A local science teacher’s work has reached a national audience.
When St. Maries high school teacher Rusti Kreider started working on a new approach to teaching high school biology, she never imagined it would garner so much attention.
“It is exciting to be this young in my career and be at the forefront of changing science education,” she said.
Rusti Krieder, a science teacher at St. Maries High School, has had an article about her involvement in a new honors biology curriculum and has been invited to speak about the project at the National Science Teachers’ Association conference in March.
Since coming to work in St. Maries three years ago, Ms. Kreider has incorporated hands-on experiences into her biology curriculum. Two years ago she joined other science teachers from northern Idaho and the University of Idaho in the Confluence Project. The project involves building a new curriculum for honors biology using a hands-on approach.
In addition to classroom learning, students participate in four field trips to different water sources in their area and conduct field science work.
The first trip involved working with the Coeur d’Alene Tribe’s wildlife and fisheries department in creek restoration habitat. The second involved a trip to Young Living Farms to investigate water sustainability and irrigation and the next trip involves traveling to Lookout Pass to conduct snow science and water quantity experiments. The curriculum concludes in a water summit where students from around the region will gather at the university to identify water problems and solutions.
“It is an innovative approach to teaching science for the next generation,” Ms. Kreider said. “We are engaging students and showing them how science applies to their world.”
Ms. Kreider submitted an article in April detailing the group’s project to The Science Teacher, the top publication for the National Science Teacher Association. The article appeared in the January 2015 issue. Ms. Kreider and a few other teachers involved in the project were also invited to the national conference to speak about their project.
She credits the new curriculum for the increasing demand for honors biology among students at each of the schools involved in the project.
“One of our teachers has seen her class numbers double,” Ms. Kreider said. “I have also had to make room for two sections of honors biology in St. Maries. Students want to go outside. It is a tougher curriculum but of more interest.”
Ms. Kreider hopes to join two other teachers involved in the project at the conference March 15 in Chicago. But first she must find money to pay for the trip. The St. Maries Association for Education has pledged $100 toward her registration fees. She will need about $1,400 more.
“I wrote a letter to the state department of education and they said they don’t have professional development funding for individual teachers,” Ms. Kreider said. “I also asked John (Cordell, St. Maries High School principal) about funding through the district and he wasn’t very optimistic, but I haven’t spoken to the board. I know funding is tight.”
Ms. Kreider lives in St. Maries with her children, Foxx (4th grade) and Genica (1st grade).
You don’t have to own a snowmobile to help the St. Joe Snow Riders raise money at their annual Breast Cancer Poker Ride.
This year, the club is raffling off a gun. Up for grabs is a Savage AXIS XP .243 pink Muddy Girl rifle with a scope. Tickets are for $5 each or five for $20.
Paula Spooner, who organizes the ride, said tickets are available at the following businesses: the Blue Goose, Idaho Rigging, St. Maries Saw and Cycle, Main Salon, Big River Designs and Get Nailed.
Dale Hill and Claudia Spooner are organizing the St. Joe Snow Riders annual Breast Cancer Run. This year, the club is raffling off a pink rifle. Tickets are available now at area businesses. It is just one way to support the cause even if you don’t own a snowmobile.
“People can also call me at 245-4070 if they want tickets,” Ms. Spooner said.
As always, the club will sell sponsorships of pink ribbons that will include the sponsor’s name. Ribbons can also be purchased in memory of someone who has had breast cancer. The laminated signs are placed along the trail and cost $25, Ms. Spooner said.
“The gun raffle is new for the club,” Ms. Spooner said. “Another new thing we are doing is we have also planned a game at one of the stops for $1.”
The gun will be drawn the day of the ride. This year’s event is Feb. 8. Registration is from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Big Eddy.
Hands cost $5 and prizes are awarded for high, middle and low. All hands must be returned to the Calder Store by 5 p.m. There are a total of five checkpoints along the ride with three on the mountain.
More than $16,000 has been raised in the last six years, Ms. Spooner said, and 90 individuals from Benewah County and the Calder, Avery and Clarkia area have benefitted from the money the event has raised.
“The money provides those with breast cancer with prescription vouchers, gas vouchers and nutritional foods vouchers,” Ms. Spooner said.
Apparel is also available. Long-sleeve shirts cost $20, T-shirts are $15, crew sweaters are $25 and hoodies cost $35.
“Mary Skinner at Big River Designs is doing the shirts for us and if you want something else she is pretty versatile,” Ms. Spooner said.
Two days before Tony and Kelli Spooner were to leave for Africa to pick up their two adopted children, they received a phone call telling them not to come.
It was the news that adoptive parents know they could hear as they work their way through the adoption process, but the Spooners were still stunned. The adoption of their two children from the Democratic Republic of Congo — five-year-old Dimercia and Felly, who will turn four in March — was complete.
The adoption agency called to explain that the General Direction of Migration (DGM), a division of the Congolese government that oversees the final step of the adoption process, had decided to no longer issue exit permits to any adopted children.
