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

Sweet September

Sunny warm days in summer are to be expected but when they arrive in late September, it's like a bonus. I enjoy this time of year when the flowers blooming along our driveway outnumber the leaves falling onto the still-green lawn. Perfect.

technical difficulties

been having a bit of a challenge with blogger.com but hopefully it's ironed out now ...

Flying HIgh

Captain Nathan Corkill, US Marine Corps, in the cockpit of his F-18 Hornet at Pappy Boyington Field at Coeur d'Alene Airport. Capt. Corkill is a Kellogg High School and U of I grad who was home during flight training on September 17 & 18. See more photos HERE of Nathan and his fellow pilots at the airport.

Soldiers Send Off

Janna Scharf and her son, Pvt. Dallas Rankin Scharf share a moment before he boards the bus with the Idaho Army National Guard's 116th in Post Falls on Tuesday morning. Pvt. Scharf, the grandson of the late Ronald D. Rankin, is deploying to Iraq with Alpha Company. Governor Butch Otter met the soldiers at Geiger Field in Spokane as they boarded the plane for Fort Shelby, Mississippi.
Additional images from the armory HERE.

Summer Fall Spring

It might be the last day of summer but it feels like fall and looks like spring.

Future Cop

Jackson Kamps was thrilled to try on Officer Ian Johnson's motorcycle during the Post Falls Police Department's Kids and Cops open house on Saturday.

Remembering still ...

A year ago I engaged Main Street readers in the support of the 1,700+ still missing in action and POWs unaccounted for from Vietnam. Nearly 70 local citizens purchased the iconic stainless steel POW bracelets that so many of us had in the 1970s. Today is National POW/MIA Recognition Day. An organization of families of these Americans is HERE.

Last year when the box of bracelets arrived I was overcome as I held them in my hands (pictured), knowing that each one represented a real person ... a brave service member who was loved and missed and had been for decades. Please take a moment today and remember them all.

Constitution Day

223 years ago in Philadelphia, 39 brave and visionary delegates of the US Constitutional Convention put their signatures on this historic document. Among the noteworthy signers were George Washington, Ben Franklin, James Madison and Alexander Hamilton. To read the words that have shaped our country go HERE.
Do you know what it takes to become an American citizen? Put your knowledge of America’s history and government to the test by answering a sample of the questions those seeking American citizenship must answer to pass the government’s naturalization test HERE.

Golden Girl

Carrie Cook of Coeur d'Alene Mines hosted a group of analysts on a tour of Coeur's Kensington Mine in Alaska last week. In this photo from her Facebook page Carrie's standing next to bags of gold concentrate that's headed to the smelter before being made into gold bars. With the price of gold currently at $1,269 per ounce, each of those bags holds approximately $350,000 of gold!

Fashion Statement

 

 

I alluded in this week's Main Street column about experiencing the most painful injury ever in my entire 58 years of life this past Tuesday. Not only is it painful but I'm breaking a rule of fashion by wearing white after Labor Day. :)

Ready to serve

The newly-sworn firefighters for Kootenai Fire and Rescue at Station 1 on Monday evening. Read about the group in Main Street print column HERE. Chief Ron Sampert (on left) is pictured with the new crew members. Kneeling l-r, Carl Riegert, Mike Ohlenkamp, Nick Newton, Mara Humbird, Thomas Brunett, Brandon Beveridge, Cody Nicholson. Standing l-r, Justin Savell, Luke Szymanski, Gage Theard, Bridger, Gaul, Donovan Eggleston, Brady Capaul. On truck l-r, Martin Lebsock, Liam Dooley, Brandon Combs.

My Friend the First Responder

On Monday night Carl Riegert and 15 men and women saw nearly 300 hours of training over the past year culminate with attaining Firefighter 1 status for Kootenai Fire and Rescue. Chief Ron Sampert (on left) administered the oath and I had the honor of pinning Carl's badge ... one of those moments now etched in the tapestry of being part of this community.

FAQ

I've been asked alot about the photographs here on More Main Street. Unless noted, or I appear in the photograph, they're taken by me. I'll share the secret for getting great photos ... have a camera with you at all times! Simple as that. :)

A Youthful 95

Rev. Earl Hunter enjoys visiting with friends during a celebration of his 95th birthday on Saturday at the Coeur d'Alene Church of the Nazarene. We should all live such a life of service as Reverend Hunter.

Triumph

Sgt. Christie Wood, vice-chairman of the Kootenai Co. Task Force on Human Relations, gives a hug to artist Julie Wood at the unveiling of the black marble tablet commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Keenans V. The Aryan Nations verdict while Marshal Mend, Task Force board member and Coeur d'Alene Tribal Vice-Chair Ernie Stensgar look on. More on the case and the ceremony from the Press, HERE.