Passenger Sure Flirted With Danger

Initially, Kellogg’s Jessica Fuller said she’d been distracted and then something ran in front of her Isuzu. P’haps a deer. That’s why she crashed Sept. 30. This, according to the Idaho News Observer. But the dear of interest here was the one flirting with her. Fuller later admitted to the cops she was distracted by Kirk Neal blowing into her ear. That made her turn the wheel, hit the brakes and roll the car - not follow him anywhere. She, for example, didn’t follow Neal to the hospital, where he ended up with no memory of the impulse that put him there. Alas.

Apple core, Baltimore

CHS principal Steve Casey didn’t know an apple tree grew near Viking Field until football player Chris Goodwin was leveled by a crab apple Sept. 29. Now, Steve plans to do his best George Washington imitation to make sure other punks don’t get their hands on the apples … At the CHS/Clarkston football game Friday, announcer Mike Nelson was praising tailback Paul Ziegler for breaking two school records by scoring six touchdowns and being crowned homecoming king. Only he said “queen.” After a pause, he added: “Why not? He’s got everything else tonight” … CHS’d better hide that “Viking Pride” gym sign from Character City bashers. You know, the one sprinkled with words like “responsibility,” “respect,” “integrity” and “honesty.”

Right or wrong?

The Buzz in Post Falls is the city has gone too far in raising funds for Tara Lacelle. That it should let service clubs sponsor events for residents with catastrophic illnesses or injuries. In this case, the city is accepting checks and administering a fund for Lacelle. Lacelle, of course, is the young woman who was paralyzed after she was shot accidentally, allegedly by a drunk in the next apartment. Are the critics right? Or are they small-hearted? Anyone? … Post Falls Mayor Gus Johnson recalled why he’s not suppose to look at a welding arc, when he did and burned his retina. Hence, the sunglasses.

Awl heart

NIC’s Jim McLeod sends along documentation that challenges popular myths about the origin of the name Coeur d’Alene. The best story out there - and the one that made the city’s new Web site - is that Coeur d’Alene (or “heart of an awl”) was the name given by fur traders to local Indians because of their sharp trading practices. But David Thompson knew of the name when he arrived in 1809 to establish the first trading posts. In 1978, historian Albert W. Thompson said: “We must have the courage to say that we do not know who originated the name, nor why.”

Fan mail

George Abelhanz liked the idea of putting a meth lab on Idaho’s millennium quarter to symbolize Gem State life. But he had a better one: “Maybe having the grim reaper alongside Highway 95 would be more appropriate” … Kellogg attorney Jay Sturges has been here long enough to know that “Pend Oreille” is not pronounced “pinned-oralee” … Yet, you can’t come down too hard on a guy who subs as a deputy prosecutor to help out the shorthanded county office.

Huckleberries

Call that 800 number in the yellow pages of the GTE, er, Verizon phone book for Knudtsen’s Chevrolet - and fasten your seat belt. Hot girls? Shazam … Last week, Mayor Steve Judy stood up state planners who met in CdA for their annual gabfest. The Boy Mayor was supposed to welcome them. But Girl Friday Victoria Bruno showed up a few minutes late to offer his ap-hollow-gies instead … In an open letter against Magistrate Gene Marano’s re-election bid, Chad Bennett concludes: “An arrogant and impartial judge is a threat to our democracy.” Really? … Councilmaniac Darlene Ferrians was talking to this paper about a Hayden project when she said: “You know, I could go to the Coeur d’Alene Press.” Us: “Yeah, if you want your name misspelled.” Brand X recently dubbed her “Farrians” … That mug shot identified as Naples’ Carol Arthur in the Bonners Ferry Herald Wednesday sure looks a lot like talk-show host Montel Williams … Ted Pulver, the independent sheriff wannabe, got several dirty looks for handing out campaign literature at that Race for the Cure run/walk, a breast cancer benefit.

Parting shot

At the Pro-West rodeo at the fairgrounds, it was nice that the announcer called the crowd’s attention to our front page Oct. 1. On that Sunday, we ran a photo of saddle bronc rider Kalia Mussell being tossed from her horse. But it would have been nicer still if the announcer hadn’t identified us as The Idaho Statesman.