The exit permits are the last step in a long list of requirements to adopt from the DRC and is the final piece of paperwork necessary to allow children to leave. Without the permits, the children must remain in the country, regardless of their adoptive status.
Kelli and Tony Spooner have traveled to the Democratic Republic of Congo twice. Here they are with their adoptive children, Felly, left, and Dimercia, right, in July 2013. Although complete, the adoption has been stalled because of the Congolese government’s refusal to grant exit letters, a final piece of paperwork that allows the children to leave their country.
Which is where Dimercia and Felly have been since the decision was made by the Congolese government 15 months ago, even though the two are — in all other respects — officially the Spooners’ children.
“Our adoption is finalized,” Mrs. Spooner explained. “What they are doing is not legal. They are not supposed to be holding them …
… They are our kids.”
Despite the hardships that the Spooners have endured throughout the past two years, the couple has remained positive and has even been able to travel to the country twice to spend time with the children.
The first trip was in July 2013, shortly before the suspension. The Spooners traveled to the DRC to file paperwork in person in an effort to expedite the process. The details of their original adoption had just changed significantly: The Spooners were originally set to adopt a different boy, Paul, but his grandfather claimed his parental rights.
Felly was then referred to them almost immediately.
The Spooner’s second visit to the DRC came last spring, and both visits proved to be a bonding experience for the family.
“We spent a lot of time swimming with them, cooking for them, eating with them,” Mrs. Spooner said. “Just doing the typical things that I don’t think they get a lot of. We had so much fun going to the store with them, ordering pizza, just everyday things like a family.”
They aren’t planning another trip anytime soon but see and talk to their children via Skype weekly. Although the Spooners miss Dimercia and Felly terribly, their hearts are with all of the children impacted by the suspension.
“If they don’t ever come home, our lives are the same. We have our families, our traditions and our daily lives,” Mrs. Spooner said. “These kids have nothing. In all reality, the only people who have suffered are the children. Our daughter is learning our language. Our son is learning to color. And they don’t have anyone to celebrate that with.”
On hold, indefinitely
The DGM claims that the suspension of exit visas will be lifted once new adoption laws are written but give no indication when that might occur. According to the U.S. State Department, the DGM is convinced that no adoptions are free of fraud. This means that any families who were in the process of adopting from that country now must wait indefinitely for exit permits.
Mrs. Spooner is hopeful that the DGM’s intentions are indeed to help the children by enacting new adoption laws that will provide protection and help adoptive parents. But she is skeptical.
“The president’s term is up, but he is challenging the term limits,” she explained. “And the United States is not in support of that.”
Last year, the U.S. pledged millions of dollars in aid to help ensure credible elections in the 2016 primary after speculation mounted that DRC President Joseph Kabila looked to extend his presidency beyond constitutional limits by seeking a third term.
Dimercia and Felly stay in a foster home, and even though the home is managed by a foster family, it is regulated by the Congolese government. Although neither the adoption agency nor the government has requested more money from the Spooners, Kelli and Tony pay $1,000 a month for their children’s care, housing and education. Twenty other children whose adoptions are also stalled are housed in the same foster home.
Regardless of the motivation, the suspension has hurt the Congolese children. As late as last summer, the DGM refused to consider exit permits even for humanitarian consideration. This staunch stance against lifting the ban ultimately resulted in deaths.
“There have been at least 10 kids who have died, medically fragile kids that they have refused to let leave,” Mrs. Spooner said.
‘Our desire to fight has not changed’
The Spooners remain undeterred. They continue to renew the children’s visas every six months, in an effort to be prepared in case the suspension is lifted.
“Our lives have been on hold – and rightfully so – but now it’s time for us to live our lives. We’re waiting for them and praying for them,” Mrs. Spooner said. “Our desire to fight for them has not changed, but we have to let go of that little bit of hope that they will come home anytime soon.”
She explained that the worst thing that could happen would be for the Congolese government to close its doors and not permit the adopted children to ever leave, but Mrs. Spooner doesn’t see that happening. She said that the U.S. State Department provides support to her and other other adoptive families through updates and meetings with DRC leaders.
But mostly the Spooners have hope, hope that they have been provided by the St. Maries community through financial help and genuine concern.
“We don’t know how, but we are ok,” Mrs. Spooner said. “Even with all we’ve been through, we will never eliminate adoption as an option because of what we’ve experienced from this community.”
Free meals will be offered in the communities of Emida and Fernwood beginning next month.
The idea emerged from a men’s Bible study group, Jon Swanson said. He said Pastor Brian Primer, of the Fernwood Community Bible Church, allowed him to conduct a study on Revelation and one of the things the group discussed was famines.
“We wanted to figure out a way we could serve the community,” he said. “The scriptures talk about famines and the projection is they could be right around the corner. So we were asking how can we put something in place to serve our community now and at the same time provide food storage to further serve when it gets more difficult.”
