Huckleberries Blog

Alisha Levine gets her hair fixed with a wavy beach-like style at Dream Dry salon in New York. When it comes to hair, the grass often seems greener on the other side, but experts say both curly and straight looks require a little work. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

Question: How much time do you spend grooming your hair? And/or: Which hair style do you wear?

• 12:02 p.m. Male in beige Legacy waved gun @ driver of black Jeep @ H95/Appleway, CdA.
• 11:27 a.m. CdA female reports being harassed by neighbor she doesn't know by name.
• 11:01 a.m. White Chevy ran stoplight @ Seltice Way/McGuire before speeding @ 25 in 35 mph.
• 10:38 a.m. Caller reports possible fraud in purchase of grave headstone.
• 10:37 a.m. Silent holdup alarm sounds @ Holiday gas station @ 8100 Cornerstone/Hayden.
• 10:03 a.m. 911 hangup reported in 900 block of E. Woolsey Ave/CdA.
• 9:16 a.m. CPD officer transporting a female from Lake City High to KMC.
• 9:04 a.m. Audible front-door burglar alarm in home @ Molly Lane/Dillar Beach Lane, Twin Lakes.
• 9:01 a.m. Caller from 17533 H53 reports male who burglarized him Sunday is back on property.
• 8:37 a.m. Motorist in silver hatchback on w/b I-90/MP 1 (Beck Road) outside car, yelling.
• 8:21 a.m. Coeur d'Alene female reports ex has stolen her identity.

Coeur d'Alene residents who have watched with growing concern as archconservatives have stolen one local government seat after another should celebrate today. The radicals of the Hard Right who have targeted the Lake City and Kootenai County for political takeover were stopped in their tracks last night. Reagan Republicans lost in all four races that they endorsed in Coeur d'Alene elections. The winners deserve to take a breather and get reacquainted with their families. However, the job isn't finished. Our viewtiful shire isn't completely saved. The next focus for Balance North Idaho and residents who support good, nonpartisan, local candidates now takes center stage: the Coeur d'Alene City Council elections. The Reagan Republicans successfully made inroads two years ago by backing former Libertarian Dan Gookin and Constitutionalist Steve Adams. Gookin backed archconservative candidate Ann Seddon in the Coeur d'Alene School Board races. Adams, with his illogical, anti-federal government stand, almost cost Coeur d'Alene millions of dollars by temporarily throwing a monkey wrench in the proposed expansion of the wastewater treatment plant. The archconservative radicals need to win one or two seats on the council and/or the mayor's seat to gain control of the most important local government in Coeur d'Alene (depending on whose side Councilman Ron Edinger is on next year). Mayor Sandi Bloem has decided not to run for re-election. Until Tuesday night's results, the smart money was that Reagan Republican candidates would overthrow the council and stop urban renewal. Now, it's apparent that the Reagan Republicans aren't invincible, if Coeur d'Alene citizens are educated and engaged. The results Tuesday should encourage the incumbents to run again -- or fresh, nonpartisan new blood to step up. Coeur d'Alene needs to continue good, progressive government by holding the four municipal seats up for election. Coeur d'Alene District 4 also needs to change two of its legislators. But that's a job for 2014/DFO.

Gov. Butch Otter is rejecting the notion that a projected $162 million in unexpected revenue means the 2014 Legislature should aim to boost spending. Otter said he’s “bound and determined that the government is not going to grow back at the same rate that the economy grows” and said the lessons of the Great Recession prove government can do with less by exercising fiscal discipline, co-locating agencies and engaging in partnerships outside of government. “That all suggests to me that there’s no reason to go back to the old way of doing things: because we got a little extra money, let’s spend it,” Otter said in a Tuesday afternoon meeting with the Idaho Statesman editorial board/Dan Popkey, Idaho Statesman. More here.

Question: Sounds like Gov. Otter is proud of Idaho's ranking as second-to-last state in the nation for spending per capita on public school students. Am I reading this right?

Read more here: http://blogs.idahostatesman.com/otter-to-ferguson-keep-your-hands-off-idahos-surplus/#storylink=cpy

Columnist T.F. Charlton of the British Guardian newspaper opines on "The Thaw," a video produced in Kootenai County by Gary Brown's Reach America organization that has gone viral:

Fears of marginalization because of Christian faith, even persecution, have deep roots in white American evangelical culture, dating back to the Scopes Trial and before. As with Representative King's comments, they're often steeped in white racial anxiety and resentment. This persecution complex is also taught – actively promoted and reinforced through fearmongering aimed at youth. One example: "The Thaw", a modest viral hit produced by Reach America, a "Christian youth leadership program" based in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Full column here.

Question: Do you agree/disagree with columnist Charlton's view?

