A Silver Lining In Dark Cloud Over Geography

The National Geographic Society leaves little to chance when promoting its annual geography bee. Consider the generic news release it sent to local schools: “A (your grade level) student at (your school name) school has been selected as a winner of the (your school name) school geography bee.” Etc. The society developed the bee to encourage the study of geography. It’s ironic the Coeur d’Alene School Board recently dropped world geography as a graduation requirement. Still, there is a silver lining here. The name that filled in the blanks as 1997 state winner was Coeur d’Alene’s Victor McFarland. S-a-a-lute.

Give ‘em Helen:

U.S. Rep. Helen Chenoweth was among some dozen female Republican lawmakers who huddled Tuesday with House Speaker Newt Gingrich. Their problem? They discussed “why Democratic women are refusing to talk out against President Clinton.” U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., for example, blasted Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and former Sen. Bob Packwood, R-Ore., for their behavior toward women. But she has ignored Bill Clinton’s endless scandals. Helen & Friends don’t want to attract fire from the White House attack machine. So they’re being cautious. Stay tuned.

Mark, is that you?

Betsy Roberts was gabbing with a Vandeford’s bookstore clerk when a man pushed past her and ran upstairs. He didn’t bother to excuse himself as he climbed toward the store’s bathroom. Ere he rushed out of sight, Roberts recognized the familiar face from the O.J. maxi-series: Mark Fuhrman. Said Betsy, “Maybe if I get big and famous, I can push people around, too.”

Gotcha

Occasionally, a freshman lawmaker is permitted to direct state Senate debate from Lt. Gov. Butch Otter’s chair. Last week, Bob Lee, R-Rexburg, got his chance. Immediately, he was swamped with phone calls. Hey, Bob, whispered veteran lawmakers from their desks, your fly is unzipped. Lee squirmed and turned red. State Sen. Gordon Crow, R-Hayden, said it was the first time he’d seen the trick work. … Two North Idaho College Sentinel staffers are $75 poorer after retreating to a San Francisco hotel bathroom for “a little privacy” during a journalism conference. Seems the toilet seat didn’t survive their amorous embrace. … Driver of the Coeur d’Alene school bus No. 14 got motorists’ attention at 3 p.m. Tuesday by running the red light at Ramsey and Appleway. Be careful out there.

Huckleberries

The Coeur d’Alene Press and The Idaho Spokesman-Review rarely agree. Take the recent domestic spat that landed Brand X Publisher Jim Thompson in jail. Ple-e-ease. The police reported Jim’s age at 45 (as of March 11). But the Press said he was 50. Now, that’s adding insult to injury. … An Idaho Statesman series says the character of the 1st Congressional District varies from “rock-ribbed Republican cowboys on the Nevada border to liberal strongholds in the forest towns just south of Canada.” Liberal strongholds? Up here? Ahaha. … Little Miss Snowflake and Snow Gent 1998 was canceled Saturday for lack of interest. And snow? … Are things getting nasty between the city and the Coeur d’Alene Police Association or what? Consider: Last week, City Hall fielded its first call from someone who wanted to know how to recall Mayor Steve Judy. The honeymoon is over. … Hats off to Steve Thornton, the brains behind Kootenai County’s balanced budgets who is moving to New Hampshire on Wednesday to be near family - not to support Pat Buchanan’s presidential bid in 2000, as county Commissioner Ron Rankin insists.

Parting shot

Coeur d’Alene businesswoman Nancy Lynne was surprised when she wasn’t mailed free tickets to the annual Awsum Auction. Usually, she gets the tickets without asking after making a significant donation to the chamber of commerce fund-raiser. But not this year. It could be an oversight. Or it could have something to do with Nancy’s criticism of chamber support for a northwest Montana mine project. You be the judge.

, DataTimes MEMO: Got a Huckleberry? Call the Huckleberry Hound Hotline at (800) 344-6718 or (208) 765-7125 or send e-mail to daveo@spokesman.com.

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