Tragedy and trauma: No one’s immune
For the majority of us, five months into navigating a much different life and world, emotions seem magnified and intensified. But with the sun shining and the promise of the welcome diversion of summer, we didn’t imagine the heartbreaking tragedy that’s visited the idyllic life we enjoy here in recent weeks.
My thoughts, and certainly my prayers, are with the families and friends of those who lost their life in the Spokane River and Lake Coeur d’Alene. A young husband, father … a grandfather and now fathers, children, husbands … gone in an instant. These tragic losses are bound together by the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office dive and sonar teams.
First responders always hope their training and skill can be utilized to save lives. The divers more often than not are recovering bodies, not rescuing people in danger. It’s difficult and dangerous work they do and I can only begin to imagine how emotional it is as well.
On Sunday when two planes collided over a lake filled with recreational boaters, even before the dive team was called into action, citizens on the water didn’t hesitate to come to the aid of whomever might need them. It became obvious within those first seconds and minutes that the planes’ occupants were beyond help. The trauma experienced by those not accustomed to dealing with the horrors of tragedy cannot be overstated.
Our professional first responders have counseling protocols in place, citizen heroes do not. I spoke with Lt. Ryan Higgins of the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday. He said their people have the benefit of team leaders and each other to work through any struggles a deputy may have following tragic events. The county’s insurance also provides for counseling. The department no longer has a chaplain corps that would have in the past reached out to victims and citizens impacted by traumatic scenes.
So while we’re continuing to hold our first responders in a figurative embrace for the work they do, I sincerely hope that those people out on the lake on Sunday reach out to their village to help them cope. Again, the Northern Idaho Crisis Center, 208-625-4884 is available 24 hours every day of the week. They can connect you with local resources.
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Carolyn Sampert of Dalton is a wife, mother, grandmother, quilter, canner, and an award-winning gardener. Alas, with the North Idaho State Fair falling to the virus in 2020, Carolyn won’t be entering any of her crafts or beautiful bounty of produce next month. But with a growing season that’s been cold, warm and wet she took a victory lap on Saturday, posting a photo standing in her garden and proclaiming that her corn was knee high on the Fourth of July!
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Back in the day my mother, Alice Rankin, was a master organic gardener, teaching classes through the county extension office. This week Brad and Mary Corkill texted a photo of a nearly 8-foot-tall pea plant they’d grown. Brad said several years ago my mother advised him to always plant peas on St. Patrick’s Day, even if you have to break through ice to do it. He’s done that every year since and the proof is in the beautiful plants that result.
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From the Spirit Lake Police Department’s Facebook page: “Over the past month or so, you may have noticed SLPD officers sporting mustaches. During this tense and challenging time, as a team morale builder and to give each other a laugh, we decided to have an in-house mustache growing contest! It ended today (July 4) with a team vote for best and worst. We won’t subject you to the worst, but we’d like to congratulate our winner, Sgt. Heath Wharton with his ‘tactical caterpillar!’”
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Happy Birthday today to Taryn Thompson, Samantha Babich, Peter Finney, Bev Hammond, Dawson Brown, Ron Jacaban, Beverly Knapp and Carrie Erickson. Tomorrow Tucker Morrison, Madison King, Jenny Seaman, Brooke Bowers, Loren Mitchell, Brooke Hell, Jenny Joyner and Renee Christensen have their cake and eat it, too.
On Friday Jason Faulkner, Collin Coles, Ryan Starr, Amber Blanchette, Gene Gertson, Jan Ryan, Mike Stevens, Heather Wichman, Darren Olson, Pat Fuller and Michael Garrett take another trip around the sun. Saturday Betty Ann Henderson, Richard Jurvelin, Jeri Lee, Bill Graves, Scott Mote and Larry Wendt blow out the candles.
On Sunday BeBe Fletcher (96!), Jadd Davis, Cheri Burila, Emily Hodgson, Syafiq Fuller and Jim Welborn will hear the birthday song. On Monday Renee Lusby, Ingrid Yates, Mark Daanen, Julia Koontz, Becky Rider, Kris Mans, Brooke Hayden, Shirley Jarrell, Lisa Goodwin and Karen Applebee will mark their birthdays. Celebrating on July 14 are Bri Gilge, Dee Barnes, Kathleen Esquibel, John Lasher, Jim Lyons, Nancy Seright, Jaime Vanderpool and Dawnelle Garvey.
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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.