They both admit it’s not their preferred sport, but say it is the one they’ve worked at the most.
And it shows.
St. Maries wrestler Josh Richmond, a senior, earned his 100th win during a home match Dec. 9. And Isaac Walters, also a senior, is set to do the same later this season.
Josh Richmond, left, earned his 100th win of his varsity wrestling career. Fellow Lumberjack Isaac Walters is on track to acheive the feat later this season.
“I don’t know that it was ever a goal,” Josh said of the milestone. “It was a good feeling though. It showed me that all the hard work I’ve put into the sport paid off and I have something to show for it.”
Isaac has yet to reach the milestone, but is on track to do so.
“I need about 21 more wins,” he said. “I should have 35 to 40 more matches this season.”
He added while it has not been a major goal, it has been on his mind. Isaac said he grew up looking at a plaque that listed the names of varsity wrestlers who had reached 100 wins during their career.
“So I’ve been thinking about it and making sure I was on track for it,” Isaac said.
Coach Mike Walters says both Isaac and Josh have the work ethic and determination to meet their goals as do other wrestlers on the team.
“They have set their goals high,” Coach Walters said.
He said it is quite an accomplishment for Josh to earn 100 wins during his varsity career as it is something few wrestlers accomplish. Coach Walters said he is also looking forward to his son achieving the same milestone.
“It doesn’t happen often,” Coach Walters said. “The last time it happened was a couple of years ago when Joe Bloomsburg got it. We’re lucky to have the two boys on track for it this year.”
Both boys started wrestling when they were young. Josh started when he was in first grade and Isaac when he was four years old.
“I remember not having any clue what was going on,” Josh said of when he first got started in the sport. “But I just went out there and tried to do what the coaches were telling me. It was always fun.”
“I remember I didn’t win a single match all season my first year,” Isaac said. “But I loved it. I would always have a big smile on my face even when I was losing.”
Both boys wrestled in middle school and all four years in high school. They have had several accomplishments.
Both have qualified for the state wrestling tournament. Isaac has qualified twice during his high school career, placing sixth last year. He was also named most outstanding wrestler at the George Wilde Memorial Tournament last year.
Josh has qualified three times for state, placing fifth and third. He added he’s proud of the fact he has not lost a match at a home dual or tri-match. Both he and Isaac say the state tournament is one of the hardest tests of the season.
“It’s not a tournament you can just walk through,” Josh said.
“You can’t let the pressure get to you while you’re competing,” Isaac said.
The two boys are serving their second year as captains of the Lumberjack squad and say it is something they enjoy.
“I like being able to have the young kids look up to me and to be a good role model for them,” Isaac said.
“One thing I like about it is pretty much knowing that our teammates can come to us with problems and we have the power to help them,” Josh said.
The two seniors say being involved in other sports have contributed to their success in wrestling as well as wrestling during the spring. Isaac has played baseball, his favorite sport, and football during his high school career and Josh has played football, his favorite, for four years.
Both are determined to qualify for this year’s state wrestling tournament and to perform well. They are hoping to qualify individually and would like to bring home a state championship title as a team.
Josh is the son of Wendy Richmond. Isaac is the son of Coach Walters and his wife, Shawn.
The deadline for the Elks Christmas Baskets was Monday.
However, Sara Darden, chairman for the annual effort, said those who still need a basket may call to request one. As of Monday, Ms. Darden said she had received 189 applications and would be able to take a few more names.
“I definitely have enough food for a few more baskets,” she said. “One of the reasons I do the deadline a week early is so I’m able to try to get more toys if I need them.”
Sara Darden, chairman for the Elks Christmas Baskets, says this year’s effort has gone smoothly thanks to the help of the community. Members of the public are invited to help assemble baskets and wrap presents Saturday.
Community members are invited to help the Elks assemble the baskets at 9 a.m. Saturday.
“I’d like to get all the work done in one day,” Ms. Darden said. “That is how it usually works. That way we don’t have to do any work on Sunday.”
Ms. Darden said she will need the most help from the community Saturday.
“On Friday, kids from the high school will come and unload all the food for me and build the boxes. People will be at the Elks Lodge before 9 a.m. on Saturday to set up the tables and boxes,” she said.
Volunteers are needed Saturday to put food in the boxes and to wrap and organize presents.
“It doesn’t sound like a lot of work, but it actually is,” Ms. Darden said.
Ms. Darden said once boxes are assembled she will label them and count them. She said no help is needed to distribute or deliver boxes Monday.
