Up on the rooftop? It's a cop

Idaho State Trooper Alan Ashby will camp out on top of the

Texas Roadhouse restaurant Sept. 24 - 25 to raise money for the

Special Olympics Idaho as part of the first Cop-on-Top fundraiser in

Coeur d'Alene.

           North Idaho College Idaho POST Basic Patrol Academy

students will be on-hand during the event to collect donations.

           Ashby will take his place on top of Texas Roadhouse at 402

West Neider Ave. at 4 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 24 and will stay there

until 11 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 25.

           "We want to encourage people to come out and give to this

worthwhile cause," said Michael Berg, director of the North Idaho

College Idaho POST Basic Patrol Academy.

           Law enforcement groups are the largest grassroots sponsors

of the Special Olympics and participate in the torch-lighting ceremony

every year.

           Special Olympics Idaho is a nonprofit organization that

provides training and athletic competition in 15 Olympic-type sports

year-round and free of charge to over 1,800 children and adults with

intellectual disabilities throughout the state of Idaho. Carol Peck,

head fundraiser for the Coeur d'Alene Eagles Special Olympics Team,

said the group is having a tough year financially and might have to

cancel the fall season for the athletes if they are unable to raise

enough money. The fall sport for the Special Olympics is bowling with

between 65 and 75 bowlers typically competing.

           "We canceled it last year and really hope we don't have to

do that again this year," Peck said. "We don't want to cancel on these

kids. For some of them, that's all they've got."

           More information is available at www.idso.org.