Montanan’S Species Remarks A Bit Spotty
Congressman “Give-‘em-Helen” Chenoweth’s recent CdA powwow on backcountry roads attracted a speaker from Montana’s Flathead Valley, my old stamping ground. The Flathead, he said, was “home to the spotted grizzly, spotted grey wolf and soon-to-be spotted bull trout.” Bull trout, which may join spotted owls, bears and wolves on the endangered species list, must deserve protection. Why else would a Montanan not know they really do have spots?
Harrowing Harvey
While cross-examining police informant Bob Lane during a murder-for-hire trial, bombastic defense attorney Harvey Richman confessed: “I can be pretty annoying.” The packed courtroom chuckled when Lane fired back: “That’s your job.” Richman: “Am I doing a good job?” Lane: “Yes.” More laughter. Finally, Deputy Prosecutor Joel Hazel objected, complaining that Richman’s questions were irrelevant. First District Judge Gary Haman agreed but added they were “interesting, though.”
FYI
KXLY Broadcasting Group bought Duane, er, make that Todd Hagadone’s two radio stations (KHTQ-FM and KVNI-AM) for $2.5 million and change. This, according to a bloodhound who said Papa H handled negotiations, although (wink, wink) he hasn’t been involved with the stations since he gave them up to avoid a monopoly violation … K-103’s John Rook, Dick Clark and Casey Kasem will be featured in Los Angeles this week as Top 40 radio pioneers. Big John headed legendary radio stations in Chicago and Los Angeles before moving to Mica Flats and later doing battle with the HagaStations.
Yearbook hubbub
A Lake City High parent was ticked that the cover of his kid’s $35 yearbook featured a black-and-white photo of The Coeur d’Alene. The Mad Daddy couldn’t figure out what the resort had to do with LCHS. Apparently, Castle Greyskull made the cover after censors rejected as inappropriate a shot of a student’s back with a tattoo that read: “Leave Your Mark” … A young flatfoot who answered an S.O.S. call last week was amazed to find a 1-1/2-foot boa in Paul Bunyan’s lot. Undaunted, the CPD Blue nudged Sir Hiss into a plastic container and took him downtown. Last seen, the snake was basking in artificial light at Duncan’s Pet Shop - just alookin’ for a home. Anyone?
Huckleberries
So, North Idaho College has upgraded its deans to vice presidents? Spokesflak Steve Schenk, for example, now is the “vice president for college relations and development.” Would you think any more of me if I called myself the “vice president of North Idaho editorial comment and other nonsense”? I thought so. Onward … New GOP precinct committeemen were surprised Tuesday when they received certificates from Democratic County Clerk Dan English - notifying them they’d been elected to the Democratic Central Committee. Hey, if you can’t field a full slate of candidates, draft them … Rumorama: Those new booths that allow residents to sit while voting caused a commotion. Rumor had it that Democrats were allowed to sit while Republicans stood at the Worley precinct. Not true, says English. But the problem should clear up by November when enough new booths will be available to permit us all to enjoy our constitutional right to vote while sitting … FYI: Jason Felton, the Hayden Lake police chief, has been driving a borrowed Post Falls police car because (drum roll, please) he backed his own into a pole.
Parting shot
So, you think your health maintenance organization listens and cares? Ahaha. Recently, Pam Massey fielded a call from a Group Health representative who asked to speak to her daughter, Sarah. The caller wanted Sarah to complete a survey. When Pam informed him that Sarah was 5, she was asked to answer several questions for the tyke: Is Sarah married? Is Sarah divorced? Separated? And on and on. And doesn’t that sum up what’s wrong with health care today?