SANDPOINT —  The ever-expanding Selkirk Cougar Club grew by another member this week when the group named Ivano’s owner Jim Lippi an honorary member, surprising him with a shiny new crimson-and-gray Washington State football helmet.

Club president Rich Faletto wanted to recognize Lippi, whom he called a special person in the Sandpoint community.

“He sometimes doesn’t get the recognition that he should,” said Faletto of Lippi. “He’s done so much for the community.”

For Lippi, it’s just another chance to support a local university and what he called a good group of people.

“I like to promote all things local,” said Lippi, who hosts many of the club’s meetings. “Do what little I did to be part of it.”

The club, the first officially sanctioned Cougar Club outside of the state of Washington, now has more than 150 members, and is always looking for more area Coug fans.

The club is also starting a new mentor program at Sandpoint High School, where local WSU graduates will work with students.

“We’re trying to create a path to Pullman,” described Faleto. “There are a lot of PHDs living here from Washington State.”

Krissy Gilbertson, daughter of former Idaho, Univeristy of Washington, University of California and Seattle Seahawks coach Keith Gilbertson, visited the group this week to make the presentation to Lippi.

The club has future plans for bus trips down to Pullman for football games next fall, including a Palouse clash against the Vandals, as well as a summer picnic and the usual Cougar viewing parties at MickDuff’s Brewing Company.

For more information, or to join the club, call Rich Faletto at 255-9550.