One spot fewer to park pooch

A funny thing happened to Bob Macdonald on his way to promoting the future site of the CdA dog park. Not funny ha-ha. Funny Weird. Seems Bob, a former Kootenai County commissioner, had the idea to advertise the site (on school property north of North Shire Park, off Atlas Road) and clean out his garage, too. After getting permission from other dog-park boosters, Bob took his old 6-by-12-foot kennel to the two-acre site and planned to return with a bunch of dogs for a photo op and a banner that read: “Future site of the Coeur d’Alene Dog Park.” Only the kennel wasn’t there when Bob returned two days later. Someone had walked off with it. Quips Bob: “I should have hung the sign on it before. At least, the thief would know what he was stealing.”

Ticked off

In case you’re nonchalant re: the threat of ticks in the woods, Jeff Selle/Kootenai MPO provides this detailed tale of his May 2008 bout with tick-caused Rocky Mountain fever: “I woke up one morning and my body was completely covered in a burning rash. I went to the doctor and was immediately diagnosed with the fever, which by the way is a really bad fever. I had to take a week and half off from work and took a drug called Prednizone for seven days straight, along with high-powered antibiotics. I slept pretty much around the clock every single day, and had the worst case of fever chills I have ever experienced. It took almost three weeks to feel normal again.” Be careful out there.

Huckleberries

Poet’s Corner: “To part with friends must/ever sadden:/good luck and thank you,/big John Madden” – The Bard of Sherman Avenue (“September won’t be the same”) … And for you allergy sufferers: “It’s those doggoned spring flowers/Brought about by April Showers/That make my nose run/Which isn’t much fun/When I’m sneezing and sneezing for hours” – Idaho Escapee (“Something to Sneeze At”) … Milt Priggee, the controversial ex-political cartoonist for the SR (remember that ’toon of the North Idaho kids in white sheets at Junior Bloomsday?), is teaming up with David Horsey to spice up the Seattle View comment section of the online P-I … In the No Good Deed Goes Unpunished Department, Kim Charchan was delivering goods to the Lake City Community Food Bank, Fourth & Spruce, recently – only to return to her car parked at the curb and discover someone had made off with her $60 worth of groceries … Huckleberries Poll: 68 percent (53 of 78) of the respondents to an online poll last week said that a bikini espresso stand – like the one that just opened in Spokane – would be an instant hit in the Coeur d’Alene area. Only seven respondents thought scantily clad baristas would trigger a boycott in well-churched Lake City … Speaking of bikinis, Boise’s trying to shut down Torch Lounge 2 over a zoning violation. The bikini bar is owned by the same guy who operates the one on Lakeside in CdA … Wrong-number message left on an Oliveria cell phone: “If this is what it’s like to get cold feet, no one would get married. So this must not be right.” Hey, don’t look at me. Mrs. O and I are about to celebrate anniversary No. 34. No cold feet here … For those keeping score at home, respected Idaho Falls Post-Register editorialist Marty Trillhaase is about to replace retiring Lewiston Tribune opinionator Jim Fisher. Who replaced Bill Hall. Who replaced Ladd Hamilton. And I was privileged to work with all but Marty during my two glorious years on former Publisher Butch Alford’s Tribune.

Parting Shot

In case you wondered about the price tag ISP puts on requests for reports of great interest to the public, the answer is $5,195.55. That’s what the state cops want to charge the S-R for administrative & copying fees for the report on stolen medication drugs at the Kootenai County Jail – you know, the one that led to some firings and disciplinary action against 8 jailers. E-mails the ISP per Meghann Cuniff’s April 6 SR request: “After consultation with the attorney for the Idaho State Police, it has been determined that your request is partially denied because the records you have requested will have to be screened for information that is exempt from disclosure and will have to be redacted accordingly before the copies can be provided to you, pursuant to IDAHO CODE 9-335(1).” The SR plans to appeal. Can you say “stonewall,” baybee?