No help for Utah officers in Idaho • Bring out that top secret three-alarm chili recipe • But it's not even real money • Will California follow Idaho's lead? • Ironman madness coming to a head in Coeur d'Alene • Honoring the Sarge

No help for Utah officers in Idaho

An Idaho Supreme Court ruling says Utah officers that chase criminals over the Idaho border will not have the same protection that the law gives to Idaho officers.

The ruling stems from an incident where a Utah officer backed off of a drunk driver who crossed over from Utah into Idaho. The driver then ran into a group of people standing on the side of the road.

Without legal protection, Utah sheriffs say it may be difficult for them to cross the border and help Idaho law enforcement agencies.

"There is a bar 200 yards over the Idaho border and it usually takes only five minutes to get there whenever there are problems requiring first responders," said Rich County (Utah) Sheriff Dale Stacey. "There is no way I am going to direct my deputies to go into Idaho given the outcome of this ruling, even though it can take Idaho authorities half an hour to get to the bar."

**

Bring out that top secret three-alarm chili recipe

The Idaho State Chili Championship is being moved to Mountain Home after 25 years in northern Idaho.

The contest, which benefits local charities, is being held in Carl Miller Park on July 26.

If you think you've got the best red chili, chili verde, salsa or chili with a filler such as beans, pasta or rice, this is your chance to strut your stuff.

**

But it's not even real money

A dozen people filed suit in U.S. District Court in Idaho this week demanding the return of all the copper, silver, gold and platinum coins that the FBI and Secret Service seized in November during raids of a mint in Idaho and a strip mall storefront in Indiana.

Sunshine Minting in Coeur d'Alene produces liberty dollars — an alternative to the greenback that between 100,000 and 250,000 Americans own.

Many of the plaintiffs possessed bearer certificates for the silver liberty dollars that were being warehoused in Coeur d'Alene, and they’re mad about the recent raid where the dollars were rounded up.

**

Will California follow Idaho's lead?

California is looking at a proposal that would allow bicyclists to legally roll through stop signs and run red lights, rules that are already in place in Idaho.

The California proposal had its first hearing, and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission's Regional Bicycle Working Group did not kill the idea, nor did it propose the agency’s governing board consider it for approval, which could lead to state legislation.

**

Ironman madness coming to a head in Coeur d'Alene

The Coeur d'Alene Press says many of the 2,400 athletes expected to compete in this weekend's Ironman in Coeur d'Alene started filtering into City Park yesterday for the opening of the Ironman village.

"I just came down to check out the spectacle and do a little shopping," said Heidi Mills of Coeur d'Alene. "I look forward to Ironman ever year because it turns downtown Coeur d'Alene into one big carnival - the atmosphere is amazing."

The standard Ironman format, which the Coeur d'Alene race follows, consists of swimming 2.4 miles, biking 112 miles and running a marathon, 26.2 miles.

**

Honoring the Sarge

Idaho native Bill "Sarge" Brown, a longtime manager at Vail, was recently honored for lifetime achievement at the Colorado ski mountain.

The Vail Daily profiles Brown, who grew up in McCall, where he went to and from school each day on skis.

He was a star guard on the football team at the University of Idaho. He later fought in World War II and the Korean War, earning five Purple Hearts, two Silver Stars and three Bronze Stars.