HUCKLEBERRIES: Biting the bullet

The “Gang of Four” left the city stage 40 years ago.

But the debate goes on among old-timers: Were the four men heaven-sent reformers? Or were they rabid tree-huggers who hamstrung growth?

The evidence suggests that the quartet — Mayor Jim Fromm and Councilmen Steve McCrea, Jim Michaud and Bob Brown — readied Coeur d’Alene for unmatched progress.

“Subsequent councils haven’t undone too much of what we did,” said retired attorney Steve McCrea, who served one term under Fromm and two under his successor, Ray Stone.

Steve was part of the Save Our Shoreline ticket that swept into office in 1982 by opposing plans for a 14-story high-rise on the waterfront, east of the current Coeur d’Alene Resort.

Steve was the only member of the foursome to win re-election, squeaking into a second term in 1986 by 24 votes. Meanwhile, Fromm was throttled in his re-election bid by Stone. And the other two “gang” members wisely decided not to run again.

The late Ric Clarke of the Coeur d'Alene Press compared the quartet’s ruling style to a steamroller. And he commented, “There has never been a team quite like them.”

“They ushered out the city’s casual, glad-handing government and replaced it with a formal, coat-and-tie operation based on protocol and accountability,” wrote City Editor Clarke for a news feature Dec. 26, 1985. “Then, armed with a 4-3 voting advantage, they aggressively tackled a seemingly unending agenda of goals.”

In their first 10 months in office, Ric reported, Fromm & Co. kept their campaign promises.

Among other things, the four settled a bitter, six-year firefighters' strike, lifted a city building moratorium by expanding sewer capacity, and passed a shoreline protection ordinance. They used their veto-proof majority to make unpopular moves, like forcing annexations, closing the Community Center and attempting to privatize Forest Cemetery.

Steve McCrea said the council majority focused on infrastructure rather than public relations.

“We were told that Coeur d’Alene’s population would be about 70,000 when built out,” he said. “We did everything we could to make sure the infrastructure was there.”

Chamber president Charlie Nipp awarded a B-plus to Fromm’s team when asked by The Press to grade its work: an A for the infrastructure system and a C for “decision by controversy.”

In the 1985 interview, Councilman Michaud said: “We had the guts to bite the bullet on hard issues. When you do something significant, you’re going to make people unhappy.”

Straight shooter

In 1975, Debi Cook, 16, faced gender bias and even a backhanded compliment from a Press reporter who said she was “more than a pretty face.”

Debi had proven herself in a male-dominated sport: target shooting.

The first of five girls to join the Coeur d’Alene Rifle and Pistol Club, Debi scored 387 of 400 in one type of shooting and 98 of 100 in another.

Visions of the Olympics danced in her head.

On Dec. 31, 1975, she said, “Right now, my goal is to get a college scholarship for my shooting.”

When she began shooting at age 12, Debi said she didn’t know anything about guns. But the granddaughter of longtime club member Vic Cook learned quickly.

“When I first (joined), I was the only girl, and I felt … stupid,” Debi said.

As she improved, she gained confidence.

“I’ve got my boyfriend talked into coming here,” she said with a sly smile. “He thinks hitting a target with a .22 at 50 feet is easy.”

Friesz debuts

You may know that John Friesz was a star quarterback for the Coeur d’Alene Viks and the Idaho Vandals in the mid- to late-'80s.

But did you know that he debuted as an NFL quarterback for the San Diego Chargers on Dec. 30, 1990? And that he almost defeated the playoff-bound Los Angeles Raiders?

No one was surprised that the Raiders (12-4) won, according to a wire story. Experts, however, were amazed that a rookie with the lowly Chargers (6-10) “nearly spoiled the fun.”

Friesz completed 11 of 22 passes for 98 yards and a touchdown for the underdogs, who were leading 12-10 with four minutes left in the game. But the Raiders rallied to win 17-12.

Friesz, who was injured for most of the season, replaced QB Billy Joe Tolliver in the finale.

“I don’t think I lost the game," John said afterward. "But I didn’t win it either.”

