THE FRONT ROW with MARK NELKE: Remembering five days in November

News of the big event coming up on Tuesday dominated the airwaves and the printwaves in the days leading up to it.

But as the windstorm approached our region in November 2015, no one was quite sure what was going to happen next.

But on that Tuesday night in November, the winds whipped, trees toppled and, in parts of the area, including a quiet neighborhood in Hayden, the power went out.

Five years later, another big event took place on a Tuesday night in November, preceded by much fanfare, leading to a record turnout of voters.

And as the results of the presidential election unfolded that night, and the numbers came in, no one was quite sure what was going to happen next.

THE NEXT morning in 2015, it was time to bundle up, go outside and survey the damage. There was much to sift through. Limbs were down, trees were down, yards were a mess, and the beginning of the cleanup began.

Back inside, it was still cold, as the power was still out. If you had a portable radio with working batteries, you clung to every word coming over the local AM station, hoping for hope.

This would go on for several days. You'd head for work as usual — where the power was still on. Then you'd head home late at night, turning in to a dark neighborhood, driving down streets in relative quiet — the only noise being the hum of generators from several houses in the 'hood.

You knew there would be an end game to what had transpired on Tuesday night, but you just didn't know when that would be. So you just bundled up, kept your dogs warm (and they kept you warm), and waited ...

THE NEXT morning five years later, it was time to turn on the TV and survey the results of the election. There was much to sift through. One candidate was ahead when you went to bed, but as you awoke the next morning, the other candidate was gaining.

This would go on for several days. You'd do stuff around the house, occasionally checking in with the TV to see what the "score" was. Then you'd go to work, and do the same thing. Then you'd drive home, through your quiet neighborhood — but thankfully the lights were on and the generators were off.

The event appeared headed for a conclusion eventually, but you never knew when that would be. So you just petted your dogs like you usually do, and waited ...

FINALLY, ON a Saturday morning five years ago, the workers in your neighborhood did their magic and, around midday, the power came back on in your house, to much rejoicement. Aside from the downed trees that remained, and an appliance or two getting zapped, things were slowly creeping back to normal.

With the power back on for the first time in nearly five days, you were able to watch the Sandpoint Bulldogs play for a state football title on your computer.

Five years later, as Saturday morning unfolded, that TV you couldn't watch five years earlier projected that one of the candidates had won the election, and was going to be our new president.

There was much rejoicement. But there was also consternation from supporters of the other candidate.

Five years ago, everyone was happy with what happened on that chilly Saturday morning in November.

Five years later, not so much.

FIVE YEARS ago on that Saturday in November, the humming of generators slowly disappeared, but the roar of chainsaws remained.

Five years later, the presidential election was apparently over, but the losing side was not admitting defeat.

In both instances, there was still work to be done.

Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2019, or via email at mnelke@cdapress.com. Follow him on Twitter @CdAPressSports.