HUCKLEBERRIES: The hero who wore an apron

Amber Peace is happily lost in middle America today.

But 20 years ago, she received widespread media attention as the waitress at Coeur d’Alene Denny’s who helped save Shasta Groene from serial killer Joseph Edward Duncan III.

She was known then as Amber Deahn. And she considers herself “blessed and privileged to have been chosen to catch the devil red-handed.”

On July 2, 2005, Amber stalled Duncan long enough to enable Coeur d’Alene police to arrest him after a seven-week search for Shasta, 8, and her brother, Dylan, 9.

Denny’s rewarded Amber’s heroic act with a slight hourly pay increase: 25 cents.

Amber told Huckleberries last week that the encounter with evil encouraged her to leave Denny’s, to end a bad marriage, and to move with her three small children to Moscow in 2009.

Later, she earned an English degree (professional and technical writing) from the University of Idaho, joined AmeriCorps, married Chuck Peace, and moved with him to Lima, Ohio.

She now operates a niche gallery for artists battling addictions.

After Shasta’s rescue, Amber studied sex offenders and pedophiles. And taught parents and children how to be aware of their presence in society. “They look like anyone,” she said. “Duncan looked like your average redneck dude from the Northwest.

She once told the Lewiston Tribune: “I don’t think there’s another creature on the planet you could compare a pedophile to. They are the worst kind of predator because they evolve.”

Amber hasn’t kept in touch with Shasta Groene. And she doesn’t parade her heroism.

Recently, several cousins were shocked to learn she was “the Amber Deahn” of the Shasta Groene rescue.

Said Amber: “I haven’t tried to capitalize on that tragedy.”

From the ashes

The battle to save the two brick buildings that had served Coeur d’Alene as a high school and a junior high ended at the ballot box.

On June 4, 1985, a slim majority — 1,341 to 1,330 — backed a proposed $3.2 million bond to transform the structures at Seventh and Montana into a community center (south building) and a library (north building).

But the bond required a two-thirds supermajority to pass.

After Coeur d’Alene Junior High closed in 1975, the city used the buildings for a community center for eight years. But the City Council shuttered the popular center in September 1983, citing cost overruns of 167% and an unsafe north building.

The decision outraged the town.

And Bob Macdonald won a council seat that fall by promising to reopen the community center. Macdonald tried. But the fury was offset by opposition from the Kootenai County Property Owners Association, then run by Rex Morehouse of Spirit Lake.

Eventually, Coeur d’Alene filled both needs.

Under Mayor Sandi Bloem’s leadership in the 2000s, Coeur d’Alene passed a $3 million bond to open a new library Sept. 1, 2005. And landed a $70 million grant from the Joan Kroc Foundation/Salvation Army to open the Kroc Center on May 11, 2009.

A cornerstone in the northwest corner of G.O. Phippeny Park is all that remains of the old Coeur d’Alene schools today.

JFK, LBJ were here

On May 27-28, 1960, North Idaho was blue enough for Democratic U.S. Sens. John Kennedy, of Massachusetts, and Lyndon Johnson, of Texas, to drop by the Coeur d’Alene area.

Both were presidential candidates en route to the Washington Democratic Convention in Spokane.

Kennedy was the frontrunner.

Kennedy had flown in his private jet here from Washington, D.C., early May 27. And then slept on the plane at the Coeur d’Alene Air Terminal. Later, he joined Idaho national committeewoman Ellen Healy, of Coeur d’Alene, for breakfast and golfed.

On the same day, “Ladies for Lyndon” arrived in Coeur d’Alene to promote their candidate: seven Texas women “pertly attired” in 10-gallon hats, red-and-white-striped cardigan jackets, dark-blue scarves and white skirts, shoes and gloves.

They were part of some 5,000 Texas female volunteers for the dark-horse Senate Democratic leader who appeared at a local VFW luncheon the following day.

Huckleberries

• Poet’s Corner: Most pigeons breed with such good cheer/they sometimes raise five broods a year,/but since the chicks don’t thirst for knowledge/very few enroll in college — The Bard of Sherman Avenue (“And it’s a Lucky Thing for Parents”).

• Sourdough Trivia: Oldtimers recall three things about the old Sourdough restaurant at 2600 E. Sherman Ave.: The entrance resembled a gold mine tunnel, dollars and college pennants from customers were pinned to the ceiling and it served scrumptious steaks and seafood. And, oh yeah, Coeur d’Alene Mayor Woody McEvers once worked there.

• Seeing Double: In May 1990, nurses in the birthing center at Kootenai Medical Center (Kootenai Health) saw double. Three sets of twins were born in short order to DeAnn Mellius (Kyle and Brett), Beth Schmidt (Christen and Denise) and Kelley Woodworth (Michelle and Cherie). Happy birthday, twins. You’re now middle-aged.

• Tie-less in Cd'A: In the old days, Coeur d’Alene business owners relaxed as tourist season approached by discarding their dress shirts and ties. On May 19, 1970, Mayor John McHugh, joined by some councilors, launched the summer tradition by discarding his tie at a regular meeting. Coeur d’Alene is casual year-round now.

Parting shot

On May 26, 2000, Canfield Middle School students recoiled when a school time capsule was opened from the 1976 bicentennial year. It smelled musty. And some thought the items inside were lame. The treasure trove included a yearbook, a $2 bill, a two-colored pen, Progress reports and a magazine with the “Jaws” shark on the cover. Canfield opened Jan. 29, 1976, after the school district shut the old junior high at Seventh and Montana. At the 2000 ceremony, teacher Bob Bloem recalled aspects of the old school: creaky floors, hot rooms, World War II lockers and a paddle with holes drilled in it to punish miscreants. The paddle wasn’t in the time capsule. No one lamented that it was left behind.

• • •

You can contact D.F. (Dave) Oliveria at dfo@cdapress.com.

    Amber Peace held Maria, her 15-month-old daughter, in July 2005 after visiting Shasta Groene at Kootenai Medical Center.
  

    Now 21, Amber Peace’s daughter, Maria, is enjoying life in Florida as a musician and jewelry maker.
  

    In 1985, Councilman Bob Macdonald tried and failed to save the old community center/junior high from a wrecking ball.
  

    Then-U.S. Sen. John F. Kennedy visited the Hayden Lake Country Club. With Kennedy, from left, are local Democratic leaders James W. Ingalls, James L. Ingalls (back to camera) and John Rasor in May 1960.
  

    Mrs. Charles Bailey of Austin, Texas, chairwoman of the “Texas Ladies for Lyndon,” pinned a campaign button on local Democratic Chairman James L. Ingalls. Local dignitaries in the back were, from left, J. Ray Cox, John Rasor, Mrs. Montana Ellis, Bill Webster and James W. Ingalls on May 27, 1960.
  

    In 1970, owner Virgil Zabinski pinned a dollar to the ceiling of The Sourdough.
  

    Three mothers delivered twins in Kootenai Medical Center, from left, DeAnn Melius (Kyle and Brett), Beth Schmidt (Cristen and Denise) and Kelley Woodworth (Michelle and Cherie) in May 1990.
  

    Mayor John McHugh, right, shed his tie during a council meeting to embrace summer casual wear. Other officials present were, seated, from left, Councilmen Vern Hippler, Reine Schmidt, Howard Hudson and Don Johnston; and, standing, Councilman Ron Edinger, administrative assistant Bill Williams and Councilman Ivan Hanson in May 1970.
  

    Maintenance director Bryan Martin of the Coeur d’Alene School District holds the Canfield Middle School time capsule, while maintenance worker Kevin Jennings, with a jackhammer, backs away in May 2000.