the courthouse and we all wish her the best.   We will miss her.

Over the holidays I traveled to California to visit with my family and enjoy a bit milder weather.  The weather did not cooperate with my visit, but it was good to visit with my family and spend a little time with them.  Through a series of circumstances, I ended up diving back to Washington with my brother.  It had been many years since I had driven the route and it was a good chance for my brother and I to visit as we traveled.

During one of the stops we made for fuel, (in an unnamed state immediately south of Washington) I went into the station while the fuel was being pumped.  I noticed a product there which was a mixed alcoholic drink in a foil pouch.  I had not seen mixed drinks sold this way before and looked at the package.   In the advertising on the package I was surprised to find the following; Enjoy at home or on the go!   I was surprised to see advertising on an alcoholic beverage that encouraged drinking while driving.  Seems to me this sends the wrong message.

The County Commissioners have been hammering out the details of the budget for next year.  This has been a long and difficult process again and there are many things that could work together to make all that has been done useless.  There are huge questions which the Legislature will answer in the next 120 days that will effect the education, justice and entitlement programs in our state.  The only thing our Commissioners can do is make the best decisions they can and hope that some of the more pessimistic projects are wrong.  There are some indicators that seem promising, but only time will say what is coming.

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