BSU bumpersticker is a champion

I sit corrected.

Back in December I editorialized about how proud this community should be for raising $60,000 for the Sandpoint Lions Toys for Tots drive.

I also wrote that Kinderhaven's Festival of Trees raised $100,000, the two Rotary Clubs donated $4,000 to the food bank and how it would be hard to find a community that gave more per capita to the needy during the holiday season than we did.

There is. It's called Jackson Hole, Wyo.

A reader sent me a copy of a full-page ad in the Jackson Hole newspaper thanking the community for donating $6.8 million in the 10th annual Old Bill's Fun Run for Charities. The year before it raised $5 million.

This five-hour event sets the gold standard for fundraising and I was reminded that Jackson Hole is about the same size as Sandpoint.

Wow.

I'll still take Bonner County any day.

I saw a great bumpersticker in Boise last week. In fact I saw this bumpersticker everywhere in Boise last week. It said: "Oklahoma is a musical, Boise State is a champion." The Fiesta Bowl win has to rank as one of the best football games I have ever seen. Last Sunday's Indianapolis Colts win over the Patriots also ranked right up there, though.

Is it just me or is everyone having more close calls with pedestrians along Fifth Avenue after that horrible accident on Christmas Eve? I don't know what it is about that area…but something has to be done.

And yes, it's fair to discuss the fact that the Sand Creek Byway would eliminate some traffic along that corridor. The only other realistic options still keep all of the north, south Highway 95 truck traffic in Sandpoint near residential parts of town.

The longer this is delayed the more lives will be lost. It's as simple as that.

This is for your clip and mail to friends file.

Back on Oct. 4, Sandpoint Police responded to a report of a black bear in a residence. According to the report, "damage was done to the blinds over several windows when the bear tried to exit through closed doors. Bear left scat and piddled on the floor." The incident occurred in Apt. 204 in the Black Bear Condominiums.

OK, just one more. A Sandpoint Police officer responded to a local residence after someone had hung up after calling 911.

The report stated: "Went to the address and spoke with residents. Male was trying to program speed-dial buttons on phone, one for 911. He said call ended up going through. House was in order, female very polite. Offered me a bowl of soup which I had."

E-mail of the week:

Investment tips for 2007. For all of you with any money left, be aware of the next expected mergers so that you can get in on the ground floor and make some BIG bucks.

Watch for these consolidations in 2007:

Hale Business Systems, Mary Kay Cosmetics, Fuller Brush and W. R.Grace will merge and become: Hale, Mary, Fuller, Grace.

Polygram Records, Warner Bros., and Zesta Crackers join forces and become: Poly Warner Cracker.

3M will merge with Goodyear and become: MMMGood.

Zippo Manufacturing, Audi Motors, Dofasco, and Dakota Mining will merge and become: ZipAudiDoDa.

FedEx is expected to join its major competitor, UPS, and become: FedUP.

Fairchild Electronics and Honeywell Computers will become: Fairwell Honeychild.

Knotts Berry Farm and the National Organization of Women will become: Knott NOW!

David Keyes is publisher of the Daily Bee