Community Thanks October 17, 2010

SCHOOLS: Cd'A, Lake City team up

If you had been anywhere near the ballrooms at the Coeur d'Alene Inn last Saturday night you might have thought it was a rumble to rival the Fight for the Fish or any Coeur d'Alene vs. Lake City high school sporting event. Instead it was a very large group of parents, teachers and coaches putting their money where their mouths were and raising more than $10,000 during the "raise the paddle" portion of the ninth annual joint fundraiser. Saturday's Two Schools One Goal Auction and Social once again brought together cross town rivals to set aside their allegiances and work to raise more than $60,000 that will benefit activities at both Lake City High School and Coeur d'Alene High School.

Teams, clubs and organizations coordinate auction items for the live and silent auctions and receive the full purchase price for their efforts. Local businesses are contacted and graciously give to support our children. Parents and booster members add more items and coordinate the evening's activities. The money raised is divided equally between the two schools and is distributed to organizations like art, drama, football, baseball, soccer, the key club, softball, basketball, and many more.

I personally thank the committee (and especially their long-suffering families) who worked hard to make this year's event the best: Debbie and Chris Costa, Kristen Johnson, Jamey Combo, Leighanna Ward, Kris Brown, Ann Wheelock, Sally Aragon, Deb Dotson, Sandy Doering, Lisa Loy, Pat Lynch and administrators from both schools: Deanne Clifford, Randy Russell, Todd Gilkey and Jim Winger. Thank you for finding good volunteers to help you in your endeavor. Your diligence and attention to details made chairing this event the easiest thing I have ever done!

We thank the CHS cheerleaders for stopping by and leading half the crowd in the Viking fight song and kudos to LCHS Stomp for rocking the house with their percussion performance. Your team spirit stirred the room and set an exciting tone for the evening.

The committee sends thanks to the community for your support - the guests who attended and spent money! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! - the businesses and families who graciously offer auction items and support: Hagadone Hospitality, Panhandle State Bank, Parker Toyota, Sports Cellar, the Goodlander Family, the Berger Family, the Titus, Chun, Bartoo and Ellison Families, the Brunansky-Specht Family, Castaway Fly Fishing Shop, the Painter's Chair Gallery, SAFCO Excavation, the Fortis Family, Brian Rounds, International Minute Press, and so many more. We send a very special thank you to Carol Kreighbaum and the awesome staff at the Coeur d'Alene Inn - YOU make us look good!

As parents we have our allegiance to the school our children attend (or the one from which we graduated) and we hold the Viking or the Timberwolf close to our hearts, but for this one night, together, we focus on one goal - making our schools better.

MARY LUANN LARSON

Coeur d'Alene

GOLF: Fundraiser for 'BirthRight'

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all those that participated in our fourth annual golf fundraiser this year held at Coeur d'Alene Public Golf Course on Sept. 18, 2010. This years fundraiser benefits "BirthRight." I'd like to thank our Hole and Green Sponsors: Graham and Betsy Crutchfield; Columbia Stock and Transfer Co.; LF Staffing; Pain Management of North Idaho (Dr. Magnuson); Magnuson, McHugh and Co., CPA's; Papa Murphy's Pizza; Surgical Bariatrics of North Idaho; Helbling Employee Benefits Consulting Inc.; Plummer Cafe, owners Kathy and John Kolar; St. Vincent de Paul by Dick and Debbie Mott; Faith Transportation; Birthright by Dan Moberg; Dane Lowry of Edward Jones; Herbalife Distributors, Jerry and Sharlene Wiedenhoff; The Cutting Edge, John and Karen Thurston; Farmers Insurance, by Marie Smith; Century 21 Real Estate by John Beutler and Associates; Essential Metals by Mike and Rachel Irish; Stewart and Molly Butler; J.B. and Dorothy Benoit; Tom and Lois Getzfrid; Shirley Slade; T.H Dannenbrink Investigations; Dave Hobson and Staff at Cd'A Public Golf Course; and the Knights of Columbus Council No. 11623.

A special thanks to Big Mountain Accounting and Taxes for the four hole in one prizes, especially the new golf cart from Odyssey golf carts, the new set of Calloway golf clubs, the flat screen TV and the airfare for two anywhere in the continental U.S. Unfortunately, no hole in one's this year.

I'd also like to thank the following for donating golf and door prizes: The Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course; Twin Lakes Golf Course; Coeur d'Alene Public Golf Course; Prairie Falls Golf Course; Hayden Lake Country Club Golf Course; Circling Raven Golf Course; Ponderosa Golf Course; Public Employees Credit Union; The Cutting Edge; Cd'A Brewing Company; Olive Garden; MacKenzie River Pizza; Highlands Day Spa; AiCM Massage; Highlands Golf Shop; Shari Frei, Avon; State Farm Ins. Co., Dennis Freund Agency; State Farm Ins. Co., Gale Krier Agency; Angelo's Ristorante; Kelly's Irish Pub; Arise and Shine Windows Cleaners; Sharon Strobel and Jean Hjort, Avon Gift Basket; The Snake Pit in Enaville, the Peaks; Sierra Silver Mine Tour, Sue Holly; Northern Pacific RxR Museum, Dionne Broeke; Gift certificate for the Cd'A Resort by Marge Mladjan; Fiesta Mexican Restaurant; and an anonymous donor of a nice gift basket.

The sponsor signs, artistry and labor, were donated by Mallaurcott Design, Tami Martinez. Thank you, Tami.

I'd also like to thank the golf committee: Dan Moberg, Don Moberg, Gary Mladjan, Curt Kastens, Chaz Donovan and John Thurston. A special thanks to Don Moberg for his time and effort for the hole in one sponsor and both Don and Dan for the trophies. The staff and volunteers from Birthright that worked really hard in gathering door prizes, sponsors and their work the day of the tournament: Dorothy Benoit, Marlene Herby, Konni Leichner, Lisa and Rich Hersh, Carla Redline, Natalie Vandergriff, Molly Butler, Stewart Butler, Catherine Courtney, Dee Eldredge, Sherrie Jenicek and Lisa Troxel.

This year's event raised more than $3,300 for Birthright. On behalf of the Knights of Columbus, Council No. 11623, I sincerely thank all of you and the community for helping in this worthy fundraiser.

JERRY WIEDENHOFF

Event Co-ordinator

Knights of Columbus Council No. 11623