Idaho Spud Truck to roll into town

My baby sister Ronna Park has lived in southeast Idaho since college, in the heart of the potato producing part of our state. In fact, Blackfoot, where she resides, has the Idaho Potato Museum complete with a large spud in front of the building that tourists and locals alike feel inspired to photograph. So a couple of weeks ago Ronna and I were talking taters and she mentioned that during the Idaho Potato Commission's 75th Anniversary this year there was a giant Idaho potato on tour of the country. Really, I asked, wondering if the spud display would make any stops in the Panhandle or non-potato producing part of the state.

As it turns out the answer is yes. I contacted Laura Herrick, who's handling the Big Idaho Potato Tour, to see if we could arrange a stop in Post Falls on their way to Silverwood. After some wheeling and dealing and persuasion, we'll have two opportunities to view the 12,000-pound faux spud.

This Friday the potato will be on public display in the parking lot shared by Post Falls City Hall and the Post Falls Chamber of Commerce on Fourth Avenue from 4:30 to 6 p.m. On Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. the Idaho Potato Commission truck and spud will greet Silverwood Theme Park guests.

Wherever in the world my travels have taken me, as soon as there's mention of living in Idaho the topic of taters soon follows. We are the potato state so how fun to get to embrace our agricultural heritage with this visit. See more about the truck tour at www.bigidahopotato.com

The late Manuel Schneidmiller spent his life working the land in the Post Falls area. He also served his country in the Marine Corps, serving in World War II and earning the rank of Lt. Colonel. His widow, Gladys, and son, Gary, will dedicate a glorious monument to America's veterans in memory of their husband and father on Sunday at Evergreen Cemetery in Post Falls.

I've seen the monument, but not until noon on Sunday will the flags of all branches of the United States military be raised on the monument's flag poles in all of their glory. It's sure to be a beautiful sight and a fitting tribute to all who have served, and the public is invited to attend.

Next Tuesday marks the 11th anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, which claimed nearly 3,000 lives. Local ceremonies will pay tribute to the men and women who bravely served as first responders on that horrific day in our nation's history. At the Coeur d'Alene Chamber's UpBeat Breakfast, Coeur d'Alene's Fire Chief Kenny Gabriel and Police Chief Wayne Longo will speak on public safety and the events of September 11, 2001. The FD and PD Honor Guards will post the colors, accompanied by the Coeur d'Alene Fire Department's Pipe and Drum Corps.

And from 9:45 to 10:15 a.m. on Sept. 11 in the Post Falls City Hall Plaza, Mayor Clay Larkin will read a proclamation and the Post Falls Police Department Honor Guard will lower the flag. Kootenai County Fire and Rescue will ring the bell for the "Striking of Four Fives" and 11 times for 9-11 anniversary.

It's my heartfelt hope that we as American citizens never forget the attacks, the heroism of our first responders nor the men and women of our Armed Forces who continue to be in harm's way as they fight for freedom a world away.

I love words and language but not so much when perfectly good words are replaced just for the sake of using trendy new words. The latest example to surface is "wayfinding." What? In a plan that includes new directional signage, the word wayfinding has found its way into the mix. Wayfinding signs will point you in the right direction. Good grief, can nothing simply be simple any more?

Today wish a happy birthday to Ken Bookamer, Bobby Olson and Dave Pulis and tomorrow to Carl Riegert, Claudia Pryor, Dave Chamberlain, Evelyn Wegner and Della St. Clair (50!). On Friday Vicki Fulton turns 60 and Keri Alexander, Jim Bannon, Laura Umthun and Kathleen Cavender celebrate their big day, too. Saturday, Sept. 8 marks the 80th time Rosemary Dickson and her twin brother, Bob Coles have blown out the birthday candles and it's also the anniversary of birth for Angie Demmig, Vicki Currie, Sonya Fernandes, Anne Mitchell, Lorna Price, Imogene Sverdsten and Sheena Dunn (40!). Dani Zibell-Wolfe, Kibbee Walton, Seth Anderson, Mary Larson, Krysta Azzollini, Dominick Pokasa, Richard Clearwater, Chase Price and Marty Meyer celebrate another trip around the sun on Sunday. Starting the week with birthdays are Tami Martinez, Gregg Gain, Annette Kennedy, Mary Ellen Denton and Helen Terway (60!) on Monday and on Tuesday twins Hannah and Cameron Epstein, Jim Pierce, Cyndi Brubaker, Darrell Dlouhy, Kelly Hanson, Mark Compton and Preben Jensen.

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 or via email [email protected].