Small details make a big difference

So many kudos for a most epic and memorable Fourth of July in our little corner of America. Perfect weather, an elevated sense of patriotism, family, friends …

My column kudo goes to the managing editor of the Coeur d’Alene Press, Bill Buley. I’ve known and worked with Bill for decades. He doesn’t just have a job at a newspaper, he’s a real-deal newspaperman. I reserve that description for just a handful of people in the Fourth Estate.

Bill is a talented writer, photographer and contributor to the pages of the newspaper, in addition to running the newsroom. I love reading his occasional general interest columns, and was touched by his Father’s Day writing of a side of fatherhood that was honest and illuminating.

But where Bill showed up over the weekend was likely unnoticed by the thousands along the parade route on Saturday. Garbed in red/white/blue, camera and reporter notepad in hand, Bill was on the job. Shooting photos from one end of the parade to the other, taking the time to get names for the cutlines and then producing two pages of community photos for the Sunday edition. He could have assigned a reporter to the task, but nope, he was out there on a national holiday doing what he does so well, connecting to the community he serves.

So here’s to you Bill, as well as to your newsroom, thanks for making our hometown newspaper a local treasure every day of the year.

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‘Tis the season for local parades every Saturday of July. First up is this coming Saturday in Post Falls with the annual Festival Days Parade at 10 a.m. on Seltice Way, traveling east from Frederick Street to Idaho Street. A change this year is the location of the announcer’s stand. It will be across from Les Schwab Tires and yours truly will be doing the honors. Of all the years of my involvement in the Post Falls parade, dating back to the late '80s, the one role I’ve not held before is to announce my hometown parade. What a treat to step into the role in our 250th year of America! See you there.

On Saturday, July 18, is Rathdrum Days parade on Main Street, beginning at 10 a.m. This is such a fun little parade that is quintessential small town America.

On the last Saturday of the month, July 25, head to Hayden for its community parade at 10 a.m. The parade route runs from Hayden Avenue to Honeysuckle on Government Way.

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Happy Main Street Birthdays today to Taryn Post, 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 will enjoy a slice of birthday cake. 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 put on their party hats. Claire Allred, Richard Jurvelin, Jeri Lee, Bill Graves, Scott Mote and Larry Wendt blow out the candles on 7/11. On Sunday, Charity Newman (25!), Cheri Burila, Emily Hodgson, Syafiq Fuller and Jim Welborn take another trip around the sun. Renee Lusby, Ingrid Yates, Mark Daanen, Julia Koontz, Becky Rider, Brooke Hayden, Shirley Jarrell, Lisa Goodwin and Karen Applebee celebrate Monday. July 14 birthdays for Bri Gilge, Dee Barnes, Kathleen Esquibel, John Lasher, 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 a former publisher/editor with the Hagadone Newspaper division. Main Street appears every Wednesday in The Press. Kerri can be reached on Facebook or via email at [email protected].