Jon Swanson invites members of the UpRiver community to a kickoff event next month. He and others are orgnaizing to provide free meals in Fernwood and Emida once a month on a trial basis. If it goes well, the hope is to offer meals weekly.
Mr. Swanson said the group recognized the lower income families living in the UpRiver area who may struggle to put food on the table.
The late Pastor Parker McNeill asked the group to consider doing a meal in Emida as well as Fernwood, Mr. Swanson said.
“The goal is to help those in the community who may have financial limitations and it may be difficult for those from Emida to commute to Fernwood. He said it would be well received if we did it in Emida as well,” Mr. Swanson said.
Mr. Swanson said the effort is a result of the Christian community rallying to do something to serve the UpRiver area.
“It’s not necessarily the Fernwood Community Bible Church or the Emida Community Church,” he said. “This is the whole Christian community in the area coming together, united in the effort to do something for the communities.”
Meals will be offered monthly in both Emida and Fernwood on a trial basis. A kickoff event is planned from 5:45 to 8:15 p.m. Feb. 10 at the CAF Building in Fernwood.
“We will explain the new free food service we are bringing for our UpRiver communities of Fernwood, Santa and Emida,” Mr. Swanson said.
Lasagna will be served during the kickoff event. In addition, the movie, “When the Game Stands Tall” will be shown. Transportation from Emida to Fernwood will be provided for the kickoff event. A bus will depart from Emida at 5:30 p.m. and return at 8:30 p.m.
The kickoff meal, as well as all of the others, is free. Mr. Swanson said a donor has stepped forward to make the trial run possible.
After the kickoff event, meals will be served beginning at 6 p.m. the first Tuesday of the month at the Fernwood Community Bible Church and the first Thursday of the month at the Emida Community Center March through May. The first dates for the meals in March are March 3 in Fernwood and March 5 in Emida. Transportation will not be provided following the kickoff event as the meal will be offered in the two different locations.
Mr. Swanson said there will be no special needs provisions such as gluten free options during the trial run. If all goes well, and meals continue to be offered, special provisions will be made available.
If the meals are well received the goal is to bring them to the communities on a weekly basis. While one donor has already covered costs with the trial run, others who are able are invited to support the effort by making a donation or volunteering their time to serve food.
“It took us some time to get things rolling, but we wanted to do it right,” Mr. Swanson said. “It’s finally come together and we’re very excited about it. This mission further opens doors to reach our area for Christ Jesus. We consider it a missions door unto God’s glory and praise.”
For those who would like more information, call Mr. Swanson at (503) 255-6219, email him at jonswanson@msn.com or write him at P.O. Box 186, Santa, 83866. Fliers are also being mailed out to postal customers in the UpRiver area.
The first baby born at Benewah Community Hospital each new year receives a plethora of gifts from the staff.
When Melissa Rettstatt’s doctor told her about the tradition, she jokingly said, “Well, I’ll see you on the first then.”
Little did she know she would actually be going into labor that same day.
Josh and Melissa Rettstatt are the parents of Holden Ridge, who was the first baby born at Benewah Community Hospital this year (2015). The couple received several gifts that were purchased by the hospital staff.
Mrs. Rettstatt gave birth to her son, Holden Ridge, at 8:26 p.m. Jan. 1, 2015. Holden was originally due on Jan. 9. Mrs. Rettstatt’s husband, Josh, said had his son arrived later he may not have been the first baby of 2015 as they knew another baby was also due to arrive soon.
Holden weighed 7 pounds, 10 ounces when he was born and measured 20.5 inches long. He is the youngest of eight children.
Mr. Rettstatt said he and his wife waited until Holden was born to find out the gender.
“We both had a feeling it was a boy though,” he said.
It was the first time the couple would have trouble agreeing on a name.
“It took us forever,” Mr. Rettstatt said.
Mr. and Mrs. Rettstatt knew they would be receiving gifts, but they both said they had no idea that they would be given so much.
“It was a lot,” Mrs. Rettstatt said.
“If you were a new mom, and you hadn’t bought anything, you wouldn’t have to,” Mr. Rettstatt said.
The couple received bottles, blankets, baby wipes, diapers, clothing, baby monitor, a playpen, toys and more.
“The staff was wonderful,” Mrs. Rettstatt said. “And they were so excited to give us the gifts and so excited to see us receive them. Everyone at the hospital was just fantastic. We are just so appreciative to everyone at the hospital.”
Mrs. Rettstatt said giving birth at Benewah Community Hospital was one of her best experiences to date. She and her husband also thanked the local businesses and organizations who contributed to the gifts they received.
Mr. Rettstatt drives truck for Jack Buell Trucking and Mrs. Rettstatt works for the Benewah County Sheriff’s Office.
Holden joins siblings Tatum, 12, Kobe, 11, Gracie, 10, Emily, 9, Brodie, 8, Joel, 6 and Landry, 2.
Paternal grandparents are Phil and Teresa Rettstatt of Athol. Maternal grandparents are Jay and Cheri Currier of Tekoa, Wash.
