Long Beach? It’s A Long Walk To Parking Spot

D L. Martin of Hayden was puzzled but amused when he was mailed a $17 parking ticket from the city of Long Beach, Calif. Seems the Long Beach gendarmes had caught him parking his red 1925 Star too long on Feb. 28. D.L. does own a 1925 Star, a yellow-and-black one. But it was in winter storage in North Idaho at the time of the alleged violation - under 12 inches of snow. Besides, the car is too fragile to make a trip to Southern California. So, what gives? D.L. can’t tell if he’s the victim of a practical joke or if Long Beach has come up with a novel way to raise revenue. Stay tuned.

Two thumbs up

A Coeur d’Alene woman, working as a movie extra in Wallace for “Dante’s Peak,” struck up a conversation with Pierce Brosnan during a shooting break. Her take on the actor? “He’s yummy.” Don’t they feed the help over there? … Hmmm. There’s a lookout in the Kootenai National Forest, south of Trout Creek, Mont., that up to four people can rent for $25 each. But the 1996 Northern Region Recreational Cabin and Lookout Directory didn’t say why it’s called Sex Peak. Maybe the bureaucrats wanted to taunt middle-aged males. … A Rose Lake subscriber and his son chuckled when a waitress penned luncheon specials at the Chuck Wagon last week. Seems “potatos” were on the menu. Where’s Dan Quayle when you need him?

Wedding bell greens

I hope Patricia Graham-Hersrud is enjoying marital bliss now, after that shaky start November before last. She went to a local beauty shop to have her hair dyed before her Hawaii honeymoon and wound up with green locks and a burned scalp. Her injured scalp prevented her from going near the chlorine during her honeymoon. Now, adding insult to injury, a judge has thrown out her lawsuit against the salon. Pat, hang in there. You’ve survived some of the “for-worse” part of your vows already. … A Sandpoint subscriber who scrutinizes the typographically impaired Bonner County Daily Bee was surprised recently to read there’s a “Center for Endangered Felonies” and a double buck saw really is an “ax.” … I’ve been remiss not to extend kudos to Bonner County Clerk Marie Scott and her crew for finishing primary ballot counting at 10:45 p.m. May 28. That was nine hours and 15 minutes earlier than in 1994. The difference? Marie now has a $20,000 ballot counter affectionately known as “The Terminator” - because it can end an incumbent’s term in office. Sa-a-a-alute.

Huckleberries

Hmmm. Wonder what the Priest River Chamber of Commerce thinks about that Idaho Department of Commerce promotion of Priest Lake on its Internet home page? You know, the one that talks up mackinaws, the nearby Roosevelt Grove of Ancient Cedars and “a remote beauty that rivals more developed Lake Tahoe” - then tells tourists to contact the Bonners Ferry CofC, across the mountain, for more info. … Now that Montana’s freemen are safely behind bars, there’s a move afoot to count North Idaho’s loons next month. FBI? Nope. Northern Idaho Audubon Society. And the bird watchers would appreciate your help. … Bumpersnicker: Who’s “Ethel from Athol” who drives around with the personalized plate: “MS SHER”? And what does it all mean? … Dave Newman, arguably the hardest-nosed newsman I’ve ever known, sends notice that he’s now practicing law on his own in Redmond, Wash. How the mighty have fallen.

Parting shot

Okay, Mont Hibbard of Lewiston won 150 silver dollars by buying the ticket that correctly guessed how long it’d take the gyro ball to run its Lead Creek course: 3:58.08. But who won the other contest? You know, the one where Silver Valley notables, primed with beer, race on a railroad speeder car to Mullan, unzip and see who can make their mark the highest up a whitewashed wall. (Inquiring minds want to know these things.) Stay tuned.

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

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