“I have people who do it every year that I rely on,” she said. “We also get repeat volunteers Saturday as well.”
She said the amount of support received so far for the effort this year has been outstanding.
“Not only have we received generous monetary donations, but we have received toys and stuff animals. It’s just been awesome,” Ms. Darden said. “We just have to get everything put together now.”
She said one exciting thing is Peet Shoe Dryer donated boxes for this year’s effort and will do the same for next year’s effort. Ms. Darden said that means she doesn’t have to worry about gathering boxes or using donations to purchase them if needed.
The effort has been ongoing for more than 25 years, she added. This was Ms. Darden’s first year leading the effort. She took over following her mother, Adie Darden, who headed the effort for many years.
“She has helped me this year too,” Ms. Darden said. “But I have also done quite a bit on my own. I really love doing it.”
She said the purpose of the Elks Christmas Baskets is to help those in need this Christmas season.
“It’s just to help those who can’t afford their own Christmas. Times are tough during this part of the year; people come up short and so we just want to try and help people out,” Ms. Darden said.
If a family or individual is still in need of a basket, call the Elks Lodge at 245-1418.
More than 300 pairs of pajamas have been sewn for area children.
Pat Davenport, of Grammies Jammies, said she only has 13 more pairs to finish before the pajamas are sorted and then distributed with the Elks Christmas Baskets.
This was the third year for the effort, Ms. Davenport said.
Pat Davenport, of Grammies Jammies, says the group has sewn more than 300 pairs of pajamas once again for area children. The pajamas will be distributed with the Elks Christmas Baskets.
“It went smoother this year than it had in years past because we knew what we were doing. We actually had 90 percent of the pajamas finished by July. The gals really outdid themselves last winter,” she said. “Lots of hands make light work for everyone.”
Those who helped Ms. Davenport with the effort this year were Cyndie Welch, Dorla Spicer, Carol Werner, Ellen Hinton, Wanda Wemhoff, Betty Jo Nichols, Christa Buell, Linda Baar and Carol Sherrard.
“I could never do this without them,” Ms. Davenport said.
The community is invited to help sort the pajamas at a pajama party at 4:30 p.m. Dec. 16 at the Federal Building basement conference room.
“It only takes around 30 minutes to sort the pajamas when we have help,” Ms. Davenport said.
Ms. Davenport said the effort to sew pajamas for next year is already underway. She said all the work is done at home by individuals who volunteer their time and experience. She added there is a need for people to stitch.
“We always try to break up the work,” Ms. Davenport said.
She added she is very happy with how the group has been able to sew more than 300 pair of pajamas since she organized the group three years ago.
“I hope it will continue,” she said. “The need is still there and so far the enthusiasm of the stitchers is still there.”
Those who are interested in helping sort pajamas, would like to donate or be involved in next year’s effort, or have additional questions can contact Mrs. Davenport at 245-2868 or 582-3530.
It’s a holiday tradition filled with sentiment.
The Hospice Tree of Memories is up at the Benewah County Courthouse, and ribbons can be purchased at the auditor’s office or at Hospice. The tree is decorated with the names of loved ones who have died and a memorial service is held each December; this year’s ceremony is Dec. 19.
Charlotte Applegate, Ginny Gaines, Connie Hanley and Jeanne Johnson put up the Benewah County Hospice Tree of Memories in the Courthouse each year.
The snow hit at the perfect time.
As we plan to kick off the holiday season with Christmas in St. Maries and Harrison’s Winterfest celebrations Saturday, the BetterCARE Christmas gala Sunday and the Church of the Nazarene’s community Christmas dinner Monday, the snow our area received overnight serves as the perfect backdrop to the season’s opening events.
And it all starts Saturday in St. Maries.
The annual Christmas in St. Maries event is from 1 to 5 p.m. and includes the Stroll on Main, wagon rides, pictures with Santa, craft fairs, a business decorating contest, fire pits and the lighted Christmas parade.
Sue Shoemaker invites everyone to celebrate the start of the Christmas season Saturday with the annual Christmas in St. Maries celebration. There will be activities all day long for individuals to enjoy.
If you’re in our area and just a bit northwest, head over to Harrison for their Winterfest celebration. Events begin with hot cocoa, cider and Christmas treats at 5:30 p.m. in city park. The tree lighting ceremony begins at 6 p.m. where small gifts will be distributed. Hayrides, live music, caroling, shopping and children’s crafts will follow.
