Voices

Almost a month after the Hayden City Council denied a request to annex the proposed Hayden Canyon development into the city, developers of the twice-rejected project are still weighing their options for building on the site. This is the second time that the city turned down Hayden LLC’s annexation request for the 618 acres just north of the Hayden city limits.

For a brief and shining moment, Idaho was running with the big-dog states – California, Florida, New York and Texas. And the Wall Street Journal was just as surprised as everyone else. In an article re: the number of millionaires in each state, WSJ listed Idaho as the No. 5 state in the union. In fact, the respected national newspaper made an issue of it with this line: “In fifth place was Idaho. That’s right Idaho.” The first four places were taken by the four states mentioned above. respectively. Of course, Idaho’s surprising placement was highlighted at Huckleberries Online. It was like the darkest of dark horses emerging from the pack to capture an Olympic medal. After all, Idaho tries to stay ahead of Mississippi on most lists of this sort. Alas, our glory was short-lived. Seems WSJ meant Illinois, not Idaho. Those East Coast types tend to mix up Idaho with other “I” states. Usually, it’s Iowa. WSJ changed the story after a coupla commenters from Illinois questioned Idaho’s ranking. Berry Picker Idawa was all over the miscue. I couldn’t tell for sure from the IRS tables where Idaho ranks. Idawa has us pegged around 43rd or so with 5,000 millionaires. All I know for sure is that I’m not one of them. Where’s Risch?

A large portrait of the grimacing, bespectacled Walter Sherman Elmer hangs in the waiting area of the Coeur d’Alene franchise of his namesake restaurant. Mr. Elmer’s eyes glare out from behind thick glasses, his gaze eerily following you as you move around the room. Elmer’s original Colonial Pancake & Steak House opened in 1962 in Portland, and through franchising has grown to more than 30 locations, landing in our fair berg in 2003. Normally, I’m hesitant to write about chain-style eateries, but Elmer’s is an exclusively Northwest success story based on four things, as Mr. Elmer was often quoted as saying: atmosphere, personnel, quality and hard work.

Hey kids! Be the first in your neighborhood to find where Scoop Reporter is hiding inside today’s Voice and win free scoops of ice cream for you and your family. The cute little bear cub reporter is hot on the trail of a news story. Look for him among the advertisements in today’s paper. Is he on page 3? Is he on page 5? Find Scoop and win ice cream scoops!

Monday Valley Fire – 4 p.m. at Station 8, 2110 N. Wilbur.

COEUR d’ALENE – A national guru for simple, organic living will open her first MaryJanesFarm retail store Friday in Coeur d’Alene’s Plaza Shops, selling linens, kitchenware, soaps, candles and furniture, and offering cooking and sewing classes. MaryJane Butters, of Moscow, Idaho, is instantly recognizable with her trademark blond braid. The self-described simple farm girl made a name for herself as a proponent of natural and fun farm living. In addition to selling her many products, Butters publishes a magazine, has written books and runs a bed and breakfast and farm school. Her Moscow farm attracts visitors from all over the world.

Today CHARLEY PACKARD (EASY LISTENING) - 7 p.m., Eichardt’s Pub, 2121 Cedar St., Sandpoint, 263-4005.

Garden and landscape design is the art of taking advantage of the elements in and around a garden. Sometimes it’s to highlight a unique tree or a planting of favorite plants. Maybe it’s to provide outdoor entertaining space or privacy. Sometimes, though, a garden’s design is dictated by an element so bold and dramatic that gardener can do nothing more than frame it with equally bold plantings and architecture.

Rose Jones won the 2008 championship of the Liberty Lake Women’s 18-Hole Golf Club. Jones defeated Jan Rooney for the title to conclude the three-week tournament. Jean Hatcher with a net 68 was consolation winner of the championship flight.

Many changes are happening at the Plaza Shops complex in the block bordered by Sherman and Front avenues and Second and Third streets in downtown Coeur d’Alene. The most obvious is ROW Adventures, which quadrupled in space in moving from 413 Sherman to 2,400 square feet on two levels of the former A.G. Edwards building on the Second Street side. ROW also consolidated its corporate offices from Garden Avenue into the new location, which in the early days had Hudson’s Hamburgers, the Fore ’n’ Aft Tavern, Embers Lounge and the International Garage.

The 52nd annual Salmon Barbecue Dinner, sponsored by the Western Dance Association, is scheduled from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday at Sullivan Park, 1901 N. Sullivan Road. Tickets are available at the door. Prices are $10 adults, $9 seniors and $6 children age 12 and younger.

No more teachers. No more books. Wait, that’s not right.

If you happen to be missing a bike that wandered off in the Otis Orchards area, East SCOPE might just have it. SCOPE volunteers have retrieved five bicycles in the area. People who want to identify a missing bike and where it was lost can call the SCOPE office at 922-3150 to make an appointment to retrieve it.