Wary Couple Find Golf, Visit Fit Them To A T

A Jewish couple’s love for golf recently overrode their fear of bigotry. The Southern California Weintraubs called the Anti-Defamation League to check out North Idaho and then paid a visit.

They were pleasantly surprised. They enjoyed playing The Coeur d’Alene Resort golf course. However, they were feeling boxed in by the time they encountered a friend of mine in the resort lounge. They wanted to check out other places to eat and shop. But resort employees would direct them only to The Beach House Restaurant and the Coeur d’Alene Plaza, two other Hagadone Hospitality properties. My friend pointed them to Jimmy D’s and The Wine Cellar. Seems to me Hagadone officials could boost the effort to “save” downtown by acknowledging life exists beyond their hallowed walls.

My way or the highway

The sign above the grill at Franklin’s Hoagies says it all: “This isn’t Burger King. You have it my way, or you don’t have it at all.” Or something like that. Frankly, I can’t imagine any way being much better than owner Larry Anderson’s way of preparing his sandwiches. … Gotcha: Whoever was driving a Bonner County car (C113) last Monday morning near Church and Fourth in Sandpoint needs to use the blinkers. So says a woman who saw the driver switch lanes without signaling, twice within a five-day period. Once, she almost was sideswiped by the county car. … A red pickup with Idaho plates zipped past me on I-90 in the Spokane Valley July 27. Its bumpersnicker? “You’re in Idaho now - SLOW DOWN!” Indeed.

Inquiring mind

At a Dalton Gardens garage sale July 26, I was amazed when a middle-aged woman in a gray Bronco bought two cardboard boxes of Playboy magazines. But, as she packed them into the back of her vehicle, I wasn’t surprised when the 10-year-old boy with her said, “Uh, I wouldn’t mind riding in the back.” Her response? “Nice try.” … Oops: There’s ample evidence that Huckleberries’ problem with the Kootenai County sheriff’s Web site (no directions, no names or photos under the most-wanted list) is homegrown. In other words, it may have been my computer’s fault, not theirs. Still, another hacker said she couldn’t pull up photos of desperadoes either. Stay tuned. … I’m not going to name names. But one local superstore should be ashamed of itself for not providing benches and chairs for the elderly. Instead, seniors who finish shopping vie to sit on the one or two electric carts available. The losers stand for a half-hour or so until their bus returns. Hmmm. If this isn’t fixed, maybe I will name names - later.

Huckleberries

I’ve seen my last name misspelled so many times that I particularly enjoy a creative misspelling of it. Don Morgan of Post Falls provided that unique twist when he addressed an envelope to: “Olievera.” Oh well, my dad misspelled our surname, too. … From the black helicopter beat: When federal agents raided the Clearwater County disaster center recently, looking for who-knows-what, Commissioner Bud Bonner heard a helicopter. He couldn’t resist asking the federales: “So, you’re sending them in, too?” … If you get the answering machine at the Idaho governor’s office, you might be surprised by the nasally voice that asks you to leave a message. It belongs to none other than Gov. Phil Batt. Just another personal touch that makes Idaho someplace different. Someplace better.

Parting shot

Hmmm. Not all the returns are negative on the Bonner County commissioners’ decision earlier this year to shut down the building department. In the July newsletter of the Panhandle Building Contractors Association, President Bob Walsh writes: “I have been utilizing inspection companies and have had good results both with inspections and client satisfaction. The private inspection fees have not been a deterrent, and are at or below the previous building permit fees.” Stay tuned. , DataTimes MEMO: Gotta Huckleberry? Call the Huckleberry Hound Hotline: (800) 344-6718 or (208) 765-7125; daveo@spokesman.com.

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