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 a grizzly.

She loves her job, except for the days she has to recover decomposing carcasses. NOT FUN!

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 spend the rest of the podcast talking about her challenging journey of searching for and finding Jesus.

As she reads her newly found Bible, Sarah listens for Him and moves according to His urging.

The resulting rewards and blessings have been surprising.

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 from college, of being a hermit, riding his bike across America, and finding a piece of ground where he could grow marijuana and sell it.

But a record album (not Queen) and a book (not the Bible...at first) helped turn his life around.

John eventually discovered Boundary County and settled down. But instead of growing marijuana he started to play a real life version of the game, Monopoly.

Eventually the game became a mission in his heart to provide homes for people who couldn't afford them, but needed a nice place to live.

And he discusses a couple of boys he and his wife welcomed into their home, and how they soon grew into their hearts; Eli and Mikey.

And now, at 65, John is ready for his next big adventure.

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), hunts every chance he gets, helps coach the high school baseball team, helps his wife raise their three children, and works at the local hops farm.

And, of course, there is the annual Independence Day Celebration and Fireworks Display that he organizes every year.

And through all this he is grateful for all the blessings that God has provided. HIs motto: Appreciate Today!

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 oddities.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Ted ponders parables, Spring, and Robins.

He closes with a quick recommendation for a movie coming out this weekend, as a buildup to Easter later in April.

Finally, Ted thanks all 10 of his listeners for...listening!

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 presentation of a film about Robert the Bruce.

Also, this coming summer will be the 2nd annual Bruce Festival, celebrating the life and times of Robert the Bruce. The two-day festival will include bagpipes, food, banners, flags, and singing—and, maybe, jousting! Maybe...

This is a passion for John, and he and Ted discuss the importance of having a passion in our lives.

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 annual "2 The Border Motorcycle Rally" in June, and it promises to be awesome! You can check that out at 2theborder.com

Check out their website at northhavencampground.com

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:

• Mystery of History
• Mike Rowe Work Ethics Curriculum and the S.W.E.A.T. Pledge
• Science that emphasizes exploring, exploring and more exploring
• Dave Ramsey Personal Finance
• A student run business of a thrift sore and coffee shop
• Cursive handwriting
• Foreign Language
• Mathematics
• Skill Days
• Mentorship programs with local businesses
• Student Character Development

Details are covered in the podcast!

Although starting with just a few dollars in the bank a couple years ago, the school has grown significantly and with the recent passage of Idaho House Bill 93 the school's future looks promising and exciting.

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 school board getting it right, or wrong?

Lessons to be learned from Gene Hackman's and his wife's death.

And other pearls of wisdom....

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 paddles.

Things Ted learned from the Democrats this week.

Ted breaks down and buys something he has wanted since 7th grade. But will it do him any good?