Huckleberries: Tourism tip omits CdA’s construction disarray

In her article “Idaho one cool destination at one cool price,” Clara Bosonetto of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution touts cheap air rates in getting from Atlanta to Boise ($266 round trip). And said this about Coeur d’Alene: “A 7-hour drive north of Boise is Lake Coeur d’Alene, created by glaciers and today an international resort destination with the town of Coeur d’Alene on its north shore and resorts nestled along 135 miles of shoreline. An ideal region for avid birdwatchers – Lake Coeur d’Alene has the largest nesting population of osprey in the western United States.”

Chamber types are glad she didn’t mention that the southern edge of downtown Coeur d’Alene is torn up this year. Or anything about Aryans.

Paranoia

Coeur d’Alene trustee candidate Tom Hearn was humming a few bars of that old Buffalo Springfield song after listening to discussion by the conservative school board of the suddenly controversial Common Core program. You know: “Paranoia strikes deep/Into your life it will creep/It starts when you’re always afraid/You step out of line, the man come and take you away” … You may know that Zone 4 trustee Ann Seddon was a no-show at the televised candidates forum Tuesday. But did you know who provided the voice offstage to read her prepared opening and closing statements? None other than Wells Fargo banker Jimmy McAndrews, of Hayden. Jimmy would make a good elected official in his own right, if he can be talked into giving up his banker’s hours … Seddon’s challenger, Dave Eubanks, gave the best answer to a question at the trustee forum when asked whether teachers should be armed. Dave replied: “I know too many teachers to answer ‘yes’ to that question.” He added that he thought arming teachers was “a very bad idea.” Bingo.

Huckleberries

Poet’s Corner: “Tulips blooming,/robins singing,/right this minute,/spring is springing” – The Bard of Sherman Avenue (“Breaking News”) … Tweet from S-R City Editor Addy Hatch: “Web feedback form: ‘ “Spokesman” is not a women-friendly name for your site.’ Spokesperson-Review? Spokeshuman?” How about Spokes(wo)man-Review? And hear us roar? … Bumpersnickers on small red clunker parked near North Idaho College on Thursday: “My other ride is made of meat.” And: “God loves you (some rules may apply)” … Again, the League of American Bicyclists ranks Washington No. 1 for being a bike-friendly state. Oregon is No. 3. And Idaho? No. 36 – squeezed between Wyoming (No. 33) and Montana (No. 39). Hey, at least Idaho isn’t last for a change … Yes, the 911 dispatcher did say at 2:28 p.m. Wednesday that a “little pink piggy” was running southbound in the northbound lanes of Highway 41, south of Spirit Lake. She didn’t report whether it was late for market or going weeweewee all the way home … It’s not even May – and your Huckleberry Hound has spotted the Mother of All Plumber’s Cracks (on a guy who was sitting with his gal on the steps of the City Beach seawall Friday afternoon). A buddy nodded toward the half moon and quipped: “Do you have some spackle to fix that crack?”

Parting shot

Vandals should think twice before stealing a political yard sign belonging to Brent Regan. In 2010, the Coeur d’Alene school trustee/inventor built a few tiny, camouflaged cameras with motion sensors for a candidate he supported. Regan’s mini-camera photographed the thief in action as well as his vehicle license number. Regan comments on his Facebook wall: “I mailed the parents a copy of the picture showing junior in action and a brief note. Problem solved.”

Now, Regan has had a yard sign stolen. Sez he: The cameras are “on the charger now.”