Good Neighbor Day?

Wanda Baucus, the wife of Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT), "has been charged with assaulting another woman" after a 4/20 dispute over mulch at a DC garden center. On 4/21, a DC Superior Court Judge "released" Wanda Baucus "on her own recognizance and ordered her to stay away from the victim and the garden center." DC Metro's Joe Gentile: "It's not exactly clear what happened, but at some point it appears Ms. Baucus was loading bags of mulch in her vehicle." Gentile "added that in the process of loading the mulch at Johnson's Garden Center," Wanda "placed a bag of mulch in the path of another woman's car. The other woman's car was then blocked and she was unable to back out." Gentile "said words were exchanged, and then Wanda Baucus allegedly assaulted the other woman." The woman "suffered bruises to the face and scratches on her shoulder, Gentile said."

Wanda's atty "said she did not hit the other woman." Atty David Schertler: "I can't tell you about the incident in detail, but I do feel it is much ado about nothing. ... There is no basis for a criminal charge. I don't believe a crime was committed" (Monoson/Farrell, Billings Gazette, 4/22).

"Reliable Source" reports that prior to "obtaining an arrest warrant, a police officer" talked to alleged victim Tierney Barron "and three people who saw the incident in the parking lot" (Leiby, Washington Post, 4/22). Sources said Wanda "was upset because another customer was getting help with mulch ahead of her." It was reported that she "drove from the scene, and returned a while later with her husband. That is when she talked to police about the incident" (NBC4.com, 4/21).

Sen. Baucus, in a statement: "We are trying to sort it out, going through the proper channels. ... I stand by her 110 percent" (AP, 4/22).

Meanwhile, "Heard on the Hill" reports that Baucus' office issued a press release 4/19 noting he and Sen. Conrad Burns (R-MT) "had introduced a resolution that would designate" 9/26 as "National Good Neighbor Day" (Bresnahan, Roll Call, 4/22).

On a side note: I got GMail and so can you if you have a blogger account! No it is not a myth or joke.