End of a local radio era

Kerri Thoreson remembers when the lights went out on KVNI-1080 radio because she literally flipped the studio switch off.

On May 10, 2013, the end of her popular interview program with twenty-something “North Idaho Joe” Paisley was unexpected and shocking.

For much of that Black Friday, Kerri had planned a special program for her 61st birthday four days later — a lineup of guests who also were born May 14. Then, she, Joe and others were dumped. The KXLY Broadcasting Group of Spokane had decided to cut morning talk, weather and local news in favor of less-expensive syndicated shows and automated feeds.

“They dropped the bomb on us,” Kerri told Huckleberries.

Kerri wasn’t bitter. She realized that the station owners had made a business decision — one that ripped an irreparable hole in Coeur d’Alene’s fabric. Said Kerri: “What people miss is (KVNI’s) connection to community.”

On Nov. 1, 1946, that relationship began with KVNI’s first broadcast from offices in the old Desert Hotel, under owner Burl Hagadone and the Coeur d’Alene Broadcasting Co. Local news was a high priority from the start. And in 1998 KXLY promised to continue the news emphasis when it bought KVNI-AM and sister station KHTQ-FM from Burl’s grandson, Todd.

Station execs kept their word for more than a decade.

From December 2010 until that fateful day, Kerri had helped provide the local news, community interviews and banters that kept Coeur d’Alene listening. Her first guest ever was “Bubblehead Bob” Hough, a career radio personality who helped introduce rock ‘n roll to the Inland Northwest in the 1950s as part of The Big K, Spokane’s first rock station.

Bob was the gold standard for KVNI news directors. From his corner office at the old KVNI station, First and Lakeside, Bob filled the morning with news, gossip and guest interviews. He called his female fans “Bunny Slipper Mamas.” He roller skated with a mic to cover Fourth of July parades and conduct interviews. He could be goofy. And Lake City loved him.

From about 1990 to 2006, Dick Haugen capably followed Bob as news director and formed a talented team with Mike McLean and Steve Myklebust to announce high school sports and North Idaho College basketball. Not only did fans rely on accurate and fun-filled broadcasts from the sports crew, Kerri said, but the trio “knew how to pronounce the players’ names.”

KVNI fills its air space now with classic hits for boomers who remember its golden past. And Kerri recalls her time at the station as “the most enjoyable employment I ever had.”

Historic Landslide

You may know that Sandi Bloem was the first — and still only — female mayor in Coeur d’Alene’s history and that she’s the only one to serve three terms.

But did you know that Sandi won her first race by a landslide?

On Nov. 6, 2001, she triumphed over nursery owner Steve Badraun by the widest margin in at least 30 years — 3,082 votes to 988. Sandi kept her post-election comment short for Brent Andrews of the Coeur d’Alene Press. “I look forward to the challenge.”

The 2,094-vote difference was the largest since at least 1973, the earliest election available on an electronic database at City Hall. And Councilman Ron Edinger considered the margin of victory important. He said, “I think if a mayor can — or a council member can — go into that office with a high majority, I think they can accomplish a lot more.”

By contrast, previous mayor Steve Judy had scraped by with a 67-vote win over incumbent Al Hassell four years earlier.

During her tenure, Mayor Bloem played key roles in the construction of the Kroc Center, the new library, and McEuen Park. And, as a reward, she almost faced a recall election in 2012.

Voters have short memories — and shorter fuses.

Pioneer Candidate

Irene Green, a former longtime, eighth-grade teacher, didn’t vote for Sandi Bloem in 2001, but she wanted to do so. At 90, Irene was too ill to go to the polls.

“Oh, I’m sure she’s going to win,” Irene told Megan Cooley of The Press.

Fifty years before, Irene headed Coeur d’Alene’s first — and probably only — all-women, municipal election ticket — the Private Enterprise (PEP) Party. Irene and other League of Women Voters members were upset with the city for taking over garbage collection without voter approval. “I’ve always been for private enterprise,” said Irene, a staunch Republican.

