Free Speech Takes A Beating From Tax Laws

Two weeks ago, the North Idaho College Foundation drafted a letter demanding the resignation of trustees Jeanne Givens, Barbara Chamberlain and Bob Ely. In part, the letter said the foundation couldn’t raise funds in this community while the three remained in office. As you recall, the NIC board triggered a community fire storm by forcing President Bob Bennett to resign. Afterward, two trustees who couldn’t take the heat quit. And the foundation began writing letters. A letter to the editor praising Bennett was printed. But the drop-dead letter was withdrawn after a surviving trustee suggested shrewdly that it might jeopardize the foundation’s nonprofit status. N-P groups aren’t suppose to lobby for or against candidates. An attorney said the matter was a “gray area,” but the foundation didn’t want to take any chances. Now, you know.

Trustees 2, foundation 0

The NIC Foundation wrote a third letter endorsing former trustee Norm Gissel for one of the two vacancies created by the resignations. That letter also was pulled to protect the foundation’s nonprofit status. So much for free speech at NIC. … It’s My 2 Cents: In seeking an NIC trustee post, successful applicant W.W. Nixon submitted an unimpressive resume to the Three Mouseketeers. First, he misspelled the name of NIC official Steve Schenk (not “Shank”) in the address; then, in a brief paragraph, he said he wouldn’t seek election next year. Maybe this was one of those contests you won by writing 50 words or less. It shouldn’t have been. … Cheer up, Jeanne, Barbara and Bob; I have another week’s vacation coming up at the end of August.

Just the facts, ma’am

A USA Weekend editor called last week looking for the whoopee-cushion man who claimed Coeur d’Alene proper has 40 golf courses and 400 antique shops. (In its dreams.) She’d seen a Huckleberry poking fun at the national news magazine for printing the misinformation and wasn’t very happy. Stay tuned. … After months of eating fermented cabbage and food that moves, former S-R colleague Rich Roesler e-mails from South Korea: “My kingdom for a Franklin’s hoagie (among the planet’s best food).” Rich has lost 20 pounds since joining the Stars & Stripes staff in December. … Hmmm. I wonder if NIC alumni director Dawn Atwater ever found that streaker she was looking for? Seems Dawn wants an actor who’s willing to appear (briefly) in a taupecolored leotard as part of a ‘70s-era skit at the First All College Reunion. Anyone?

Huckleberries

June Cleaver isn’t the only one who prefers to work in pearls. A Bunny Leaguer named Danni on Coeur d’Alene’s Topper Too team was stylin’ last week with a set of faux pearls - under her catcher’s gear. Chic. Yet, not overdone. Can anyone tell me her last name? … Bumpersnicker at the Aerial Fire Depot in Missoula (aka the U.S. Forest Service smokejumper base): “D.B. Cooper was not a smokejumper.” … The low point of my recent vacation was when a Burger King counter girl failed to warn me that the 99-cent Whopper was no more. … For $950, plus deposit, M-T Management offered a Spokane Valley rancher Monday to people who had “no smoking pets.” Do you suppose the classified got any bites? … Attorney Scott Reed, whose Mondays are only blue when he sees his name in Huckleberries, spotted this Tysonese c’mon on Super 1’s billboard: “Nibble An Ear Tonight.”

Parting shot

My bloodhounds tell me that the KKZX-FM’s Radio Men were slamming Idaho more than usual last week. Seems one overblown deejaybird bantered he had to spend the Fourth in in-bred Idaho with guys named Russell who spelled their names eight different ways and vomited. He complained he’d be cleaning up vomit while his radio partner was golfing in Spokane. Hyuck, hyuck. Such is the fare that passes for intelligent thought in cultured Spokane. , 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