Finishing strong

Over 2,000 athletes, more than 3,000 volunteers, 10,000+ spectators ... 2.4 mile swim in a 57 degree Lake Coeur d'Alene, 112-mile cycle leg through Hayden Lake and a 26.2 mile marathon around Lake Coeur d'Alene on a sunny Sunday = Ironman Coeur d'Alene 2011. Images from start to finish HERE.

Pirates of the Coeur d'Alenes

We set sail on the high seas (aka Lake Coeur d’Alene) with the Pirates of the Coeur d’Alenes Monday night and had a great time. The local actors in the roles of Captain Calico Jack (Alex Carey), Mad Molly (Trigger Weddle), Ignacia (Jessi Little) and Paisley Percival (Cory Williamson) put on a show that delighted people of all ages. Info on cruise times and days at 765-4000 or HERE. Pictured, Ignacia and Captain Calico Jack with the ruby treasure.

Paddles away

Paddleboarders all in a row on Lake Coeur d'Alene, across from the city beach. Come Sunday thousands of Ironman competitors will start their journey there.

Lawn Mower Drags

A fun Father's Day tradition takes place on Maine Street (yes, as in the state) in Spirit Lake every year. It's a small town celebration of horse power and testosterone. If you've never been, you're missing out on a decidedly North Idaho experience. Time trials start at 11 a.m. and the event runs until 4 p.m. More info HERE.

Nice ride!

A featured car at the Car d'Lane show on Saturday is a 1939 Cadillac LaSalle “C-Hawke” concept convertible. I saw the car on June 4 during the Post Falls Days car show and visited with the proud owner ... recently retired Kootenai County Undersheriff Tad Leach. Looks like Tad will have plenty to keep him occupied in retirement.

O'er the Land of the Free ...

On Flag Day the Submarine Veterans of Farragut posted new flags over the Idaho Department of Labor building in Post Falls, joining American Legion Post 143 in the ceremonies. IDL staffer Andrea Rue, on right, sang the National Anthem, beautifully.

That's what friends are for ...

Jake Medlock, center, is a hometown guy. He and his wife, Nicole, were dealt a blow when their 2-year-old daughter, Sophie was diagnosed with leukemia in May. As the medical bills mount so does the support from the Post Falls community. On Monday, Pizza Hut came onboard with a special promotion with 20% of sales for the day going to the Sophie Medlock fund. Estimations are that the day's sales are double an average Monday for the restaurant. Pizza Hut was filled with friends and neighbors, including Kelly and Shauna Moore and Amber and John Blanchette.

AAH CHOO!

It's that time of year and for allergy sufferers, it's not fun. At White Pine Park in Post Falls the basketball courts are awash with pollen. Weather.com has a link for tracking the pollen levels in our communities HERE.

Fair Food

There's still several weeks until the North Idaho Fair rolls around but here's a sneak peek at one of the new menu items for 2011. Ekness Catering, a perennial fair favorite food booth, debuted a fried bologna sandwich at Post Falls Days. Nice compliment to their North Idaho Beer Balls. So you can add this to the list of things to try, along with deep fried twinkies & meatballs, elephant ears and the like.

People Watching Pooches

This pair of retrievers enjoyed a great view of the people coming to Q'emiln Park for the final day of Post Falls Days on Sunday.

Sunday Mystery

On Sunday afternoon we saw a banner being towed through the skies over Post Falls, towards Coeur d'Alene. I imagined it carried a fun message, like a wedding proposal. Took a photo and when enlarged was disappointed to find it was just the GEICO gecko.

Feat of Strength

William Dean, Kylee Krahenbuhl, Adam Durflinger and Jamie Helm, members of the Spokane Shock's new stunt team, get in some practice on Saturday in Post Falls. On the Rathdrum Prairie the quartet were silouetted in the sunset.

Remembering

At Coeur d'Alene Memorial Gardens, Nick Farina
of the Young Marines of North Idaho rang the
bell as the name of each veteran who passed away this year
was read.

Memorial Day dawned sunny and warm with ceremonies throughout the county well-attended. I attended three ... at the Third St. Bell with VFW Post 889, at Evergreen Cemetery with American Legion Post 143 and at Coeur d'Alene Memorial Gardens with the Marine Corps League, Pappy Boyington Detachment 966. There's an album of photos HERE that celebrate the people and patriotism of our communites. Sincere thank you to the veterans who volunteer to organize and participate in the ceremonies that educate and remind us all of their contributions.

Soggy weekend on tap

The waters of Coeur d'Alene Lake and rivers in north Idaho have been on the rise, as evidenced by this photograph on Blackwell Island near the Cedars Floating Restaurant shows. A story about the flooding HERE from the Coeur d'Alene Press and an album of photographs I took in the Coeur d'Alene area on Thursday evening HERE.

Where's the Beach?

The visual of the flooding up river from Lake Coeur d'Alene is apparent with this Monday morning view of city beach. The water is nearly to the lifeguard stands with debris washing ashore. The several steps at Independence Point are mostly submerged.

Until They All Come Home

When the package of bracelets arrived on my doorstep in 2009,
I was overcome with the emotion of seeing the names of real
soldiers, real families who still waited and the reality of their
lives on hold ... until their sons, brothers, husbands
would finally come home.
Photo: Kerri Thoreson

In 2009 Main Street readers supported the National League of POW/MIA Families by ordering the iconic silver bracelets which debuted in 1970. Paul Coy of Post Falls contacted me then about replacing one he'd worn for decades that bore the name of Sgt. Donnie Shue. Sgt. Shue had been missing in combat in Vietnam since 1969.
Sgt. Shue came home on April 29, 2011. His story is in this week's Main Street HERE.

All Elections are Special

Today a "special" election is being held for highway district commissioners and school board trustees. With new election consolidation laws in effect the process is slightly different than in years past. Citizens will vote at their regular polling precincts but not all will have elections in their specific zone or district. The Kootenai County election website HERE can answer your questions on candidates and polling places. To talk to an election staffer call 446-1651.
VOTE!

The End of Innocence

One year after the murders, this modest Wolf Lodge home belied the
horror that was visited about the family who lived there. It's since
been torn down.

It was six years ago today that the Groene and McKenzie families, and our community, discovered that pure evil exists. With the murder of Brenda Groene, her middle school-age son, Slade and finance` Mark McKenzie and the kidnapping of her two youngest children, Dylan and Shasta, our collective hearts were broken. The rejoicing for Shasta's return was tempered by the discovery of her brother's body. Unimaginable. For the column I wrote back in 2005, click HERE.

Love Birds

Elmer Currie takes his sweetheart of seven decades for a twirl on the dance floor at the Lake City Senior Center on Saturday. Elmer and Bernie mark their 70th wedding anniversary today. More about their celebration in Main Street HERE.