Dave Eubanks celebrates with his wife Sherrie at the Fort Ground Grill after unofficial results Tuesday showed him winning the Coeur d'Alene School District board of trustees seat for zone 4. (Coeur d'Alene Press photo: Jerome A. Pollos)

• Idaho Records/Sherry Adkins, SR
• Fairchild loses bid to host new tankers/AP, SR
• St Maries OKs two-year supplemental levy/Press
• Theft reported at Ramsey Park softball tourney/Press
• Charges forwarded for WSU, UI student brawl/KREM2
• Idaho still ranks low on education spending/Scott Maben, SR
• Poll: Pooey to partisanship in nonpartisan elections/CdA Press
• Archconservatives' grip broken on CdA school board/Scott Maben, SR
• Spokane Bomb Squad called after suspicious items found/CdA Press
• 2 of 3 Boise auditorium board incumbents ousted/Betsy Russell, Eye on Boise

Coeur d'Alene School Board Trustee-elect Christa Hazel: "We needed a win. We just needed a win. We finally figured out that you have to put up a good political fight to beat these guys (Reagan Republican endorsees). There candidates have been able to skip debates and win by simply going to political club luncheons. Coeur d'Alene took a stand tonight."

Thoughts?

• Tuesday Poll: Hucks Nation sez the scandal that will stick with the Obama administration longest is the one involving the IRS targeting of the Tea Party. 50 of 132 respondents (37.88%) said that was the worst of the current scandals, followed by the uncertainty over Affordable Health Care (30 of 132, 22.73%); Justice Department wire tapping of AP (29 of 132, 21.97%); Benghazi fallout (18 of 132, 13.64%); and other (5 of 132, 3.79%).
• Tuesday's Poll: Are you happy with the Coeur d'Alene school/hospital election results?

About 100 people supporting the Myrtle Beach Tea Party protest at the Internal Revenue Service office in Myrtle Beach, S.C. on Tuesday. Tea party activists held rallies outside federal buildings across the country Tuesday to protest the agency's extra scrutiny of conservative groups. You write the cutline. (AP Photo/The Sun News, Janet Blackmon Morgan)

Tuesday Winner -- Nic/10 likes: "The python is introduced to three University of Florida staffers, otherwise known as Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner" You can see Tuesday photo + 14 cutline entries here.

Item: Vandals have ball with 26 classic cars: Owner observes two men smashing windows of vehicles/David Cole, Coeur d'Alene Press

More Info: Donald R. Martin said he wants the culprits castrated. It all started about 5 p.m. Thursday when Martin was sitting inside his home at 5414 N. Huetter Road and heard what he thought were gunshots being fired in his wooded backyard. Martin left his home to see exactly what was happening and saw two young men smashing the windows of his fleet of classic cars. It looked to him like they were using a metal rod.

Question: What would be a fitting punishment for these two punks?

It's time for Winners & Losers -- the game Huckleberries Online plays after every election. The goal of the game is to pick the winners and losers from the election the day before. I'll get us started. Obviously, those who actually won elections were the winners. But there are a number of others with skin in the game who were winners. And losers. Balance North Idaho was a winner. The Reagan Republicans were the biggest loser. Now it's your turn.

Question: Who were the winners and losers in the School/Hospital board elections?

On his Facebook wall, Coeur d'Alene school Trustee-elect Tom Hearn tells his supporters this morning: "The people spoke. They said they were tired of divisiveness, partisanship, negativity, and persons on the board who seemed to be doing this important job for the wrong reasons. We historically have had schools in Coeur d'Alene we have been proud of and with your help we will have them again."

DFO: I'm told that the Portuguese precincts in Zone 5 all went to Hearn ...

Question: Do you realize that Tom Hearn is the first Democrat to be elected to any position in Coeur d'Alene since Mike Kennedy won re-election four years ago? What's that say re: a return to balance?

Kootenai County Reagan Republicans failed in their attempt to gain a seat on the Kootenai Health District Board Tuesday night. When the final votes were counted, Dr. Neil Nemec and incumbent hospital trustee Liese Razzeto took the two open seats, with Jim Pierce coming in a close third and Donna Montgomery pulling up the rear with less than 15 percent of the vote. Nemec (4,811 votes) led the pack with nearly 34 percent, Razzeto (3,918) took 28 percent and Pierce (3,291) secured 23 percent. Pierce was the only candidate in this election to earn the nomination of two Political Action Committees (PACs) who squared off in the non-partisan race/Jeff Selle, Coeur d'Alene Press. More here.

• Fun Factoid: In the HucksOnline poll Monday, Hucks Nation picked the two winners of the Kootenai Medical Board -- Razzeto and Nemec.

Question: I'm still trying to figure out how Doc Nemec, with no endorsements from Reagan Republican or Balance North Idaho, emerged as top vote getter in this race. Anyone?

