Life is good on the golf course
Hayden Lake resident Fred Smothermon has lived through a lot in his 79 years, including three knee replacements, six back fusions and a quadruple bypass - with a few arterial stents thrown in for good measure.
The avid golfer lives on Avondale and, despite the physical challenges, tries to play a couple times a week. Back in 2001 Fred shot a hole-in-one on Avondale, a thrill for any golfer, especially one who didn't take up the game until he was 50 years old.
According to his daughter, Cheryl, Fred had been talking about giving up the game because he can no longer play as well as he once did. But thanks to some glorious October weather, Fred was golfing with his son, Brad, on Saturday when he shot a second-in-a-lifetime hole-in-one on Avondale's 14th hole. How's that for a never give up attitude - well-played, Fred!
Friday night football with Post Falls hosting Lewiston will include a salute to the military and local veterans. The Idaho Army National Guard is providing special jerseys for the players and the game will kick off with the color guard of Steven H. Nipp American Legion Post 143 doing the honors. Fitting, as Post 143 namesake Steve Nipp was a 1967 graduate of Post Falls High School who served with the U.S. Marines in Vietnam, where he was killed in action in 1969.
Vietnam veteran Bryan Bledsoe, who in 1964 was named All City Tackle for the city champion Lewis and Clark Tigers in 1964, will handle the coin toss on Friday night. All veterans and active duty military will get free admission to the game, which starts at 7 p.m.
An interesting piece of trivia: PFHS Principal Chris Sensel served in the National Guard for 20 years, including a tour of combat duty in Iraq.
Highlights: Friday night at The Coeur d'Alene Resort is the Boys and Girls Club of Kootenai County's Great Futures Auction at 5:30 p.m.
The Children's Village Fall Festival in Coeur d'Alene is 1-4 p.m. Saturday, free for the whole family. Also, the first Shoes and Brews 5K Fun Run and Beer Festival will be at Kiwanis Park, 2-6 p.m. The finisher's medal is quite unique! Register with Post Falls Parks and Rec.
The Post Falls Lions Haunted House is open Friday and Saturday nights from 6 p.m. to midnight if you dare.
Happy birthday today to Don Sausser, who's a youthful 80! Don is one of my favorite local photographers and he says he's had a camera in hand for 65 of his 80 years. Sharing today's birthdate are Dee Jameson, Shawn Gust, Beth Peters, Katie Smith, Wayne Hammond, Elizabeth McGregor, Laurie Dixon, Beth Myles, Greg Cossette, Dave Smith, Peyton Brown and Patty Cheesman.
Tomorrow is a special day for Misti Flood, Kathie Lyon, Pam Caylor, Brad Perry and Mike Farquhar. On Friday, Faith Tonna, Laurie Cook, Dana Albanese, Rosemary Fuller and Karen Deering will make a wish.
On Saturday, Arlene Pischner, Keith Erickson, Terry Gurno, Will Wolff, Kevin Clement, Kathy Reid and Lauri Armon will celebrate. Dan Gookin, Tom Hamilton, Tony Sutton, Bobbi Koep, Louise Jackson (50!), Linda Chapman and Holly Hall start another trip around the sun on Sunday.
Monday, Oct. 20, is the date Mary Lou Reed, Luke Malek, Mary Willeford, Jodie Krieg, Nick Peacock, Brooke Litalien, Kara Powers and Jerry Lee came into the world. Carly Goodlander, Mike Threadgill, Monika Krapfl and Paul Mikel will put on their party hats on Tuesday.
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 2013 by the readers of the North Idaho Business Journal. Main Street appears every Wednesday in The Press and Kerri can be contacted on Facebook or via email [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @kerrithoreson.