Green didn’t face much opposition despite the pioneering campaign — other than not winning. One resident called her “a frustrated housewife” in a letter to the editor. And police officers worried that she might shake up their department. Would she have? “Oh, absolutely,” Irene said. “I can run this department by myself.”

On April 21, 1951, Irene lost to Mayor L.L. Gardner, who headed an all-male Community Welfare Party ticket, 1,562 to 1,139. Most of the voters, according to The Press, voted straight-ticket. Irene was the lowest vote-getter among the women who were identified in The Press with “Mrs.” prefixes and then their husbands’ names.

Huckleberries

• Poet’s Corner: All of that daylight / we saved through the year, / now that we need it / why isn’t it here? — The Bard of Sherman Avenue (“Time Change”).

• Did You Know … that Fred Murphy, the legendary tugboat captain of Lake Coeur d’Alene, was piloting a 90-foot tug on the Pend Oreille River at age 11? He helped his father haul logs for a Dover lumber mill during World War I, according to a 1976 story in The Press. Fred climbed a special platform in the engine room to reach the controls. In 1918, the Murphys moved back to Coeur d’Alene. And the rest is history.

• Right Spot: Critics hooted in 1966 when the new hospital was built “out of town” — on Ironwood Drive. Twenty-five years later, however, almost everyone realized that the location was perfect, with 27 acres for expansion, easy access to two highways, and nearby shopping. In 1991, CEO Joe Morris said the location was key to Kootenai Medical Center’s success. It’s easier to nitpick than to move mountains.

• It’s A Boy: As Christmas 1976 approached, Dave Knoll of Black Sheep discussed top-selling toys with The Press. Disney and Sesame Street characters were big. He couldn’t get Kenner’s popular Six-Million-Dollar Man dolls. Then, there was Baby Brother Tender Love. The anatomically correct doll caused a hubbub elsewhere. But not here in Coeur d’Alene. Dave said no customer had complained about it.

Parting Shot

In the 1990s, one of the best places to go if you were down in the dumps was, well, to the Kootenai County transfer station on Ramsey Road. You were guaranteed a big smile from weigh station attendant Julie Ward. And, if kids were with you, a Dum Dum sucker, too.

Solid waste director Steve Wulf said Julie was the most visible county employee “without a doubt.” By Nov. 1, 1996, 100,000 customers yearly rolled through Julie’s station.

She purchased suckers for the children — about $40 worth per month — with her own money for two reasons. “It’s worth every cent,” she told Keith Erickson of The Press. “I like to see their little eyes sparkle.” Also, she said, the candy kept the tykes safely in their vehicles.

For her efforts, Julie was awarded the quarterly Outstanding Employee Award by Kootenai County. The surprise honor choked up the 11-year county veteran, whose small acts of kindness on the job still inspire us today.

• • •

D.F. (Dave) Oliveria can be contacted at [email protected]

    In November 1971, KVNI general manager Vernon (Tootie) James, left, and program manager Bob Angel enjoyed a pineapple that the station received as a gift during its silver anniversary celebration.
  

    In December 2010, Kerri Thoreson interviewed legendary announcer Bob Hough during her first show as a regular KVNI personality.
  

    In 2001, Sandi Bloem hugged supporter Denny Hague after registering a landslide victory to become Coeur d’Alene’s first female mayor.
  

    In 2001, Irene Green, 90, of Coeur d’Alene, held up the 1951 Press advertisement backing her all-female municipal ticket.
  

    In 1976, Lake Coeur d’Alene legend Fred Murphy told The Press that he started piloting tugboats at age 11 with his father on the Pend Oreille River.
  

    In 1991, nurse Donna Page held infant Travis Armstrong while the boy’s mother, Dawn, looked at baby gifts. The photo was published with a Press story for the silver anniversary of Kootenai Medical Center (Kootenai Health).
  

    In 1996, Julie Ward greeted customers at the Kootenai County transfer station with a smile and (for children) a Dum Dum sucker.
  

    In 2025, Dave Knoll (left) and Brian Knoll displayed the original door from the early years of Black Sheep Sporting Goods. Fifty years before, Dave talked with The Press about popular Christmas toys.