Almost Paradise In North Idaho

Ted reacts and reflects on recent tragedies in North Idaho.

Firefighters are ambushed in nearby Coeur d'Alene. Two local teenagers suffer significant injuries in a car accident involving a semi-truck. The murderer of 4 college students in Moscow, ID cops a plea and confesses to his crimes and avoids the death penalty.

But, Ted refuses to be a total Debbie Downer and prepares to celebrate the 4th of July in Bonners Ferry.

And he remembers that God is in control, and He knows best.

Be safe and have fun while observing the...

Is it the Battle of Bunker Hill, or the Battle of Breed's Hill. Bobby and I debate and discuss this among other things related to 1775 and the Revolutionary War.

During a recent visit back to Kansas, Ted and his son Chase spend time doing guy stuff and visiting about it.

After 42 years Chase finally beats the old man in bowling. (Chase cheated!)

The two work together (sort of) on making his yard escape proof for his dog, Annie. Time will tell.

Chase shares some good stories, and not so good stories, about being a volunteer fire fighter in Kansas.

Mark Carpenter returns to the microphone with lots of thoughts on the world and Bonners Ferry.

Mark does admit to being tired as he has been rewiring the sound system at the fairgrounds. These improvements will hopefully lead to more entertainment options.

Ted and Mark try to decide if Mark is a bubba, or not.

Mark is pleased with the results of the just completed levy election.

Ted discusses the recent county commissioners' declaration of a fire danger emergency, and who is to blame for this dangerous situation facing the area...

Ted takes a time-out from guests and proceeds to talk about what he wants to talk about!

This show is dedicated to Ted's old school friend from Chanute, KS - Nick.

Ted recalls memories of boy scouts, go-carts, trampolines and more, with Nick.

Ted has a commencement address for his granddaughter's high school graduation class.

This first week of June features many special national days, including for VW buses, donuts, bubbas in our lives, moonshine, and drive-in movie theatres!!

While Ted tries to be upbeat and positive, sometimes national...

Ted takes a time out from guests and proceeds to talk about what he wants to talk about!

This show is dedicated to his old school friend from Chanute, KS...Nick!

Ted recalls memories of boy scouts, go-carts, and trampolines.

Ted has a commencement address for his granddaughter's high school graduation class.

This week features many special days, including for VW Camping buses, donuts, bubbas in our lives, moonshine and drive-in movies!!!

While Ted tries to be upbeat and positive, sometimes national and world events upsets him.

...

North Idaho Classical Academy Principle Jacob Francom joins Ted to discuss the new school coming to Bonners Ferry.

Opening is set for August, 2026 and the school hopes to compliment the various other schools in North Idaho.

Ted wonders what a classical academy is, and Jacob explains what it is and what it isn't.

The former Troy Montana school district superintendent is excited about the potential of the school focusing on knowledge and virtue while training the minds and the hearts of the students.

The area seems ready for the new approach...

The Maintenance & Operations Levy Election is going on now, and ends on May 20th. It's time to vote in this important election and Board of Trustees Chairman Ron MacDonald visits with Ted about this election.

Ron is a Badger through and through as he was born and raised here in Bonners Ferry and graduated from Bonners Ferry High School.

He has been on the board of trustees for over 10 years and has weathered many ups and downs including the difficult time of Covid.

He has also lived through several of these M & O...

Ken is a life long resident of Bonners Ferry with deep roots in the community.

From Eagle Scout, car body repair, fire fighter, EMT, hazmat tech, to fire chief, Ken has moved up the ladder and has lots of experience.

He realizes he often meets people on their worst day so he feels guided by /God to be the light that shines for them at their critical moment of need.

Ken also wants to show people that humanity is here to step forward and take care of neighbors.

It has been...

The upcoming school maintenance and operations levy is a hot topic in Boundary County and Ted digs deep to get more information about what is a stake.

Voting is going on now until May 20th.

Ted's goal is to help educate voters on the election, not tell them how to vote.

School officials emphasize the levy is a continuation of an already existing tax, NOT an increase!

School funding issues can be complicated and confusing, especially for Ted.

Topics covered include: District statistics, test scores, teaching strategies, board of...

Who doesn't love a quickie!? This episode is a quickie of about 12 minutes! But good things can come in small packages.

Sandy Johnstone joins Ted to discuss this Saturday's FREE Rotary Breakfast and Auction.

Yes, a FREE breakfast! Food will be served from 8:30 to 11 with the auction going on throughout!

