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| Kerri Thoreson |
A treat from Air Force One
Jennifer Hayes, daughter of Cliff and Jeanne, has had some excellent adventures in Washington, D.C., in the past decade or so. Most recently she returned to the capital as administrative staff to Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne. So the other day when Cliff (aka Chief Hayes) heard an operator say, "Please hold for a call from Air Force One," he was only slightly caught off guard. Seems Jennifer has been "loaned" to President Bush's staff temporarily and was returning to D.C. from Philadelphia on his official jet when she had the opportunity to place one call. Jennifer told her dad she chose to call him since she knew he would answer his phone.
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Last week I mentioned our trip to Medora, N.D., which prompted local attorney Fred Gabourie to share a Medora connection. In 1965 he was living in Burbank, just out of high school and doing stunt work in the movies when he was tapped to join the fledgling Burning Hills troupe of entertainers in Medora. The pay was great, room and board paid and there was a horse to ride every day. It was a great opportunity for the young performers who put on a show in the famous outdoor amphitheater for 72 straight days. One talented singer in the troupe with Fred was David Solberg. Not too many years later Fred was surprised to see David "Soul" starring in that '70s hit show, "Starsky and Hutch." I'm sure the still movie star-handsome Mr. Gabourie has many more interesting tales to tell.
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Over the weekend Rich Koerner was airlifted from Butte, Mont., to Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane with a suspected stroke. After undergoing several hours of surgery to remove a brain tumor -- with his wife, Barbara, and sons Tim and Mark by his side -- Rich will remain hospitalized this week before transferring to St. Lukes for rehab. Rich is one of the good guys, a generous community volunteer. He and Barb built Koerner Furniture from the ground up before retiring and turning the business over to their sons a few years back. Good friend John McGruder says that prayers and well wishes will be appreciated and accepted. I second that with all my heart.
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Norm Heitstuman retired last Wednesday after 24 years servicing the bus fleet for Lakeland School District. On Friday his wife, Cherry, told me he had already signed up as a relief bus driver. Short retirement there, Norm.
Kerri Rankin 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 rkthor52@aol.com. See her North Idaho photographs at http://fyinorthidaho.blogspot.com/
