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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 2012

Hump Day Wild Card -- 5.16.12 26 

Coeur d'Alene Held Hostage, Day 43: Can't stop smiling today. Kootenai County & North Idaho haven't consumed the Kool-aid that would veer this great region into political chaos. In fact, there are signs all around that local Republicans are turning away from Far Right excess…

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Parting Shot -- 5.16.12

Members of the Lone Pine High School baseball team chase down and catch a snake caught in the infield during their CIF playoff game against Excelsior Education Center Tuesday in Victorville Calif. A snake was seen in the outfield earlier in the game, but between…

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Study: Coffee Drinkers Live Longer 

One of life’s simple pleasures just got a little sweeter. After years of waffling research on coffee and health, even some fear that java might raise the risk of heart disease, a big study finds the opposite: Coffee drinkers are a little more likely to…

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PM Scanner Traffic -- 5.16.12 

5:41 p.m. R/P claims 25YO female in local electronics store squeezed child's hand & pulled her hair. 5:29 p.m. R/P reports a thief still on the scene in 900 block of West Ironwood/CdA. 5:24 p.m. R/P from 1121 Shorewood Court/CdA reports pitbull loose in street.…

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PM Headlines -- 5.16.12 

A Berry Picker received this postcard in the mail today from the Souza-Orzell-Sims Recallers. You can see what's on the other side by clicking here. And a color version of the postcard above by clicking here. Fire system footage saves Post Falls business/KREM Mike Leach…

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Odd Vote Count In Precinct 6 

Kootenai County Elections Department results offer one silly misprint re: Kootenai County GOP Central Committee Chairwoman Tina Jacobson's run for Precinct No. 6 committeewoman. According to the results, she received 345 votes running unopposed. The problem? Only 326 votes were cast in Precinct 6 --…

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Avista's Power Play Misfires 

Avista Corp, an investor owned electric and gas utility for northern Idaho, made a financial push to unseat two incumbents that failed. Both Avista and Idaho Power gave $1,000 to Pam Stout, the Tea Party opponent to Rep. George Eskridge, former Bonneville Power Administration district…

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Richert: GOP Cherry Picks Turnout 

Voter turnout in Tuesday's Idaho primaries may have hit a record low — due largely to new rules that restricted the GOP primary to registered Republicans only. But that didn't stop the GOP from claiming success on the voter turnout front — although the party…

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Arriving On A Pony 11 

Actress Betty White arrives on a white pony as she is honored at a Friars Club Roast sponsored by Godiva, Wednesday at the Sheraton Hotel in New York. (AP Photo/Starpix, Marion Curtis) DFO: This serves 3 purposes -- eye candy for Cindy, a break from…

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Drake: Recall Attracts Worst, Best 18 

Stop the Recall organizer Jennifer Drake's statement to the Coeur d'Alene City Council Tuesday read in part: "I have witnessed lies being told by RecallCDA in an attempt to get signatures. I have witnessed vicious attacks on people’s character and that of their families. I…

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Recaller Orzell Claims Intimidation 31 

At the Coeur d'Alene City Council meeting Tuesday night, RecallCDA organizer Frank Orzell of Coeur d'Alene, pictured, said (according to the rough draft of City Clerk Susan Weathers' minutes) "... that he had received complaints of intimidation. John Montandon, 6269 E. French Gulch Rd., commented…

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Kerri: Groene Murders Plus 7 Years 

Above, Steve Groene, former husband of one of the murder victims and father of two of the murder victims in Joseph Duncan's killing spree, speaks to media shortly after murders were discovered. (SR file photo) Seven years ago today one of the most brutal crimes…

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McMillan Wins 3-Way HD7 GOPrimary 

State Rep. Shannon McMillan, R-Silverton, easily won GOPrimary nomination -- and re-election since she'll be unopposed in the general election -- in her first race in the new House District 7, which touches four counties. McMillan won 2564 votes, to outdistance controversial former gubernatorial candidate…

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Bonner Commish Incumbents Fall 

