Chenoweth Likes Good Publicity, Ignores The Rest

Rep. Helen Chenoweth’s office must have liked Congressional Quarterly’s Oct. 28 profile of the boss - one of 11 Republican House freshmen feted as “Worth Watching.” Chenoweth staffers sent a fax of the article along with a note CQ used in introducing the Frosh 11 as “prominent and illustrative examples of the personality of the Class of 1994.” Alas, as a CQ subscriber, I noticed the last line of the brief introduction was missing from Chenoweth’s transmission: “They are not intended to be seen as the best or the most influential members of the class.” An oversight?

Transplanted reindeer?

Our Miss Chenoweth proved biologically incorrect recently while stumping for oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. She said reindeer shouldn’t block exploration because “there’s tens of thousands of them up there.” Unh-uh. There may be tens of thousands of caribou up there. But reindeer hang out in Scandinavia - or, this time of year, at the North Pole. … Deep Thoughts by D.F.: When Hilde, the rabbit, quits running, will Hilde, the politician, quit running? … My S-R colleagues yukked when Brand X editorialist David Bond got a vote for Fightin’ Creek mayor and I didn’t. They don’t seem to realize that I don’t frequent bars. You can lose your sobriety and money in places like that.

Kids Voting unplugged

Kids Voting TV was pre-empted by obnoxious Howard Stern and “Talk Soup” on election night. Seems North Idaho College students were about to broadcast the kids’ choice for Seltice Elementary School mascot (Humperdink Seltisaurus or Repto Seltisaurus) when crass Stern party-crashed. NIC telecasters babbled on, unaware that they were experiencing technical difficulties. Ultimately, the show was taped to be rebroadcast later. So, hang on, Humperdink.

Outer limits

Huckleberry Hound will leave no deodorizer unturned in his relentless pursuit to bring you every scoop in the Idaho Panhandle, including this intellectually challenging exchange scribbled in the men’s room at the Three Mile Cafe in Bonners Ferry: “Naive America, Wake Up! America will fall not bloodlessly.” Below: “Really? What planet are you from? Stupider? Next to Jupiter?” … Rod Wolfe of St. Maries learned last week that GTE Northwest doesn’t like to be told that it forgot to “fall back” to standard time. Snapped a telephone operator Sunday morning last: “We already know that!” … By the way, Rod is the father of Coeur d’Alene’s Annette Brandvold, whose son, R.B., knocked down a six-point elk recently while hunting with grandpa. … Four visitors from Benin, a country in West Africa, were in town Thursday to study U.S. elections and asked why the Republicans outspend Democrats to elect candidates. Responded Democrat Mary Lou Reed: “That’s because they have all the money.” Shot back Republican Chuck Lempesis: “No, it’s because we have better candidates.” Ba-dum-bum. Onward.

Huckleberries

A bumper snicker spotted in downtown Spokane: “So, you voted for Clinton. If you ask, God will forgive you. I’ll think about it.” … Apparently, Coeur d’Alene Rotarians received insider tips about the afterlife recently. Editor Ted Fox reports in The Rotary Wheel: “Jim Yates told us about branch banking in Hades.” … A “List of 5” items pickled for posterity in Tom Dryden’s biology room at Sandpoint High School: a sea horse, a tiny alligator, a stillborn Chihuahua, dog ovaries and (drum roll, please) tonsils. … The honest soul who turned in $15 found in the S-R building Wednesday restored Robin Neal’s faith in mankind. … My condolences to Ed Peone, who assumes the tail gunner’s seat as Hauser’s duly elected mayor.

Parting shot

City Administrator John Hendrickson appeared unconcerned by a whistleblower’s claim that Post Falls tampers with sewer discharge reports. It’s just a misunderstanding, said Big John. The problems are clerical and administrative; there are no health risks. Blah, blah, blah. After all, he added, “We’re not the Silver Valley.” Perhaps not yet.

Gotta Huckleberry? Call the Huckleberry Hound Hotline: (800) 344-6718 or (208) 765-7125.

, DataTimes The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = D.F. Oliveria The Spokesman-Review