Tuesday, May 5, 2009

City of Kuna grants Cowgirls liquor license

Before a standing-room-only crowd, Kuna City Council members Tuesday night approved the city alcohol beverage license for Cowgirls, bringing an end to the popular bar’s weekend prohibition of liquor sales.
After nearly two hours of discussion, City Council members Lisa Bachman and Rich Cardoza voted in favor of approving the license, while council president Jeff Lang voted against it. With council member Trina Stroebel recusing because of a professional relationship with Cowgirls, the motion passed, spurring thunderous applause from the 70 to 80 people in attendance.
The entity drawing the most consternation Tuesday night turned out to the state Alcohol Beverage Control, which city officials complained proved to be uncooperative, unresponsive and disorganized in their handling of the Cowgirls license.
“I am flabbergasted by the lack of coordination that ABC has had with us,” Cardoza complained. “We are trying to make a decision on a local business that brings people into this city, the brings money into this city, that employs people in this city, and we have this lackadaisical attitude from ABC. … It’s difficult to sit up here and make a decision and judge someone based on hearsay.”
In the end, Bachman and Cardoza seemed to base their decision on the state liquor license. In essence, as goes the state liquor license, so goes the city liquor license.

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Kuna Melba News wins seven awards at Idaho Press Club awards ceremony

The Kuna Melba News won seven awards tonight at the annual Idaho Press Club awards ceremony, including three first place winners, two second places, a third place and an honorable mention.
Here are the winners:
1st: Best series for "Will Best Bath smell?" a three-part series on the potential impact of Best Bath in Kuna.
1st: Best sports feature for "Thousands donate toward Kuna's first wheelchair racer," a story about Matt LaManna, who has cerebral palsy and received a racing wheelchair through donations from the community.
1st: Best religion feature for "Grieving and healing at Kuna First Baptist Church," a story about the passing of Julie Piper, the simultaneous building of the new Kuna Baptist Church and the journey of the Rev. Scott Piper, who is now raising their seven girls with the help of the community.
2nd: Web site general excellence for www.kunamelba.com.
2nd: Business reporting for "Pazzles gets shot on national stage," for a story about Kuna's Pazzles' appearance on the Home Shopping Network.
3rd: Watchdog/investigative for "What is the tax impact of a big-box store?" which uncovered that the city of Kuna likely would reap only about $15,000 in added tax revenue from a big-box store.
Honorable mention: Business reporting for "Indian Creek named Winery of the Year," for a story about the history of Kuna's Indian Creek Winery and how the business is now being passed on to the second generation.