Main Street in print

June 30, 2010 column HERE.

Change of Command

Even though Fairchild Air Force Base is just across the border in Spokane, I'd never attended a change of command ceremony before Tuesday. Taking place every two years, the ceremony was filled with military tradition and incredible visuals. Fairchild is home to the 92nd Air Refueling Wing and nearly 5,000 people ... active duty military and civilians, work on the base. Attending along with me were Post Falls Chamber board members Randy Oaks, Andrea Fulks, Craig Wilcox and Chamber president Pam Houser.

It's a girl!

Volunteers Dan and Charlotte Weber spent five hours in the sun Sunday afternoon passing out water and Gatorade at Ironman Run Station #6 (PEAK Fitness) on Lake Coeur d'Alene Drive. At 5:30 a.m. Monday morning 7 lb., 3 oz. Alexis Paige Weber crossed a finish line of sorts, arriving two weeks early! Daddy Dan, associate pastor at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Coeur d'Alene, mom and daughter are all doing well. Congratulations!

Ironman retrospective

2010 Ironman Coeur d'Alene photos HERE.

2009 Ironman Coeur d'Alene photos HERE

2008 Ironman Coeur d'Alene photos HERE.

A little help from my friends ...

Each year I cover Ironman Coeur d'Alene from different angles and perspectives. This year my friend and fellow councilwoman, Linda Wilhelm provided her boat so we could get some shots of the swimmers from the water. Don and Sue Sausser, who have the best view of downtown Coeur d'Alene of all, let me take some photos from their 10th floor Lake Tower apartment. Friends gave me tips on things to see and people who were part of it all. Thanks to all and congratulations to everyone who volunteered, cheered from the sidelines and to those amazing human beings who crossed the finish line.

Fore!

Every town has those colorful characters who give substance to the sense of community. Coeur d'Alene's "Stickman" is just one of those, gifting thousands of beautiful walking sticks to anyone who drops by each year. In his excursions around Tubbs Hill he finds sticks and also golf balls. Norm told me on Saturday that he'd saved buckets of golf balls that wash up on the shore of the hill and planned to make something special for the Ironman athletes. So when I stopped by today during the run I saw his work of art ... several hundred golf balls and an Ironman logo there on the lawn for all the passing runners to see.

They're off ...

The Ironman Coeur d'Alene athletes hit the water at 7 a.m. to begin their incredible day of endurance and victory. Fred and Diane Finney's "Lady of the Lake" provides a great view for their guests, with Tubbs Hill in the background. I'll update the photo album HERE throughout the day/evening.

Idaho Wins!

Madison Leonard, Idaho's Jr. Miss and a recent graduate of Coeur d'Alene High School, took top honors in Mobile, Alabama on Saturday. Madison was named America's Jr. Miss, a title once held by newscaster, Diane Sawyer. I've been involved with the Jr. Miss Program since 1988 and to the best of my recollection, Madison is the first Idaho representative to earn the national title. Congratulations Madison, we're all very proud of you! More info HERE.

Who they are

The athletes of the 2010 Ironman Coeur d'Alene represent 49 states, 1 US territory and 30 countries!

the big finish

Friday afternoon Sherman Avenue, between 1st and 2nd streets, is closed to through traffic. An Ironman participant rides up to where the bleachers are located and where ... sometime on Sunday evening he hopes to cross the finish line after swimming 2.4 miles, cycling 112 miles and running a full 26.2 mile marathon.

Ironman Trivia

According to the offical 2010 race program some "averages" about the competitors are: Age- 37, Gender- men: 70%, women: 30%, Education- post secondary: 95%, Annual income- $161,000.

In Coeur d'Alene this year the three countries most represented - USA, Canada, Mexico. The highest percentage of athletes are teachers, managers, physicians, and engineers. The youngest competitor this year is Coeur d'Alene's Ashley Davis, 18 and Roger Daniels, 74, from Bend, Oregon, is the oldest.

Inspired to give it a try? Triathletes train an average of seven months for an Ironman race, devoting 18 to 30 hours each week to training.

Company's coming

Thousands of visitors will be in town through Monday for the Ironman Coeur d'Alene event. I'll post backstory and volunteer info here each day. 2010 photo album HERE.

Be careful out there

Corbin Park is one of my favorites in the area, but not for swimming. The currents can be deceptive and the park is posted to use extreme caution when entering the water. One young man died this morning when the currents overturned a canoe he and a friend we riding in just after sun-up downriver from the wide-open Post Falls dam. Coeur d'Alene Press story HERE. I urge everyone to be careful on the rivers, including the north fork of the Coeur d'Alene. Now that the summer weather has arrived, it's tempting to throw caution to the wind and get out on the water. Even though it's late June many of our rivers are at spring flow. *photo from Corbin Park

Dry dock

Just above the Post Falls dam, the docks at Q'emilin boat launch are beached as the water levels in the Spokane River fall.

Open gates, high and dry boats

This is what the Post Falls dam will look like this afternoon ... wide open and running at least 15,500 cubic feet per second. Heavy rainfall in the past 24 hours has caused Lake Coeur d’Alene to rise past the summer level of 2,128 feet above sea level. But opening the dam drops the Spokane River water level several feet which impacts private docks and marinas all along the river. Boats and watercraft must be taken out at that point.

They're coming!

This morning on the air I announced the return of the hydroplanes to Lake Coeur d'Alene for an exhibition to benefit the Museum of North Idaho. For anyone who lived here back in the 1960s, the races were an exciting event for the community, definately part of the Lake City's colorful history.
The museum is currently featuring Hydro Fever displays and the vintage unlimited hydroplanes will appear in Coeur d'Alene August 20-22 in conjunction with the display. In addition to displays and lake exhibitions, plans call for a golf tournament and a banquet featuring Diamond Cup organizers and participants. Shirts and other commemorative merchandise will be available.
Check out the Museum of North Idaho or have lunch at Hudson's Hamburgers and look over their hydroplane memoribilia!

