Hucks: Showdown in Bonners Ferry

Here’s the lead item to my Sunday Huckleberries column:

Today, former Bonner County Bee Publisher Dave Keyes manages a string of Montana newspapers for the Billings Area News Group. But 30 years ago, he was a rookie reporter for the Bonners Ferry Herald. Few incidents in his newspaper career have riveted his attention as much as one that happened during his second week at the Bonners Ferry Herald. Keyes, still of Sandpoint, was a thirsty cub reporter in search of a Diet Pepsi that day. He found one at a restaurant across the street from the newspaper office. As he stepped back outside, he looked up to see a man run from a nearby business and level a rifle at him. Dave describes what happened next: “I had two choices, jump into the bushes to save my life or to say a silent prayer that I was just imagining the scene (and to save the Pepsi by not jumping).” In that split second of indecision, he didn’t consider a third option. The guy was sighting the scope on the rifle he’d just purchased from a gun and pawn shop. Dave didn’t jump. The Diet Pepsi was saved. And Dave’s still around to tell his tale. Rest of the column here.

Question: When did you last visit Bonners Ferry?