Huckleberries Online

Man Fires Shotgun Near Census Worker

Posted by DFO

April 12, 2010 9:53 a.m. • 12 comments

A northern Idaho man who police say fired his shotgun near a U.S. census worker who was trying to deliver a census form has been cited for exhibition of a deadly weapon, a misdemeanor. Fifty-4-year-old Richard L. Powell of St. Maries faces up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine. The Benewah County Prosecutor’s office says that on March 3 Powell told the census worker to get off his property and then fired a shotgun into the air. Powell’s pretrial conference is scheduled for April 26 at the Benewah County Courthouse/Associated Press.

Question: Would you want to be a census worker in North Idaho’s backcountry?

12 comments on this post so far. Add yours!

SmittyK on April 12 at 10:02 a.m.
Good Lord, I hasve a hard enough time living up here.
I can appreciate that people dont want the government in their lives, but you think the crazy northern idaho residents would want to abide by the rules as set in the constitution about the Census.

But DFO: I would be careful we wouldnt want this dingleberry writing a letter to the St Maries news paper about how the Spokesman is nothing but a leftist fish wrap of a paper and picks on those poor folks from benewah county without getting their side of the story!
BayviewBob on April 12 at 10:07 a.m.
“Fifty-4-year-old”

Who writes this crap?
Charlie on April 12 at 10:23 a.m.
I think I’d feel better in the back country than in the big cities.
jazzyvandal on April 12 at 10:37 a.m.
I feel sorry for these census workers in North idaho or anywhere where there is anti-government sentiment.

These people are trying to earn a living. Many of these workers were probably laid off and the census was probably the only thing they could get for now.
moscow_minidoka on April 12 at 10:38 a.m.
@BayviewBob - Looks like a St. Maries Gazette-style abuse of English to me…
Joker on April 12 at 10:48 a.m.
No way. I’d rather sit in a room and listen to Mary Souza give a good government lecture for hours than to venture out into banjo territory.
bpoole on April 12 at 11:06 a.m.
Joker>>>.No way. I’d rather sit in a room and listen to Mary Souza give a good government lecture for hours than to venture out into banjo territory.

I’d rather take my chances in the banjo territory. I personally don’t think MS could give a “good” history lecture.
fortboise on April 12 at 11:21 a.m.
Ok, “banjo territory” made me spit coffee.
WillyPeter on April 12 at 12:23 p.m.
Jail time for “exhibition of a deadly weapon?” So what happens if he’s standing on his porch with a holstered pistol - which is legal - when someone walks up the sidewalk on his property?
I think the bust should be for the age old “disturbing the peace.”
JohnA on April 12 at 2:41 p.m.
I think it’s time everyone came to their census.
oldfisherman on April 12 at 4:52 p.m.
Interesting JohnA mentions “coming to their census” an item he occasionally lacks. Anyway, welcome back to the era of Revenoors & Hatfields and McCoys. be a good test for Benewah Sheriff’s intestinal fortitude!
Phaedrus on April 12 at 5:21 p.m.
when someone walks up the sidewalk on his property?—

I’m guessing sidewalks is not something you’re gonna see around banjo country.

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About this blog

D.F. Oliveria is a columnist and blogger for The Spokesman-Review. Huckleberries Online was judged the best 2008 Idaho newspaper blog by the Idaho Press Club. And the best 2007 news blog in the Pacific Northwest by the Society for Professional Journalist. Print Huckleberries is a past winner of the Herb Caen Memorial Column contest by the National Association of Newspaper Columnists. The Readership Institute of Northwestern University cited this blog as a good example of online community journalism.