Huckleberries Best of the INorthwest — 4/3/08

Jesse Tinsley/Spokesman-Review
“This is the last bundle!” shouted Oscar Mooney, a tugboat operator from North Idaho Maritime, as he pushes the last few logs into the mouth of the Spokane River on its way to the DeAmond Mill by North Idaho College Thursday on Lake Coeur d’Alene. The last shipment of logs from the south end of Lake Coeur d’Alene was pulled up earlier this week.

Spotlight: Obama to visit Missoula Saturday /Missoulian

1. By day, Moscow roommates Tiffany Giles and Donnelly Coplan are road construction flaggers, earning $28 per hour, but on the weekend they strip to the tiniest of bikinis to dance at Coeur d’Alene’s Torch Lounge here /Lewiston Tribune.

2. WSU is investigating architecture prof Ayad Rahmani’s role in a March 27 protest with more than 100 of his students. Rahmani encouraged students in his sophomore architecture class to protest the lack of continuity, planning and design along Gishop Boulevard here /Moscow-Pullman Daily News.

3. Online Poll: 73% of 681 respondents to an Idaho Statesman poll graded the 2008 Idaho Legislature either with D’s or F’s.

4. Blogosphere: Meridian mayor, her daughter & booze /Unequivocal Notion; Review: ‘Diving Bell’ isn’t for everyone /Dan Webster, Movies & More; More than just a uniform /The Stupid Shall Be Punished; New Idaho D exec Hansen /Randy Stapilus, Ridenbaugh Press; and Washington Supreme Court rulings on local cases /Rich Roesler, Eye On Olympia.

5. IMHO: Death with dignity initiative deserves vote /Lenna Harding/Moscow-Pullman Daily News; Parking fees will drive fliers to Spokane /Jim Fisher, Lewiston Tribune; We get results when legislators cooperate /Idaho Statesman; What is victory? /Robert Herold, Inlander; Try commute by bus, carpool, hike /Spokesman-Review.

6. News Roundup: Rural Moscow residents report wolf sightings /Moscow-Pullman Daily News; Idaho 8th-graders improve writing skills /Idaho Statesman; IVA: Suit likely over Moscow domestic partnership bennies /Moscow-Pullman Daily News; Glitch causes problems for Idaho cell phone users /KTVB; and Montana mayor severely injured in fall /Missoulian

Orbusmax Special: Climbing man strangles to death on straps of beer-filled backpack here