Halloween Horror Raises Few Hackles

Huckleberries sent its A-Team to investigate an anonymous complaint that a Halloween yard display in Post Falls was over the top. We found: a hearse, an electric chair, blood, graves, fake female body parts and a guillotine. The caller claimed that such gore would keep people from moving to North Idaho. But we couldn’t find anyone who opposed the display. In fact, kids in the ‘hood liked the scary stuff. The house had become a favorite stopping spot on the way home. P’haps gore is in the eye of the beholder, too.

At the symphony

Yeah, that was racist Richard Butler, front row and center with “a woman half his age” (according to a Berry Picker), enjoying the Coeur d’Alene Symphony Orchestra Oct. 21. Reports the BP: “There were no chants, signs of disrespect or Sieg Heils, just some very enjoyable music by our great group of local musicians” … As you may know, the symphony offers a program that provides free tickets to music students. The tickets cost the orchestra $2 apiece. Or $2,800 for the season.

Which worried those handling the books - until John and Tom Richards bankrolled the entire amount. Saaalute.

A dollar short

Tongue firmly cheeked, Commissioner Ron Rankin circulated this memo last week: “Due to an anticipated voter turnout much larger than originally expected, the polling facilities may not be able to handle the load all at once. Therefore, Republicans are requested to vote on Tuesday and Democrats on Wednesday” … Who was that masked man who anonymously bought dinner at Chili’s for two ISP troopers Thursday? Sez one of the officers: “After a rough week, it was a very pleasant and uplifting surprise” … If Democrat Mike Stine doesn’t get a day job as a county commissioner, he could always try to make it on the karaoke circuit. Huckleberries hears he sings an interesting “Amarillo by Morning.”

Old habits die hard

File this one under - “You Can Take the Boy Out of the Democratic Party, But You Can’t Take the Democrat Out of the Boy”: In disclosing his election night plans to the Huckleberry Hound, Democrat-turned-Republican Sheriff Rocky Watson said: “(We) Democrats are meeting at the senior center” … Reporter Tom Clouse picked up some bad habits while covering the Aryan Nations trial. That’s the only way to explain why he attended the staff Halloween party dressed as an FBI agent disguised as a journalist … So, which politician is most admired by Bonner County candidates? Harry Truman. During endorsement interviews, five wannabes named Ol’ Harry when asked about their polical hero, including commissioner hopefuls Dale Van Stone, Jerry Clemons and Seth Batt. Good pick.

Huckleberries

Hear ye, hear ye. Mayor Steve Judy has reduced his office hours to one day a week, Tuesdays, from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. That should improve service and morale at City Hall … Huckleberries hears that Judy and Police Chief Tom Cronin are crossways about officer pay. Earth to Boy Mayor: Don’t make us choose between you two … A leader in the drive to torpedo Magistrate Gene Marano’s retention bid heard me say on KVNI-AM that an IS-R endorsement is worth 300 to 500 votes. So, he called to say he’d plunked down another $500 for radio ads to offset our support for Marano. We may differ on Marano. But I admire his spunk … It’s too close to the election to reveal who said the following about whom: “He’s not even qualified to carry my cat poo out the door” … Bumpersnicker: “Sure you can trust the government, just ask an Indian” … That must have been a new empty-nester in that red Chrysler convertible with the vanity plates: “KIDSRGN” … Because You Asked (KMC radiology department): Businesses that have operated at the current site of Tomato Street on Appleway are: Little Big Men Pizza, Gladys of Idaho, County Fair, Swackhammers, Rocky Rococo, Bonanza and Tomato Street, formerly known as Tomato Bros. Did I miss any?

Parting shot

A colleague believes I should tweak Arrow Point for serving derailers. And I quote: “Even if these huge buckets of booze were always shared by four to six people, it makes a really bad statement. And to serve one, especially an `enhanced’ one, to two people is nothing short of irresponsible. Especially at a marina-based restaurant.” And there you have it.