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Huckleberries: Diamond Cup Regatta directors jumping ship

You may know that hydroplane races are set to return to Lake Coeur d’Alene on Labor Day weekend this year. But did you know that half of the directors of the Diamond Cup Regatta resigned from the board during the first week of February? A look at the secretary of state’s business directory reveals that four directors quit Feb. 1-4 – Art Flagan, Jim Addis, Craig Brosenne and David Bobbitt. Additionally, there’s a correction on the secretary of state’s site that shows Kiki Miller quit her post April 13, 2012. Inadvertently, Miller was still listed as a director until that Feb. 7 correction was recorded. According to the secretary of state, the remaining directors are Doug Miller, Rick Sousa and Brad Hagadone. Trouble in paradise?

Star struck

You may know that superstar singer Carrie Underwood was hanging out Wednesday in downtown Coeur d’Alene. But did you know that the undercard on her Blown Away Tour that performed in Spokane on Thursday was, too?

Around 7:45 p.m., diners at Bonsai Bistro, 101 E. Sherman Ave., were treated to the sight of 21-year-old country singer Hunter Hayes (“Wanted,” “Storm Warning”) in a ball cap enjoying Bonzai’s Pan-Asian cuisine.

Micah Brunner and her hubby, Derrick, were two of those diners. Micah reports that Hayes was gracious to the teenage girls surrounding his table asking for autographs. Micah was thrilled by having her photograph taken with Hayes. And then she doubled her fun by texting envious sister Kelsey Saintz, a ha-huge Hunter Hayes fan, about her close encounter with the young star.

Huckleberries

Marianne Love, the retired Sandpoint High journalism teacher, had a revelation on a road trip with husband Bill – in Dell, Mont. Doughnuts. At the Calf-A restaurant, she munched a caramel-glazed doughnut she labeled “to die for.” A confection worthy of bucket lists. Quoth: “Probably 5,000 calories per $1 donut but worth every bite.” Now if someone would kindly provide a map to Dell … Huckleberries follows KXLY weathercaster Kris Crocker on Facebook because she posts gems like this: “And I just accidentally dropped my library books to return into the downtown post office box. Suggestions?” … Huckleberries Online poll: A plurality of 49 percent say that the BNSF refueling depot at Hauser Lake poses little threat to the aquifer as a result of safety measures taken by the railroad. However, 34 percent said the depot can never be made safe enough to eliminate all risks to the aquifer below, the region’s only source of drinking water … Huckleberries has figured out how many sects there are vying for power among the dysfunctional Kootenai County GOP: tea party, Reagan Republicans, Rally Right, United Conservatives of North Idaho, Reasonable Republicans, Ron Paulers, Republican Women/Pachyderm clubs, RINOs and maverick gadfly Larry Spencer.

Parting shot

A political wag notes that former House Speaker Lawerence Denney and former Bonner County Commissioner Cornel Rasor will be speaking at the Lincoln Day Dinner of the Kootenai County Republicans on March 8. Both men lost re-election bids last year. Tongue firmly cheeked, the quipster told Huckleberries that the Kootenai County Republicans are reaching out to people who are in their political graves, stating, “Maybe we should call it a Zombie’s Dinner or Zombie Ball.”

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