Huckleberries

• Poet’s Corner: The lake was icy New Year’s Day/but they went swimming anyway./Reasons why are somewhat hazy/maybe they are just plain crazy — The Bard of Sherman Avenue (“Polar Bear Plunge”).

• Christmas Tradition: Coeur d’Alene’s “Balloon Man” persisted, despite windstorms and vandals in December 1980. Dr. C.G. "Ged" Barclay (aka “Balloon Man”) delighted the town annually by placing Christmas lights inside balloons to decorate an outdoor tree at his Park Drive home. He’d done so for about 20 years. And some neighbors did likewise.

• Extra! Extra! The $250,000 purchase ($1,506,140 today) of the last big block of private land on Tubbs Hill — 34 acres — was big news 50 years ago. So big that it was rated as the top 1975 local story by The Press. A city drive, led by the Coeur d’Alene Jaycees, raised $14,225 ($85,700 today) of the sales price. Afterward, the public owned 97% of the hill. And we still enjoy it.

• Best Medicine: In his first year of recovery from a near-fatal wound, former Coeur d’Alene cop Mike Kralicek said humor played a healing role. In a Christmas Day 2005 story, Mike told the Press: “Humor is a much more useful emotion than depression.” Wife Carrie agreed: “If you don’t laugh, you’ll end up in the psych ward.” Mike was shot in the face while trying to catch a hit-and-run suspect Dec. 28, 2004.

• Christmas Story: Did you know that Darrell Dlouhy played Joseph in a Christmas 1970 live reenactment of the manger scene at Trinity Lutheran Church? The co-owner of popular Daft Badger Brewing was joined by other church youth, including Coeur d’Alene High reunion organizer Anne Lunceford (Capellen).

• Drivers Beware: At Christmas 1970, three top Kootenai County cops issued a warning that is still apropos. Cautioned Coeur d’Alene Police Chief George Lenz, Sheriff John Bender and ISP Capt. Jack McGinnis: “Don’t drink and drive, or you may have a state patrolman for a chaser.”

Parting shot

Screams and applause greeted the news from Mikki Stevens 20 years ago: President George W. Bush had invited her 70 Red Hot Mamas to his 2001 inauguration. Dressed in her trademark Red Hot Mama outfit, group founder Stevens went on. But the merry Mamas drowned her out, chanting, “Go Mamas!”

Ages 55 to 81, the Mamas began as an eccentric drill team with shopping baskets in our Fourth of July Parades. They were known for zany outfits, including hats piled high with balloons and various grocery items — cereal boxes, potato chip bags, milk jugs.

The Mamas performed live at both Bush inaugurations and virtually for Joe Biden’s inauguration during the COVID years. Also, they marched three times in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parades, the 2004 London New Year’s Day parade, and for two college football bowl games.

On Dec. 31, 2021, they disbanded after Mikki fell gravely ill.

But they fulfilled their mission. They brought joy to Coeur d’Alene, the nation and beyond.

• • •

D.F. (Dave) Oliveria can be contacted at [email protected].

    Debi Cook, 16, takes aim in 1975.
  

    Scott Davis of the Los Angeles Raiders sacks rookie John Friesz in his debut as a starting NFL quarterback in 1990.
  

    Dr. C.G. "Ged" Barclay places a Christmas light inside a balloon to decorate his novelty Christmas tree in 1980.
  

    Former Coeur d’Alene officer Mike Kralicek rehabs in 2005.
  

    Former Coeur d’Alene officer Mike Kralicek rehabs in 2005.
  

    Darrell Dlouhy, fourth from left, plays Joseph in a live manger scene at Trinity Lutheran Church in 1970.
  

    From left, top local cops George Lenz, John Bender and Jack McGinnis warn residents not to drink and drive at Christmas 1970.
  

    The Red Hot Mamas perform with their signature shopping carts at London's 2004 New Year's Day Parade.
  

    Mikki Stevens, founder of the Red Hot Mamas, serves as grand marshal of the 2022 Fourth of July Parade.