Huckleberries: McEuen Field sculpture met with praise, concern

Last week, Coeur d’Alene unveiled the third piece of public art that will grace the new McEuen Field to rave reviews from my Huckleberries Online readers.

“The Explorer,” which features two boys and a girl hiking over a log, however, elicited this caution from Randy Myers of Coeur d’Alene: “That’s a winner. Themed right and well done. I hope it doesn’t go the way of the bike lady and dog piece, for, I presume, the price (thieves) could get for the metal.”

Randy was referring to “Kate,” the wonderful sculpture of a woman on a vintage bike with two dogs running alongside that was stolen from Riverstone Park this winter, possibly for the recyclable material.

Art may be in the eye of the beholder. But the level of hard-heartedness that it takes to steal or deface public art fortunately is only harbored by a few.

Java moving east

No less a foodie expert than Patrick Jacobs of the Get Out! North Idaho blog says this about the announced relocation of popular Java on Sherman in downtown Coeur d’Alene four blocks east to the old Jonesy restaurant building: “I think it’s crucial that they recreate the vibe of the Fourth & Sherman spot as much as they possibly can, from the laid back atmosphere to the outside seating where customers can people watch. Otherwise, fair weather regulars may decide to stay put and hang out at the (rumored) new coffee shop opening in its place” … On my must-read list, retired FBI case agent Wayne Manis’ book, “The Street Agent: The FBI Infiltrator Who Probed the Depths of American Terrorists.” Writes the longtime North Idaho FBI agent: “On the extreme right, I worked with the ‘Ku Klux Klan’ and investigated the Aryan Nations. Somewhere in between found me with the Mafia and their related organized crime figures.”

Huckleberries

As a Coeur d’Alene resident, I was disappointed that Ilah Hickman, 13, picked the Idaho giant salamander over the Coeur d’Alene salamander to tout as a state amphibian candidate to legislators Friday. But Ilah let Lake City residents down easy: “The Coeur d’Alene salamander lives equally in Idaho and Montana. And even though I think Coeur d’Alene is a beautiful city, we’re not the state of Coeur d’Alene.” … Speech topics at the dueling GOP luncheons in Coeur d’Alene Thursday: “Wolf introduction was a crime,” at the Reagan Republicans meeting at Fedora, and “The role of Christians in a representative democracy” at the Precinct 52 lunch at IHOP. Christians and wolves? Isn’t it supposed to be Christians and lions? … Quotable Quote: “I survived THREE sons and their multiple Science Fairs/Projects and I still have ONE to go. They should tell you about these things BEFORE you decide to have kids” – blog partner Cindy Hval … Sightem , at Blogfest 2014 at the Fort Ground Grill (a celebration for the 10th anniversary of Huckleberries Online): former County Clerk Dan English, a Democrat, buying appointed County Clerk Jim Brannon, a Republican, a beer. Stop the presses.

Parting shot

Challenger Danielle Ahrens was irate that veteran state Sen. Shawn Keough, R-Sandpoint, had the guts to defy the NRA and vote against that guns-on-college-campus bill.

Facebooked tea party candidate Ahrens: “My opponent voted against Campus Carry today in the Senate as she has voted against it in 2008. The Second Amendment, Shall not be infringed. Read it, good senator and stop this war on Women. You have no right to deny me my right to protect myself!”

War on women? Seriously? Now, Sen. Curt McKenzie’s nonsensical legislation moves to the House, where several legislators are feeling bullied by the NRA to support it. Yes, Virginia, you can love guns and oppose this dangerous bill.