Post Falls Rotary dedicates crosswalks to honor Mark Jones, others

POST FALLS — For a guy with a fairly common name, Mark Jones was an uncommon guy.

He believed in the kids who fall through the cracks of society, the ones with difficult home lives who often find their way to juvenile detention.

In his role managing the Post Falls School District's Alternative to Suspension Program, Jones led students to give back to their community through work at the Post Falls Community Garden. He guided them in building friendships with local seniors through the Meals on Wheels program. He led the charge for students to Stuff the Bus with food items each year to support the Third Avenue Marketplace food bank.

Jones died June 15, just before his 56th birthday. But the work he did for the students and his community won't be forgotten.

“He was a special guy,” said Mel Larson, a program coordinator with 3rd Avenue Marketplace. "He was in my area quite often, just a big smile on his face and always doing good stuff for the kids. Always put the kids first. I miss him a lot.”

Representatives of Post Falls Rotary, the Post Falls School District and 3rd Avenue Marketplace gathered with Jones' family Tuesday afternoon on the north side of New Vision Alternative High School where a sign has been installed at the flashing crosswalk: "In memory of Mark Jones, whose kindness, wisdom and dedication shaped the lives of countless students. Your lessons will forever echo in our hearts and halls."

"We are here in memory of Mark Jones," Post Falls Rotary President Amy Boni said. "He did a lot for our community, for the food bank, for Rotary, for the school district. We just want to thank the family for coming."

“We’re absolutely honored,” said Jones' stepdaughter, Resa Berger Tucker.

“Thank you guys for facilitating this and for honoring Mark’s legacy," she said. "I know he would be telling us all to stop. But thank you very much.”

The crosswalk that bears the sign also honors the exceptional service of Rotarian Jerry Sinn, for whom the crosswalk was dedicated in February 2024.

A separate crosswalk at Stagecoach Drive and Poleline Avenue has also been dedicated to Jones. The full crosswalk and lighting infrastructure will soon be installed by the city.

Former Press reporter Brian Walker, who worked closely with Jones in the past, said Jones was a prime example of how to show students they can make a difference in their community.

"Those seeds will undoubtedly grow over the course of their individual lives," Walker said. "When anyone ever tried to give him credit, he'd quickly turn the spotlight on the students and away from him."

One more crosswalk dedication to honor Post Falls Rotary's founders took place at Poleline and Compton Street. This year celebrates the 30th anniversary of when Post Falls Rotary was founded by Tom Malzahn, Mara’d Sjostrom, Richard Harris, Sandra Hall, Stephen Flerchinger, Freeman Duncan, Barry Still and Walt McClain, who had perfect club attendance for 24 years.

The crosswalk installations and commemorations were made possible by a Rotary District Grant of nearly $15,000.

“We work with the school district and the city of Post Falls to identify areas that are more dangerous than others," Post Falls Rotary President-elect Christina Petit said.

Seven Post Falls intersections in need of flashing crosswalks were in the initial grant plans.

“These are actually our final two,” Petit said. “We’ve gotten a new list and we will be writing a grant for more that have been identified since that first group of crosswalks.” 

Rotary member and Post Falls Community Development Director Bob Seale said it's important to provide safer routes to the nearby schools, provide for better pedestrian connectivity and to draw more attention to pedestrians as they cross some of Post Falls' busier streets.

“And it’s great to have so many different agencies and groups engaged in the same goal and mission," he said.

    A newly installed crosswalk at Compton Street and Poleline Avenue has been dedicated to the founding members of the Post Falls Rotary Club, which was formed 30 years ago. From left: Bob Seale, Amy Boni, Chris Schneider, Christina Petit, Kay Viebrock, Pam Houser, Tom Malzahn, Chad Rittenour, Robert Palus, April Fortier and Christi Fleischman.
  

    A crosswalk at Stagecoach Drive and Poleline Avenue in Post Falls has been dedicated by Post Falls Rotary to the late Mark Jones, who dedicated much of his life to his work with students and other aspects of his community. Jones died in 2024 at age 55.