Who knew?

Until I embarked on a fill-in guest hosting slot at KVNI this year, I never realized how much fun early mornings could be. Although the microphone is about as technical as I get, my partner Kris Siebers was a good sport when I threatened to "touch buttons" on the control panel this morning. A photo album of recent guests to the morning show HERE.

Rain on the first day of summer? Bummer.

This is the view just after sunrise on Monday morning as I headed into the KXLY studios on Sherman Avenue in Coeur d'Alene.

Start your engines!

The annual Father's Day running of the mowers in downtown Spirit Lake is exciting to see. Starts at 11 a.m. on Maine Street if you're looking for something special for Dad. :)

Big Back-In Lawn Mower Drag Races info HERE.

Missing My Dad ...

For 52 years of my life I knew without any doubt that my father loved me. He still called me his brown-eyed baby girl, long after I was a grown woman. He loved and spoiled my daughters and then their sons. He was present when two of his great grandsons were born and just adored cuddling babies. He was funny, loving, patriotic and passionate. My father was many things to many people but he was simply my dad. While I miss him in all ways large and small I have no regrets. My dad knew every day of my life that I loved him and thought he was the best dad a girl could ever hope to have.
A few photos of Dad's life HERE.

Main Street 6/9/10

June 9 Main Street column from the Coeur d'Alene Press HERE. See the "Go Monty" post below after you read this week's column.

Training Day

Early Sunday morning firefighter recruits for Kootenai Fire and Rescue participated in a practice burn of the old Jack Hatch Realty office building on Ross Point Road, just off of Seltice Way. My friend, Carl Riegert is one of the 17 recruits and snapped this photo. He said the building was lit on fire at 5:15 a.m. and was "on the ground" by 7 a.m.

Go Monty!

Monty Gross has spent a lifetime embraced by the love of his family. Seeing this statement, Monty's Crusin, on the side of a beautiful 3-story custom lake yacht, brought a lump to my throat. His father, Don, is a long time friend so I do know that Monty has "cruised" in a wheel chair for nearly four decades, with cerebral palsy. Click HERE to see photos of Monty's Crusin as it's readied for launching into Lake Coeur d'Alene and for all the stats.

Sweet Burger

On Wednesday the Lakeland School District transportation department held their end of the school year barbeque/pot luck at noon time. My husband, Bert is a bus mechanic for the district and for years I've been impressed with the clever craftiness of the gals who drive the busses. They've gifted him with all sorts of home-made items. He brought home a couple of "burgers" today that were made by Debbie Bornitz. Look closely and you'll see that the "buns" are vanilla wafers, the hamburger is a thin mint and the condiments are appropriately colored frosting. The finishing touch? Real sesame seeds attached with clear syrup.

Difference a day makes

Yesterday the sun was out and temps nearly reached 80 degrees. People were out and about at the beaches and parks in Coeur d'Alene. (Independence Point pictured) Today, we're back to umbrellas and sweaters but by the weekend we can break out the sunscreen for real!

Main Street

this week's print column from the Coeur d'Alene Press HERE.

Beached

Some perspective on how wide open the flood gates are at the dam ... city beach at Q'emlin Park on the Spokane River was used for overflow parking during Post Falls Days over the weekend. Once the gates are closed, the river will be well over both rows of cars visible in this photo, which was taken from atop the lifeguard tower, with the Spokane Street bridge in the background. The public boat launch just west of the beach won't open until the flood gates close. The latest in the year I recall the launch opening was in 2008 when it didn't open until July 9.

No rain on our parade!

Our merry band of Post Falls Days parade volunteers was beyond happy to wake up this morning to blue skies and sunshine. Literally thousands of people turned out to watch and the entrants were entertaining and enthusiastic. It was a good day in the river city. Highlight photos HERE.
Thanks to our sponsors, Community 1st Bank, Dickinson Insurance & Ground Force Mfg and congratulations to the award winners:
Community Spirit: Post Falls Recreation Department
Equestrian: Kootenai County Saddle Club
Comedy: Clown Sweet Clown
Marching Unit: Post Falls High School Band & Cheerleaders
Classic Car: Ray Hoppe's woody wagon
Commercial: West Side Towing
Chamber Member Commercial: Jordan Sales and Service
Float: Heritage Baptist Church
Parade Committee Choice: Little Caesar's Pizza

Plaques can be picked up after 11 a.m. on Monday, June 7 at Community 1st Bank, Seltice Way and Post Street.

The doors are open

Just eight months since the ground was broken on the new 5,900 sq ft building that houses the new visitor center and admin offices, the celebratory ribbon cutting will take place. At 5:30 p.m. today business and civic leaders and the general public will officially dedicate the Post Falls Chamber office on 4th Avenue, next to Post Falls City Hall in the town's center.

Ingredients

The ingredients for a great parade start with entertaining entrants. Add enthusiastic volunteers, a pinch of sunshine and there you have it. On Saturday at 11 a.m. the annual Post Falls Days Parade will march down Seltice Way and kick off the summer season in Idaho's River City.

Come on in ...

the water's fine! On the first day of June I enjoyed an afternoon at Silverwood as part of River City Leadership Academy's Tourism Day. While most of my classmates were riding the rollercoasters I slipped on over to Boulder Beach Water Park to test the waters. Boulder Beach opens this coming weekend and I can report that the water is just perfect for swimming. Two big wave pools, the lazy river and three thrill slides make it my favorite part of the park!