Kudo to the Chief

Kewaskum, Wisconsin Police Chief Dick Knoebel's decision last September to write himself a ticket for passing a stopped school bus has garnered attention from all over the world.

Now CBS news anchor Katie Couric has taken notice.

Last September, Knoebel wrote himself a ticket for $235 after he drove past a stopped school bus with its warning lights flashing.

Knoebel said he passed the bus because he was distracted at the time by a stopped dump truck. He saw a car coming from behind and thought it might hit the truck, so he moved to pass the truck before he saw the stopped school bus in the far lane.

He docked himself four points on his driving record and paid the fine the next day.Knoebel's story was first reported in February by the local West Bend newspaper, then written about by Milwaukee Journal Sentinel columnist Mike Nichols.

The story appeared on local TV stations, was picked up by the major wire services and on the Internet, was reported in USA Today and other national newspapers.

"It's a feel-good story type of thing," Knoebel said today.Knoebel, 56, said he was told by CBS news producers that if his tale garners the most votes, his full story will air on Couric's broadcast next Friday.

In addition, Knoebel will be interviewed live at 4:30 a.m. Saturday for CBS's "The Saturday Early Show."Knoebel, who starts his normal work day at 6 a.m., said that's a little early for him, "unless I've gone hunting or fishing."

He's received about 200 e-mails from all over the world, including from Germany, Romania, China, New Zealand, Australia, Russia and England, plus cards and letters, he said.

For the most part, "People are happy to see that there's an honest policeman," Knoebel said. "I tell them that cops do good things but they never get reported."

See not all my post's are smelly with fumes!!