It's coming.

No, not the precision marching cholesterol globules I mentioned a couple of days ago or the month-long brain freeze from overdosing on Dippin' Dots. I'm talking about a smoke-free Porter County Fair.

Thursday's opening day of the fair presented a whole different smoking problem than the one I'm referring to today. It was so hot (How hot was it?), smoking was allowed for those people who were actually on fire. It was so hot I was tempted to risk the tossing of a year's worth of cookies by riding the Gyro just for the wind chill factor.

It was so hot, the winner of the fair queen pageant was the only girl who didn't spontaneously combust.

But, while my 36-hour deodorant protection disappeared faster than you could say "global warming" when my armpits actually exploded, the other kind of smoking officially went on the fair's endangered species list.

The other kind of smoking, the one that is hazardous to everybody's health, has been banned in the buildings and the tents at the fairgrounds for several years. This year, for the first time, signs were posted in the carnival ride area and in the seating areas, such as the grandstand and the pavilion, saying "Hope you won't smoke."

Fair Manager Lonnie Steele said he expects the fair to go entirely smoke free next year, except for those who can prove that's a charcoal briquet in their mouth and they are barbecuing a pork chop hanging from their nose. The Indiana State Fair went smoke-free this year, Steele said.

"We want to provide a healthy environment for all," Steele said. "I think the attitude of the American people has changed significantly in the last few years. The fact that Valparaiso has gone smoke free gets the message to people. They are becoming more convinced it's not just a propaganda plot. It really is a health issue."

No doubt a few people will develop a nicotine twitch if they have to spend more than 20 minutes breathing real air, even Northwest Indiana's famous non-EPA compliant variety, now classified as "extra chunky." In an emergency, maybe they can just take a couple of hits off the exhaust pipes of the trolley tractors.

With all the wonderful aromas wafting from everywhere, with the possibly exception of the swine barn, it will be great not having my enjoyment of the Wonderful World of Deep Fried Everything interrupted by cigarette smoke. I prefer to get my arteries clogged without a side order of cancer, thank you very much.

So, a second day of column kudos, after Friday's praise of the Recycle Cycle, to Steele and the folks at the fair board. A rare occurrence, indeed. Either I'm overflowing with the county fair spirit or the heat melted more than my Dippin' Dots. Even the pig barn is starting to smell better.

The opinions are those of the writer. He can be reached washing the melted Dippin' Dots out of his shorts at pwieland@nwitimes.com or (219) 548-4352.