Sixty-four million people do it at least once each a week year after year.

For crossword puzzle devotees obsessed and hopelessly addicted to trying to solve the ups and downs of crossword puzzles, the chance to participate in Boundary County's first annual crossword puzzle tournament/fundraiser, with prizes and bragging rights for the winners, may unfold in 2009.

Still in the initial planning stages, the competition may be co-hosted by the Boundary County Digest and crossword puzzle maker, Adam Milligan, who designs the weekly puzzles that appear in the Digest. The 33-year-old crossword puzzle maker and information technology specialist at Boulder Creek Academy has been creating puzzles revolving around wordplay, wit and obscure clues for more than five years.

Inspired by Marc Romano's book, Crossworld: One Man's Journey Into America's Crossword Obsession - which chronicles Romano's entry in the national American Crossword Puzzle Tournament in Stamford, Conn. - Milligan envisions holding a similar competition on a much smaller scale in Bonners Ferry, with competitors trying to beat a clock and one another to fill letters into little white squares.

"The tournament would involve a bunch of people racing each other to finish crossword puzzles," said Milligan, who became fascinated with crossword puzzles while working the night shift as a house parent in a Montana boarding school. "Points would be awarded based on how quickly and how accurately competitors fill five puzzles."

Five special crossword puzzles for the tournament would be designed and constructed by Milligan, who would also volunteer as scorekeeper and tournament director. Admission fees to compete in the tournament would be earmarked for a local charitable organization, and prizes - which would be donated by community businesses - would be awarded to the top three winners.

Photos of the crossword puzzle champs, along with a story about the tournament, would be published in the Digest.

"We think Adam's idea for holding an annual crossword puzzle tournament in Bonners Ferry is terrific," said Digest editor R.J. Cohn. "So many people who work on crossword puzzles are hardcore enthusiasts and have an almost intense passion for tackling them. It takes a real intellectual verve to go at it in a competitive tournament like this, which would also be a lot of fun."

If you are interested in competing in a crossword puzzle tournament held in 2009, please email to jcohn@woodbury.com.