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Huckleberries: ‘Snow Falling on Cedars’ fallout lands on Twain classic

In the “Believe It or Not” Department, the Coeur d’Alene School Board will decide whether Mark Twain’s “The Prince and the Pauper” is appropriate reading in eighth-grade classrooms.

Before you dial the district office, however, there’s more to the story. Seems the Coeur d’Alene School District is saddled with a policy requiring a review of all novels planned for class consumption. The books are reviewed by an ad hoc committee and then face a 30-day public review. That’s the fallout from the 2008 patron outcry, in some circles, against “Snow Falling on Cedars,” the award-winning novel by David Guterson, which contained some sexual references.

No one has complained about Twain’s classic. Yet. And the ad hoc committee has recommended the book for acceptance by the Coeur d’Alene School Board. But it appears that common sense is lacking in district handling of classics like Twain’s.

Thar she blows

Many of you recall that Councilman Mike Kennedy of Coeur d’Alene lost 60 to 70 pounds through diet and exercise. Chobani yogurt was part of that process. That’s before Mike had a close encounter with despoiled yogurt, which prompted Chobani to recall cups sent out from its Twin Falls plant. Mike discarded some Chobani yogurt last week: “I thought my office refrigerator was too cold and ‘over-froze’ the yogurt causing it to ‘swell,’ ” Mike said on his Facebook page Tuesday. “Clearly I haven’t a clue what causes yogurt to ‘swell.’ I had one today that I didn’t finish because it tasted weird. My only complaint is that I wish explosive diarrhea would have arrived early enough that I could avoid my City Council meeting this evening. Way to go, Chobani.” Chobani and diarrhea and council meetings, oh my.

Huckleberries

Poet’s Corner: “The yellow bus stopped by today/and carried summertime away” – The Bard of Sherman Avenue (“First Day”) … Attorney Duane Rasmussen didn’t know how the maple trees in front of the Coeur d’Alene Resort kept their pleasant roundness, until Thursday. That’s when he spotted tree trimmer John Beaunaux motoring among the red maples in his golf cart, nipping a little here, tucking a little here. John’s TLC adds to the charm of the Coeur d’Alene waterfront … How well did organizers perform in bringing hydroplane racing back to Lake Coeur d’Alene? Well, enough that 54 percent of my skeptical Huckleberries Online ( spokesman.com/hbo) crowd wants to see them run the Diamond Cup again next Labor Day … Quotable Quote: “You can tell summer has come to an end. I went downtown Coeur d’Alene and (half) of the stores were closed at 5 o’clock” – Rose Backs of Coeur d’Alene … Dunno which is more interesting – that Kootenai County Democrats bought out the Lake City Playhouse production of “Damn Yankees” on Thursday, Sept. 12, as part of a fundraiser. Or that the Dems are confident there are enough partisans in ruby-red Kootenai County to fill 160 seats? … Hat Tip – to talented local government reporter Tom Hasslinger, who left the Coeur d’Alene Press on Friday to join editor-in-chief Bill Buley, a former Press staffer, at the Garden Island newspaper in Hawaii. Now there’s a tough gig … And another Hat Tip – to Doma Coffee Roasting Co. in Post Falls and owners Terry and Rebecca Hurlen Patano for being named 13th-best coffee roaster in the country by Complex City Guide of New York City.

Parting shot

Reviving a tradition started by former Coeur d’Alene school trustee Vern Newby, new trustees Tom Hearn, Christa Hazel and Dave Eubanks handed out apples to teachers on the opening day of school to show appreciation for their hard work. Huckleberries suspects the gesture was appreciated by teachers, who seemingly were viewed as the enemy by the hard right previous board.

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