Pend Oreille Pete is home following a three-year stay at Spokane's Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture.

Re-Pete.

The friendly fisherman, who was carved out of a single, 400-pound block of Idaho White Pine, will be feted at a homecoming party at US Bank this Wednesday from 1-4 p.m.

Pend Oreille Pete was a hit in Spokane as part of the museum's "Hometowns: Heart of the Inland Northwest" exhibit. The exhibit was amazing.

Bonners Ferry, Clark Fork and Priest River also showed off bits of history as did most of the region.

Pete's grin, his logging outfit and the Kamloop trout on his back made for a great display and a unique reminder of Sandpoint's colorful past.

We'll see you at the Re-Pete barbecue. Bill Justice is cooking.

We have had a few comments on last week's column concerning the rumored participation by actor Viggo Mortenson in the Aug. 21 Long Bridge Swim.

Most people appreciated Eric Ridgway's efforts to beat down the claims by many Viggo fans that he would be swimming. Several people called us to let us know that Viggo's fans had posted misinformation on several of the actor's fan Web sites and that fans would be headed here to catch a glimpse of the star.

Ridgway called the phone calls and e-mails "humorous, cute and funny unless people were coming to find him and would be mad when he didn't show."

"The interest has been amazing," Ridgway said. "That's why we wanted to make sure people know he isn't signed up and isn't going to compete."

Several readers didn't like the People magazine/National Enquirer feel in the column about someone who has chosen to live here part of the time having his privacy invaded by comments in this space.

Ridgway confirmed the actor wouldn't be at the swim through a family member.

All of your comments about last week's column — the positive and negative — were right on. And appreciated.

A belated congratulations to Marcella Nelson on her recognition as a Community Star by Panhandle State Bank.

There is a lot I could write about Marcella's positive influence on the Festival at Sandpoint, POAC, Panida, the Sandpoint Chamber and now the Ponderay Community Development Corp — but I'll keep it short.

She's wonderful. We are all better off because of her commitment to this area. She also has a great sense of humor — especially concerning short jokes.

Panhandle State Bank had a great idea highlighting those who selfishly give of themselves with this recognition program.

Ticket sales are brisk for this year's Festival at Sandpoint. Super Country Saturday is still in first place and Dierks Bentley's name recognition is soaring in country circles.

"We couldn't afford him now," said the Festival's Carol Winget.

The Festival folks are predicting several sell outs. Lou Rawls is second in sales so far and Super Swampy Saturday is in third and closing fast. Jim Messina and Bruce Cockburn are also selling well and the Spokane Symphony finale is gaining steam.

Buy your tickets now. Call 265-4554.

This week's online poll: "Do you plan on attending the Festival at Sandpoint?" Cast your vote at bonnercountydailybee.com.

We had a noncontroversial question the past two weeks while we worked out some technological challenges. We have been receiving so many unique visits on the Web site that we had to upgrade our system.

The questions was: "Do you believe in love at first sight?" All 231 voters said yes.

If you have a suggestion for a poll question, drop me a line.

Randoms: What are all the portapotties doing next to Fifth Ave? The DSBA is soon going to run out of money to pay to have all the hanging baskets and barrels watered. Any suggestions? The Boar's Breath serves up a mean Sow Burger. Tim Cochran did a great job as Rotary president.

Think about attending the Creatures of the Deep film and discussion at the Panida this Saturday. Suzanne Sawyer and the Clark Fork-Pend Oreille Conservancy are raising money to support a land trust and proceeds will help the cause.

Don't you hate going somewhere else during a summer vacation when we all know that few places compare with what we have?

Give the board of trustees a collective pat on the back if you see any of them. We are going to hear great things from the school district this year. You read it here first …

Congrats to the organizers of the Lake to Forest Triathlon this weekend. Some are calling it the best ever. SWAC needs congratulations for taking over this race, and skillfully coordinating the hundreds of details needed to pull it off.

Join me up at Schweitzer this weekend for NORBA. This is the one chance most of us will ever have to see world class athletes race down the mountains in what can best be described as a controlled fall.

There will be something for everyone at Schweitzer. Watch the Bee for details.

David Keyes is publisher of the Bee. His column runs Tuesdays.