Well, well, well Brown County, you really do know how to keep a P.I. busy. The sun is shining, birds are cawing … or maybe that’s the sound of my joe perking? The last time I let another hombre make my joe it smelled like Nevada gas and tasted like the underbelly of my neighbor’s old heap. No dice! I need to crab the best cup of jamoke or I’m on a trip for biscuits with no way home. It’s your paramount peeper, Brownie. I’ve dusted off the typewriter and cinched down my brown fedora and I’m on the square, ready to spill.

Phil and Kathy asked me a question worth a couples C notes. So let’s chew the fat.

Here’s their question:

Brownie:

I live in Brown County but work in Columbus. Every day I drive state road 46 and just before I get to the Bartholomew County line, I look at the rock formation on the north side of the road. Every so often, part of the rocks break off and slide down. Once in a while they get on the road. It looks like lately some of the smaller rocks and dirt under some of the bigger ones is eroding, leaving large ledges hanging above empty air. Who takes care of that and do they do preventative maintenance or do they have to wait until the rocks break and slide down?

Thanks, Brownie! I love your column. I suspect we’re near the same age and I loved the old b-w detective movies growing up. Keep up the great work.

First off, Phil and Kathy, thanks a heap. It’s people like youse guys that give this old tec a reason to fly the trenchcoat. I consider myself a right Sam Spade type. But I’ll tell ya, it gripes my middle kidney to think of people calling us old. Why, youse guys look like spring chickens to me, see?

So I called my good friend Sidney Nierman over at the Indiana Department of Transportation on the rotary ringer to see if she had the dirt on rock slide-offs (see what I did there?). Sidney’s been a real doll in answering your questions. She’s in the know and keeps me from looking like a real patsy!

Here’s what Sidney said:

INDOT actively monitors rock slopes located adjacent to state highways like the one along S.R. 46 between Nashville and Columbus. At this specific location, INDOT does not have current plans to perform preventative work, as the stability of the rocks do not currently pose a safety hazard to the traveling public. INDOT routinely removes rocks from roadside ditches to maintain a safe roadway environment and to facilitate proper drainage alongside state highways.

Well you know what they say, that’s just how the cookie crumbles . Another question asked and more dough answered. Now you’re cooking with gas.

If you are in a jam or just want to be-bop with your pal Brownie. Send the newshanks at newsroom@bcdemocrat an email and they will make sure I get the collar.

For now, sayonara baby. See ya in the funny papers!