Huckleberries: Surefire ways to spot an Atholian

On Wednesday, you learned how to tell if you’re really from Coeur d’Alene. Today? Athol, of course. Colleague Taryn Brodwater, The S-R’s resident Athol native, prepared a list to match the Coeur d’Alene one. “You can tell whether you’re a real Athol,” sez Taryn, “if … you’re so used to the train that you don’t even notice when it goes through town every 15 minutes. You ate at The Grubsteak or Schooney’s. Or, for you older folk, got drunk at Ray’s Place or Bettie’s. You were in the Athol Daze Parade. (Bonus points if you ever won a ribbon. Extra bonus points if you rode in a fire truck.) You’ve gutted fish. You’ve held your tongue and said, ‘Athol’ – and you think ‘Rathdrum’ is funny, too. You’ve had Saturday dinner at the Athol American Legion. Or started drinking at the Pastime Club when it opens at 6 a.m. You rode a bicycle to Super G to load up on penny candy. (Bonus points if you ever got an order of fried gizzards to go.) You remember when the only stoplight between Sandpoint and Post Falls was at Appleway and Highway 95. You hauled your own trash. Or still do. (Bonus points if you hauled your own water. Or have an outhouse.) You have worn a T-shirt that says: “Proud Graduate of the Athol School of Hard Knocks.” You ever went to Ozmo Boogie. You’ve climbed the Idaho statue at City Park and know why it was a tragedy when the duck got stolen from the playground. Your mom fell into a dunk tank and broke her arm and a couple of ribs at Athol Daze. You’re proud to be from Athol.” Next: Kellogg/Silver Valley.