The latest word from an organizer spearheading hydroplane racing's return to Lake Coeur d'Alene said the races will go on as scheduled Labor Day weekend. Doug Miller told The Press three weeks ago that The Diamond Cup Regatta is close to securing "major contracts" that would ensure the races will happen. "We're not in trouble at all," Miller said in a May 1 phone message, referring to rumors that the race will be canceled, as it was last year. "We're just finishing up some major contracts right now that should be done in the middle part of next week that will be major announcements for us." But the middle part of that week passed, and despite numerous calls from The Press, nobody is offering an update on sponsorships or ticket sales. In a previous interview, Miller estimated it would cost $400,000 to host the event/Tom Hasslinger, Coeur d'Alene Press. More here.

Question: It has seemed to me all along that there's little to no momentum for these races. Things should be in full swing at this point. Yet you can't get a peep our of organizers. What's up?

Reagan Republican founder Jeff Ward (at the microphone), Coeur d'Alene Councilman Dan Gookin and Brent Regan campaign manager Becky Funk weren't happy campers at the results of the Coeur d'Alene School Board and Kootenai Hospital District elections Tuesday night at Fedora restaurant. The four candidates supported by the Reagan Republicans in those two races all lost, as did a fifth candidate who had archconservative Republican support. (Photo: Duane Rasmussen)

Item: Balance North Idaho wins PAC duel/Jeff Selle, Coeur d'Alene Press

More Info: Kootenai County Reagan Republicans were shocked when the early results of the non-partisan races trickled in Tuesday night. About three dozen of them gathered in the back room of the Fedora Pub and Grille to watch the results come in. When the first ones arrived, only two of their candidates - both seeking seats on the Post Falls School Board - were winning. While they cheered for their Post Falls candidates, the mood changed as the results of the Coeur d'Alene School District and Kootenai Hospital District races came in. Jeff Ward, co-founder of the Reagan Republicans, said the results were a little confusing. He wasn't sure if the absentee ballots had been counted or if they had started counting precinct votes first.

Question: Is there a new sheriff in town?

There will be three new faces on the Coeur d'Alene School District Board of Trustees come July 1. Christa Hazel won the Zone 1 seat with 1,414 votes, representing 63 percent of the 2,237 votes cast. Brent Regan received 823 votes. This is the first time voters have selected a Zone 1 school trustee since 2009, when Edie (Brooks) McLachlan defeated Jim Purtee by seven votes. Since then, there have been three appointments to the seat, and Hazel sought, and was denied, the appointment each time. "I think the Coeur d'Alene School District voters felt we needed more than a party label," Hazel said. "They took a stand to say we need qualifications and transparent motives"/Maureen Dolan, Coeur d'Alene Press. More here.

• Scott Maben's SR election night story
• Complete final election results for Kootenai County

Question: Who should be the new School Board chairman?

Originally posted at 10:24 p.m. Tuesday

Earlier today, Christa Hazel holds sign in front of Canfield Middle School, urging Coeur d'Alene School District voters in Zone 1 to support her candidacy for trustee. They did, as Christa unseated appointed Trustee Brent Regan handily, leading a sweep of Balance North Idaho candidates into office to form a new majority of the School Board. (Photo: Duane Rasmussen)

• Huckleberries: The people have done what the Coeur d'Alene school trustees and Kootenai County commissioners refused to do -- vote you into office. How does that feel?
• Christa Hazel: I really felt good in going before the voters because I never got a far shot in front of the trustees or the Kootenai County commissioners. Who deferred to the trustees.
• Huckleberries: When do you take office?
• Hazel: July 1.
• Huckleberries: What's number one on your agenda?
• Hazel: We need to discuss a new board chair.
• Huckleberries: You face a tough challenge in dealing with a budget with a $3M deficit, don't you?
• Hazel: We'll get through that. We'll take our time and study all aspects.
• Huckleberries: What happened tonight?
• Hazel: We showed that you need to have more than a political club and party affiliation when you're working for these nonpartisan offices. And you have transparent motives. There were times when it was confusing when you looked at this board. Also, you need to be responsive to the public you serve.
• Huckleberries: Final thought?
• Hazel: We needed a win. We just needed a win. We finally figured out that you have to put up a good political fight to beat these guys (Reagan Republican endorsees). There candidates have been able to skip debates and win by simply going to political club luncheons. Coeur d'Alene took a stand tonight.

Signe Wilkinson/Philadelphia Inquirer

• Complete final results here
• Challengers Hazel, Eubanks, Hearn win CdA trustee seats
• Dr. Nemec, incumbent Razzeto win hospital seats
• Reagan Republican endorsees Ward, Goodman win Post Falls seats