Bucket list item checked off in Phoenix
At 83, Norm Soward still has a few items on his bucket list. As a longtime former Seahawks season ticket holder, seeing his team play in a Super Bowl was definitely on the list. The same day Seattle won the NFC Championship over the Packers, Norm's daughter, Leslie Damiano, called to get tickets for her dad; husband, Phil; and family friend, Rod Eldevik. Plans were made for attending a first Super Bowl game for them all.
They arrived in Phoenix on Friday and on Saturday were informed by their ticket broker that tickets would not be available. As did thousands of others, the Damianos went from the high of excitement to see the Super Bowl to the lowest of lows to be so close but ticketless. On game day, resigned to having to watch the game on television instead of in the stadium a few miles away, they were having brunch about 11:30 a.m. when the call came in from the ticket agent with the good news that there were four tickets available and waiting at will-call. They raced to the stadium and stood in line for an hour - and finally their tickets were in hand. Leslie said they had plenty of time to get to their seats before the 3:30 p.m. kickoff.
While the final score wasn't a Seahawks fan's dream, experiencing the spectacle that is Super Bowl certainly was for all who attended.
North Idaho College student Haley Jackson will be officially welcomed as Miss North Idaho Fair and Rodeo on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds. She'll kick off a full reign of traveling to rodeos and parades throughout the Northwest. As rodeo queen, Haley won't be traveling light - there's a horse and trailer to haul, too, so this fundraiser will help with travel expenses. The coronation celebration features a fajita bar, silent auction and Bucky the Horse. Tickets are $12 in advance or $15 at the door. Info: 691-9314.
February is Heart Health Month and the kickoff of the Go Red for Women campaign. Kootenai Health is offering Heart to Heart screenings this month. Give yourself the gift of good health by knowing how you're doing. Call (208) 625-6800 to schedule your screening.
According to the American Heart Association, heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women, claiming more lives each year than all forms of cancer combined. Listen to your heart, my friends.
From the U.S. National Weather Service, Spokane office: Hi Inland Northwest, this is Winter. I am writing to say I will be on vacation this week visiting my friends in Northeast U.S. I will be leaving Spring in charge for the next several days. If there is any issue with this, please let me know. Your frosty friend, Winter.
Happy birthday today to Gene Reed (70!), Connie Johnson, Nancy Wilson, Cindy Mead and Charisse Gross, and tomorrow to Leslie Deubner, Sharon Anderson, Vicki Johnson and Jeanette Dunn.
On Friday, Randy Oaks, Rich Morrow, Carole Fredekind, Cris Burnham, Rick Altman, Pat Clevenger, Stephen Scott, Jimmy McAndrew, Lisa Hunt, Duane Justus, Matt Ormeshed and Mike Grabenstein put on their party hats.
On Saturday, Amanda Miller, Lori Malin, Angel Duthie, Terry Ellis and Shawn Aldrich will blow out their birthday candles. Barb Bradley, Natalie Forsyth, Pamela Thoms, Lynn Hayes, Linda Davis, Henry Hildreth, Rocky Brockhoff and Larry O'Leary celebrate another trip around the sun on Sunday.
Feb. 9 birthdays belong to Linda Wilhelm, Brandie Shofner, Buddy Le, Marian Crumb, Greg Smith, Bill Buley, Julia Free and Alta Steele. On Tuesday, Kiki Miller and Tate Merry share a birthday.
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 and Kerri can be contacted on Facebook or via email mainstreet@cdapress.com. Follow her on Twitter @kerrithoreson.