Answering the call to serve

It's interesting to note that protecting our communities right now are Justin Capaul and his cousins, Jake Capaul and Mitchell Copstead. Justin and Mitchell are with Kootenai County Fire and Rescue and Jake is with Timberlake Fire Department. But the Capaul family tradition of fire service goes back eight decades to 1932 when the cousins' great grandfather, George Capaul, was the first paid firefighter in Kootenai County.

Their grandfather, Ray Capaul, worked for the Coeur d'Alene Fire Department from 1956 to 1976 and Justin's father, Bob Capaul, retired as a volunteer with Kootenai County Fire in 2007 after 20 years. His mother, Eleanora, served with the KCFR Auxiliary for 23 years and his sister, RaeAnne, was also with the auxiliary. An uncle, Ken Capaul, is a Battalion Chief with the Spokane Valley Fire Department. Jake's brother, Brady Capaul, was a volunteer firefighter for KCFR before he was hired to fight fires for the Forest Service.

Through the years all four generations of the Capaul family of firefighters at some point worked out of Station 4 in Coeur d'Alene, at Ramsey and Golf Course Road.

What an incredible legacy of service to the public for one family. Between them, Justin, Jake and Mitchell are the fathers of five young children so the likelihood of their extraordinary tradition of fire service in Kootenai County continuing for decades is definitely high.

The fourth annual fundraiser for the Kootenai County Police and Fire Foundation is coming up on Tuesday, July 31 at Capone's in Post Falls. Tom and Theresa Capone wanted to give back to the first responders after their business was destroyed by an arsonist a few years back and this is it. Great event with raffles, door prizes, food and drink. From 5-9 p.m. the Capones donate the pub's profits to the foundation. To donate raffle items or learn more about the event and the foundation, www.kcpoliceandfirefoundation.com, Bryan Williams, (208) 659-8318 or Addison Arce, roy187@aol.com

Sister power was in the house on Saturday when Jame` Davis, DeAnn Johnson and Raydeane Owens celebrated their sister, Darcy Nelly's birthday by completing the Dirne Clinic's Muddy Miles course. A quick cleanup with bottled water, baby wipes and paper towels in the fairgrounds parking lot and the quartette was looking fabulous for the St. Vincent de Paul Steak Fry to cap the day. And if you think I may be exaggerating there's photographic evidence on the Fabulous Faces page (A11) in today's Press. :)

Shining the light on a couple of local teens making a difference: Post Falls Distinguished Young Woman Katherin Pope is working on a Handbags for Hope project and is nearing her goal of gathering 100 new or gently used purses and personal toiletry items to put inside. They will be distributed to low-income women and teens. If you'd like to contribute, there's a collection box at the Post Falls Chamber of Commerce.

Hayden Boy Scout Ben Clark's Eagle Scout leadership project is providing free child identification kits. He will have the kits at the Farmer's Insurance booth at Hayden Days on Friday from 2-8 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 a.m.

The 10-11 Hayden All Stars took second at the state tournament in Boise on Saturday but for a couple of the players there was a bit of excitement the day before. Ryan Chapman and Mitchell Moffet and Mitchell's little brother, Dylan stopped by the state capitol. Gov. Butch Otter was there and came out to visit and pose for a picture with the boys.

The most challenging part of a beautiful North Idaho summer is choosing which events to enjoy. This weekend there's lots going on for sure ... Friday night's annual Body by Scotty Block Party in Post Falls and the kick off of Hayden Days. On Saturday, there's the Hayden Days Parade, the Skate City/Lake City Skateboard Jam at the skatepark by Memorial Field and Union Gospel Mission's spaghetti feed at Daanen's Deli.

Happy Birthday today to Robin Schlotthauer, Alenna Blakeslee, Karen King and Kent Bailey. Tomorrow Doreen Mack, Marla Giese, Marlo Gerber, Nick Epstein and Lois Johnson will be putting on their party hats. On Friday my brother-in-law Rick Scharf is joined by Ernie Horton, Ann Beutler, Larry Trosper, Gail Everson, Brady Campbell, Cathy Werner, Shelly Zollman, Brian Thormahlen and Janet Pulis in blowing out the candles. Saturday is a special day for Darrell Rickard, Jan Nelson, Zack White, Hank Wayman, John Hensley, Debra Wunderlich and Karen Englestad. Ageless Jim Shepperd will be a youthful 86 on Sunday, sharing the date with Mark Anthony, Tanya Peugh and Sam Taylor. Monday's birthday girls are Sharmon Schmitt, Nicole Choquette, Terra Karl, Dianne Ansbaugh and Peggy Coleman. On Tuesday a birthday shout out to Patricia Richardson, Bill Hamilton, Adam Durflinger and Tab Bray.

Kerri Rankin Thoreson is a member of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and the former publisher of the Post Falls Tribune. She was voted Best Local Writer for 2012 by the readers of the North Idaho Business Journal. Main Street appears every Wednesday in The Press and Kerri is on the air Mondays and Wednesdays on 1080 ESPN AM (KVNI). Find her on Facebook!