Idaho News (Boise, Wilder, Dubois: tax, live in, pit bull)

[Syringaloid]

The Navy's 'Area 51' in North Idaho | Cobweb | Boise Weekly

The Navy's 'Area 51' in North Idaho

Posted By Zach Hagadone on Mon, Jun 16, 2014 at 2:29 PM


http://www.boiseweekly.com/imager/b/...?cb=1402948907

An advanced electric ship design for the Zumwalt class of destroyers at a remote military testing station in the Greenland fjords... er... North Idaho. - U.S. NAVY

Somewhere in the remote north of a rural Western state, military engineers work to develop the next generation of submarines and high-tech sea craft. Located on the edge of a cold, deep mountain lake, the base doesn't look like much from the outside; locals in the surrounding small fishing village know that something "top secret" goes on there, but they don't ask too many questions.

[mistyriver]

Trib: Idaho Finally Hits Bottom - Huckleberries Online - Spokesman.com - June 16, 2014

[banjomike]

Originally Posted by mistyriver

Trib: Idaho Finally Hits Bottom - Huckleberries Online - Spokesman.com - June 16, 2014

True, but I have to stand up for Gov. Batt. He was a strong and effective defender of public education gong into office and was just as strong when he left after serving one term. I was only one of hundreds of folks who urged him to run for another term, and I'm still sorry he did not.

Governors Andrus and Batt were the finest of opponents and the finest Governors Idaho ever had in the last half of the 20th century. And they remain real gentlemen to this day. I'm glad I had the opportunity to vote for them both. Both were dedicated to a quality free education for all Idaho children.

[Cnynrat]

I didn't have to search too hard to find this: Idaho Reporter: Idaho Education High for Academic Achievement, Low on K-12 Per Pupil Spending

"A new report from the United States Census Bureau indicates that Idaho is ranked near the bottom among the states when it comes to spending on public education. Yet the same Census Bureau report and an education journal from Harvard University indicate that Idaho is among the top 20 states in the nation when it comes to academic achievement."

I suspect strong families and involved parents are a big part of the reason for the good results.

[mistyriver]

[MOD CUT]

I've had two kids in Idaho schools and am definitely not impressed. When the school can't afford text books for each student to take home and do their homework from, funding somewhere needs to be addressed? How many kids have you had in school here?

http://www.usnews.com/education/best...hools-rankings

[Cnynrat]

Originally Posted by mistyriver

How States Compare in the 2014 Best High Schools Rankings - US News

I note that even in this study Idaho ranks 37th, which obviously leaves plenty of room for improvement, but isn't nearly as bad as "last in the country."

Here's another report that has Idaho ranked at 32nd based on test score results.

I'm sure we both agree that a strong K-12 education system is critical to the future success of Idaho's children and the future economic health of Idaho. I don't think dollars spent, by itself, is an important measure of the quality of the education system, especially not when it is the sole or primary factor that is considered. Consider this: I would not expect to have to pay a good teacher the same salary in Boise as I would in San Jose simply because the cost of living is so much higher in San Jose.

Now, if it is common that kids don't have textbooks to bring home, that's an issue. I don't hear that from people I know who have kids in the Sagle school system.


Dave

[LionFamily]

There's a battle brewing in Bonner County over water. If you're interested:

Events - Lake Pend Oreille Alliance

[banjomike]

Originally Posted by Syringaloid

The Navy's 'Area 51' in North Idaho | Cobweb | Boise Weekly

The Navy's 'Area 51' in North Idaho

Posted By Zach Hagadone on Mon, Jun 16, 2014 at 2:29 PM


http://www.boiseweekly.com/imager/b/...?cb=1402948907

An advanced electric ship design for the Zumwalt class of destroyers at a remote military testing station in the Greenland fjords... er... North Idaho. - U.S. NAVY

The first nuclear submarine ever built only sailed the waters of the Arco desert.
A full prototype of the Nautilus, the first nuclear sub, was built within the boundaries of the Arco Naval Gunnery range, a reserve in the desert that was used to test the Navy's huge 16" guns, the largest ever used on U.S. battleships.
The guns were cast and constructed in Pocatello, then were transported by rail into the wilds of the range, where they shot 3,000 pound shells as far as 20 miles downrange.
Pocatello was selected as the construction site because it is a rail junction that was well inland, making it safe from Japanese bombers. The big guns were shipped after testing to the San Francisco ship yards, which built all the last of the great American battleships. The guns were used later in all the major naval assaults that followed in the Pacific, and the factory was a secret that was guarded so closely that it was second only to the Manhattan Project in New Mexico. Sabotage was the greatest fear in 1941-42.

The naval gun range was the first land to become the Atomic Energy Commission's dedicated nuclear reactor development and testing lab, which is now the INL.

The sub was used for a 'military' mission only once; the reactor was connected to the small town of Arco's electric grid to test it's capacity. Arco was the first city in the nation to have nuclear powered electricity. The small reactor was the very first to prove nuclear generated electricity was practical and reliable.

The sub went on to train Naval nuclear division officers and engineering crews for the next 50 years before it was finally de-commissioned in 1996. President Carter trained there as an Ensign.

The Navy also had a recruit training camp in N. Idaho that lay on the shores of one of the lakes. I can't remember much about it, but my uncle, who joined the Navy in WWII, trained there, much to his disappointment. He wanted to go to the training center in San Diego, as he had never been to California.

[Sage of Sagle]

Originally Posted by Cnynrat

I note that even in this study Idaho ranks 37th, which obviously leaves plenty of room for improvement, but isn't nearly as bad as "last in the country."

Here's another report that has Idaho ranked at 32nd based on test score results.

I'm sure we both agree that a strong K-12 education system is critical to the future success of Idaho's children and the future economic health of Idaho. I don't think dollars spent, by itself, is an important measure of the quality of the education system, especially not when it is the sole or primary factor that is considered. Consider this: I would not expect to have to pay a good teacher the same salary in Boise as I would in San Jose simply because the cost of living is so much higher in San Jose.

Now, if it is common that kids don't have textbooks to bring home, that's an issue. I don't hear that from people I know who have kids in the Sagle school system.


Dave

That's enough discussion on this subject. Y'all have shared your views. Let's keep comments short and immediately relevant to the news topic you are posting, without creating debate over what each other is posting or challenging each other on each item posted since I'm generally giving you all pretty broad leeway here for Idaho-related headline links (unless one of you starts quoting from the National Enquirer). This is not a political/social commentary thread. So news postings should NOT be "opinion/editorial" pieces that are likely to wind up in the P&OC forum.

Just a friendly reminder.

[Syringaloid]

Not surprised at all with their choice for the most liberal city in Idaho. Makes perfect sense.
Most conservative? Bloomington.


Business Insider Map: Most Liberal & Conservative Towns by State | BostInno




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