Parting Shot -- 2.17.17
The Parting Shot today shows President Donald Trump walking with his grandchildren to Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House. Trump is going to South Carolina and then onto Florida.
FRIDAY, FEB. 17, 2017
TGIF Wild Card -- 2.17.17 106
I'm tired today because I stayed up later than usual last night/this morning watching 46 minutes of the 76-minute press conference held Thursday by President Donald Trump. I plan to watch the rest today. I can't figure out if Trump is totally unqualified for the...
PM Scanner Traffic -- 2.17.17
Scanner Traffic for Friday PM (13 items & counting + link to AM Scanner Traffic with 16 more items) ...
Bard's book flying off shelf
Washington poet laureate Tod Marshall tells Huckleberries that he has ordered a second run of "The Bard of Sherman Avenue: Poems of Tom Wobker" because they're selling fast. The Well-Read Moose is almost out of them. So I need to run a supply of 20…
Cutline Contest -- time2vote 9
The Cutline Contest today features Robert John Burck, better known as the Naked Cowboy, and Elvis impersonator Jay Allan performing outside the New York Public Library. Thursday Winners (tie) -- HFHayden & TwoZeroEight.
Jeers: Crapo, Risch try to hide facts 5
In his weekly Cheers & Jeers column, Opinion Editor Marty Trillhaase of the Lewiston Tribune gives JEERS to U.S. Sens. Mike Crapo and Jim Risch, both R-Idaho. Why? they refused to tell how many calls they fielded from constituents who were unhappy with the nomination and later confirmation of Betsy DeVos as Education secretary.
Phaedrus: Bury me in an Etch-A-Sketch 20
Responding to that Huckleberries Past re: Forest Cemetery, Phaedrus says that he wants his cremated remains to be put in an Etch-A-Sketch "so my granddaughter can play with grandpa." Question: How do you want to be disposed of?"
Refugee resolution meets resistance 1
An Idaho Democratic lawmaker's resolution honoring immigrants and refugees faced opposition from a legislative panel after Republican members questioned the timeliness of such praise. Rep. Hy Kloc, of Boise, says his resolution introduced Thursday is intended to recognize the ongoing contributions of immigrants and refugees in Idaho.
Brannon addresses Reagan Republicans
Kootenai County Clerk Jim Brannon makes a point during his speech Thursday to the Reagan Republicans at Fedora restaurant. Brannon introduced his new chief deputy clerk, Jennifer Locke, to the gathering.
Stapilus: Can you hear me now?
In his latest Ridenbaugh Press column, Randy Stapilus notes a comment by William L. Spence/Lewiston Tribune that many times he has covered meetings in which a committee votes opposite of overwhelming public testimony. Back in the day, Stapilus said, legislative committees didn't behave like that.
Double-lane roundabout coming soon 8
The remake of Seltice Way in Coeur d'Alene will include two roundabouts: One at the intersection of Atlas and the other at the Grand Mill intersection. The roundabout at Atlas will have double lanes. Becky Kramer, SR, reports ...
Huckleberries Past: A bargain at Forest Cemetery 6
One of my earliest items for my Kootenai Grapevine/Huckleberries column involved Forest Cemetery. Doug Eastwood, who was beginning his long career as city Parks and Cemetery director when I arrived in town, told me that people shop around for cemeteries like they do for groceries. USA Today picked up that statement.
Report: 12 active hate groups in Idaho 3
The Southern Poverty Law Center released a report Thursday that found the number of anti-Muslim hate groups has tripled across the country since 2015. Idaho is no exception, as the census found the state has 12 such groups, many of which are anti-Muslim and anti-refugee. Ruth Brown/Idaho Statesman reports ...
Have computer, will travel? 10
Hara Allison, of Post Falls, the creative director of STUDIO H, is facing a decision that many of us do as we prepare for a vacation. Do we take our computer? Or not? Allison, who is planning a weeklong trip to France soon, mentioned that she was planning to take her computer along. That prompted a client to respond ...
Cirque DU Soleil visits Spokane 2
Cirque Du Soleil performers had fun in Spokane this week, visiting downtown Spokane, including the Spokesman-Review building and The Kennel at Gonzaga University. Dan Pelle/SR photographed them as they took in the sites -- and became a site worth seeing themselves. See photo gallery below.
AM Scanner Traffic -- 2.17.17
Scanner Traffic for Friday AM (16 items & counting) ...
Full-page ad reminds us of life before today's swell cellphones 7
Coeur d'Alene High instructor Bruce Twitchell passes along this Radio Shack ad from 1991, with the note that everything on this page is now part of one new cellphone. Q: Have you thought of life before computers and cellphones recently.
EPA critic Pruitt now in charge of EPA 3
Scott Pruitt, who as Oklahoma’s attorney general spent years suing the Environmental Protection Agency over its efforts to regulate various forms of pollution, was confirmed Friday as the agency’s next administrator. Pruitt cleared the Senate by a vote of 52-46, winning support from two Democrats. The Washington Post reports ...
$5,750 reward offered in case of severe cat torture 5
Local residents and business owners hope the $5,750 they have pledged for a reward leads to the conviction of a suspect in a cat abuse case that has shocked the community. A cat that was apparently dunked in diesel oil was brought to Alpine Animal Hospital by a good Samaritan on Saturday. Brian Walker/Press reports ...
AM Headlines -- 2.17.17 1
AM Headlines begins with a visit to Gonzaga's Kennel last night by NCAA President Mark Emmert. Also: Gonzaga rolls to 27th win/SR, Bill limiting early vote barely moves on/EOB, Review: Most teach evals in compliance/EOB, Edit: Feds should refrain from pot crackdown/SR, Sgt Moore to get Medal of Honor posthumously/SR + more ...
Out, out, damn bra 2
Sadder but wiser, Katrina Swaim Wright, of Coeur d'Alene, is coming to terms with the new bra she ordered online. She knew the risk going in. Even with measurements, no two brands are the same. But she ordered anyway, eyes wide open. After, she Facebooked: "Who designed this bra, General Patton?"
Poll: 45% have fallen this winter 3
In the Thursday poll, 45% of Hucks Nation said it has fallen on the ice this winter, including 17% who have suffered injuries in those falls. Today's Poll: Do you believe, as President Trump does, that the media is dishonest and out of control?
Sam: HucksOnline is 13? Really? 7
Sam Taylor, the deputy city administrator for Coeur d'Alene, joined Huckleberries near the beginning of its run 13 years ago. He was 19 at the time. "It seems like just yesterday I was a correspondent working out of the office with you, then an intern, then off into the world." When did you join the motley crew at Huckleberries?
Could be wettest February ever
Coeur d’Alene could break its record for most precipitation in February. Since Feb. 1, Coeur d’Alene had received 4.76 inches of precipitation, Press meteorologist Randy Mann said Thursday afternoon. “The all-time record is 6.49 inches set in 1940,” Mann said. Bethany Blitz/Coeur d'Alene Press reports ...
Bill would raise smoking age to 21 22
An Idaho senator says the state should raise its smoking age from 18 to 21. “I feel very strongly about this,” said Sen. Fred Martin, R-Boise. He’s been serving on the state’s Millennium Fund committee, which directs proceeds from a nationwide tobacco settlement to health-related programs. Q: Did you ever smoke?
D.F. Oliveria started Huckleberries Online on Feb. 16, 2004. Oliveria's Sunday print Huckleberries is a past winner of the national Herb Caen Memorial Column contest.