Idaho Voices

Sizzling strips of smoky, crispy bacon. I’ve never met anyone who doesn’t love it madly. Bacon is the great uniter of the food world, something everyone can agree upon from backwoods hash house cooks to “Top Chef Masters” winners. It’s been known to make even the most devoted vegans fantasize and reconsider.

Filings from Aug. 7-18. Chapter 7 (liquidation petitions)

Coeur d’Alene Hallmark Homes Inc., 7157 N. Fasthawk Lane, residence and garage, valued at $102,808.

For 08-30-2009

In the strange world of the blogosphere, anonymity allows some individuals to burrow under the skin of others, triggering outbursts. A poster named “Phaedrus” is adept at annoying those in the spotlight. He irritates me at times. But he angers City Council wannabe Dan Gookin more. In a recent exchange between Phaedrus and Gookin under a Coeur d’Alene Press online story about Gookin’s political aspirations, Phaedrus rattled the office seeker, causing him to hint at revenge. Phaedrus did so by noting that Gookin demands openness from elected city officials. But, Phaedrus claims, Gookin doesn’t practice what he preaches on his OpenCDA.com blog. Seems Phaedrus has been blocked from posting comments on that blog. Gookin went ballistic, firing back that Phaedrus was banned from OpenCDA.com because “you could not stop slandering people. The lies you told were intolerable and I informed you of that in a private e-mail message.” Gookin huffed further that Phaedrus exhibits “the same type of behavior here, lying about me in cowardice behind your various pseudonyms.” And: “I know who you are.” And: “I shall keep that in confidence as long as you like, as long as you don’t continue to press the issue. Therefore, I believe it’s most likely in your best interest not to continue exploiting an episode that would be potentially painful to you.” Methinks Gookin needs to develop thicker skin if he wants to hold office in this town without pity. A side of broccoli

It seems like summer appeared and disappeared faster than a cold pint of ale on a Friday afternoon. We’re already less than a week away from Labor Day, and it’s all downhill after that. Soon trees will decide to dye their lush, green, Manic Panic locks a more sensible Lady Clairol auburn but sadly, the overprocessing will ultimately leave them bald. Beaches will clear of all but the most hardcore sunbathers, ice cream trucks will begin their winter thaw, and a bountiful season of outdoor music will come to an end.

BOISE – There’s been some shock and disbelief expressed around the estimate that as many as 70,000 hunters might buy wolf tags for the upcoming, first-ever Idaho wolf hunt. After all, the Fish and Game Commission set the limit for wolves to be taken statewide at 220, about a quarter of the state’s wolf population, with specific limits within each of 12 zones, including a limit of 30 in the Panhandle.

COEUR D’ALENE – A public hearing to discuss the 2009-’10 budget is planned Tuesday in the Library Community Room at City Hall at 6 p.m. Coeur d’Alene Mayor Sandi Bloom recently announced that no decision had been made on seeking a budget increase and she had requested that city staff prepare a proposed budget for the 2009-’10 fiscal year that contains no increase in tax revenue. Other options include a 2 percent increase and will be presented to the mayor and City Council at the public hearing.

It’s hard to believe that many kids have already started school. I’m sure it was difficult to be sitting in the classroom those first few days when the sun was shining and temperatures in many areas were well into the 90s. Average highs this time of year are right around 80 degrees, with overnight lows in the 50s, so the temperatures of the past couple of days have been well above normal. As a whole, however, temperatures for August have only come in slightly above normal.

Today Charley Packard (Originals) – 6 p.m., Spuds Grill, 102 N. First, Sandpoint, (208) 265-4311.

The ads say “Going out of business,” but they aren’t really. Music City Coeur d’Alene employees are having a big sale (that ends today) because owner Rod Mitchell is retiring. He’s handing over the keys to his son Chad Mitchell. Chad says he is retaining most of the store’s keyboard inventory and emphasizing his guitar portion of the store. In fact, the entire 6,000-square-foot building will be named The Guitar Stop.

The good news for the Timberlake High football team is it returns nine two-way starters. The bad new is the Tigers’ depth is razor thin.

A recession? You could have fooled those in downtown Sandpoint during this past month. With activities such as artist tours, an arts and crafts fair, a fun run and of course the Festival at Sandpoint, the streets were backed up, the parking lots were full and the majority of those driving through the downtown corridor had out-of-state license plates.