Arrow-right Camera
Subscribe now

This column reflects the opinion of the writer. Learn about the differences between a news story and an opinion column.

Huckleberries: Nonini-Whalen campaign trail hits nasty patch

Dave Oliveria (Colin Mulvany / The Spokesman-Review)

That Facebook post by state Sen. Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d’Alene, didn’t stay up long – you know, the one in which he blasted opponent Pat Whalen for picking on Nonini’s wife, Cathyanne. It read: “My opponent took a cheap shot at my wife (Thursday night) at the NIC Candidate Forum – what type of person attacks a wife? Not a reputable or credible person.”

At the forum, Whalen raised the fact that he had received a DUI in 2006, according to the Coeur d’Alene Press. That was a shocker. So was his subsequent comment that Cathyanne Nonini was trying to use the old DUI conviction to get Whalen dumped as chairman of the Boys & Girls Club of Kootenai County.

Nonini pulled his Facebook post Friday after Huckleberries Online published the text of an email that Cathyanne Nonini sent to regional director Steve Ratto of Boys & Girls Clubs of America. At 10:57 a.m. Wednesday, she emailed Ratto: “This is per my conversation with Tony in your National Office. This gentleman is currently the Board President for our local B&G Club. We do not feel it is a good example for a person with a DUI conviction to be serving on a B&G Club Board, Peace and Blessings, Cathyanne.”

On Friday, Whalen offered to resign as chairman of the Boys & Girls Club. But the board rejected the notion from its hard-working chairman.

Some indignant Whalen supporters noted that Bob Nonini had been arrested – but not convicted – on a cocaine charge in 1983. What’s that they say about glass houses?

Dang nice weather

On her Facebook page last week, weathermeister Kris Crocker of KXLY lists “Things I blamed my bad golf on today.” Quoth: “Too stiff from yoga, a goose honking on my backswing, a new player in our group that I wasn’t used to, a loud lawnmower, hormones, too much time on the driving range, the condition of the greens (potentially the only valid complaint), and the weather was too nice.” Do you suppose Kris jinxed the weather this weekend? … Lesser of 3 Evils: The North Idaho Political Action Committee (aka: Reasonable Republicans) offers this backhanded endorsement for Kootenai County Commissioner Todd Tondee: “The NIPAC board debated extensively on the county commissioner race (among) Todd Tondee, Marc Eberlein and Tim Herzog. While we have concerns about Commissioner Tondee and recent decisions made by the Board of Commissioners regarding the Unified Land Use Code, we decided that Tondee was the best choice of the candidates on the ballot.” Damned with faint praise.

Huckleberries

About that mysterious black box that a Coeur d’Alene resident spotted hanging from a new power pole in front of her home last week. It’s a data collection/traffic counter device. Sgt. Christie Wood of the CPD tells Huckleberries that the box “records volume, speed, et cetera.” The box enables the gendarmes to know where to set up patrols. But Christie assures Huckleberries that “no enforcement comes from it and no photos are taken by it.” Is this how the NSA got started? … Poet’s Corner: “Tulips blooming,/robins singing —/all around us/Spring is springing” – The Bard of Sherman Avenue (“Don’t Miss It”) … Quotable Quote: “I think it’s time to retire that tired old cliché ‘tough as nails.’ It’s not even accurate. Just this morning I broke two and split a third” – Cindy Hval.

Parting shot

As he walked his dog last week, Facebook Friend David Townsend was disappointed to see the entrance to the new dog park at McEuen Park tagged with graffiti for a second time. The vandalism prompted David to ponder: “You really begin to understand the motivation behind public security cameras. On the one hand I hate having my every move potentially watched. On the other I hate these antisocial thugs thinking they can get away with this with impunity. Just once I would like to see public facilities built without these small-minded baboons defacing them.” Bingo.

More from this author