The other story that caught my eye involved the DUI stop in Coeur d'Alene over the weekend of Lake City High football coach Van Troxel. I won't take space here to repeat the story. But what really caught my attention was Troxel's willingness to talk to the newspaper. His frank response to our questions really gives the story balance, assuredly helps his crisis management efforts and paves the way for the eventual story that clears him of wrongdoing. How much better than shutting the door in the face of reporters and leaving the community to stew for two or three weeks. If it happens that he was driving impaired, his bold denials may come back to haunt him. But I think you have to admire a person who says he submitted to all test requests because he knows they'll clear his name -- Editor Steve Smith/News Is A Conversation.
Question: Do you agree that Van Troxel helped his case with the jury of public opinion by talking to The Spokesman-Review?
D.F. Oliveria started Huckleberries Online on Feb. 16, 2004. Oliveria's Sunday print Huckleberries is a past winner of the national Herb Caen Memorial Column contest.
Troxel. I won't take space here to repeat the story. But what really caught my attention was Troxel's willingness to talk to the newspaper. His frank response to our questions really gives the story balance, assuredly helps his crisis management efforts and paves the way for the eventual story that clears him of wrongdoing. How much better than shutting the door in the face of reporters and leaving the community to stew for two or three weeks. If it happens that he was driving impaired, his bold denials may come back to haunt him. But I think you have to admire a person who says he submitted to all test requests because he knows they'll clear his name -- Editor Steve Smith/News Is A Conversation.
