Residents are invited to take a stroll through time and learn about the early days of medicine in Benewah County.
A group of seven volunteers, at the request of the board of Benewah Community Hospital, put together a display of more than 150 historical photographs to be unveiled at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 27.
The unveiling is being held in conjunction with the Community Health Fair, which is from 7 to 11 a.m.
Judy Bailey, Polly Grasham, Robin Renaldo, Colleen Smith, Debbie Flach and Marie Ross display a few of the pictures to hung in the hallway at Benewah Communtiy Hospital. The women, along withJeannie Johnson, completed a historic exhibit of pictures and stories, which will be unveiled at 9 a.m. Saturday.
The display, entitled “A Walk Through History: Enjoy the Journey,” is located in the hallway that connects the new hospital tower that was completed in 2013 to the main entrance on Eighth Street.
Debbie Flach said when the new facility was built there was a desire to “tie everything together.”
Marie Ross added that a group of individuals approached the hospital board about doing a project on the history of medicine in the county.
“There were people that had not been recognized and at the same time the city was celebrating its centennial,” she said. “The board had a little bit of money to do something and just needed some people to volunteer to do the project.”
Polly Grasham added that there was a feeling the history “was missing.”
The three women, along with Robin Renaldo, Judy Bailey, Colleen Smith and Jeannie Johnson, began to glean information from longtime employees of Benewah Community Hospital, review books written about the area, sought out archived photos, reviewed old issues of the Gazette Record and more.
“The discovery of the history was amazing,” Ms. Flach said.
“Listening to the stories of the employees was wonderful,” Ms. Renaldo said. “They have such adoration for the people who have come before them.”
Ms. Ross said there was “a ton of information” to be reviewed. She added it was fun to hear different stories.
“Not many people will recall that there were clinics up Marble Creek at one time,” she said.
Photographs and information were reproduced on aluminum wall panels to be hung in the hallway.
“They reproduced really nicely,” Ms. Renaldo said.
Relatives of Dr. Barney Rapp and Dr. Larry Kinsolving will have the honor of cutting the ribbon at the unveiling ceremony Saturday. Dr. Rapp worked in medicine in Benewah County for more than 50 years. Dr. Kinsolving, Ms. Renaldo said, was one of the first doctors to work in the area.
After the ribbon cutting ceremony, individuals will be able to take time looking through the many photographs and reading the information the women gathered for the display.
Ms. Grasham said the exhibit will continue to accept new photographs.
“We are anticipating collecting more as more stuff comes in,” she said.
“We know we probably missed some stuff,” Ms. Renaldo added.
Ms. Grasham said information about submitting photographs and information for the display will be available at the unveiling Saturday.
A St. Maries High School graduate was one of only a handful of individuals to be selected for the Nuclear Propulsion Officer Candidate Program (NUPOC).
Nick Cordell was accepted to attend the Naval Nuclear Power School after an extensive interview process, which ended with him interviewing with Admiral John Richardson, the director of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion program.
Following his graduation from St. Maries High School in 2011, Mr. Cordell chose to study at Boise State University where he is currently in his fourth year studying mechanical engineering.
Mr. Cordell had planned to complete a minor in mathematics and then pursue his master’s degree.
“I had planned on going into the aerospace industry,” he said.
However, a conversation with a recruiter at a career fair during his sophomore year changed his plans.
Mr. Cordell said he talked with Navy recruiters about the potential to enter the NUPOC program during his second year at Boise State University.
“They had talked to me about a career working with submarines or on the surface, but I never ended up going with that,” he said. “Then, last winter, I was contacted again by them and they told me about the instructor position and I ended up deciding to go with that.”
To even be looked at for the program, potential candidate must maintain a 3.5 or higher grade point average and scored well on tests.
Mr. Cordell said the process to be selected for the NUPOC program began with an extended version of a basic job application.
“You had to list your previous employment and where you had lived previously for the last five to six years,” he said. “Once all of that paperwork was filled out, then you had to include a letter of intent. Then, a case worker comes by and goes through all of that with you to complete a formal background check.”
Following the background check, Mr. Cordell had to go through the military processing standards.
“They want to make sure you are physically and mentally fit,” he said. “They make sure you are who you say you are.”
From there, Mr. Cordell was interviewed via telephone by a lieutenant from the Naval Reactors, which is the U.S. government office that has responsibility for safe and reliable operation of the United States Navy’s nuclear propulsion program.
Mr. Cordell said during the phone interview he was asked basic calculus questions to show he could apply the knowledge he had learned.
“Then, once you pass that they will sign off and say this guy is ready to go to Washington D.C. to finish the interview process,” Mr. Cordell explained.
Those brought to Washington D.C. were primarily studying a facet of engineering or mathematics. Mr. Cordell was in Washington D.C. Sept. 14 through Sept. 16. All the applicants were interviewed at the Washington D.C. Naval Yard.
As an instructor applicant, Mr. Cordell was required to complete two interviews, which the majority of were technical. Following the two interviews, Mr. Cordell along with 23 others was then sent on to be interviewed by Admiral Richardson.