Colton And Kimmy Galle and Teri and Rusty Riberich in front of the tree in the gazebo at city park. These four headed up decorating and organizing for the annual Harrison Winterfest celebration Saturday.
The BetterCARE Christmas Gala follows Sunday, and this year’s theme is an old fashioned Christmas. The eighth annual event will be from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Church of the Nazarene. Tickets are still available, cost $25 and include a buffet dinner and a chance to win a decorated Christmas tree, valued at more than $400. BetterCARE is the fundraising arm of Benewah Community Hospital, and since its inception in 1987, has raised more than $365,000 for the hospital.
Each hospital department has made a basket to be raffled off at BetterCARE’s annual Christmas Gala. The volunteer group at the hospital and the admitting department which includes Debbie Flach, Patti Wheeler, Sam Nelson, Gayle Larson, Inga McCarter and Justine Juarex put the pictured basket together. Others who worked on it but are not pictured were Connie McCalman and Margaret Ann Brookhart. The Gala is Sunday.
And on Monday a group of volunteers hopes to feed a community – for free.
Last year 42 pounds of stuffing, 115 turkeys and 70 pies fed 501 people at the St. Maries Church of the Nazarene’s Community Christmas Dinner. This year’s meal will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Dec. 8 at the Eagles Lodge in St. Maries. The first dinner was served in 1991, and it has been an annual event ever since.
Some of those who have helped for many years with the St. Maries Church of the Nazarene’s Community Christmas Dinner are Lynne Marquardt, Connie Mueller, Don Mueller, Rita Mueller, Martha Gunther, Edgar Marquardt and Bert Miller. The annual dinner, which is free, is Monday, Dec. 8.
The annual Christmas in St. Maries celebration returns Dec. 6.
The event is from 1 to 5 p.m. and will include a scavenger hunt, a Christmas costume contest, the lighting of an area tree, a Stroll on Main, wagon rides, pictures with Santa, craft fairs, a business decorating contest, fire pits and the lighted Christmas parade.
Shirley Ackerman, Sue Shoemaker and Betsy Porter stand with the new lights and decorations the St. Maries Chamber of Commerce will be using to “light up” St. Maries for the Christmas season.
The event is organized by the St. Maries Chamber of Commerce. Those who would like to get involved and help with the effort are invited to attend the organizational meetings every Friday at noon at the Pizza Factory.
Apparel is also available. Hoodies cost $32 and crew sweatshirts are $20. Orders should be placed ahead of the event as only a few items will be available at the Chamber table the day of the event. Some items are available now. Call 245-3563 or 596-1103 to order.
Donations are still being accepted at city hall to help pay for the new decorations that have been put up around town.
Having joined the St. Maries Kiwanis Club only four years ago, Linda Baar never thought she would be named Kiwanian of the Year anytime soon.
“It’s an award that has been given to a longer term member. One that went to all the functions,” Ms. Baar said.
So it was a total surprise for her when she received the award last week.
Linda Baar was named Kiwanian of the Year. Ms. Baar has been a member of the club for the past four years.
“I was not expecting it,” she said. “I was kind of dumbfounded. But it was a nice surprise.”
Ms. Baar said she first went to a Kiwanis meeting to pitch the idea of saving box tops and labels for education.
“I just wanted to ask them to save their box tops and labels because schools can earn up to $20,000 a year to do whatever they want with,” she said. “And I was the one putting the pink boxes out around town.”
The meeting she attended caught her attention, however.
“It was very informal and I liked the people. They sounded like a fun group,” she said. “So I asked if I could join before I left.”
Ms. Baar said during her first year in the club she helped wherever she could. She said the first event she helped with was the Benewah County Fair.
“I suggested they could have a table at the fair and I could sit at it sell tickets for our pig raffle,” she said. “We did well with it and so then we had a table at Paul Bunyan Days.”
Since then, Ms. Baar is often the one behind the table selling tickets for the pig raffle at the two events. She said it is one of the main reasons she was selected for the Kiwanian of the Year award.
“I’m one of the main people who will sit for seven days straight to sell tickets at the fair and then again at Paul Bunyan Days.”
Ms. Baar said she also is the communications officer for the club.
“Whenever there is something that everybody needs to know I will make the phone calls,” she said.
She also served as the treasurer for the club last year and was reelected to serve for the coming year.
Ms. Baar said she has also helped at various events where the Kiwanis cooked meals. She said the club has “quite a following” when it comes to the meals they prepare.
