Marge Gannon thought she would only serve three years when she was first elected to the St. Maries school board.
When she steps down at the end of June, she will have served for 16 years, which makes her the longest serving trustee according to records.
After 16 years of serving as a trustee on the St. Maries school board Marge Gannon will not seek re-election at the end of her term this year. Mrs. Gannon said she plans to stay involved in the district through other avenues. She said she appreciates the community for giving her the opportunity to spend as many years as she did on the board.
“I didn’t have a clue what I was getting into,” Mrs. Gannon said. “I thought, ‘it’s one meeting a month, how hard can it be?’ I didn’t know at that time that it is not just one meeting a month.”
Mrs. Gannon initially decided to run in 1999 after she was approached by a trustee who would not be seeking the seat for the district in which they both lived.
“I was interested in schools, loved education and my family had really pushed it. I thought I would serve for a few years and I could say I got to do that once and it was a way I had served my community,” she said.
However, the more she learned about her role as a trustee, the more she began to understand the impact she could have on the direction of students’ lives. Her perspective changed and Mrs. Gannon began to pour herself into her work.
“I really had a passion for it,” she said. “I don’t think I’ve been as passionate for a career or foster care as I was for this. The exception is for my children and grandchildren, but I had the most drive for this.”
During her tenure, Mrs. Gannon witnessed several changes. Some of the biggest changes were in curriculum, graduation requirements and new policies on bullying and technology.
“Most of them were good changes,” she said. “We do have to think of teaching in a new way. It was hard for some to accept than others as we didn’t grow up with it. When I first started on the board, computers were used very little, but now they are used for everything.”
One of the most challenging years for Mrs. Gannon during her tenure was in 2008-2009 when the state cut school funding.
“That was one of the saddest things to go through,” she said. “The state pulled back and cut funding for schools and we had to depend more and more on supplemental levies. The financial crisis created mistrust between staff and the board. It was difficult.”
Mrs. Gannon recalled a meeting back in 2009 that lasted until the early hours of the morning.
“We didn’t know if were going to have to let anyone go, we didn’t, but we had to reduce benefits,” she said. “I thought about walking away, but my daughter said to me this is when the school needs you the most.”
Learning to read a school budget and all that it entails is something Mrs. Gannon has come to understand.
“When I started, I thought we have to pay for books and teachers. I didn’t understand what a budget was or all that it entailed. The scope of what needs to be paid was overwhelming, and still is,” she said.
While funding has always been a problem, Mrs. Gannon said it was also challenging at times to work with others. Mrs. Gannon said during the 16 years on the school board she “really learned to listen for the first time” to other points of view.
“You may not agree how you got there, but when you left you were supportive of each other because you were a team like it or not,” she said.
The most difficult issue to deal with as a board member was that of student discipline. She added the board’s response to discipline has changed, which has been positive.
“Rather than discipline, we wanted to find ways to work with a child so we could keep them in the education system, but still let them know there are repercussions,” she said. “We’ve learned in the last six or seven years not to expel unless of course it’s a situation where that is the only option.”
Despite the challenges of disciplining a child, it was rewarding when that child would succeed.
“To be able to hand a student who had come before us with a disciplinary issue a diploma really affected me,” Mrs. Gannon said. “It was probably the most heartwarming thing.”
Throughout her time on the board, Mrs. Gannon said she has worked with “some of the finest people ever.”
“I worked many years with Superintendent Dave Cox and he was my mentor,” she said. “No matter what came at him he always kept his cool. He taught me how to act and not to react. I will be forever grateful for that.”
She added Karen Robinson, board clerk, does a great job for the board and helped her keep a schedule. Mrs. Gannon said Superintendent Joe Kren really helped her understand policy and to write good policies for the district.
Mrs. Gannon said she is confident in the future of the district because of the people behind it. She said those on the board work hard and care for children. She said she is excited to see two individuals interested in her seat, which is up for re-election.
While Mrs. Gannon remains confident in the people behind the St. Maries school district, she is not very optimistic about funding for schools. She said she would like to see education be more of a priority for the state legislature.
“They have to make education important again; it hasn’t been for a number of years. A good educational system is what will keep young people, bring people here and bring in business,” she said. “The state must make it a cornerstone; instead it’s considered an enemy and is torn down by so many.”
Mrs. Gannon said it has been an honor to serve for so many years. She said she plans to stay involved in public education in other ways.