And this is not a bowl of frosted flakes, warm milk and cold coffee. This is a chef's prepared breakfast of chicken fried tri-tip benedict, sausage, bacon, egg, bagels, waffles and pancakes with all the fixings! YUMMMMM

Ted can't wait.

Troy Olson is not a computer nerd, but he is a self proclaimed computer geek!

By day he is a Search Engine Optimization Technician. You know all those annoying ads you get on your phone after you search for something online? That's his fault!

He loves data and spreadsheets, even when he goes fishing!

He also likes AI...but only to a point. He does not believe The Terminator is in our future! Well, maybe not.

But his passion is using DNA, computers, the internet and his staff to help people...

Ted and his guest, Bobby Rains, celebrate the 250th anniversary of Paul Revere's famous horse ride and reconstruct the Battle of Lexington & Concord.

These two history buffs ponder exciting questions such as:

Did George Washington start the French & Indian War?

Why did the British suddenly need money after beating the French in that war?

Could the events leading to the Revolutionary War teach today's liberals anything about Americans' feelings regarding taxes and guns?

Were the British motivated by a desire to protect or control the American colonies in passing...

Dale wore many uniforms during his nearly 30 years as a police officer. These included stints as a prison guard, street cop, investigative detective, undercover agent, and police academy instructor.

Dale shares some interesting stories, some rather tense and some humorous. And he loved every day in uniform.

Now, in his retirement, he conducts self defense classes where he offers hands-on training and tactics. His goal is to help people identify, prevent, survive, and cope with the aftermath of violence.

But retirement may be short lived as it appears some changes are in the...

Mike is changing his Simple Simon's Pizza to Misty Mountain Pizza!

Nothing new here, as MIke has made many changes and leaps of faith in his life.

He took his family and left a successful 30 career in the San Francisco Bay area to come to Bonners Ferry, knowing no one and having no job. (It was actually his wife who TOLD him to.)

He always wanted to leave the rat race and become a farmer in a small town.

But some questioned his sanity when he took a job as a...

The bears are waking up, and they're hungry! Morgan Pfander wants to keep everybody safe, including the bears.

The Arizona native grew up hunting with her dad in the Tucson area, but admits to finding the perfect place to live and work, right here in North Idaho.

And while Morgan knows a lot about grizzly and black bears, she admits not knowing much about koala bears or the Chicago Bears and Chicago Cubs.

But after careful analysis Morgan did conclude that the bear on Ted's Chicago Cub cap was a black bear, not...

Welcome to milestone podcast number 50!

This podcast caught Ted by surprise as it went in a totally different direction than anticipated.

Sarah has started a Mom's Walk here in Bonners Ferry, giving mothers a break from being around their young ones 24/7 so they can spend some much needed time with adults for a while; providing sanity and (maybe) preventing depression.

Local businesses have stepped up and supported her efforts with free coffee and gift baskets for the moms.

That was the planned podcast. And then something else happened.

Sarah...

After dodging Ted for months, John Martling finally agrees to come on his humble podcast.

John's journey to Bonners Ferry is quite interesting (reminiscent of a song by Queen that Ted attempts to sing)!

And John's faith journey is just as interesting...he had a long way to go.

John admits to having been a rebel. He tried to negotiate with Jesus. Even when he accepted Jesus as his savior, he was not ready to accept Him as his Lord for quite a while.

John discusses his goal, after barely graduating...

John Becker has worn, and continues to wear, many hats here in Bonners Ferry.

With almost 1000 friends on Facebook, he is well known and his interests are many.

Previous interests have included gun safety instructor for Idaho Fish and Game, working in Alaska, conducting a local dirt bike racing event, riding his dirt bike in Baja California after recovering from a broken hip on his dirt bike, volunteer fire fighter, demolition derby driver, and other areas of interest.

Today John helps his daughter raise rats, owns his own pythons (including his favorite, Clay...

Ted is alone today, so look out!

With the weather warming up and thunderstorms on the horizon, Ted hopes to be dodging bolts of lightening soon. Well, maybe not. But he misses the real storms of Kansas.

Spring means different things to different people.

For Ted it's remembering cars he had back in the 70s, and cars he wishes he'd had,

Ted shares a new Terry story!

And nothing says spring more than...Opening Day of the baseball season. Ted previews the Mariners and the Royals and shares other...

Ted introduces his show with an offer of FREE TACOS...and a chance to help a community friend. Charli Turner and her family could use your help with their huge medical bills. Ted explains how you can help by eating free tacos!

