Magazine's ProClarity prediction rings true • Former Bonner County deputy getting heat for false claims • Wonks having a heyday with Palin • Schweitzer says let it snow (when we want it to) • Police chief transitions from the highway to the city • Seeing double and triple in Chubbuck

Magazine's ProClarity prediction rings true

Following up on some of the companies that made its list of the Top 100 Emerging Companies to Watch in 2001, ComputerWorld magazine takes a look at Boise business intelligence software vendor ProClarity.

The magazine says the company has seen 150% revenue growth and has doubled its head count in the past year.

ProClarity designs its products exclusively for Microsoft Corp.

"(ProClarity) is pretty well positioned and has good name recognition because it's closely linked with Microsoft," says Dan Vesset, an analyst at IDC in Framingham, Mass.

ProClarity now has more than 250 corporate customers and 30 independent software vendor partners.

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Former Bonner County deputy getting heat for false claims

A former Bonner County Sheriff's marine patrol deputy is facing federal charges in two states for faking a disability and obtaining more than $1 million in Veterans Administration benefits.

The Bonner County Daily Bee reports James Sebero is charged with 55 counts of wire fraud in Idaho and three counts of making false statements in Washington concerning his disability.

During a VA compensation and pension examination last year, Sebero falsely stated he was paraplegic, unemployed and had lost his interest in flying since his discharge from the military.

At the time, Sebero was actually a licensed pilot who owned and operated an excavation company and an aircraft maintenance facility.

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Wonks having a heyday with Palin

Of Idaho native and Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin, a National Review columnist says, "The big hair, the big family, the hunting rifle, the degree from the University of Idaho, the husband who does commercial fishing and races snowmobiles — all these things tell the urban liberal elite that she's not one of them."

Palin, born in Sandpoint, got a journalism degree from the University of Idaho before going on to work in television in Alaska.

"The sneers may amuse fans of Keith Olbermann and the Daily Show," says the columnist, "but they might not go over well with … you know, the kind of people who cling to guns and religion."

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Schweitzer says let it snow (when we want it to)

Schweitzer Mountain Resort has invested in a $1.4 million snow-making machine to try and guarantee an earlier start to the 2008-2009 ski season.

Crews at the northern Idaho resort are racing to finish an automated snow-making system that they hope will cover a 1,000-feet long and 300-feet wide area on one of the resort's slopes.

Jennifer Ekstrom, the resort's spokeswoman, says having a more predictable opening can make Schweitzer stand out in the region.

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Police chief transitions from the highway to the city

The Coeur d'Alene Press profiles Coeur d'Alene Police Chief Wayne Longo who was Idaho State Patrol regional patrol commander during the Groene murders and was one of the unified commanders during the investigation.

After 33 years with the ISP, making the switch to the Coeur d'Alene police over the last year has been "rejuvenating," Longo said.

On hearing the Duncan jury's verdict, Longo said, at least there will be some closure.

"Closure's not the right word," he added. "But, at least some justice was done."

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Seeing double and triple in Chubbuck

Chubbuck Elementary School has 14 sets of twins and two sets of triplets. Four staff members have twins of their own.

"We're close to having a multiple in every classroom," Principal Jann Herdt told the Idaho State Journal.

Fortunately for teachers, since the new school year just started last week, the students are still wearing name tags.