Deer, multi-colored leaves filling fields around Bonner County

I love fall in North Idaho. The canopies of multicolored leaves just add to the beauty of this most beautiful part of the world.

I am an early morning jogger and the past few weeks have been stunning.

There are deer filling up the fields along Syringa Heights and raccoons, skunks, a moose, Sandpoint Mayor Ray Miller and other wildlife have greeted me just as the sun rises.

It's a great place to live.

Back to the deer for a moment. The deer on Syringa Heights are on private property so don't shoot at them. Don't shoot at me, either. I'm wearing a hunter's orange stocking cap these days so you have no excuse.

I should have mentioned earlier that I attended one of the most beautiful weddings back in early September. The setting was the Western Pleasure Guest Ranch and it was a perfect day for Robby Laude and Corie Kedish to begin a life together.

It's obvious the Laudes have a sense of humor. Moments before they became man and wife, Corie passed under and honor guard of fishing poles.

This marriage will last forever, mark my words. If you can laugh and fish you have two of the main ingredients for a happy life together.

It was also great seeing Gary and Nora Kedish again. These Sandpoint residents now live on the top of a mountain in Colorado. He works for the Forest Service and is bracing for several yards of snow.

Speaking of snow. The long-range forecast for the fluffy white stuff looks good for our friends at Schweitzer. So much so, gulp, I purchased my season passes Tuesday. Hey, what's $638.40? My bet is, it will mean a tremendous amount of fun for me, my son, Austin, Olivia and maybe Marlisa.

Austin's school, the Carden Home School Cooperative, makes a point of skiing every Friday in January and February if conditions permit. Last year they went three times.

It looks like a few Bonner General Hospital nurses are heading south to help with hurricane cleanup. Watch the Bee for a story the next day or two.

With all of this talk about changing NCAA mascots to be more politically correct and sensitive, has anyone ever examined how inaccurate the name Idaho Vandals real is? I mean, the 0-4 Vandals can't even steal a victory this year.

The Daily Bee is now the home of the official North Idaho Denver Broncos Fan Club. Eric Plummer, the Bee's new sports editor, has more than just a passing interest in how the Broncos are doing.

Eric's brother, Jake Plummer, is the starting quarterback for the Broncos. Eric is also an athlete. He is the top-ranked handball player in Idaho and has coached football and tennis. He also attended the University of Montana and was a pal with Bulldog football coach, Sean Dorris.

Does this mean free Broncos tickets and paraphernalia throughout the Bee office? Time will tell.

In the meantime, Eric is doing a great job organizing our sports coverage.

If you have any sports tips or stories, contact Eric at the Bee.

Since you asked … Marlisa now has a hard cast on her left foot and is recovering well from the dog-versus-owner incident several long weeks ago. She has three pins in her foot and four of the "little piggies" have been pushed back into place.

In the meantime, I have had the pleasure of fixing meals and playing chauffeur for the kids. Do not stop by the house. It's a mess. It's my fault. It will get cleaned, soon. I swear.

I also was the first to sign her freshly-minted cast. I drew a nice, big yellow caution sign with "I break for dogs!" written in the middle.

Do you have a better idea? I'll put it on her cast if you do.

It's time to start casting your votes for the 15 top pets in Bonner County who will adorn the 2006 pet calendar, sponsored by the Newspapers In Education program and the Panhandle Animal Shelter.

More than 30 pets — ranging from yaks and rabbits to puppies — are in the running. Just a thought … if a jackrabbit and a yak mated, would they have yak rabbits?

The sales of these calendars helps replace our coffers because we deliver more than 50,000 newspapers a year to teachers who request them for their classrooms at no charge to the teachers or schools.

Watch for the ballots beginning Friday. It would be a doggone shame if you didn't vote.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas shopping already in downtown Santapoint, Idaho-ho-ho. There is a bunch of new stores downtown and the old ones are also bracing for what will be a great, white holiday season. Watch for more.

Remember … Sandpoint Junior Miss is back! If you want to help organize this awesome scholarship program, hook up with Tammy Paris tonight at 5:30 at the Motel 6 meeting room. This is a great program and has to start all over again after the national organization pulled the plug last spring only to resurrect it a few weeks ago.

Online poll results: Do you plan on driving less because of the high price of gas?

There were 252 votes cast. Yes, 85 percent, no, 14 percent. This week's question will be posted online at bonnercountydailybee.com this afternoon.

E-mail of the week:

Reporter: Mr. President, what is your opinion on Roe versus Wade?

President Bush: Personally, I don't care how those poor people get out of New Orleans.

David Keyes is publisher of the Bee. His column runs weekly. He is currently looking for a new and exciting recipe for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches as well as a healthy substitute for Cheerios.