He May Push Envelope But He Doesn’t Wet It
NASA astronaut Tom Jones’ two shuttle flights and jetfighter experience didn’t prepare him for Priest River Elementary School. Jones was fielding questions from his starstruck Priest River fans last week when a tyke raised her hand. Asked she: “The first time you went up in the shuttle, were you so scared that you peed your pants?” (Zounds! What are these kids learning nowadays?) While teachers shot the youngun’ looks that could kill, Jones stammered, Well, ah, uhm … no. After regaining his composure, Jones said he gets butterflies in his stomach (but they never leak out).
Just say ‘no’: Tax activist Ron Rankin got a thanksbut-no-thanks when he tried to make a silent bid before the annual Post Falls chamber auction. Chamber manager Kim Brown and crew were interested in Rankin’s greenbacks until they found out what he wanted: those large “No” signs, with bright red lettering, used to defeat “Yer Ol’ Buddy Ron’s” tax-deferral initiative. The chamber exec didn’t want them surfacing at the next school bond or override election. Smart gal.
Fan mail: CdA’s Jan Patrick responded to the Huckleberry about Schweitzer’s “pubic” trails, advertised for days in a Sandpoint paper. Wrote she: “Years ago, when the CdA public library was at Seventh and Lakeside, a large outside sign for months said, ‘Coeur d’Alene Pubic Library.’ (I guess someone had gotten the ‘L’ out of there).” … CdA barrister Scott Reed sends along a New York Times article telling how British Parliament members love to savage one another. Sharp-tongued Benjamin Disraeli, for example, was ordered in the last century to withdraw his declaration that half the Cabinet were asses. “Mr. Speaker, I withdraw,” was Disraeli’s response. “Half the Cabinet are not asses.” Ah, the good ol’ days.
Broke the camera? Apparently, “Pressure Point” hasn’t been the same since Brand X gunslinger David Bond and I appeared on the initial Cablevision program three weeks ago. The second show, featuring new Kootenai County Commissioners Dick Compton and Dick Panabaker, began airing three minutes into the broadcast. And the Feb. 24 program with KGA’s talk-show host Richard Clear didn’t air at all. No telling what happened Friday. Stay tuned. … Quotable Quote: Panabaker and Compton made a rookie mistake recently in approving an industrial zone change without sewer hookup. So says Kootenai County planning commissioner Jon Mueller. They’d promised planners to follow the comprehensive plan. Said Mueller: “They’re not smart enough - or stupid enough - to sit in that meeting and lie to us.” Huh?
Huckleberries: Astronaut Jones made it to Priest River, but his NASA uniform didn’t. You see, Denver’s new bazillion-dollar airport sits between Jones’ home near Houston control in Texas and points north. And now Jones’ suitcase with his uniform in it does, too. … Flash from the Bonner County Bee “News of Record” from Feb. 28: “Chris Grandchamp of Newport reported at 12:12 p.m. that his girlfriend’s husband taught their kids how to make and detonate pipebombs.” That item gives new meaning to the phrase, “explosive situation.” … No thanks, my cholesterol level’s too high now: A Goodyear ad in the Feb. 22 issue of the CdA Press invites readers to “stop by & receive our Courtesy Lard.”
Parting shot: Superintendent of Schools Anne Fox has suffered so much negative publicity that it’s easy to overlook her good side. Fox was a wonderful promoter for Children’s Village. And she celebrates Halloween by dressing in various, outrageous costumes. Then, there was the time she earned $65 for an auction by (Whoa, Nelly!) whinnying. That last piece of info for inquiring minds comes from the Women’s Forum newsletter article, “Crazy Things Professional Women Do.” (For some reason, it had no mention of Anne’s first two months in office.)
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