Huckleberries hears ... That former Idaho House Speaker Lawerence Denney, pictured, will be the speaker at the annual Lincoln Day Dinner of the Kootenai County Republicans. There was a rumor that local Republicans were trying to get U.S. Sen. Rand Paul as the speaker for the March 8 event. The Powers That Be had remained mum about the possible speaker long after confirming Denney to handle the speaking duties. Mebbe the PTB didn't want a repeat of last year's snafu, when "Sheriff (Richard) Mack" was invited/disinvited & finally invited during a whirlwind of special votes, parliamentary maneuvering and even a proxy vote challenge that found its way into a Coeur d'Alene police report. The news should be out Tuesday.

Question: Are you impressed that former House Speaker Lawerence Denney, R-Midvale, is the Lincoln Day speaker for the Kootenai County Republicans, after losing his job to Rep. Scott Bedke, R-Oakley, in early December?