Deputy’S Accolade Deserved

That was a well-deserved thumbs up that Bicycling magazine gave Deputy Dawg Joe Bodman and the sheriff’s deputy association. An October article (passed along by Ross McFarland) tells how Joe uses dues each month to buy bikes for kids. The youngsters write in to say why they want a two-wheeler. Lisa Carney, 10, was the first winner. She needed a bike to get around while her single-parent mom works. So, this one’s for Joe & Co.: Saaalute.

Comfort problem

When a cuss-tomer asked a CdA engineering firm about a structural problem, it directed him to a Post Falls engineer. You should be comforted, the man was told, because the Post Falls engineer was also a pastor. “Well,” he replied, “the Rev. Richard Butler is a pastor, but that doesn’t give me any comfort” … Eyeing the IS-R’s fair-haired Brian Plonka, KKK Grand Dragon Mike McQueeney of Wisconsin said: “Hey, you look like you’d like to join us. It’s only 35 bucks.” Now, there’s an offer you can refuse.

Case in point

That lightning fire on the mountain above the Bonner County Fairgrounds recently served as a prop for the U.S. Forest Service. Sez Greg Hetzler of the Sandpoint office: “It was nice for our people at the fair booth to point up there and say, that’s how fast a fire starts” … At a social gathering, Bonner County was described as “Mayberry RFD on crank” … Strangely, Sheriff Rocky Watson couldn’t recall Eric Mescher’s name while talking about the Idaho brand inspector’s job. Eric’s an ex-ISP officer - and once investigated Rocky’s brother, Rollie.

Stuck in CdA

A rental company sicced the dogs on a local family when it didn’t return a 6-foot trailer. But CPD Blue didn’t file theft charges. Seems the trailer was parked at the family’s home, with all its earthly belongings - while the husband was fighting forest fires. Good call … A Domino’s Pizza driver was in Franklin’s Hoagies last week complaining about a rash of thefts of those trademark I.D.’s on delivery cars - when his got stolen. Right off the top of his rig, parked on Fourth. But not to worry. His boss swiped it. She thought she’d spotted a stolen sign. And decided to steal it back. Or something like that.

Visualize whirled peas

North Idaho College prez Michael Burke quoted Zen Master Yogi while welcoming back faculty and staff: “You can observe a lot by watching.” Ah, make that Yogi Berra … Later, NIC veep Rolly Jurgens introduced a new staffer who’s married to an old one: “That’s Roxanne. She’s married to her husband there” … Those guys in the red rig snooping around Arthur Salisbury’s tent weren’t from the welcome wagon. Art was biking across the Northwest when he camped at Cedar’s RV Park Aug 27. He continued on without his backpack, video camera and binoculars. Be careful out there.

Huckleberries

You’d think after 18 months here that Downtown Association exec Malcolm Johnstone would change his car’s Oregon plates … A sign at Casey’s Pub in Post Falls: “Just because you are a character doesn’t mean you have character” … Bumpersnicker: “The most violent element in society is ignorance” … Mayor Steve Judy annoyed Kiwanians when he offered a $50 bill to pay for $1 parking at the North Idaho Fair. While cars backed up behind The Boy Mayor, a K-man counted out a $20 and 29 ones - all his change … The Kiwanians also caught a couple of Kootenai County Republican lawmakers trying to park in a handicap zone at the fair, including Commissioner Dick Compton. F’shame … Local GOPers are bugged that they’re being charged for Bush/Cheney paraphernalia - bumperstickers, buttons, signs, etc. Buzz is that Idaho R’s didn’t donate enough per capita so Dubya’s campaign made the state party pay for the stuff … What’ll be on the menu Saturday when friends and colleagues gather in Boise to roast Helen Chenoweth-Hage? “Fresh-baked salmon, grizzly bear sausage and wild wolf meat shot with an unregistered gun.” Yum … That Aussie who visited The Bookery during R’n’R from fighting forest fires was worried. He had tickets to the Olympic finals of the 100-meter dash - and hoped to be back in Sydney in time to enjoy them.

Parting shot

Scanner traffic Wednesday night told of “a suspicious person at the courthouse, hunched over, peeking through windows.” Ten minutes later, the cops had identified the peeper: a CNN news crewman. Then, it might have been an FBI agent.