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Army-Navy watch party today in Hayden Lake

HAYDEN LAKE — Veterans of all military branches are invited to a watch party for today’s Army-Navy football game in the “red house” at the Hayden Lake Country Club.

The game is scheduled for noon; doors will be open at 10 a.m.

The event organizer is Kenny Moore, president of the northwest chapter of the Naval Academy Alumni Association. He said he has been hosting this event for some two decades — usually in Liberty Lake or Spokane, but also once in Coeur d’Alene. This is the first time for the watch party at Hayden Lake.

Information: Kenny Moore, (208) 755-3034

Purcell named

Carroll football coach

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Troy Purcell, a former Carroll College football player who coached three future NFL players in high school, is the new head coach at his alma mater.

Purcell was named Friday to succeed Mike Van Diest, who retired after 20 seasons and six NAIA national titles. Purcell said he’s excited to continue the tradition of excellence at Carroll.

Purcell played for coach Bob Petrino at Carroll and led Havre High (2004) and Bozeman High (2010, 2013) to state championships. He has been an assistant to Idaho coach Paul Petrino for the past three seasons, serving as special teams coordinator and tight ends coach this fall.

“I’m very happy for Troy,” Paul Petrino said in a statement. “He’s going to do a great job. He has an excellent mind on both sides of the ball. Troy helped run our special teams this past year. He’s high energy and a proven winner. He’s got ties all over Montana. Former Saint. Former player. He’ll do well at Carroll College.”

Former NFL return specialist Marc Mariani was on Havre’s title team while current Seattle Seahawks tight end Will Dissly and San Francisco 49ers linebacker Brock Coyle were on Purcell’s teams at Bozeman.

Purcell said his immediate plans are to meet the players, do some recruiting and hire assistants.

Kardong, who founded Bloomsday, to retire as race director after

2019 race

SPOKANE — Don Kardong, founder and race Director of the Lilac Bloomsday Run, announced he will retire following the 2019 Lilac Bloomsday Run on May 5.

Jon Neill, an attorney in the law firm of Eymann Allison Hunter Jones P.S., Lilac Bloomsday Association Board Member, and Bloomsday’s Elite Athlete Coordinator, will take over as race director upon Kardong’s departure.

Kardong has been an instrumental force in the development of Bloomsday from its birth in 1977. What was initially a small idea hatched after a chance meeting in the elevator of City Hall between Kardong and Mayor David Rodgers, has blossomed into a Spokane tradition. Kardong served as President of the Lilac Bloomsday Association from 1982-84 and over 20 years as Elite Athlete Coordinator before accepting the position of race director in the summer of 2004.