Changing times affect response
A week ago I was on my way to the studio just after 5:30 a.m., driving south on Third Street in Coeur d'Alene. The streets at daybreak were deserted until I stopped at the light on Harrison. In the left hand lane an older model SUV was stopped with the driver's door open and something, maybe a large key ring, on the ground. I rolled down my window since I couldn't see anyone in the car and called out, "is everything OK?" No answer.
I was hesitant to investigate further and locked my doors before calling 911. The dispatcher said there had been a couple of calls already and officers were on the way.
A while later I mentioned it on the air and Sgt. Bill Tilson of the Coeur d'Alene Police Department sent a message reporting that it was a medical situation. I sincerely hope all turned out well, but I admit I felt terribly guilty that I didn't try to render aid. Spooked by visions of car jackings and the like overpowered good Samaritan instincts unfortunately. And that realization was a rather sobering reflection of the times in which we live.
It's graduation week for all of the high schools in Kootenai County and hundreds of young people are launching into adulthood. Commencement speeches will inspire and provoke thought. In thinking about what words of wisdom I'd pass along to the graduates I had to laugh. I wasn't much for listening to advice at that age, preferring to blaze my own trails, make my own mistakes, learn and move forward. From the perspective of having lived 42 years since my 18th year and looking back, there's not much I would change. Every misstep resulted in lessons learned and progress made. So here's my advice to the members of the Class of 2012 that will serve them well in life ... be nice.
The latest in the "Is this a great community or what" series ... Debbie Berger was shopping at Safeway in Coeur d'Alene's midtown on Monday when she mentioned to the cashier, Sally, that she was looking for an old metal milk crate to use as a bicycle basket. Another customer overheard the conversation and offered to give Debbie the crate she'd used on her own bicycle back in the 1970s. Said Debbie, "not only do I have a vintage bicycle basket for my cruiser bike but a wonderful new friend, Susie Snedaker!"
Happy birthday today to DeDe Tondee, Don Wilhelm, Kim Normand and Wendy English. Tomorrow my better half and best friend Bert along with Brad Corkill, Rick Alden, Susan Lewis and John Hough are blowing out the candles. On Friday wish Tammy Rickard, Courtney Everson, Dustin Pilcher, Argonne Dotts, Jaymie Starr, Emma Hoffman, Dave Haugen (60!) and Ted Pryor (70!) a happy birthday. Darrell Hull is Saturday's birthday boy and on Sunday Chelsea Hough, Jared Mans, Taylor Gonzales, Lori Kaye Gaboury (50!), Joan Crawford (60!) will be wearing their party hats. June 11 birthdays are shared by Kellie Palm and Erna Rhinehart. Tuesday celebrants are Nicci Cushman, Kamryn Peacock, Vivian Worth and Father Roger LaChance.
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!