Ironwoman gives kudos to CdA cheering section

Watching Kiwi Lynley Allison lead Ironwomen across the CdA finish line excited the home crowd. But she was just as amazed – by the crowd. On her Web site, she described crowd support at race central as “amazing.” And: “The people in Coeur d’Alene have really embraced this event, still only in its 2nd year.” After failing to finish the Disney Half Marathon five weeks ago, she was more nervous entering Ironman CdA than she’d been before any of the other mega-triathlons. She came out of the water fourth among the femmes and took the lead in the 120-mile bike leg. She tells of the finish line: “The home straight was an unbelievable sight. A nice gradual descent made it a fast and easy run down towards the packed grandstands. It would have to be the best finishing chute I have been through in 9 Ironman finishes, not only because I was winning my first IM race, but due to the intense noise and excitement!” You’ve done it again, Coeur d’Alene.

Stolen Kiss

The story about computer repairman Steven Allen Moyer, 40, who kissed a client and made her cry to police has made the rounds. National Public Radio aired it. As did Florida’s WFTV.com, Channel 9, which polled readers about the not guilty verdict handed down by a six-member Kootenai County jury. WFTV Question: “Do you think what this man did – cornered the woman, grabbed her and kissed her twice – should be considered a crime?” Moyer’s lucky he didn’t pull his little stunt in Florida. Fifty-four percent (or 4,126 of 7,623) said he committed a crime. Thirty-five percent said he didn’t. And 11 percent wanted his phone number.

Backped-Al:

Remember Al French’s angry defense before the Spokane City Council of his prominent role in Spokane client Tom Hamilton’s boat-slip snafu on the Spokane River? Well, the councilman/architect was mum last week when S-R reporter James Hagengruber called for a reaction to the state’s order that Hamilton fill in his recently dredged 150-foot channel and restore his property to its previous state. Only thing Al’d say was his current role in the project is “limited.” After pointing out that French usually doesn’t dabble in landscape architecture, Hamilton elaborated later: “I’ll guarantee he’ll never do it again” … Among the pros Hamilton has hired to work on his boat slip and subsequent defense of the project are three landscape architects, one regular architect (French), a geologist, a biologist, a hydrologist, and, sez Hamilton dryly, “sometimes a proctologist.” At this point, he’d probably prefer a proctologist to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Oopsy

Since I knew better but was still knuckleheaded enough to combine the words “Dodge” and “Impala” last week, I’ll reprint Larry Reisnouer’s response in his S-R blog on auto racing: “I have tried to envision this combination. A Chevy front and a Dodge rear, or maybe the other way around. Either way, this is going to be an ugly car, but it might have a good warrantee” … On Thursday, the London Financial Times reported on a spat between Coeur d’Alene Mines CEO Dennis Wheeler and his estranged brother, Pat, which could undermine CdA Mines’ attempt to buy a gold producer. You can link to the story in my online column from Friday: www.spokesmanreview.com/blogs/nhb.

Huckleberries

Fern Christenson, the nicer-than-nice point woman for letters to the editor who handed in her pica pole Friday, had this to say after biking The Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes: “Totally awesome!” And: “It’s a 90-minute drive from our house but felt like it was on the other side of the world!” She’ll be missed … When a car driven by a Coeur d’Alene Press carrier stalled recently, she left it by the side of the road and started hitching toward Athol, only to catch the attention of a Bonner County Deputy Dawg, who reprimanded her for illegally hitchhiking and for walking on the wrong side of the road. Then, he vamoosed, leaving the grandmother stranded. Jerk … A Berry Picker wished she’d heard the rest of this conversation between two Ironmen after the race: “The last time I saw you, you were on the side of the road puking” … At Hauser, Kootenai County Sheriff Rocky Watson complained to the City Council about losing midlevel deputies to Spokane departments, officers with five years of experience or so. Seems Spokane’s raiders don’t want green deputies or golden oldies. At this rate, Rocky quipped, the sheriff’s office someday will consist of Deputy Dawgs “in Pampers or Depends.”

Parting Shot

At Ironman CdA, a Berry Picker noticed some businesses, including Kidz Zone Children’s Learning Center, had plastered fliers on car windshields downtown. And they didn’t bypass the cars parked outside the bikini Torch Lounge. According to the flier, Kidz Zone has an academic preschool, toddler program, infant care, certified teachers, surveillance cameras and “beautiful and secure centers.” Sums up the Berry Picker: “If you want to go to the Torch Lounge to look at the ladies and need a sitter, you know who to call.”