Overheard in the newsroom today (it could run I guess)

Chief Noc-A-Homa · Jan 28, 2007

From our news editor:

"Well, ... I guess if you're a warlord, then by definition, you must be a hardliner."

OnTheRiver · Jan 28, 2007

Not at all related, but I thought I'd share...

We ran this letter to the editor yesterday:

To the editor:

It has come to my attention that your newspaper ("Naked, stranded boater alert turns out to be false alarm," Wednesday) and several other media outlets have created a story using me as the main character.

I would like a chance to tell my side. I'm going to leave out all the expletives, but I'm thinking them.

That wasn't a wave for help; it was a "Get away from me; I'm trying to sleep" wave. The Indiana State Police helicopter hovered over my houseboat, waking me up.

I never denied being naked. I woke up and heard the racket outside, so I jumped out the back door to see what was going on. There it was, not more than 50 feet away and 15 foot above the water. I couldn't read the "sign" the copter wrote. In fact, I had no idea what was happening until the firemen came out to me in their boats. By then, I was clothed and the helicopter was gone.

Needless to say, I was upset. I hadn't planned on getting up so early or so abruptly.

This is the second time a state police helicopter has caused me pain and suffering by hovering so low over me. Both times have been on the Kentucky side of the river, and both times I had no idea what it wanted.

I'm not sure who is in charge of the pilots, but I hope he reads this and tells them to quit hovering so low over people. I have one leg and could have easily been blown into the water. Explain to the pilots that trying to save someone shouldn't be so painful.

I moved to the river five years ago due to lack of money and just wanting to be alone. I'm just a poor, one-legged catfisherman trying to ease through life; so, please, quit making such a fuss over me.

David Habib

aka "Peg Leg Pete"

Ohio River

Evansville