Huckleberries: Those aren’t Idaho rednecks, they’re French Canadians

Some of the Hired Hands at Kellogg City Hall were concerned recently when a couple pulled into the parking lot, grabbed their camping chairs and sat down in front of the door. In Idaho, you can jump to conclusions about a situation like this. Were the Constitutionalists protesting government red tape? Were dominant Republicans upset at the possible presence of a closet Democrat at City Hall? No. And no. They were French Canadians. In his weekly Roll Call report for the Kellogg Police Department, Sgt. Paul Twidt explains that the two visitors “got a kick out of (the) city’s name.” They had purchased a box of Kellogg’s Corn Flakes and wanted to be photographed with it in front of the Kellogg City Hall sign. One of the Kellogg PD’s Finest obliged them. The cop took a photo of the couple eating corn flakes in front of the sign, with a Kellogg’s box in the background. If Tony the Tiger had advertised regular flakes instead of frosted ones, he might say that this tale was “GRRRRR-eat!”

SOP (Same Old Party)

The Hard Right spinmeisters for the Kootenai County Tea-publican Central Committee are trying to dismiss the recent resignation of frustrated precinct committeewoman Christa Hazel, a moderate. However, they ignore the other mainstreamers who have had a bellyful of their extremism, notably Andrew Whipple. You may know him as retired Army National Guard Maj. Whipple, a Kootenai High (Harrison, Idaho) instructor, who served his country in Iraq during that dicey period from November 2004 to December 2005. He was labeled a RINO (Republican In Name Only) when he was elected GOP committeeman for Precinct 70. After all, he was a, egad, public school teacher. When he quit two years ago this month, Whipple told then-Chairman Neil Oliver: “Many of you think of public schools as the devil and hell-bent on promoting liberalism and all sorts of evils. I really believe that many of the Republicans are brainwashed in North Idaho and controlled by puppet strings at the hands of just a few individuals. I plead for you to think for yourselves.” That plea has fallen on deaf elephant ears.

Huckleberries

Deon Watson Jr., the former star receiver for Coeur d’Alene High and the University of Idaho Vandals, tweeted his sorrow re: the tragic death of another former CHS sports star, UI prof Samantha Ramsay. Of Ramsay, who was killed in a lightning strike in the Swiss Alps, Deon said: “Dr. Ramsay was my mentor for my senior project in high school. My college professor and advisor. So fortunate to have met her but this hurts.” And everyone who knew this marvelous woman says: “Amen” … Poet’s Corner: New York has many/ a horse’s rump/ biggest of all/ is Donald Trump – “The Bard of Sherman Avenue: Poems by Tom Wobker” (“The Apprentice,” written in 2005) … Poll: A plurality of my Huckleberries blog readers agree with the Spokane Youth Football Association’s decision to drop tackle football. Thirty-five percent said they wouldn’t let their sons play Junior Tackle or high school football because “it’s too dangerous” … Huckleberry Friend Hugh Imhof, of Spokane, offers this important advice to men: “After chopping hot peppers, never go pee without washing hands first!” Huckleberries refuses to ask for more details.

Parting shot

So there’s a firetruck responding on southbound U.S. Highway 95 (Coeur d’Alene area) to one of the two structure fires that occurred almost simultaneously Tuesday afternoon (including one that leveled the Settlers Creek wedding and event venue). And five or six motorists wouldn’t pull over. A Huckleberry Friend, pseudonymed MJHartid, reports, “One guy wouldn’t get out of the passing lane until he got to the left-hand turn that he wanted. People in the right lane didn’t even pull off so the truck could change lanes.” MJHartid provides this advice for such clowns: “Pay attention! It may be your home next time.” Bingo.