Kerri Thoreson
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Plenty of helping hands in our area
April is Volunteer Appreciation Month, which makes it fitting to shine the light on some of the people who went above and beyond to make the Ignite Hope warming center at Ground Force Manufacturing possible for fou…
Special Olympians are a hardy bunch
On Saturday morning, I joined a handful of spectators on a brisk day at Coeur d'Alene's City Beach to cheer on the Special Olympians who were plunging for a purpose. What fun it was. But then again I wasn't one who…
Life isn't a dress rehearsal
When attending the Post Falls Chamber's Reverse Job Fair last week, where hundreds of high school seniors present themselves and their career goals to the business community, I met one of those seniors and was capt…
Where there's a will there's a way
Ruthie Johnson is the undisputed Grand Dame of the GOP in these parts and every year heads up the ticket sales for the Lincoln Day Dinner. Octogenarian Ruthie broke an ankle a few weeks back and has been confined t…
'Forever Young' singer signs for fans
When the Tri-Cities Americans meet the Spokane Chiefs in the WHL, there's no shortage of action on the ice. But last Friday there was excitement of another kind at the Chiefs' home game. Valerie and Josh Queen, Gar…
Basketball ... and the game of life
It was certainly a basketball-themed week that started off with a great new event ... Minnow Madness, a middle school take-off of Coeur d'Alene's cross-town rivalry between CHS and LCHS, Fight for the Fish. Canfiel…
A good guy calls it a career
Gary Dagastine is sporting the short-timer's glow today, his last day on the job after more than three decades with the Kootenai County Sheriff's Department. Don't look for this retired guy on a porch swing or at t…
And the Oscar goes to ...
According to Oscars.org in describing their membership, "They are the more than 6,000 artists and professionals who bring the magic of the movies to life. They…
A week in the life
Coming in contact with so many incredible, brave, inspirational and giving people in our communities each week is a blessing beyond description. There's Carla Gentry, who a year ago was inspired to create special Q…
It's a busy Valentine's weekend
Just in time for Valentines Day, the Coeur d'Alene Downtown Association is hosting the annual Chocolate Affair on Friday evening. I'll join Marilee Wallace and Susan DuBois in reprising our judging role from last y…
Hayden man played in Super Bowl XXXV
Not many, if any, locals can say of Sunday's Super Bowl game, "Been there, done that, got the ring" but former New York Giants linebacker Ryan Phillips of Hayden can. After a successful college football career and …
Young Olympian heading to D.C.
C.J. Deacon, a 16-year-old Lakeland High School sophomore, is a treat for sure. C.J. is a Special Olympics medalist, with six gold and two bronze medals to his name, in the sport of cross country skiing. He's an ex…
Teachable moments go both directions
Since sharing my thoughts on school spirit in a Facebook post after attending a high school basketball game last Friday night, the storm has swelled. I communicate for a living so I did what I do, put my feelings a…
Full circle: Soldiers welcomed home
As Brigadier General Alan Gayhart of the Idaho Army National Guard observed ... it was a real Norman Rockwell moment at the Armory on Saturday afternoon when the community came out to show their appreciation to the…
Inspiration on the basketball court
Over the holidays we took in the 3-day Coeur d'Alene Inn-vitational basketball tournament at NIC. Some great high school basketball was played by our local boys and girls teams. Kudos to the Post Falls Trojan boys …