HUCKLEBERRIES: Pancake stacks

A stack of pancakes isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Heidi Acuff.

“Renaissance Woman” is more like it.

She remains part of the Coeur d’Alene real estate legacy, which was started by father-in-law Joe Acuff in 1955 and continued by her late husband, Pat. She’s a fine artist. She’s a former Fernan mayor. And she’s the No. 1 fan of her son, Colby, a rising country singer who has performed on the Grand Ole Opry stage and opens stadium concerts for two-time CMA Entertainer of the Year Luke Combs.

But a pancake mix runs through Heidi’s life.

In 1986, at age 25, Heidi launched a cottage cheese pancake line, under the label Heidi’s Cottage Classics, and dreamed of becoming rich. She made the pancake mix at home and then distributed the product locally to Super 1, the old Rosauer’s, and specialty stores.

The hotcake mix, a recipe adapted from her mother, Patsy’s, collection, was loaded with carbs and protein, but no fat, salt or preservatives — and was best served with jams, jellies or fresh fruit. Consumers just added cottage cheese and eggs for a healthy, delicious breakfast.

“I’ve never given that recipe out,” Heidi told Huckleberries.

The light, moist breakfast mix gained fans, according to a Press story by Shawna Rorem on Jan. 27, 2000. But Heidi lacked the finances to meet grocery store demand. Her headquarters and production line were located at home. Said she: “We were filling bags in the basement.”

In 1991, Heidi suspended her sideline operation. She wouldn’t pick it up again until after she married Pat Acuff in July 1995 and gave birth to Colby in October 1996.

Her love of cooking and interest in business lured her back. She redesigned her company and expanded her line to five flavors: Original Cottage Cheese, Whole Wheat Cottage Cheese, Grainy Day (with blue corn, flax seed, whole grains and brown sugar), Sourdough and Oats & Apple (with real apple chunks).

Colby was the official taster for the revived company. “Before a product comes out,” Heidi told The Press in 2003, “we make sure he tastes it. And he likes them all.”

In 2004, Heidi’s Cottage Classics earned about $50,000 in sales, according to the Journal of Business. And by 2008 that figure had more than doubled.

People were noticing Heidi’s mixes. Popular Michael D’s Eatery on East Sherman Avenue served her Grainy Day pancakes. Heidi’s breakfast mixes were touted as the Father’s Day Pick on the “Today Show.” And in 2008 “Shark Tank” contacted her for a possible appearance.

Then, the recession of 2008 hit, and Heidi lost her East Coast distributor.

“We were so close to making it,” Heidi said. “We were filling semi-trucks.”

Afterward, Heidi decided she needed a change. She didn’t want to spend another five to 10 years without making much money. So, she closed the pancake business and focused on real estate.

“It was a huge education,” Heidi said. “I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

Successful Quest

You may know that the 1985 cult classic “Vision Quest” was filmed in Spokane. But do you know that the movie’s villain was played by 1977 Coeur d’Alene High graduate Frank Jasper?

“Vision Quest” is the story of an 18-year-old who proves himself on the mat by facing a character named Brian Shute (Jasper), who’s a two-time defending state champion and “a holy terror of a wrestler.”

As production time approached, Jasper, then 25, was a physical education major and a trainer for the Eastern Washington wrestling team. At a friend’s urging, he was among the thousands who tried out for the movie. And landed the non-speaking role as scary Shute in four or five scenes.

Jasper, a former Coeur d’Alene High wrestler, was a bodybuilder at the time and weighed 215 pounds. To win the role, he shed 25 pounds in two-plus weeks and outwrestled the other finalist.

Prior to the movie’s release Feb. 15, 1985, Bonita Bartlett, Frank’s mother, was amused by her son’s surprise celebrity. After all, he weighed 112 pounds as a Coeur d’Alene High freshman wrestler and 155 pounds as a senior.

She described Frank as “a pipsqueak of a kid.”

As good as Yogi?

Yogi Berra, the hall-of-fame catcher for the New York Yankees, was known for memorable one-liners, including: “It ain’t over till it’s over.” And: “You can observe a lot by watching.”

But Coeur d’Alene had its own funny Major League Baseball player: Everett Lamar “Rocky” Bridges.

Press sports editor Mark Nelke wrote about Rocky after he died at age 87 on Jan. 28, 2015.

