Huckleberries: Down but not out in Post Falls

Coeur d’Alene Deputy City Administrator Sam Taylor was thinking dark thoughts about his Honda Civic Monday morning after he got stuck in his unplowed Post Falls street backing out of the driveway. This, while wife Kathryn shoveled the sidewalk. Sam can’t shovel or push snowbound cars, due to a recent hand operation. Luckily, Sam has good neighbors who pushed his Civic back into the driveway. And he has a good boss. Sam called Coeur d’Alene City Administrator Jim Hammond to explain what happened – and before you can say, “THIS WINTER BLOWS,” Hammond went Uber. Hammond, who once was mayor and then city administrator of Post Falls, drove from Coeur d’Alene City Hall to pick Sam up in the River City and take him to work. Once Monday morning was out of the way, Sam had second thoughts about his Honda. “At least it’s paid for,” he told Huckleberries. Not many young professionals can say that about their rides.

It’s you not me

This Winter of our Discontent is affecting North Idaho residents in odd ways. Vicki Isakson of Post Falls, for example, has begun talking to her snowblower: “Dear snowblower,” she began a Facebook post, “I agree that things started off really good, but you are the one who changed, not me! I thought this was a partnership, but you had to quit working and make me do it all myself. You are a PAIN in my BACK!!!” And spring is still six weeks away.

Huckleberries

After swearing in his son-in-law, Sheriff Ben Wolfinger, for a second term Monday, retired Judge Gene Marano tried to keep Ben’s pen. But Sheriff Ben wouldn’t have any of it. Tongue firmly cheeked, Ben asked for his writing tool back, ad-libbing that the district court has its own budget for such things. At the fiscally conservative Kootenai County Courthouse, the bottom line is thicker than blood … Post Falls Councilwoman Kerri Thoreson has an inflatable swan. And she isn’t afraid to use it, for sledding that is. Kerri can’t remember when she last went sledding. She means to fix that this winter. Stay tuned … Poll: The city of Coeur d’Alene may be on to something with its announced plans to get tough with residents and business owners who don’t clear sidewalks of snow. Two-thirds of the Huckleberries Online crowd says it should – and levy fines, to boot … You know it’s cold outside, begins a HucksOnline wag, “when even home school is canceled.”

Parting shot

Hashtag #RentLife: Savannah Tranchell, of Moscow, the talented editor of the University of Idaho mag, Here We Have Idaho, recently made her “hubs” dance with her while belting out “Sunrise, Sunset” from “Fiddler on the Roof.” No, Cabin Fever hadn’t set in. In a tweet, Savannah explains that they were trying to drown out the song on their neighbors’ “too loud TV.” Well, at least the neighbors have good taste in movies.