A 2 1/2-year-old Coeur d’Alene boy was the subject of a major search in the wooded area at the end of Bunco Road in northern Kootenai County. Cooper Irwin, the son of Kevin and Holly Irwin, has been missing since about 1:45 p.m. from a farm house at the end of Bunco Road, where his family was visiting relatives. The boy was reported missing a half hour later. Area residents began looking for him immediately. The search has expanded to include rescuers from the sheriff’s office, Timberlake Fire District, a helicopter from Spokane, and a canine unit. The boy was described by sheriff’s spokeswoman Kim Edmondson as wearing blue sweat pants with red-and-white stripes, a blue flannel shirt over a white T-shirt and brown shoes with red socks. He is not dressed for the weather. (excerpt from KCSD bulletin, updated)

A little after 5:00 pm today, Bridget Cripe, was heading east on Twete Road toward her parent's house, Steve and Monnie Cripe. She encountered a small child, muddy, disheveled, carrying one shoe, the other lost somewhere in the mud. She slamed on the brakes and picked up the child, who was cold, wet and totally lost. Asked his name, he said," I'm Cooper." Still, this 2 1/2 year old had plodded on in the certainty that he would find his parents just around the next turn. Checking with nearby homes didn't turn up any knowledge of where the child had originated, so Bridget called 911. Behold, they had been looking for the small boy for over three hours.

That Bridget Cripe rescued the child wasn't a surprise, but for the youngster to have walked through the woods from Bunco to Twete Road, approximately two miles, and perhaps more, in the time he was gone showed a great deal of determination, but then after all, this tough young man is a North Idahoan.