Huckleberries: Hayden Christmas cease-fire holds this yuletide

Seems someone called a cease-fire in the Hayden Conflict on Christmas starring Holiday Cheermeister Jeremy Morris and his covenant-minded, grumpy neighbors. Morris staged his annual Christmas light-a-palooza show Dec. 14-18 with 10 more miles of lights, a camel, goats and “27 professional, costumed-designed Bible characters” (according to Jeremy’s Facebook wall), all without threat of suit or countersuit. All with relatively little media attention … Still, Hayden’s Clark Griswold wasn’t happy that the Coeur d’Alene Press left his annual extravaganza off its “holiday lights” list. The omission landed Editor Mike Patrick and the Coeur d’Alene Press on Jeremy’s “naughty list.” Facebooked Jeremy: “Apparently, outspoken conservatives are not permitted to be on their list” … And that dials down the peace and goodwill ending for this first round of Huckleberries this Christmas morn.

Sharing Athol

Sightem: Many miles from Athol, Idaho, the butt of so many cruel jokes, Coeur d’Alene schools trustee Christa Hazel spotted “Athol Steak Pie” for 3 pounds on the lunch menu offered by a street vendor in Edinburgh, Scotland. Christa tells friends: “The guy assured me the meat wasn’t from Athol, Idaho, but couldn’t tell me what type of meat it was. No thanks.” … Factoid (for you smart alecks who like to hold your tongue and say “apple”): Athol, Idaho, was named by a guy who migrated west from Athol, Massachusetts. And the New England Athol received its name indirectly from a distant Duke of Atholl. Who lent his name to a town in Scotland. All this from the online “City of Athol History” … Things would have been simpler— but far less humorous – if Athol settlers had stuck with the original name, Colton.

Lost & Found

If you lost a “kit” at Post Falls Super 1 containing meth, syringes, a glass pipe and a state ID, please contact the Post Falls Police Department. According to the PFPD Facebook wall, the department would be happy to give the identification back, “along with some other reading material to go along with it.” The stainless steel cuff ware will be an added bonus … The Coeur d’Alene Resort Boardwalk was closed Wednesday because of ice and snow – although the sun was shining brightly. Better safe than sorry … The sightseers feasting their eyes on the bald eagles feasting on salmon on Lake Coeur d’Alene near Mineral Ridge are going rogue. Twice Wednesday and three more times Friday, the gendarmes were called to herd the oglers off Highway 97.

Huckleberries

On Thursday, St. Vinny’s exec Jeff Conroy shared his “highlight of the day” with others: Angel Arms Director Jan Armon had found a home for a mother and her two children who’d been living in their car for three years. Occasionally, a lost sheep and her lambs fall into an angel’s arms. And hearts are warmed … Kelly Bruce-Aiken, of Coeur d’Alene, was so thrilled when she moved from No. 8 to No. 6 in line at the Coeur d’Alene Fred Meyer checkout stand that she Facebooked about it, in real time. Later, she told Huckleberries that she stood in line for 30 minutes. All the lines were packed by huddled masses, yearning to breathe freely in the parking lot. For her troubles, Kelly got the stink eye from another harried shopper who huffed to her that she was blocking the aisle … Hucks Nation has no sympathy for scofflaws with four or more unpaid parking tickets who have thumbed their noses at Diamond Parking and the city of Coeur d’Alene. Almost 90 percent in a Wednesday poll supported city plans to crack down hard on the scofflaws. (Huckleberries can think of other names to call the violators, but it’s fun to use the word “scofflaw”) … Adding insult to injury, Christina Oss LaBang butt-dialed her daughter as she fell on ice last week. And her smirking offspring recorded the naughty words that escaped Christina’s mouth. “Technology doesn’t miss a beat,” Christina later muttered, as she reached for an Advil and the bathtub tap for a warm soak.

Parting shot

Former Coeur d’Alene Councilman Mike Kennedy is as Catholic and Irish and Democratic as his name suggests. And he enjoys a good prank, like the one his Secret Santa gifted him – a red Donald Trump hat with the words, “Make America Great Again.” Happily, Secret Santa didn’t stop there. S/he also gave Mike a bottle of Jack Daniel’s whiskey and some shot glasses. Huckleberries hears there are actual photos of Mike wearing that hat after pouring himself a few rounds.