An Accident Just Waiting To Happen
So, you’re wondering which hurts the most: kidney stones, broken ribs or a gunshot wound? Well, Idaho News Observer publisher Paul Friend was partial to kidney stones - until he broke his ribs in a holiday car wreck. He also has been grazed by a bullet after being caught in the middle of a South American revolution. But he wasn’t that impressed. However, his wife, who also was injured in the yuletide crash, sides with gunshot wounds. Last year, she accidentally shot herself in the chest. What are these two going to do for an encore in ‘98?
Little big shots
In the grand scheme of things, our big shots aren’t that big. Only nine North Idahoans are listed among “The 100 Most Influential Idahoans of 1998,” compiled by Ridenbaugh Press. And none higher than No. 11 (Duane Hagadone). Gov. Phil Batt, of course, heads the pack. North Idaho checks in at Nos. 15 (Harry Magnuson), 19 (Bonner County Commissioner Jack Buell), 43 (presidential aide Bruce Reed), 49 (mine executive Dennis Wheeler), 55 (Democrats Mary Lou and Scott Reed), 78 (Coeur d’Alene bingo casino director David Matheson), 86 (Kootenai County Commissioner Ron Rankin) and 98 (timber lobbyist Joe Hinson). Boise residents dominate the list. Of course.
To be or not
Cybermail from the University of Idaho on Friday offered “100 Reasons It’s Great to Be a Guy.” Among my favorites were Nos. 1 (phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat), 7 (your bathroom lines are 80 percent shorter), 32 (your underwear is $10 for a three-pack), 70 (gray hair and wrinkles add character) and 96 (you don’t have to remember everyone’s birthdays and anniversaries). I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Road kill
At Lakeland School District’s Invention Convention, one student apparently can’t get enough MTV. Why else would he design a helmet that allows riders to watch television while biking? What do you mean he wants to be the next Dr. Kevorkian? … Huckleberries couldn’t watch Friday as a young woman in a power suit and high heels inched across 20 feet of ice outside Hayden’s new Burger King. This, while talking on a cellular phone. Obviously, she thought those 99-cent Whoppers were worth the risk. … Overheard in the Kootenai County assessor’s office Friday: one of the hired hands describing a phone conversation with her son’s principal. Seems the pedagogue had berated her for the poor job she’d done raising junior - until she asked to speak to Phillip. After a pause, the principal responded, “Phillip?” You got it. Wrong kid. And there goes another satisfied public school patron.
Huckleberries
Most legislators got handshakes from Gov. Phil Batt after his final State of the State speech. But state Rep. Jim Stoicheff received a hug. Such is the Republican governor’s respect for the venerable Sandpoint Democrat. … FYI: All the Republicans are waiting to see which elective seat Larry Belmont seeks this year. The ex-Panhandle Health District director has spent the past few months contemplating whether a Democrat can win in Republican Kootenai County. This, after he gave up his day job. … Fred Glienna has accepted the unenviable task of helping revive Kootenai County’s Democrats as the new president of their club luncheons Fridays. We’ll know in November if he can beat life into that dead horse - er, donkey. … The threshold for landing a proclamation can’t be high when the governor declares US West Phone Book Recycling Month. … Occasionally, my mind wanders to the vanity plate I saw while motoring through Spokane: “PUREXTC.”
Parting shot
Silver Lake Mall managers saw red when shopkeeper Lynne Hutton told The Spokesman-Review about the tough steps she takes to stop shoplifters. Sometimes, she chases them through her store. Wouldn’t you? If more merchants were as aggressive, we customers wouldn’t be subsidizing shoplifting by paying higher prices. Lynne deserves an “attagirl,” not a tongue-lashing.
Got a Huckleberry? Call the Huckleberry Hound hot line at (800) 344-6718 or (208) 765-7125 or send e-mail to daveo@spokesman.com.
, DataTimes The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = D.F. Oliveria The Spokesman-Review