“I am so thankful to the people in this community who believed in me and gave me the opportunity to do this for so many years and to complete it,” she said. “It’s very humbling.”
Karl Wetter, a lifetime resident of Plummer, has published his 10th book.
This one is titled Poems Along the Trail and includes a collection of more than 70 poems Mr. Wetter has penned over his lifetime, with the earliest being from his high school years.
Local writer and historian Karl Wetter published his 10th book. This edition includes more than 70 poems he has authored during his lifetime.
“I’m no poet, but I did write poetry once in a while and I had so many of them that I thought I might as well make a book out of it,” he said.
Mr. Wetter grew up in Plummer the 10th of 11 siblings. He graduated from the University of Idaho in 1954 and served two years in the Army before returning home to work in local school districts while operating a ranch. He has since retired and lives just south of Plummer and maintains a 60-acre tree farm.
During his years Mr. Wetter has written and produced 10 books, most pertaining to the history of the area.
His most recent publication is available at local libraries. Proceeds from the sale of the book go back to the library.
A St. Maries man who was a teacher and coach and volunteered much of his time to his community was honored last weekend.
The late Robert “Marz” Marzulli was inducted into the Idaho State Athletic Hall of Fame at a special banquet Saturday, April 11.
The late Robert “Marz” Marzulli will be honored this weekend when he is inducted into the Idaho Hall of Fame. Mr. Marzulli was a coach, teacher and community volunteer, who gave much of his time to help others.
For those who knew Mr. Marzulli the Hall of Fame honor is long overdue.
“I think it’s a great honor for him. Well deserved,” Jim Asher, a former St. Maries coach, said. “It’s too bad he can’t be a part of it. He didn’t make his name like a lot of huge coaches and players. He made his name in what he gave back to his community.”
Mr. Asher said Mr. Marzulli was one of the first people he met in 1984. He said he and Mr. Marzulli “became fast friends and fishing buddies.”
“He was a gruff, rough old guy, but all the kids, all the people loved him,” Mr. Asher recalled. “He didn’t have any kids, but all of St. Maries were his kids.”
Mr. Marzulli was the vocational education teacher at St. Maries High School from 1970 to 1990. He coached golf, basketball and football. He helped start the Little League and coached for 15 years. He started a youth football program and “Marz’s Mob,” a basketball program for elementary school children. He helped begin the Elk’s Hoop Shoot program as well as the Punt, Pass and Kick program for area children.
“Marz was really Mr. St. Maries,” Mr. Asher said.
Mr. Marzulli coached John Shepherd, a St. Maries businessman, when he played golf in high school. Mr. Shepherd said there were several qualities that made Mr. Marzulli a great coach.
“He got right to the point. There was no beating around the bush,” he said.
Mr. Shepherd said he first met Mr. Marzulli when he was four or five years old. He described Mr. Marzulli as “gruff, but with a tender heart.”
“He did so much for the kids and for the community,” Mr. Shepherd said. “He was always helping with something. Like with the Christmas baskets at the Elks. He was always there to organize and he took initiative and got things done.”
Rob Sather, a 1985 graduate of St. Maries High School who now works for Boeing, said Mr. Marzulli easily coached three generations, possibly four generations, of his own family. Mr. Sather said he knew Mr. Marzulli as long as he could remember.
“I knew him from since I was born. When I started playing basketball for him, my friends were scared to death of him, but I was used to it. It was just the way Marz was,” Mr. Sather said.
Ms. Sather said Mr. Marzulli was a “no nonsense guy.”
“He would tell you exactly what he was thinking, and he a lot of knowledge,” he said. “One thing that was cool is he always had the high school guys, the varsity players who were our heroes, come and help him. I remember when I was in high school I helped the younger kids, too,” he said. “Not all coaches can do that or even try.”
Mr. Sather and Mr. Shepherd recalled enjoying Final Four parties with Mr. Marzulli during college basketball and playing golf with him once they were out of high school.
Mr. Sather said it is “awesome” that Mr. Marzulli is being inducted in the Hall of Fame.
“It’s about time,” Mr. Shepherd said.
“The guy coached every sport at some point,” Mr. Sather said. “I would say if you think about sports from the 50s through the late 80s, early 90s, Marz was always there doing something.”
All three men indicated they planned to attend Saturday’s banquet in Mr. Marzulli’s honor.
A Kootenai High School junior will attend the Washington Journalism and Media Conference at George Mason University this summer in Washington D.C.
