Idaho Voices

BOISE – Idaho unemployment claims are running at high volume, with 45,000 active claims as of mid-June, thanks to the economic downturn and widespread layoffs, including those in the high-tech sector. Here’s an oddity, though: Sixty percent of jobless claims in the first quarter of this year were filed online, as opposed to in-person, the only other choice for initial claims. But the state Department of Labor’s online filing service can be accessed only with Internet Explorer 7. That leaves out those who’ve updated their browsers to the new Internet Explorer 8 (Labor spokesman Bob Fick says a work-around for IE 8 users should be ready “within a couple of weeks”), and, of course, anyone who uses a Mac.

Author Susan Nipp and sculptor Terry Lee will be at Independence Point in Coeur d’Alene today from 1 to 3 p.m. to sign the children’s book “Mudgy & Millie.” “Mudgy & Millie,” written by Nipp, tells the story of a moose and a mouse playing hide-and-seek in downtown Coeur d’Alene. It was illustrated by Charles Reasoner. Nipp is also the author of the nationally known “Wee Sing” series of children’s books. Both have signed over all royalties from the book and related merchandise to the Coeur d’Alene Public Library Foundation.

Today BRIGHT MOMENTS (JAZZ) – 2 p.m., Dover Bay Marina, 651 Lakeshore Ave., Dover, 263-6139.

The center island in The Coeur d’Alene Plaza Shoppes will have two new businesses soon with Papillon Paper Emporium and Randy Henry’s Dynamic Golf. Aiming for a July 24 opening, Papillon will be in the front portion of the island. J.D. Gray’s Designer Jewelry was in the 1,100-square-foot space for 13 years before closing early this spring. The paper store will offer unique greeting cards, stationery, journals, calligraphy items, pens, pencils, pencil holders, wrapping papers by the sheet, gift items and butterfly collections, which sparked the name Papillon (French for butterfly).

As you may know, self-appointed government watchdog Larry Spencer was subject to a recent citizen’s arrest by re-po man Matthew Mayo. After his Mercedes was repossessed, Spencer insisted the tow yard near Rathdrum was on public property and he had permission to enter it (by crawling under a fence June 24). Mayo felt he did not. Deputy Dawgs weren’t sure. So Mayo took action. Afterward, Spencer swapped digs with Merry Hucksters re: his brief stay at the county jail. “Since you have been on the inside,” quipped Berry Picker “Joker” to Spencer, “does Kootenai County need a bigger jail or not?” Said Spencer, “Maybe, but not the part I was in.” Which prompted Joker to ask Spencer: “What’s your prison nickname? Slick, the Hair? Grease Lightning? The Whistleblower? Watchdog? How was the grub? Did you pull a maggot out and feed it to a blackbird? Did you see any guards swiping Oxycontin pills?” During booking, Spencer said, jailers asked him to run his fingers through his “superman hair” and to note any enemies he might have at the jail. To which he said he was pretty sure that (commissioner- turned-jailer) Gus Johnson didn’t like him. ’Tis hard not to like a guy who can laugh at himself at a time like that. Pre-emptive strike

I received an e-mail in my inbox recently from a reader inquiring, “Who has the best all-you-can-eat Friday fish fry in the Cd’A area?” This reminded me of a friend of mine from Wisconsin, who asked me the same question when he first moved to town. I have a feeling this reader must also be from Wisconsin since as far as I can tell, the idea of the traditional Friday fish fry seems to be at its height of popularity almost exclusively in the church basements, cafeterias and diners of cities like Milwaukee and Wauwatosa and every town in between.

A string of sunny and 80-degree days is perfect for a lot of things. It is great for boaters on area lakes, for kids at the local pools, and for meteorologists who like to take a break from the rigors of complex forecasting patterns. As always, however, there is a price to pay. Every hot and dry day contributes to the drying out of surrounding vegetation. It is this time of year, under conditions like these, in which we are only one windstorm or lightning bolt away from devastating wildfires.

Filings from May 22-28 Chapter 7 (liquidation petitions)

At the foot of Farragut State Park lies a small, unincorporated town called Bayview. Sitting at the end of Scenic Bay on Lake Pend Oreille, most days one can hear a pin drop or maybe a lawnmower putt-putting in the distance. Eight miles east of Highway 95, sailboats fly across the bay and the occasional fishing boat slowly crosses back and forth hoping to catch one of those bounty fish, either trout or mackinaw. The heads are worth $15 apiece from Idaho Fish and Game as the state tries to rescue the kokanee fishery.

Coeur d’Alene Phllip Motl, 1504 E. Coeur d’Alene Ave., garage/shop, valued at $10,000.

For 06-28-2009

Falls Christian Assembly – Sunday School for all ages, 9:45 a.m. Sunday morning service, 10:45 a.m. “Crocodile Dock,” new summer family program, Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m.; Wednesday adult Bible study, Ignite Youth Group and Kids Action Club, 7 p.m. at the church at 1687 E. Horsehaven Ave. (208) 773-4722.

It’s Hoopfest weekend, and fortunately players and spectators alike will be able to enjoy some summer sun without dealing with the scorching heat. Last year, the three-on-three basketball tournament saw its warmest temperatures ever, as afternoon readings soared into the upper 90s. The high for June 28, 2008, was 97 degrees, just one degree shy of tying the record of 98 set back in 1939. Average highs this time of year are in the upper 70s, with average lows in the lower 50s.

The third annual “Pedalin’ for Project Health,” sponsored by the Panhandle Public Health Foundation, will be July 18. The event raises money toward projects that benefit public health in Idaho’s five northern counties.

The late Malcolm Forbes once said: “He who dies with the most toys wins.” But I would suggest otherwise after spotting an old familiar face while biking home recently. At Garden Avenue and torn-up Fourth Street, I saw Bob Hough walking home with his sweetheart of 59 years. Bob was the voice of KVNI (before “newcomer” Dick Haugen replaced him in the early 1990s). Before then, he was a DJ known as “Bubblehead Bob.” Now, he’s a proud grandfather. You may have heard of his two grandkids: TV’s “Dancing with the Stars” pros Derek and Julianne Hough. Julianne is also a budding country western singer and screen star. Bob was as eager to talk about the grandkids as I was to ask about them. Julianne had been a presenter and nominee at the country music awards the night before. As for her brother, Bob and his wife were still miffed that Derek and Lil’ Kim hadn’t finished ahead of “that cowboy” (rodeo star Ty Murray) in the latest competition. Bob and I caught up on many things ’ere I pedaled off, thinking that a man has to consider himself a winner if, at 82, he still has a loving wife by his side. He has left his mark on the community. He has kids nearby. He has lived to see his grandkids prosper. Wind-blown look

Lake City High School recently announced the second semester honor roll. Students are listed by grade level. Seniors