Trio's day brightened with new bicycles

PONDERAY — Carson, Katrina and Kaylee Brintle huddled close to their grandparents when they first arrived in the parking lot of WIS Seaming Equipment Thursday, unsure of what was going on. After all, two police officers and a few people in purple shirts and cowboy hats were waiting for them.

Also waiting for them — three brand new bicycles.

For 3-year-old Kaylee, the shyness wore off pretty quick as she put on her new helmet, jumped on her new pink-and-white bike — complete with training wheels and handlebar streamers — and pedaled away. Eight-year-old Katrina and 12-year-old Carson quickly followed suit.

"This means everything to them," said the kids' grandmother, Vicky Schilling.

The Bonner County Rodeo Committee, with the assistance of Walmart, acquired the bikes for the kids after all their belongings were destroyed in a recent house fire. 

The Ponderay Police Department gave the kids new helmets as well so they will be safe as they pedal their new rides.

Presenting the bikes to the kids Thursday were Ponderay's chief of police and Bonner County Rodeo Committee president Jimmy Cornelius, as well as Mick and Cheri McCrum with the BCRC and the Ponderay Police Department's Sgt. Mike Victorino and Officer Jeremy Deal.

The kids were surprised with the bikes, but their parents and grandparents were in the loop, Cornelius said, because he didn't want them to purchase bikes for the trio in the meantime. For Carson, Katrina and Kaylee, riding bikes was one of their favorite pastimes. So the kids were excited to get their new bikes.

Carson had the tips of his toes on the ground with his new bike, which just gives him some growing room. His grandfather, Clyde Schilling, said as fast as Carson is growing, it won't be long before he grows into it. 

Katrina said she used to ride her brother's old bike after it got too small for him. So her new light blue bike, with pink-and-white accents, garnered a big grin from the girl as she put on her new helmet and prepared to take a test-ride around the parking lot.

The fire that devastated the family was reported around 5:30 a.m. on May 31. The children and their parents, Bridget and Clint Brintle, were sleeping but escaped without injury when a family member happened to drive by.

"They lost everything," Vicky Schilling said. "They got out with just their pajamas and no shoes, so this means a lot."

Schilling said the community has been "so wonderful" in helping the family out with clothes and other items they needed right away.

Cornelius said what makes the local rodeo great is the support of the community and the volunteers who keep it going, so when an opportunity arose to help out some of the local youth, they took it.

"These kids have a family member who has put in countless hours over the years volunteering at the rodeo, and this is a way for us to give back to the community and this family," Cornelius said.

The Bonner County Rodeo is heading into its third year as a professional rodeo, Cornelius said, so on Aug. 4-5, national finals qualifying bucking stock and cowboys and cowgirls from all over the Pacific Northwest will be at the county fairgrounds. Tickets are on sale at advance prices of $12-$15 for adults, $6-$8 for youth, or two adults and two children under 12 for both nights for $50 at bonnercountyfair.com.

Mary Malone can be reached by email at mmalone@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.