Proposing a game of political poker

By Staff Reports

If you love risk-taking, there will be another good reason to brave the bumper-to-bumper congestion going up jam-packed Victoria Avenue, irking the locals and challenging the San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino.
Poker tournaments, just like the ones you see on TV, will be coming to the reservation's grand new Chambers of Chance, says Steve Lengel , executive director of casino operations.

We don't know yet if the stars of big league poker like Doyle Brunson and Chip Reese will be there, but we envision a local showdown that could be telecast over our own favorite channel, ICTN.

Forget playing for cash. The stakes in these games would be much higher. Think political futures.

First match, of course, would be a heads-up contest between tribal Chairman Deron Marquez and San Bernardino City Councilman Neil Derry . The loser would have to shut up.

Then we could have the former Chairman of the Board, Supervisor Dennis Hansberger , and new Chairman Bill Postmus cutting and dealing over who really runs the political game in this county.

The medical staff at Community Hospital of San Bernardino could play the big wigs at Catholic Health Care West.

And we'd love to sit down across from ex-lawman Jim Erwin and county Treasurer Dick Larsen , but we have a feeling that game would be fixed.

Just a tipple on the terrace

Grand Terrace isn't a "dry' town. You don't have to knock on a door and whisper, "Joe sent me,' to get a bottle of hooch. Booze can be purchased legally at several places in this city of about 12,000.

As of June 30, there were four on-sale and eight off-sale establishments in the city licensed to sell alcoholic beverages. Only three of the off-sale stores could sell distilled spirits the hard stuff; the rest were limited to beer and wine, according to Tim Clark , district manager of the Riverside office of the state's Alcoholic Beverage Control.

For the uninitiated in the ways of the alcohol jungle, off-sale is where you buy a bottle and take it home. On-sale is where you buy the stuff by the glass and consume it on the premises. Those are the people the CHP keeps its eyes open for.

Back in Grand Terrace, if you want to belly up and have the mixologist pour you a cocktail a martini say there's only one place it's legal. At the other three on-sale establishments, you'll have to be satisfied with a beer or perhaps a glass of chardonnay.

And the on- and off-sale numbers are unlikely to change. Just last week the City Council voted to deny a hard-liquor sales license to Grand Terrace Market, though beer and wine can already be purchased there.

Before the vote, the council members shook their heads in dismay. At least one fretted over the moral character of the city and cautioned against having too many liquor merchants in town.

The Market needed a letter of necessity to the ABC from the council, claiming hardship before the license could be granted.

Is hard liquor a necessity or is its lack a hardship?

"I have to wonder about that. I do,' said Grand Terrace Mayor Maryetta Ferre . "As a former schoolteacher, I really have to wonder.'

They're gunning for the truth

Redlands Sunrise Rotarians can be an ornery bunch, even more so in recent weeks.

We hear the civic-minded group is angry at The Sun for reporting about a speech given to the group by county District Attorney Michael A. Ramos in which he told about 40 of them that he was pressured by someone influential to back off the stolen guns investigation of ex-Sheriff Floyd Tidwell .

The group is also perturbed that one of its members tipped off the newspaper to Ramos' speech in the first place.

Mostly though, we hear the Rotarians are incensed that Ramos denies saying what they all heard.

But as they get ready to honor Rotary International's centennial celebration on Feb. 23, some are taking solace because they believe the group's four basic principles have been upheld.

Is it the TRUTH? Check

Is it FAIR to all concerned? Check

Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? Well, if you believe the truth will set you free, check.

Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned? Well, in retrospect, getting the news out might not have been beneficial to Ramos. But everyone else, check .

...but your face is familiar

Change is hard. Yucaipa Mayor Dick Riddell needs to get used to the fact that his good friend Diane Smith is no longer on the City Council.

Smith, who was the mayor's ally, decided not to seek another term in November. Riddell focused on Denise Hoyt as an ideal replacement and Hoyt won a seat partially on the strength of Riddell's support.

Maybe Riddell campaigned so hard for Hoyt because he sees her as a Smith clone. He keeps calling her "Diane.'

Hoyt politely accepted her new moniker for a couple of weeks until Councilman Bob Lampi finally said something. Hoyt then turned her name plate to Riddell so he could get a better look.

"I'm a slow one,' the embarrassed mayor confessed.

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