Wine-carting lawn tractor rider brings big coverage

It’s amusing to note how some dopey stories have extended life and tickle editors’ funny bones.

Grumpy Editor notes a Saturday night happening, reported in print editions earlier this week, was still making the rounds yesterday afternoon when CBS radio network, with its on-the-hour news, spent an above average amount of limited air time mentioning an Adrian, Mich., man charged with drunken driving after riding his small lawn tractor along the center of the street after buying wine in a liquor store.

Or maybe it was a plug for a tractor equipment maker?

Police said Frank Kozumplik, 49, was homeward bound on a John Deere tractor during a snowstorm with four wine bottles in a paper bag on board.  His blood alcohol level was 2 1/2 times Michigan's legal driving limit, they added.

The driver of the small tractor told officers his wife had taken their car to work and the only way he could reach the store, two miles from home, was via his mower.

The John Deere plug (sort of) reminds print readers/broadcast listeners that the builder of agricultural/construction heavy equipment also has a line of riding mowers --- with models starting at 18 horsepower --- for keeping grass in shape around the yard.

Meanwhile, Kozumplik is without his favorite wheels.  Police confiscated the mower.