However, this show features local resident and businessman John Miller, who talks about his famous relative, Robert the Bruce of Scotland. Mel Gibson made him famous in the film Braveheart.

The legacy of Robert the Bruce is important, and John explains why.

Next month, the county fairgrounds will host a special...

Munro grew up in Utah, moved to Hawaii (where he thought he had found paradise). But then he discovered North Idaho!

Yes, Life is Almost Paradise...In North Idaho.

Munro and his wife, Rachel, now own and manage North Haven Campground, featuring cabins, RV sites, tepees, tent sites and even covered wagons!

It's the perfect place for vacationing and visiting friends and relatives to stay (i.e. mother-laws...just saying).

They have plans for expansion in the near future.

And, watchout Sturgis, North Haven Campground is hosting the 3rd...

From a pinkie-swear in childhood to heading up a private, non-profit, Bible-based pre and K-12 school, these two ladies have come a long way to now serve families in Boundary and Bonner Counties.

While Ted concentrates on celebrating Charli,s climb up his staircase to his office/studio and focuses on why the school's mascot is a Ram instead of a Moose, Charli and Julie focuses on the school's pillars of curriculum that are bible based and includes:

Ted's old podcast partner Mark comes into the studio and tries to hog the microphone (nothing new there)!

Topics include, but are not limited to:

Mark falling in love with a dog at Pro-X hardware store,.

Confessing his love for his dogs at home.

Growing up in California and falling in love with the Bat Mobile, and other cars.

Real estate market woes in North Idaho

Depressed economy (timber or bust) and its impact on the local economy and the upcoming school levee election.

Is...

The Bonners Ferry Chamber of Commerce is busy preparing for their upcoming 9B Ladies Event, and tickets are selling Fast. The ladies discuss the guests that are coming and why you should be there too!

But first, Ted may have found Bonners Ferry's long lost sister city (or kissing cousin) in Russia. How is this possible? Is it possible? Or, is Ted becoming a Putin Puppet? Or, maybe he's just lost in left field?

Elon Musk calls Ted for an accountability update.

Ted finds a new purpose for his ping pong and pickleball...

Angela Hand talks about her unique shops of wine and ice cream. Ted thinks it is the best of both worlds in downtown Bonners Ferry.

The high school basketball team is off to the state tournament with high hopes.

Terry gets restless at the game and demands popcorn. But then buys everyone ice cream.

After an absence of several years, Playboy Magazine returns!

Ted reviews the movie, Unbreakable Boy.

In order to keep Elon Musk happy, Ted lists 5 things he did last week.

There are many upcoming...

Nate joins the podcast to talk all things fish and game.

And, yes, he is part of law enforcement. Poaching is real, and so are hunting mistakes.

What a typical day, bad day and good day on the job looks like.

Other topics include:

Talking to the animals in the forest

Chronic Wasting Disease

Lions and tigers and bears...well, maybe not tigers

Who is smarter - wolves or cougars...or Ted?

The risks and challenges of black bears and grizzly bears

Brent Hudson shares his story of how he was mauled by a huge grizzly in Alaska, and survived! And how it changed his life.

Brent recalls the events leading up to the attack and the details of the encounter that left him with multiple injuries and a long stay in the hospital.

He believes God saved him for a purpose.

Bears are real, and dangerous. So, today he gives workshops on how to avoid bear attacks and how to defend oneself if needed.

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Ted looks in the mirror and discovers Ned Newton, ace reporter for the Bonners Ferry Herald newspaper.

Ted discovers that the more things change, the more they stay the same. He takes a trip down memory lane and compares Ned's new life as a journalist with his own from 50 years ago.

Ned is a Texas boy and is adjusting to the snow, cold, and lack of sun in North Idaho. But he loves the beauty and the people of the area.

Ted has noticed a significant improvement in the coverage and writing of...

Ted likes to TRY to be funny, but some stories are just too sad and real.

Beware of scams, calls from the barnyard, and calls from ex-wives!

Zuko, the rescue dog, needs our help. He has a complication that sets his recovery back.

Ted attends a meeting of the Boundary Search and Dive Rescue Team and decides to lose the fat and recommits to going to the gym.

George, the cat, needs a new home!

Kevin Vaughn talks about the organization 'First Hunt' in an interview with Ted.

Baby, it's cold outside!

Ted gets cold inside, too, as his Chiefs are humbled in the big game. But while his friends eat his food and make fun of him simultaneously, they keep him from jumping off the ledge.

