 |
| Kerri Thoreson |
Click it or ... OK, they caught me
Survey has double meaning
ne morning a couple of weeks ago, just a few blocks from my driveway, I was pulled over by one of Post Falls' finest on the way to the office. As I was doing all of 26 mph in a 25 mph zone I was a bit puzzled at the flashing lights. The officer was courteous as he told me he'd observed me speeding.
I replied that if I was speeding, it was by a mile or two an hour at most. Then he commented that I wasn't wearing my seat belt and asked for my license and registration. After a computer check thankfully confirmed that I wasn't an escaped felon, he told me I'd be issued a citation for the seat belt violation and a warning that my driver's license had expired on my birthday. Geesh. So my little encounter cost me $10 and a quick trip to renew my license.
Still puzzled at why I'd been pulled over in the first place, it wasn't long after that I read a story in the paper that made me go, "Hmmmm." The story described how successful a recent seat belt usage "survey" had been for local law enforcement. I had to chuckle as well as salute the inspired usage of the word survey.
•••
Many black and white photos show Don's Pool Hall, complete with hitching post, gracing the old downtown on Spokane Street. The historic watering hole was torn down in 1996, the open basement surrounded by unsightly orange plastic fencing for years. Now Dr. Thomas DeTar is nearing completion on his new office building there on the corner of Fourth Avenue and Spokane Street. It's a beautiful building, the brick reminiscent of the buildings that once housed the Weekly Advance and Chapin's Drug Store.
Jeannie Peugh, from her two decade-plus vantage point across the street in the Post Falls Press offices, is similarly impressed. She's watched the construction from Day One of what will be called St. Joseph Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic, and says the building reminds her of the Santa Fe Railroad Depot in her hometown of Cherryvale, Kansas.
•••
Yesterday the general membership luncheon for the Post Falls Chamber was held at the brand new River City Middle School. My tablemates, Dick Wandrocke, Pat Leffel, George Balback, Randy Oaks, Jim and Cyndie Hammond, Gus Johnson and I were seated in the back of the cafeteria. I admit we were somewhat unruly and boisterous as Dick fashioned a paper airplane with technical advice from George. Then we all dared a certain someone to aim the plane at the principal's table. He did and we were "caught" by Superintendent Jerry Keane, who then assigned the rowdy table to Principal Mike Yovetich's group for the tour.
It's a beautiful school and the principal went easy on us. I promised I wouldn't name the culprit who launched the paper airplane but I'll give you a hint. He graduated from Coeur d'Alene High School in 1972 and is a former Post Falls mayor. He's a county commissioner whose name isn't Dick or Rick.
•••
Three local couples can claim a combined 178 years of wedded bliss. Lifelong Post Falls residents Marvin and June Goecke celebrated their 60th anniversary on June 3. Andy and Lenoire Anderson of Coeur d'Alene marked 63 years together, also on June 3. And an anniversary that's near and dear to my heart ... the 55th wedding anniversary of my parents, Ron and Alice Rankin on June 4. We can take the total well over the 200-year mark if the 30th anniversary yesterday of my sister and brother-in-law, Janna and Rick Scharf, is included.
•••
Happy 27th birthday today to Darick Pope!
•••
Anyone else having a hard time believing that the Fourth of July is a mere 17 days away? Bet it's a scorcher.
Kerri Thoreson is a member of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and the former publisher of the Post Falls Tribune. "Main Street" appears in The Press every Wednesday. Kerri can be reached at rkthor@webtv.net.
