Huckleberries Best of the INorthwest — 3/27/07

Chris Peterson/Glacier Geographics, Muse You Can Use blog

The mountain bluebirds have returned to Glacier (National Park),” writes Chris Peterson/Glacier Geographics. “The males are bright blue, the females have blue, but are mostly brownish gray. They like burned over areas because there’s lots of cavities to nest in (plenty of dead trees). Plus, the open areas have lots of bugs to eat. They seem like they’re a week or so early.”

Leaning Straight Up: Congress plays pork card … this is a new direction here ?

1. Bill Scott, better known to his many fans as “Bill the Beerman,” died Sunday night from complications of colon cancer originally diagnosed in 2001. He was 58. For more than 20 years, Scott led cheers in the Kingdome, starting in 1976 as a beer vendor who spontaneously encouraged fans to shout at Seahawks and Mariners games here .

2. The search to find a Walla Walla man and his two children continued this morning after the van he had been driving was located in Stevens County, about 200 miles north of Walla Walla here .

3. The 2007 Idaho quarter will soon begin filling vending machines and parking meters across the nation. Idaho’s entry in the U.S. Mint’s State Quarters program is next in line - set for production in the next few months. Before Idaho gets its turn, Washington’s coin will go in to circulation here .

4. Steve Groene may not be fit as a fiddle, but doctors are singing a tune that must be music to his ears. The former blues musician and father of the lone survivor of the May 2005 Wolf Lodge murders said on Monday his cancer doctors have told him there are “no areas of concern” following his latest testing here .

5. 12 UIdaho students were arrested for trespassing early Monday while they were looking for thrills in a “haunted” former hospital in Colfax, Wash., here .

6. IMHO-NW: John Blanchette /Spokesman-Review ( Gonzaga assistant finally goes ), Tom Forbes /Palousitics ( Theme-Park mentality ), Doug Clark /Spokesman-Review ( These cars chug-a-lug ), Idaho Statesman ( Don’t rush new primary rules ), and Bert Caldwell /Spokesman-Review ( Sterling fights for principal — and principle ).

Online Poll: 31.7% of 2079 respondents to a Seattle PI poll say they take their lunch to work every day. Another 24.2% take their lunch to work 2 to 4 times per week.

*Reacting to on-campus opposition, UIdaho won’t abandon starburst logo completely here .

*Handcuffed Idahoan is seriously injured after stealing Oregon police car, rolling it here .

*Montana’s average income 9th fastest growing in ‘06 here .

*1% for Tetons hits milestones in an effort to preserve famous mountains here .

Orbusmax Special: F&W shuts down eastern Washington mole trappers here .