Ted gets warmed up a couple of days later as he attends T.D. Holliday's monthly morning mixer for business owners and entrepreneurs. While there, he meets and interviews Two Tones Catering owners Kira Romero and Tony Fleck. They have a big Valentine's dinner planned for Friday night, and they talk about all the good food...

The Bonners Ferry Gun and Horn Show will be at the county fairgrounds this weekend.

Guns, knives, crafts, furs, food, pies, and more will be featured on Friday, Saturday & Sunday.

Did Ted mention pies!?!?

Ted thinks the NFL should move the Super Bowl to another date to accommodate our gun show.

Most people just have a good time at the show, but once in a while, Kevin has to put out fires at the gun show as someone gets upset by the rules and regulations, often caused by the insurance company.<...

Welcome to North Idaho as the snow and temperatures fall.

Ted sympathizes with two local men and a turtle in Florida who get stuck in a sewer drain.

Meet Bruno, who needs a home.

Wanda The Weather Bunny predicts the weather with uncanny accuracy.

The recent plane crash in Washington, DC, brings back memories for Ted of a similar tragedy in 1970 involving the Wichita State Football Team.

A dead girl gets new glasses that change her life.

Ted celebrates one of his favorite holidays by urging people...

Ted welcomes his listeners to North Idaho, which is almost paradise!

True crime podcasts are popular, but Ted isn't sure they're for him. A current area murder trial might force him to reconsider.

Should Ted continue shopping at Costco? DEI is the issue, and Costco believes in it. Ted doesn't. Sounds like another Bud Lite situation.

Keeping up with Trump these days is very hard. Ted will try, but he will need faster shoes.

Talking about feeling the heat, Badger basketball is red-hot. Badger basketball is a show we shouldn't miss.<...

What a great show we have today! Retired border patrol officer Lee Pinkerton (known as Pinky by his friends) talks about his career and life here in North Idaho.

Lee has worn many hats as a lifetime resident of Bonners Ferry and a retired 25-year veteran of the border patrol. A few years ago, he was one of our county commissioners. He is part owner of a sawmill. He is a rancher and hay producer. And most importantly to him, he is a husband and father. Today, some might call him a Paul Bunyan-like lumberjack, always looking...

Ted is excited as he unveils his podcast's new logo and mission. He returns to his journalism roots and becomes a voice with an edge for Bonners Ferry. He plans to tackle local and national issues more deeply while keeping his sense of humor. Interviews will often be featured, and he will also comment on current events, life, politics, sports, and faith.

A new sheriff is in town, and some think he stumbled out of the gate. He dismissed the previous undersheriff, who claims he was assured of being retained until he wasn't. It is not a...

Ted and Mark discuss a wide range of topics related to the LA fires and how they might impact North Idaho in the months and years ahead.

Mark suggests downloading the Radio Garden App, which allows you to listen to radio stations nationwide and in LA, including police and fire scanners.

The blame game is on, as California's governor and LA's mayor point fingers everywhere except at themselves.

But they seem to agree that the brush benefits little animals and their habitat.

Ted confuses vegetation management with broccoli and Brussels sprouts...

Mark drops by to offer his unique perspectives on the LA fire.

Mark struggles to keep Ted focused as Ted starts talking about thong bikinis.

Then Mark explains how electricity doesn't come from unicorn farts! Lord have mercy!

Ted worries about the impact the LA fire might have on North Idaho.

Why did the fires happen? Hint: It's not climate change!

Do Democrats in California view water, electricity, oil, and gas as demonic? Mark says YES!

Mark reveals how the homeless often start fires in California.

Ted is on his own this time, and it shows as he talks about a hodgepodge of topics.

Good News or Bad News? It depends on the listener.

Terry is in hot water, but he keeps trying.

Trixie is ready for winter!

Ted is nervous about his sports teams, except for the Bonners Ferry High School basketball team, which is No. 1!

Ted is happy that the Bonner Ferry Herald newspaper is much improved!

New area businesses open their doors with the new year.

An area...

Ted and Joy talk about New Year's Resolutions (but they don't make any!)

Joy finds some resolutions for Ted, but his quick answers get him in trouble.

Actually, Ted does find some resolutions he feels he can keep. But Joy disapproves.

But with January 10 being National Quitters Day, Ted submits.

And Ted has a rant about the Boise State playoff football game—actually, two rants.

Ultimately, Ted tries to play the Auld Lang Syne song on his kazoo for New Year's. But he gets censored!!