Million!

On Friday, October 29 the 1,000,000th knife in 2010 came off the production line in the Post Falls manufacturing plant of Buck Knives!
Coeur d'Alene Press business story HERE.

Iconic Outdoor Idaho

This photograph I shot last week, just past Fernan Lake, received honorable mention for October from Idaho Public Television's Outdoor Idaho. Don't you just love where we live?

Fall on Fernan

The long and winding road around Fernan Lake is finally finished. This morning I drove the road, enjoying the beautiful fall colors. The newly improved boat launch and picnic area at the east end of the lake is pictured. Press story HERE.

Rite and Right of Passage

CHS senior Carly Goodlander turned 18 on October 21 and celebrated the milestone by visiting the Kootenai County elections office with her mom, Rosemary. Carly is pictured as she registers to vote, with her grandmother - Coeur d’Alene City Councilor Deanna Goodlander - looking on. I hope on Tuesday, we’ll follow Carly’s lead and celebrate the incredible privilege we have in this country to choose our representatives at the polling place.

Can't keep a good man down!

KJ and Tom Torgerson

Local Realtor Tom Torgerson took a fall from a ladder in his shop last week and sustained critical head injuries. Anyone who knows Tom can't imagine this man of action, outdoors adventurer and doting husband and father being down for long, especially now that the first snow is falling in the mountains!
Tom's receiving care at Kootenai Medical Center and faces a difficult road back. KJ is spending as much time as possible with her husband so friends have set up a schedule for bringing meals to their home. Go to the website HERE to check the schedule and sign up. Username: Torgerson, password: 8845.
The community is keeping the family in our prayers!

A life well-lived

Ace Walden's 103rd birthday party, May 2010

In his 103 years on this earth, Ace Walden created a template for community involvement and making a genuine difference in peoples' lives. We only came to be aquainted in his 99th year but my life is surely richer for having known him.
Ace was granted his final wish ... to pass peacefully in his sleep, surrounded by people who loved him. I'm sure his beloved wife, Ellen was overjoyed to be reunited in Heaven with the love of her life.
Coeur d'Alene Press story about Ace's legacy HERE.

Got Elk?

Jim and his 5-pt elk

Jim Pierce had only one day to devote to hunting, opening day to be exact, with friends south of St. Maries. Not to worry for the overachieving Washington Trust banker ... he filled both his deer and elk tags by 9:30 a.m. on the 10/10/10 opening day with a 2-point mule deer and a 5-point bull elk. No word yet about the success of his fellow hunters, Matt Lyman, John Young and Curtis Gregory.
This week's Main Street column HERE.

Front Yard view

Bert mowed our lawn after work yesterday for the last time this year. This morning as I went out for the newspaper the lawn was covered in frost while the petunias sing their summer swan song.

Fall Fore

The Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course will be open through this Saturday to enjoy some final late season golf. Prairie Falls in Post Falls is open until there's snow on the ground. *this is the view from Potlatch Hill Road on Monday with the Resort course in the foreground.

Semper Fi Roy Weaver

There's one fewer few good men on earth with the passing on Saturday of 91-year- old USMC Gunnery Sargent (RET) Roy Weaver. Roy, a veteran of WWII who survived three years in a prisoner of war camp, was one of my favorite "old Marines" of the Pappy Boyington Detachment 966 of the Marine Corps League. Semper Fi.

Snow in the forecast?

According to climatologist Cliff Harris' forecast (HERE) we're in for a snowy winter, not record-breaking like recent years but plenty of the fluffy white stuff to ski and sled to our heart's content.
In Coeur d'Alene the average date of the first measurable snowfall is November 21, from records dating from 1915 through 2009.

Farewell to a friend ...

As a little boy Mike Anderson knew he wanted to be a policeman. He fulfilled that dream and more. The grandson of Coeur d'Alene homesteaders, Mike "came home" one last time on Saturday. To read more about this former county commissioner who protected and served for his entire career ... HERE.

KUDOS!

On Wednesday, the 98th Annual Coeur d'Alene Chamber awards event was held at the Coeur d'Alene Resort. Kudos to two people who were recognized. John McGruder has generously dedicated over three decades to the Commordores with four decades of Chamber involvement. He's a good guy who hasn't let a few health issues in recent years slow him down. Congratulations John on receiving the Volunteer of the Year Award! Barb Bradley is another of those seemingly tireless advocates in the Coeur d'Alene community. She is the epitome of what being a good citizen means so it's fitting that she was honored as Distinguished Citizen of the Year.

Nothing to wear at The Wall

There's a contingent of local folks in China this week with the chamber tour group, and Pam Houser's been keeping me updated on their travel experiences. She noted that Commissioner Todd Tondee might run out of clean clothes before they leave Beijing for Shanghai. Evidently he packed light intending to do some shopping in his travels and there were no opportunities to be found. Pictured with Todd (in front) are his wife, DeDe, Chris Pappas and Pam Houser. Standing are Kelly Carlstrom, Nichelle Price and Nancy Seright.
The rest of this week's Main Street column from the Coeur d'Alene Press HERE.

Away for the winter

When the fallen leaves outnumber the flowers still in bloom it's time to put the patio furniture away for the year.

Remembering Dad

Ron Rankin 1929-2004

It's been six years ago today since my father passed away. I sure do miss him but it becomes easier to remember the 75 years that he spent on this earth than marking the day he died. Oct. 12, 2004 was a beautiful, sunny fall day just like today. I know people use the phrase "rest in peace" but knowing my father he's not resting in Heaven, he's still looking out for those of us left behind. Life is good, Dad. 

Mr. Baseball!

I was four years old when Don Larsen pitched a perfect game for the New York Yankees against the Brooklyn Dodgers in the 1956 World Series. Don's was the only MLB post-season no-hitter for over five decades until this past week when Roy Halladay did the same in a playoff game for the Phillies.
I had the pleasure of meeting the bigger-than-life Larsen (who lives in Hayden) in 2008 at a birthday party for him and his two amigos, Lyle Ekness and Rocky Bridges.
It was 54 years ago today that Don pitched that perfect game. That's quite a record!

Best of Both Seasons

We've been blessed with some glorious sunny days as summer transitions to fall. My front porch planter is still colorful with snapdragons, even as the leaves begin to fall from the trees.

Too soon to say good-bye

A storyteller by trade, sometimes life presents something that causes words to fail. Such as it’s been this past week since learning of the death of my young friend, Sam Mann. Like hundreds of people who knew Sam personally and/or professionally in his career as a fitness trainer I’ve alternated between being really angry at him and in tears with a broken heart. That’s the to-be-expected result of a suicide, the emotional debris field that’s left in the wake of a decision made from the depths of despair that’s hard to comprehend.
The rest of Sam's story HERE.

Life. It's Worth Living.

Suicide Prevention Action Network resources HERE.

Sheriff Joe Comes to Town

Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County, Arizona is known as America's Toughest Sheriff. The KCRWF brought him to town as the keynote speaker of the annual Women in Red event which raises funds for education, scholarships and US Constitution booklets for all high school seniors in the county. Pictured after I interviewed the Sheriff on KVNI Tuesday morning is Kellie Palm, KCRWF president.

Our Ms. Ruth!

Ruth Pratt with Governor Butch Otter and First Lady Lori Otter after receiving the Support of the Arts medallian at the Governor's Award in the Arts ceremony in Boise in September. 

photo by Pete Grady