'Boss lift' raises awareness of troops
Last week a few dozen local citizens flew in a KC 135 from Fairchild AFB to Boise's Gowen Field as part of the annual ESGR (Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve) Boss Lift through the Idaho Department of Labor.
Among the attendees were Chief Scot Haug, Chief Wayne Longo, Cyndie Hammond, Jeff Conroy, Matt Hutchinson, Phil Thompson and Carolyn Shewfelt. It was interesting to hear some of their reactions and observations via Facebook and texting in real time.I experienced this trip last year and it does give you a real sense of the professionalism and patriotism of those serving in the Idaho Army National Guard and all branches of the military. It especially brought home the commitment and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform as the 116th Army National Guard out of Post Falls is at Gowen Field taking part in pre-deployment training.
All three 2008 and 2009 Green Thumb winners repeated in 2010 ... Gayle Erickson, fruits, nuts, herbs; Carolyn Sampert in the vegetable division; and Laura Cary for flowers. Congratulations to the trio of talented gardeners for their 3-peat!***
Doug Miller shared a touching story about hydroplane legend Mira Slovak. On the Monday morning following the Diamond Cup Regatta, Doug picked up Mira at his hotel for a ride to the airport. Mira asked if they could stop by the hydroplane memorial that's on the east side of the Resort near the Third Street docks. He wanted to pay his respects to the memorial's namesake, Lt. Col. Warner F. Gardner.In 1963 during the Diamond Cup races on Lake Coeur d'Alene, Slovak's thunder boat Miss Exide disentigrated, knocking him unconsious into the water. Gardner stopped his boat, the Notre Dame, jumping into the water to rescue Slovak. "He saved my life," said Mira before taking a few moments to say a silent prayer for this long ago friend.
I went by the other day to look at the statue of a hydroplane and fighter jet that I've passed hundreds of times without a thought for what it symbolized. At thunderboats.com I read a biography of Col. Gardner "... the end for Warner Gardner came on Sept. 8, 1968, on the Detroit River. ...during the Final Heat of the Gold Cup, the "Screaming Eagle" became airborne and cartwheeled. The Colonel was critically injured and never regained consciousness. He died the following day. An Air Force veteran of 63 combat missions during World War II, Warner was buried at Arlington National Cemetery."
I had a great couple of hours in the Coeur d'Alene Press booth at the fair on Saturday with Bob Frisk talking with Main Street readers. We signed up about 50 new members to the Main Street Birthday Club, including Chloe Fleming, Beck and Olivia Jacobsen and Boston Pierce. You can see their photos at More Main Street.***
The Demolition Derby is a mainstay of the North Idaho Fair, with many of the volunteers going back decades. Familiar faces in the booth and flagging the contestants ... Sen. John Goedde, Commissioner Rick Currie, Terry Eastman and Chris Copstead, to name a few. Loved seeing an ironic new sponsor of a demolition car this year ... the Gozzer Ranch Club.***
The disappointment in accepting that it's now September and summer is on the wane is soothed somewhat from getting to see Bob Dylan and John Mellencamp at the Greyhound Park Events Center tonight in Post Falls.***
Today be sure to wish a happy birthday to Sharon Latimer, Kathy McKahan and Kim Routh. Former Coeur d'Alene Mayor Ray Stone is celebrating a birthday tomorrow along with Rick Steele. Friday is the big day for Willi Burgee, Dave Bobbitt, Kris McIlvenna, Jimmy Hamby, Tina Marie Schultz, Emily Davis and Leslie Martin Linde. Maggie DeTar celebrates on Saturday and Dave Pulis on Sunday. On Monday Claudia Dixon Pryor blows out the candles along with Carl Riegert and Evelyn Wegner. On Tuesday Laura Umthun ushers in another year, as does Jim Brannon and Vicki Fulton. ***
THERE'S MORE: Readers' photos from the NI Fair, photo of the hydroplane memorial and of the ESGR Boss Lift and more at More Main Street, the enhanced online version of this column.***
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 [email protected]