In the Tuesday poll, 2/3s of Hucks Nation said it doesn't make New Year's resolutions. Period. Only 2 percent of this online motley crew said it makes resolutions every year. Today's Poll: How often do you drink coffee or a coffee drink at Starbucks?
OK, here's the first Huckleberries print column of my new, 5X/week gig. It launches with a fun experience that I observed while traveling on an Alaska Airlines/Horizon flight to Portland on Christmas Day. Also, you'll see how you Merry Hucksters participated in my first column in the rest of my newspaper career.
We should be celebrating that our Avista electric rate went up only 2.6% ($2.64/month for most residences). Our favorite utility was asking for an increase of $6.54/month for most residences. Small victories.
"Despite a 20-year high number of kokanee spawning in the Wolf Lodge Bay area of Lake Coeur d'Alene, bald eagles still occasionally battle for their share," posts SR Outdoors blogger Rich Landers. More about the photo below.
So we've finally arrived at "go" day -- the day that I'm to write my first mini-Huckleberries column. I'd planned to have a chunk of it written already but a nasty head cold thwarted those plans. So I'll have to write it on the fly, as I will do most days. I'll need your help more than ever. Let me know if you see interesting things out there.
Scanner Traffic for Tuesday PM (18 items & counting) includes truck slide-off that prompted closure of intersection at Highways 41/54, near Spirit Lake.
The Cutline Contest today features yoga instructor Monica Kessler of Imperial, Pa., leading a candlelit aerial yoga class.
In his column today, Shawn Vestal/SR comments that U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers wanted to eliminate the ethics watchdog "that gave her a big old bite in 2014." Sez Vestal: She "would've if she could've." Ditto for many other House Republicans, I suspect.
I'm afraid I called Deputy City Administrator Sam Taylor from sick bay to answer my morning whine re: berms left in the driveway after the snow plows go by. Sam tapped Streets chief Tim Martin. Who had a spot-on answer. (Hint: The type of winter we're having is a big part of the problem.) Read on.
In a superb Faithful Geek blog post, Nic explains to us why actress Carrie Fisher matters to him (and many of us). He writes: "Because of her portrayal of the Princess of Alderaan, I have discovered something much like what was delivered to her at the end of Rogue One: Hope."
Linda Lantzy/Idaho Scenic Images continues to amaze me with her outdoor photography. Here's one of Independence Point (and Mudgy & Millie) at sunset taken some time ago. Linda asks on her Facebook page: Where's your favorite place to enjoy a North Idaho sunset? Also: You can see first 2017 blogosphere roundup below.
Reacting to weather forecasts of extreme cold, St. Vincent de Paul's reports that the warming center will remain open tonight through Friday night. The warming center has been open 34 out of 61 days, including the last 30 days.
Ryan Collingwood/Coeur d'Alene Press gives us the skewp on the visit to Coeur d'Alene on New Year's Eve by former NBA great Shaquille O'Neal. Seems the 7-foot-1, 375-pound O'Neal startled patrons of The Beacon Saturday afternoon with aggressive air-guitar fifs to Three Days Grace's "Never Too Late."
In a recent column, Opinion Editor Gary Crooks/SR comments: "Nothing exemplifies pure politics better than debates over the Electoral College. We all knew the deal going in, so the winner of that contraption is rightly the president of the United States." Crooks goes on to say that we've junked what Founding Fathers wanted.
"Idaho Reports wants to hear from you," writes Melissa Davlin/Idaho Records. "What would you like lawmakers to focus on during the 2017 legislative session?" School funding? Justice reform? Taxes? Economic development? Social issues? What? Melissa wants you to answer the question in a short video. You can also answer the question for the blog.
Marianne Love/Slight Detour describes life in the bitter cold in Bonner County. How has the cold affected your daily routine? Mood?
Scanner Traffic for Tuesday AM (8 items) including moose hit by vehicle near Coeur d'Alene Casino & first reported road rager of new year ...
In an editorial for the Moscow-Pullman Daily News, Devin Rokyta editorializes against a petition drive by Abolish Abortion Idaho that seeks a change in state law that would equate abortion to first-degree murder.
Wedeln offers some ways that you can tell it's "North Idaho Cold." For example, he writes: "You know it's North Idaho Cold when the newly arrived Californians use their fondue pots to warm up their mittens." I like that one. It'll end up in my first mini-Huckleberries column Wednesday. Do you have any other suggestions?
AM Headlines features story on Rathdrum Police Chief Tomi McLean, the only female police chief in Idaho. Also: Public Records/Press, Zags reach #5 in AP poll/SR, Deputies arrest car burglary suspects/Press, Grip on Sports: Rose Bowl lives up to billing/SR, Post Falls bridal store owner faces fraud charges/Press + more ...
"1st day back at work after a week off. BLECH!!!!!! I don't think there is going to be enough coffee in the world to get thru the day" -- Jean Evans. (Q: Is this your first day back from Christmas vacation? How are you dealing with it?)
House Republican leaders have pulled a proposal that would gut its independent ethics panel, amid widespread criticism of the plan. The decision comes less than two hours after President-elect Donald Trump criticized the timing of the vote. CNN reports. (Q: What do you think of the House GOP's plan to reverse direction on is matter?)
I asked Tom Richards of the Enaville Resort to describe what it's like to jump in Lake Coeur d'Alene on New Year's Day when snow is coming down. Also, you'll find a photo gallery of the plunge by Kathy Plonka/SR. And SR coverage of the plunge. (Q: How you ever participated in the Polar Bear plunge?)
Huckleberries -- to Sam Taylor. Why are city snow plows plowing in driveways this year instead of dropping their gates to keep driveways berm free? (Q: Am I making too much of a fuss about this?)
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.
| Aug. 2017 | July 2017 | June 2017 | May 2017 |
| April 2017 | March 2017 | Feb. 2017 | Jan. 2017 |