In 1970, Rocky was in the middle of a career of some 40 years as an infielder (1951-61), coach and minor league manager when he and his wife, Mary, moved their family to the Coeur d’Alene area.

All four children graduated from Coeur d’Alene High. Lance, who died in 2023, was a longtime parks and recreation director in Post Falls and then in Rathdrum. Cory and John coached high school baseball — the former at Lake City High, the latter at Idaho Falls High.

Lance told The Press: “Dad was a great coach and a very good teacher of life.”

Now for Rocky’s wit.

Unlike Yogi, Rocky wasn’t a star. He played for seven MLB teams in 11 years. But he feared being traded to Cincinnati because he couldn’t spell it. He once said he wouldn’t eat snails because he preferred fast food.

And a quote from Rocky is said to be the inspiration for the title of a Jim Bouton book on baseball: “I Managed Good, But Boy Did They Play Bad.”

Huckleberries

• Poet’s Corner: One hundred years/but still unlearned;/trust a railroad/and you’ll get burned — The Bard of Sherman Avenue (“History Lesson”).

• Did You Know: Five members of the Fabulous Shadows attended North Idaho College: Doug Wanamaker, Mike Bolan, Dr. Jack Fullwiler, Peter Shepperd and Jim Frame. And that’s why the reunion version of our 1960s boys band gave free concerts in 2005. The alums were eager to help raise $2 million to furnish the new science building and to fund scholarships.

• Champion Birler: William Delyea, 69, a world log rolling champion (1924-28), died on his 41st anniversary after returning to his Front Avenue home from a walk downtown Feb. 15, 1960. The World War I veteran started birling “for fun” at age 13 after beginning millwork. He gave birling exhibitions from coast to coast before retiring during World War II.

• Bone Tired: Once upon a time, retired Coeur d’Alene attorney Steve McCrea was an overworked public defender in a two-man office who’d had enough. After commissioners cut his budget by $54,000, Steve quit Jan. 31, 1980. He said he couldn’t spend enough time with clients to do a good job for them. Steve became a quality private lawyer, city councilman, and historian. But first, he hit the slopes for a well-deserved vacation.

• BNSF Mishaps: After crossing their hearts, BNSF officials opened their, ahem, failsafe — and mega-controversial — refueling station at Hauser in September 2004. And by mid-February 2005, the facility had suffered two fuel leaks above our sole source of drinking water. County officials wrung their hands. Former commissioner Dick Compton, who cast the tie-breaking vote in favor of the depot, said he was “deeply disappointed.” And some residents responded: "I told you so."

Parting shot

As fundraising for The Old Church restoration project in Post Falls continued in January 2005, guiding light Susan Jacklin compared the herculean effort to pregnancy. The charitable Jacklin family saved the old building from the wrecking ball by buying it from the Community Presbyterian Church for $47,500. That was the easy part. Then came the nine years — not nine months — needed to raise $1.2 million to transform The Old Church into what would become the Jacklin Arts & Community Center at Fourth and William. The place was/is special to Susan. She was raised Presbyterian. And she and her husband, Duane, were married in the building. As the days wound down for a May 2005 opening, Susan told Press reporter Brian Walker: “I’m probably going to cry, but it’s a big relief.”

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D.F. (Dave) Oliveria can be contacted at dfo@cdapress.com.

    In 2000, Heidi Acuff works hard concocting her pancake mixes.
  

    In 1985, wrester Frank Jasper hoists a “Vision Quest” extra over his head in a studio publicity stunt.
  

    In 1959-60, Rocky Bridges is shown on his Detroit Tigers player card.
  

    In 2005, the Fabulous Shadows donates a series of concerts to help raise $2 million for North Idaho College. Pictured are, from left, standing, Doug Wanamaker, Mike Bolan, Dr. Jack Fullwiler, Dexter Yates and Pete Shepperd; and Jim Frame, front.
  

    In the 1920s, William Delyea was the world birling champion.
  

    In 1980, public defender Steve McCrea, right, hands over office files to interim replacements John Luster, left, and Joe Mein.
  

    In 2000, Jim Holmes listens to discussion about a proposed BNSF refueling depot over the Rathdrum aquifer. The depot suffered two spills in the first six months of operation after opening in fall 2004.
  

    In 2005, Susan Jacklin raises funds for a future arts and cultural center in Post Falls.