Former state Sen. Joyce Broadsword claimed a narrow victory over incumbent District 1 Bonner County Commissioner Cornel Rasor while Cary Kelly defeated incumbent District 3 Commissioner Lewie Rich. The final precinct — Washington — was tallied at 1:58 a.m. When the dust settled, Broadsword emerged…

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News Quiz Offers 6 Shock Tickets 

5 Merry Hucksters are on the leaderboard so far this week: Big Mac, Tom Taggart, KimKnerl, KCres, TLPoestra. Congrats to Spokane's Brian Donahue and Conrad Kovash, winners of last week's news quiz. Brian's name was drawn from among the top scores, earning a $50 gift…

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Inmate Accused Of CdA Bank Job

An Oregon man already serving 22 years in prison for bank robbery is accused of robbing a Coeur d'Alene bank at gunpoint in August 2010. A grand jury on Tuesday indicted Bradley W. Monical, of Bend, for the Aug. 27, 2010, hold up of Wells…

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Hoffman Defends 'Big Spender Report' 

I’m getting a lot of flak in recent days about a report we did in April adding up the amount of money each legislator spent as part of the appropriations process during the last legislative session. We called it the “Big Spender Report.” And I…

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Noon: Idaho's Record Low Turnout 

Idaho Secretary of State Ben Ysursa said Wednesday that record-low turnout in Tuesday’s primary could prompt his Republican Party to revisit its decision to limit the primary to registered GOP voters. “I do believe it had that negative effect of a couple of points,” Ysursa…

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The Lady Who Started Hart Ouster? 

Some in Republican circles credit Lois Johnson (with sign) with beginning the effort to oust state Rep. Phil Hart, R-Athol, two years ago. Here she's shown with a sign at the Coeur d'Alene Inn during the annual chamber-sponsored North Idaho legislative tour. To her left…

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AM Scanner Traffic -- 5.16.12

Noonish: R/P reports metal ladder lying on s/b H95 @ M/P 441.5 (Ohio Match Road). 11:55 a.m. Rear-end, 2-vehicle crash on n/b 4th & Prairie/Hayden. Unknown injuries. 11:53 a.m. Michael reports to KCSD HQ that someone has pawned his computer. 11:47 a.m. Resident of 3946…

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AM Headlines -- 5.16.12

Idaho Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter watches primary results with Ronna Lee Linseman at the Republican Party primary Headquarters held at the Doubletree Riverside Hotel in Boise on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Matt Cilley) Idaho Records/Sherry Adkins, SR Joe Montana's son leaving UM football/AP Anaconda OKs ban on…

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Dinosaurman Wants Out Of Cooler 11 

A note delivered to Huckleberries from a jailer in charge of Dinosaurman's cell block in the cooler: "Now that the election is over, I heard rumors that Phaedrus and Darth Maul were released from their holding cells. How much longer must I endure my captivity?…

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HBO Gets Copy Of Recaller Recording 73 

On Tuesday, I told you that I'd heard a tape that regular commenter Nic made of a Recaller outside the Woodland Middle School precinct misstating information while gathering signatures. The Recaller states that the cost of the McEuen Field upgrade is $35 million to $40…

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Winners & Losers In 2012 GOPrimary 

Above, Real Reagan Republicans chairman Ron Lahr, left, and former chairman Jeff Ward watch election results Tuesday night. (Phantom Photographer photo) Let's play Winners & Losers again. I'll start out by giving you an idea what I mean. I consider some of the losers to…

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Semanko: All Sunshine & Lollipops 

The following message was sent by Idaho Republican Party Chairman Norm Semanko: "May 15th signaled the end of a competitive and hard fought primary for many positions in our Party. Some would argue that this competition damaged the Party; I argue the opposite. I believe…

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Huckleberries Online

D.F. Oliveria started Huckleberries Online on Feb. 16, 2004. Oliveria's Sunday print Huckleberries is a past winner of the national Herb Caen Memorial Column contest.