Mayor logs in when asked about boycott

In Round 2 today, Mayor Ray Miller tells Huckleberries what he said to Trish Gannon at the Festival at Sandpoint. Remember? Trish, of The River Journal, asked Ray three different ways if he’d advocated a boycott of biz owners who signed a newspaper ad against the Sand Creek bypass project (Huckleberries, Aug. 23). Trish sez Ray didn’t answer her directly. But Ray claims he said this: “We (city of Sandpoint) are not boycotting anyone. The only policy we have is to try and not purchase from those who sue the city.” Then, he said he explained that anyone who sues to stop the project will be naming the state Department of Transportation as defendant, not the city. Hence, no harm, no foul. In an e-mail to Huckleberries, Ray added: “We are currently spending $10,865.690 with Pucci Construction who is on ‘the list.’ ” And: “A public entity that has to purchase through the bidding process would have an impossible time boycotting anyone.” Case closed?

Stupid Criminal Tricks

As you know, criminals aren’t the sharpest crayons in the box. Case in point: When cuss-tomers of The Grail at Huetter parked at the The Shanty nearby, someone called for a tow truck. When Deputy Dawgs arrived to check things out, they were greeted by an angry Grail-goer who pounded the hood of their Dawg-mobile. The deputies ran a check on the guy – and then took him away when they found out he was an escapee from Washington. D’oh! … Then, there’s the dimbulb(s?) who fire-bombed Coeur d’Alene Press reporter Tom Green’s rig. Tom wondered if it was something he wrote … Earth to arsonist – Don’t get into a fight with someone who works where they buy ink by the barrel. Stay tuned.

Understanding ‘Cats’

OK, I had to see the Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre production of “Cats” a second time before I understood the basic premise – a cat has three names, including one particular to him/her, and once a year a special cat gets picked to be reborn. I was confused and somewhat bored when I first saw the play. But blown away by the energy and talent when I understood it … Thara Cooper, the local actress who wowed crowds as Grizabella, deserves another standing O – for singing “Memory” beautifully while eight-plus months pregnant … Four “cats” were sidelined with injuries during the play including Frank Jewett (Mungojerrie), who pulled a hamstring … I still don’t like cats – as animals.

Hail, Mighty Lentil

“I praise thee small lentil/I often consume,/Thou toothsome and tasty/Most noble legume” – The Bard of Sherman Avenue (“Ode for the National Lentil Festival”) in honor of the big day earlier this month in Pullman … That doesn’t mean Your Huckleberry Hound is going to wolf down the puffed lentil cereal, sweetened and otherwise, that reporter Taryn Brodwater brought back from the festival … The cereal was the highlight of a lentil lineup that included lentil chili, lentil brownies (which received a thumbs-up from Taryn’s mother-in-law, Sandi), cheesy lentil puffs, and lentil topping for snow cones at the shaved ice stand. Yum?

Huckleberries

Item: “Sewage overflows into river: Equipment failure at CdA plant releases 130,000 gallons.” Just another of the 101 reasons why I’m glad I live upstream in viewtiful Lake City … Question (from Steve LaTourrette): What do the Seahawks, Sonics and Mariners have in common? Answer: None of them can play baseball. Badabump. Onward … Sightem (on U.S. Highway 95) – a black Cadillac Escalade with tinted windows and the Idaho vanity plate “Mafia.” The gun rack and hunting dog gave the driver away as just another redneck … Rumorama: Huckleberries hears that a local human-rights type complained to the Republican Pachyderm clubbers because they end prayers “in Jesus name.” Saying yes to tolerance means saying no to Christianity?

Parting Shot

As you read this today, I should be returning from dropping my last chick off at college (University of Portland). And busy adjusting to my life as a neo-empty nester (through the tears). Why do they grow up so fast?