Pubdate: Mon, 22 Apr 2002
Source: Spokesman-Review (WA)
Copyright: 2002 The Spokesman-Review
Contact:  http://www.spokesmanreview.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/417
Author: D.F. Oliveria
Note: Posted for first paragraph

WAR ON DRUGS HAS EX-REPORTER SMOKIN' MAD

Huckleberries

Ex-CdA Press reporter Brent Andrews has become an activist against the war 
on drugs. He sez it's a waste of money, manpower and time. From Tennessee, 
he e-mailed to say the "heavy-handed prosecution" of three young men for 
selling 10 pounds of grass last year pushed him over the edge. Writes 
Andrews: "I want Jim (Deputy Prosecutor Reierson) to know what he started 
when he threw the book at Sean Nelson and his friends, then called me again 
and again to write about it. He wanted their names in the paper, and he got 
what he asked for, I guess." Reierson also got the Drug Enforcement 
Administration's Outstanding Achievement Award for handling the case. The 
war rages on.

UFO Redux

A "Mr. Earth" called Herm and Darlene Pfahl to say he'd communicated -- 
mentally -- with that strange sphere in the sky the Pfahls spotted 
southwest of Sandpoint. The object, he said, buzzed his house above 
Coburn-Culver Road, hovered 100 feet over it and then zipped off. E- mails 
Darlene: "Whew! This is getting real spooky!" ... Meanwhile, the Pfahls say 
their kids in Seattle refer to them as "loonies in the boonies" ... The 
Pfahls, sez Doris Meyer, must be newcomers because she's watched their 
"UFO" -- a colorful star -- some 35 years. Sez Doris: "You can see it most 
nights, depending on the clouds. It goes across the sky very slowly and 
about 3 a.m. disappears over the Coeur d'Alene area."

Hear Ye, Hear Ye

Huckleberries hears that, ahem, J.J. Hunter, author of "The Resort," 
decided four years ago to do three things: paint a picture, write a song 
and pen a book. Now, Berry Pickers say, Jerry, er J.J., has done all three. 
He's painted his picture. He's written his lyrics and paid a professional 
to record the song. He's authored and published a suspense novel (for some 
$50,000). Don't know what J.J.'s going to try next. A column in Brand X?

Rankinstein Unchained

Nah, Commish Ron Rankin isn't driving a new Lincoln. But he did get a sweet 
deal on a black 1990 sedan in mint condition with only 48,000 miles. Only 5 
G's ... The Ronfather, who turned 73 Friday, sez he's offended by rumors 
he's a septuagenarian. Sez he, tongue firmly cheeked: "I've never been in 
Septuagenaria. Nor do I know where it is. It must be a slur" ... Speaking 
of slurs, attorney Norm Gissel was so ticked at The Ronfather's remark 
about Demos in Huckleberries Monday that he stomped into the commish office 
and blurted: "Do not refer to me as a cockroach in the newspaper" ... The 
Ronfather tells Huckleberries he'll run as a write-in if Don Morgan 
succeeds in getting the state Supreme Court to throw out the term limits 
repeal at this late date.

Fan Mail

Ken Rawlinson of Coolin flinches whenever a Spokaloonian calls Idaho home: 
"At Priest Lake, we locals must listen to their constant ramblings about 
how long they have lived at the lake after spending their two-week vacation 
at a rented cabin. Some have rented post office boxes or use a friend's 
local telephone number to validate their claims. I say you are not a local 
until you have spent at least two winters here! By that time one realizes 
it's not all clear water, green trees and wildlife that gets you through a 
full year."

Huckleberries

Brand X Sports scribe Eric Mitchell wonders if Huckleberries is an equal 
opportunist. Last summer, Huckleberries nicked Eric for damning a "dam" in 
a sports simile. Now, our sports guys have mentioned a "damn-busting 
torrent." Alas, what goes around comes around ... Huckleberries hears a 
local commish was so dissatisfied with his lunch at a GOP women's grubfest 
he demanded his money back. He called the restaurant the next day to 
complain, too. Mebbe they need those raises, after all ... Sign at Post 
Falls Bruchi's: "We are the sandwich docters. We fix 'em up right." But 
they don't spell 'em right ... Bumpersnicker: "I lived in the fast lane 
until I married a speed bump" ... S-R sales rep Heidi Weaver is shopping 
for a new car after losing that muffler recently. In other words, sez an 
office wag, she's sending her Scirocco to the "old Volks home" ... CdA's 
John L. Lewis, 23, was so upset at being jailed on a misdemeanor 
paraphernalia charge he tore the phone headset off the wall. Now, he's 
facing a felony, too. What we have he'ah is a failure to communicate ... 
The life span of political yard signs in new District 5? About an hour. 
That's how long signs for D's Wally Wright, Kristi Johnson and Lee Pittmon 
lasted at Harbor Island Wednesday.

Parting Shot

Bob Thomas of Post Falls offers this ode to spring: "One neighbor put his 
skis away and started riding his motorcycle to work. Another neighbor began 
mowing his lawn. A third neighbor is spreading fertilizer. Me? I'm drinking 
orange juice and waiting for motivation to take over." Seems Bob's get up 
and go got up and went.
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MAP posted-by: Beth