Dayna Lamb said she is excited for the opportunity, which will give her a glimpse into the field of journalism.
Dayna Lamb, a junior at Kootenai High School,was selected to participate in a Journalism and Media Conference at George Mason Univeristy in Washington D.C. this summer.
“I really like writing,” she said. “I’ve been published by a few different essay contests I entered. I like all different kinds of writing, and I haven’t had much experience with journalism.”
Dayna said she was given the opportunity to attend the conference due to her 3.8 GPA and test scores on the PSAT.
“The organization board for the journalism conference is connected to collegeboard.org where you and they saw my GPA and writing score on the PSAT and the nominated me to go,” she said. “I had never heard of it before.”
Dayna will attend the conference from July 12 through July 17.
“The really cool thing is top journalists from around the country will be there as guest speakers,” she said.
Media professionals that will attend include Brian Lamb, C-SPAN founder; members of the New York Times staff; The Today Show’s Hoda Kotb; CNN’s Candy Crowley; and Carol Guzy, of The Washington Post.
Dayna will also be able to travel to several sites in the city including the Library of Congress, Smithsonian Museum, National Holocaust Museum and national monuments.
To pay for the trip, Dayna used her college savings; money she earned from summer jobs and 4-H projects. The trip cost $1,950 plus air fare.
“I pretty much used up all of my college savings,” she said. “I did start a Go Fund Me account to try to raise it back.”
Those who want to support Dayna can make a donation at www.gofundme.com/oj1hnc.
Dayna said she has loved writing for as long as she can remember and “I’ve always had an imagination.”
“I was published by poeticpower.com and in the Who’s Who in Writing 2011,” she said.
Dayna does not know what college she will attend, but hopes to have a career in writing when she finishes.
“Even though I haven’t done a lot of it, I like the idea of traveling,” she said. “It’d be fun to be a journalist that goes to vacation destinations and then writes about it. I think this conference will be a good experience for me.”
Dayna is the daughter of Josh and Stacie Lamb.
At least seven area egg hunts have been organized by local groups for the weekend including the largest event, which is in St. Maries.
The St. Maries hunt is under new management this year as the crew at AmericanWest Bank, who has previously helped with the venture, took over the operation after Tami Holdahl stepped down. Ms. Holdahl funded and managed the hunt for the last seven years.
“We have worked on the Easter Egg Hunt with Tami Holdahl and her crew of volunteers for so many years that it broke our hearts to imagine the children not having a hunt to go to in the future,” Aki Hicks said. “It just made sense for us to rise to the challenge when Tami announced that she needed someone to take the lead in organizing the next event.”
This year’s hunt begins at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 4, at the Benewah County Fairgrounds. Children will collect more than 13,000 eggs and other goodies scattered along park.
“We really appreciate all the community support we’ve received so far,” Ms. Hicks said. “The Kiwanis Club donated 300 chocolate bunnies for which Jack’s Pharmacy gave them a price break, and Dr. Ewert donated toothbrushes. Also, June Derry and the late Maggie Pritchett helped fill the eggs.”
Those who wish to participate in the hunt are encouraged to arrive early. Children up through 11 years old may participate. The Easter Bunny will also make an appearance.
Volunteers are needed to help with setup and are encouraged to arrive at 8:30 a.m. Call ahead, (208) 245-4700, so the crew has an idea of how much help they will have.
Cash donations to help with the future of the hunt can be delivered to the bank.
“We are planning on continuing the Easter Egg Hunt for many years to come,” Ms. Hicks said. “Nothing celebrates the joy of the Easter season and the promise of Spring better than the happy voices and smiling faces of the children. They are our future, our hope, and creating special memories for them is important to all of us.”
Other area egg hunts include:
Fernwood
10 a.m. April 4 at UpRiver School
Emida
5 p.m., April 3 at the Emida Community Center, Children through 12 years may participate, organized By the Emida Secret Sisters
Harrison
1 p.m. April 4 at Kootenai schools, Toddlers through fifth grade, organized by community members
Plummer
10 a.m. April 4 at Lakeside Elementary, Ages 0 to 10 years, sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary Post #69 and Lakeside High School National Honor Society
Worley
1 p.m. April 4 at Worley City Park, organized by Worley Fire District
Calder
3 p.m. April 4 – The St. Joe Lodge has its second annual egg hunt. All are welcome.
10 a.m. April 5 – Egg hunt to follow community service at the Calder Gym.
