Congratulations to Bill Berg and the rest of the Panhandle Alliance for Education for a great golf tournament over the weekend.

Word has it that Georgia Shonk-Simmons, the mastermind behind the tournament, helped raise just over $300,000. Stay tuned.

I helped pass out rain parkas to the golfers on Sunday morning with Berg and Mindy Cameron. This was a great event for the whole community.

I had to laugh, though, when all of these golfers who make their livings with their flair for fashion all had to wear the same colored rain parkas. Some much for standing out from the crowd …

There is a definite need for the extra help PAFE provides for our teachers and every teacher I have spoken with sings the praises of the relatively new organization.

The tournament and PAFE will only get bigger and better.

If there is a a more successful fund-raiser in this region than this golf tournament, I haven't heard of it. If you have, let me know.

My friend, and probably the nicest guy in town, Rich Crettol, dropped off the latest in a long line of "omigosh, this area is getting a lot of publicity lately" stories.

In the September issue of BoatU.S. is a three-page story titled "Idaho's Gems, Western Lakes are no small potatoes."

The magazine goes out to several hundred thousand readers a month.

The story discusses the weekly Pend Oreille Yacht Club's races, the mountain goats on Bernard Peak and the submarines in and around Bayview.

"Bayview has the largest group of floating homes outside of Seattle," said Hudson Bay Resort owner Gary MacDonald.

Writer Rick Lydecker also discussed the existence of the Pend Oreille Paddler and spoke with Cmnd. Kevin Grundy, the officer in charge of the U.S. Navy's Bayview station.

Grundy explained the "largest underwater structure in the world" under the surface of Lake Pend Oreille. There are hydrophones and other test equipment strung out around the lake to generate noise and to listen for it.

"If a guy starts an outboard 20 miles away, we can hear him," Grundy said.

The Navy also monitors emergency calls and has dispatched its own ships when needed.

The story is a good read and I am working with the publisher of BoatU.S. so that we can reprint the story. BoatU.S, is not available on newsstands.

Phil Franklin shared his copy of the CBS Sunday Morning show's piece on Lake Pend Oreille. Ben Stein should be working for the chamber of commerce for all of the publicity he is giving this area on talk shows and the like.

What's coming on Feb. XX?

This question and the many people wearing this question has raised the anxiety level for some.

After much research, I have uncovered what all of this excitement is about. On Feb. 26, "It" is … I can't say, but I now know who is wearing these blue shirts.

The shirt wearers include, but aren't limited to:

Tito Tiberi, Angela Bopp-Potts, Melinda McDonald, Grant Merwin, Travis Kaul, Alison Burgstahler, Diane Rinck, Chuck Schoonover, me, Kim Dierks, Jeff Rokstad, Donna Rokstad, Steve Meyer, Viggo Mortenson (just kidding), Jim Hutchens, Gloria Waterhouse, Laurel Taylor, Mike DePrez, Tamara Scrimsher and Nancy Meyer.

Some of the latest guesses include: Home Depot opening date, byway construction begins, Big Boy Ballet returns, opening of the bathrooms at Jeff Jones Town Square, the date of the final recount in Florida following the presidential election, Target is coming or Fred Meyer is coming.

If you really want to know, call Jerry Spray at 263-3127. He doesn't have a clue about the date but it's driving him crazy and he would appreciate knowing he isn't alone in this.

Kermit and Susan Kiebert throw the best parties. Paintball guns and politics, it doesn't get much better than that. Your Bee friends say thanks.

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