Stroud's classified ad makes David Letterman show

From the Challis Messenger: http://www.challismessenger.com/index.php?accnum=story-32-20080410 BY TODD ADAMS There was a Late Show response to Rev. Paul Stroud's classified ad to trade a clothes dryer for Oreo cookies in the February 7 issue of The Challis Messenger. Stroud got no calls the first week he ran it, so he ran it again. Then, on April 1, it was broadcast on "The Late Show with David Letterman." Letterman read the ad as part of his Small Town News segment that night: "OLDER CLOTHES DRYER. Works well but needs new home. Will trade for 2 large packages Oreo double stuffed cookies (unopened)." It got the biggest laugh and the most applause, beating the other humorous Small Town News items that night. The items typically include quirky stories, headlines, ads and photos from weekly or daily newspapers. Letterman often highlights humorous mistakes, but fortunately not in this case. The Messenger contacted Stroud last Friday and asked him if he'd heard the news. Stroud immediately started laughing. "No," he replied, adding "Oh, that's interesting!" Stroud said he only watches the Letterman show "once in a great while." Stroud and wife, Robbi, only paid about $15 for the used dryer at a Challis High School yard sale several years ago. When their washing machine died, they decided to get rid of the dryer, too, so they could get a new matching set. "I wanted some Oreos, but my wife won't buy them for me," Stroud laughed. "I don't need them," he said, but still was craving cookies. After getting no initial response to his ad, Stroud surmised people might have thought it was a joke, so he added the option "or $15" and ran the ad again on February 14. He got three responses this time and ended up giving the dryer to the first caller, his friend and fellow minister, the Rev. Bill Matthews and wife, Jackie. The Matthews' later came through with the cookies. The ad didn't include Stroud's name, and Letterman didn't read his phone number on "The Late Show," so "I didn't even get my 15 minutes of fame," Stroud joked.