“Admiral Richardson is in charge of the entire nuclear program,” Mr. Cordell said. “My interview with him was very brief and to the point. It took all of three minutes.”
Shortly after his interview with Admiral Richardson, Mr. Cordell learned he had been accepted into the program. He was sworn into the United States Navy Sept. 16.
Mr. Cordell said the process was very stressful, but he is very excited to be a part of the program. He will graduate from Boise State University next fall. He will not be considered an officer until after he finishes his college degree.
Once he does, he will then be sent to Rhode Island to undergo officer training. Following that he will attend classes at the Naval Nuclear Power School in Goose Creek, South Carolina.
“I will be taking an accelerated version of the course and after about four months I will then begin teaching students math, physics and the mechanics of reactors,” Mr. Cordell said. “I will be teaching there for four years.”
Mr. Cordell said the idea of teaching had never occurred to him until the opportunity presented itself.
“After I learned about the program, it intrigued me,” he said, “and I decided to pursue it.”
Mr. Cordell will receive pay while he is in school and the Navy will pay for the remainder of his time at Boise State University.
Mr. Cordell said he would encourage other college freshmen or sophomores to attend career fairs and to start looking for employment early on,
“I was pretty happy to get this,” he said, “and this is something I had not planned, but I came across it at a career fair.”
Mr. Cordell said he does not know what he will do following his four years of teaching at the Naval Nuclear Power School. He said he does have plans to eventually pursue his master’s degree.
Nick is the son of John and Danette Cordell of St. Maries.
Nothing gets the nostalgia-juices flowing like a Friday night high school football game. Or a Tuesday evening volleyball match. Or a Saturday afternoon spent at the soccer field.
Fall sports are a great way to enjoy the small-town lifestyle and support local students, and we have a ton of options.
Drew Bailey (59), Isaac Walters (44) and Chase Truscott (31) close in on a Kellogg runner during the 2013 season.
Just this week alone, the Lumberjack soccer team plays at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, at home against Timberlake. The St. Maries girls volleyball team will play the Lakeside Knights at home Tuesday, Sept. 23; action begins at 6 p.m. with JV followed by varsity. And the Jacks’ varsity football squad is at home again Friday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m.
A Lakeside player prepares to serve the ball. The Knights hosted the Lumberjacks in a volleyball match recently.
If you’re traveling to the area – or, heck, if you live here and are looking for a fun way to experience St. Maries under the lights or in the gym – plan to attend a high school sporting event. Wear your favorite teams’ colors, grab a snack at the concession stand and cheer for the home team.
Thomas Cook looks to take the ball down the field and keep it safe from the opposing team during a game in St. Maries last week.
The 7th Annual Oktoberfest in Harrison will be from 1 to 7 p.m. Oct. 4 in Harrison City Park and, as in year’s past, participants can expect a a small, lake-town’s twist on a popular event.
Harrison City Park is tucked neatly on the hillside overlooking Lake Coeur d’Alene, and is a prime location for something festive nearly every season. But the annual Oktoberfest celebration might be its finest.
The Harrison Chamber of Commerce 2013 Oktoberfest in the city park was well attended.
Organizers offer something for everyone, creating a family-friendly event. This year’s event boasts a bevy of children’s activities, vendors, food and live music, in addition to theever-popular craft beers.
The event is sponsored annually by the Harrison Chamber of Commerce and takes place rain or shine.
A local Boy Scout completed his Eagle Scout project last week.
AJ Becktel, a senior at St. Maries High School, has participated in Scouts for about 11 years.
Last week he delivered two wooden picnic tables that he and the members of Troop 442 built for Hope’s Haven.
AJ Becktel delivered benches he and his Boy Scout Troop 442 made and donated to Hope’s Haven animal shelter as part of his Eagle Scout project.
Members of the troop, including AJ, had previously spent time volunteering at the local animal shelter operated by the Benewah County Humane Society.
“We had six hours of community service we had to complete for two other ranks,” he said. “I did all my service at the shelter.”
When it came time for him to come up with a community service project as a step toward earning his Eagle Scout, he wanted to do something for the shelter.
“Debbie (the shelter’s manager) was always talking about how it would be nice to have somewhere for her volunteers to sit and take a break and/or eat lunch away from the animals,” AJ said. “So when I asked her about building some picnic tables and she said that it was a wonderful idea.”
AJ began work on the project in July, collecting materials and designing the tables. The lumber was donated by Tom and Brenda Jarvi and the remaining supplies were purchased with money the Scouts earned from cleaning out a storage unit.
The Eagle Scout project is about learning leadership, AJ said.
“The Scout leads the whole project,” he said. “It was weird at first having everybody come to me for directions when were building the tables. It was my job to direct the project and make sure everybody had something to do.”
There are 13 members in the local troop. AJ said he has participated for a number of years because he enjoys all that he gets to do through Scouts, especially the travel.
“We’ve backpacked Alaska, been to Glacier National Park twice, and go on monthly campouts,” he said. “You also learn a lot of interesting stuff.”
After graduating from high school, AJ plans to go on to college to study sports medicine and physical therapy. He can see himself being involved in Scouts at some point during his adult life.
AJ is the son of Kenneth and Michelle Becktel.
