Glory days will be remembered
I'm sure you've heard that Post Falls won the boys basketball state championship over the weekend. On Saturday night the Trojans tipped off in the title game in Nampa at the same time the Post Falls Education Foundation's Wine, Stein and Dine doors opened at the Greyhound Park. No worries since Supt. Jerry Keane brought his laptop and a screen to show the live feed from the Internet. Tucked into the grandstands so as not to detract from the gala goings on, a couple dozen people were glued to the basketball action. Assistant Superintendent Becky Ford, former Supt. Dick Harris and School Board Chair were Donagene Turnbow among the fans.
When the game ended in victory we sprung into action to make sure the returning champs had a fitting welcome home reception. PFHS Principal Dena Naccarato called Becky Ford from Nampa with the team bus ETA. Chief Scot Haug didn't mind my 10 p.m. phone call to request a patrol car escort and Skip Hissong and Fire District Commissioner Joe Doellefeld arranged for fire truck escorts, too. Meanwhile high school administrators and boosters were organizing a rally at the high school.
And just before 4 p.m. on Sunday when the team and Coach Mike McLean transferred from the charter bus to a yellow school bus for the caravan, more than 100 cars had joined the procession, including Allen Hildebrant, who'd played on the Trojan basketball team the last time they won a state championship ... in 1964.
No matter how large our community grows I hope we never lose the small-town spirit that was in full view that day. These kids will remember for a lifetime that their home town thought their accomplishment was worth celebrating on a sunny Sunday afternoon.
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For the third year the Coeur d'Alene Downtown Association is hosting the St. Patrick's Day Parade at 4 p.m. on Saturday. This is the second year I'll have the honor of driving the Grand Marshal in the parade. You don't get much more Irish than Coeur d'Alene City Councilman Mike Kennedy. See you in the parade!
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Congratulations to Austin Beals, Mr. CHS 2010. Austin was crowned Monday night at Coeur d'Alene High School. Also winning awards were Mr. Nice Guy, Coty Cummings; Mr. Suave, Shelby Barrera; Mr. Mack Daddy, Kody Stevens and Mr. Talent, Casey Spencer.
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Last Thursday Tom Graham celebrated his 98th birthday with a special request. He wanted to hang out with young people around a bonfire. His grandson, Wade Jacklin, was happy to oblige and a good time was had by all out in Nettleton Gulch.
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Post Falls Mayor Clay Larkin marks his 74th birthday tomorrow. I had to laugh when he said that at least he's still on a bingo card. Me not being a bingo player, he explained that bingo card numbers only go through No. 75. Sharing their birthdate with the mayor are Sue Walker, Mindy Newby, Ed Robar and Bill Paradee. They're all still on a bingo card, too! Friday DeAnn Johnson and Phil Thompson blow out the candles. Sunday is a big birthday day with innkeeper Tom Capone, Adam Graves, Candace McEnespy and Bud Evans celebrating. On the Ides of March John McGruder, Penny Linder and Hanna George turn another year on the birthday calendar.
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On Monday my husband, Bert, and I celebrate 24 years of wedded bliss. He was five years younger than me when we married but after nearly a quarter century with me and raising three daughters he's aged sufficiently that we're close to being the same age.
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THERE'S MORE: New stories and photos almost every day at More Main Street. See photos of the Trojan homecoming caravan, Allen Hildebrant and Austin Beals from their appearances today with me on the KVNI morning show, who's appearing on Thursday and more. There's a link on the righthand rail for adding your birthday to the Main Street Birthday Club for 2010!
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 every Wednesday in The Press. More Main Street blog is at http://moremainstreet.blogspot.com. Kerri can be reached at mainstreet@cdapress.com.