The Great Gorilla Debate

Gorilla divides town
WEIPPE, Idaho (AP) — It's a big issue in this small town: Should Weippe bring back the gorilla?
Members of the City Council recently split on whether to repaint the gorilla caricature that for decades had been on the side of the 76-foot-tall water tank in the town. It was the council's first divided vote since the 1980s.
The gorilla was the mascot of the old Weippe High School before it was combined with neighboring Timberline High School in 1970. It was painted over three years ago.
Maxine Johnstun, 83, has led the charge to repaint the gorilla. Johnstun wears a gorilla T-shirt to council meetings and has helped collect $1,300 in donations to pay for a new paint job.
But some residents argue the town should paint the mascot of Timberline High — the mighty Spartans — on the water tank.
"This is Spartan country now," said Bob Hartig, a coach at the high school.
Debate over the gorilla has overshadowed other issues. At a recent council meeting, virtually everyone attending stood up and left when council members deadlocked over the gorilla. Council members on both sides say it's gotten a little ugly.
"Personally, I feel like I've been intimidated," says council member Ronnie Larson, who cast his vote in favor of the gorilla.
The gorilla is back on the agenda for the council's Sept. 12 meeting.