AM Hucks: The Duane Keep Gossipers Abuzz

In Coeur d’Alene, we talk about the trials, tribulations and tantrums of native son Duane Hagadone almost as much as we discuss the weather. Coffee klatchers squeeze every ounce out of every rumor. Some know him as ruthless. Some admire him as visionary. Then, there are others like me who’ve studied him for 30 years, as an employee and a columnist for the competing paper. I keep tabs on The Duane and his hired hands because I know how much you enjoy Hagadone rumors. So I’ll treat you to two today. … At The Duane’s fundraising fest for the Humane Society at his Casco Bay “cabin,” word was that Hagadone plans to consolidate his private holdings. In other words, he wants to sell his Stanley Hill house and replace his Lake Coeur d’Alene retreat with a mansion. Which’ll serve as home at least during the good weather when he and wife, Lola, aren’t in Palm Desert, Calif., irritating the Sufferin’ Californians with that 30,000-square-foot mega-mansion that infringes on the mountain viewscape … Also, Huckleberries hears that The Duane is summoning people who do business with his company to his office to see where they stand in this fall’s election. ‘Tis no secret that The Duane wants to unseat incumbents Ron Edinger, Al Hassell and Dixie Reid. He’s still miffed he didn’t get his downtown memorial garden. Hence the reason for the constant attacks against Mayor Sandi Bloem and the council in his newspaper.