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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Flier Sends Callers Barking Up Wrong Tree

D.F. Oliveria The Spokesman-Rev

Recently, area tree huggers tried to drum up interest in a proposed land trade between the U.S. Forest Service and Plum Creek Timber Co. for acreage up the St. Joe. So, they circulated a press release urging people to call the St. Joe Ranger District. Only problem: They gave the wrong telephone number for the ranger district. The poor sap whose number was listed must have been inundated with calls. His answering machine told people calling about the Mosquito-Fly land trade they had the wrong number and then gave the right number. Tsk, tsk. And the greenies say the Forest Service makes mistakes.

Duh! Stick ‘em up

Khris Bershers, aide to Congressman Helen Chenoweth, admitted she had time on her hands when she faxed along a list of stupid criminals tricks making the rounds at Capitol Hill. My favorite comes from Arizona: “A company called “Guns for Hire” stages gunfights for Western movies, etc. One day, it received a call from a 47-year-old woman, who wanted to have her husband killed. She got 4-1/2 years.” … Do you suppose Khris heard of the Coeur d’Loonian who called the cops recently to report someone had stolen $15 worth of marijuana from his apartment?

Repent!

Mike Verbillis, a Fernan councilman and president of the Idaho Trial Lawyers Association, didn’t fare well in a Lewiston Tribune editorial either. His tantrum over his dog’s unrecognized right to run free earned Verbillis this headline Tuesday: “Idaho’s latest lawyer joke really leaves ‘em howling.” … The Verbillis’ story has a happy ending, though. On Thursday, a penitent Mike apologized in person to pet shelter employees and Sheriff Pierce Clegg for the outburst chronicled on our news pages. He also handed Clegg a letter, which said in part: “I acted childishly, and I very deeply regret my conduct.” The apology was accepted. …The Way: Fernan Mayor Mary Ann Tierney, who made a cameo appearance in the Verbillis’ controversy, starred in her own Huckleberry last Jan. 29. Remember? She got kudos for this: “When two dogs fell through Fernan Lake’s ice recently, she (Tierney) rushed to the owner’s home, introduced herself and offered to help. We need more of that.” …The Way II: An Idaho Statesman feature about local-boy-makes-good Bruce Reed, a Clinton policy adviser, points out that sister Tara and he started the Fernan Hill Times at ages 9 and 6, respectively. Circulation peaked at 30. Pat Flammia, a neighbor and professional artist, designed the banner but said Reed rejected it because “he didn’t think it was good enough.”

Huckleberries

It was nice that city crews posted those “closed” signs on Tubbs Hill - after the major danger from falling trees had passed. … Bumpersnicker on a pickup with Montana plates: “Two terms - one in office, one in prison.” … Hizzoner Sighting: Steve Sibulsky reports running into former Mayor-for-Life Ray Stone a couple of weeks ago at Simon’s Do-It Center. Hizzoner indicated he might be leaving the area but wouldn’t elaborate other than to say: “It’s going to be someplace where you don’t need a snow shovel.” Any other Stone sightings? … It’s My 2 Cents: Kudos to choir directors at area schools, from grade school to college, for resisting ACLU pressure to exclude Christmas carols from winter pageants. … Kudos also to North Idaho College students for naming a scholarship in honor of the late Ken Kohli, the 1980-81 student president. Ken, Al Hall and Seth Diamond were killed in a plane wreck south of Libby last August. My thoughts and prayers are with their families this first Christmas without them.

Parting shot

Yikes! This column has been interrupted by a visit from Santa Claus (who sounds a lot like Lloyd Mosher). Kootenai County Democrats sent him to my corner office on Northwest Boulevard to tell me I’ve been naughty this year. I guess that means I get a lump of coal in my stocking - again. The streak continues.

, DataTimes MEMO: Gotta Huckleberry? Call the Huckleberry Hound Hotline: (800) 344-6718 or (208) 765-7125; daveo@spokesman.com.

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = D.F. Oliveria The Spokesman-Review

Gotta Huckleberry? Call the Huckleberry Hound Hotline: (800) 344-6718 or (208) 765-7125; daveo@spokesman.com.

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = D.F. Oliveria The Spokesman-Review