“We have regulars who will come eat with us wherever we are,” she said.
Ms. Baar said after she retired, the Kiwanis Club provided an outlet for her to continue to socialize and meet other people in the community.
“I retired from the post office where I worked the front counter,” she said. “I got used to talking and visiting with people. This allows me to continue to do that.”
She added everyone in the Kiwanis Club has “their own niche, but we always work together to get things done.”
Ms. Baar said her favorite part about being involved with the club was being able to reach out and help those in the community in need.
“All of our money that we send out stays here in the local community,” she said. “If you want an organization that really tries to do good service in their community, enjoys what they do, and has a good time doing it, this is it.”
Projects the Kiwanis supported this past year include providing wood to seniors, St. Joe River Marathon, highway litter pickup, visiting the residents at Valley Vista and organizing parties for them, donating chocolate for the local Easter egg hunt, 4-H, school supplies, swim passes for low income families and swim lessons, Grammies Jammies, CASA, and helped fire victims to name just a few.
“This is a great, great bunch of people,” Ms. Baar said.
The Kiwanis Club meets at noon every Thursday at Benewah Community Hospital’s conference room. On the third Thursday of the month, meetings are at the St. Maries Fire Station.
Anyone who is interested in joining the club is welcome to attend.
Applications are now available for the Toys for Tots program.
They are available at the St. Maries City Police Department, St. Maries City Hall or the Department of Motor Vehicle Office. Applications will need to be returned by noon Dec. 12.
This is the seventh consecutive year Renee Duke will coordinate the local effort for Toys for Tots. The St. Maries City Police Department sponsors the local effort in conjunction with the U.S. Marine Corp. Reserve.
Celia Sibert and Renee Duke are gearing up the annual Toys for Tots effort. Applications are now available at the St. Maries Police Department, St. Maries City Hall and the Department for Motor Vehicle Services.
“We provide gifts for children in Benewah County who are 12 years and younger,” Ms. Duke said. “We provided gifts to 140 children last year.”
Ms. Duke said the goal of the effort is to provide children with a new toy for Christmas. Staci Schiermeister added, “everyone comes together to help out.”
Those who want to donate a toy may do so by dropping items in a donation box at one of the following businesses: Jack’s Pharmacy, Harvest Foods, Country Fair, Tri Peaks, AmericanWest Bank, Suntan Etc., The Paperhouse, St. Maries City Hall and Hughes Ace Hardware.
“Toys should be new and they should not be gift wrapped,” Ms. Duke said.
Ms. Duke receives help from Lt. Robert Loe, Chief Margaret Lehmbecker, Petey Slegel, Celia Sibert, Kriss Gibson, Staci Schiermeister, Sandi Auer, Boy Scout Troop 442 and leader Tom Jarvi. City police officers and county deputies help out by delivering toys to those who cannot pick them up.
Coordinating the effort has been worth it, Ms. Duke said, because it is supported by the community each year.
“I can’t thank everyone enough. I just appreciate them so much,” she added.
For more information on Toys for Tots call 245-2577 or 245-5102.
Area children are invited to try their hand at the annual Elks Hoop Shoot.
This year’s free event is from 1 to 4 p.m. Nov. 23 at St. Maries High School gymnasium. The contest is for ages 8 to 13.
Eligibility to participate is determined by the age the child will be on April 1, 2015. If the contestant will be age seven on April 1, he or she is too young too participate. If the contestant will be age 14 on April 1, he or she is too old to participate.
Local children are invited to participate in the Elks Hoop Shoot Nov. 23 so they should start practicing now. Pictured here are organizers Jim McCuaig and Bryan Chase and some local basketball players including Trista Janssen, Chandra Renner, Sami Badgett, Gracie Barden, Ashlyn Buell and Hope Aasgard.
“The children that want to participate will need to bring proof of their age to register,” said Jim McCuaig of the Elks. “This can be in the form of a birth certificate or whatever.”
Each competitor will have 25 shots. The individual who makes the most shots of 25 will be the winner of their age group. There are three age groups.
“The winner will then have the chance to compete at the regional level in Lewiston in January and then if they do well they can go on to compete at the state level in February in Blackfoot,” Mr. McCuaig said. “Then there is also a national competition.”
Mr. McCuaig said it is a fun experience for the children that do compete.
“Those who have participated before have gotten quite a kick out of it,” he said.
Bryan Chase is heading up the effort this year, Mr. McCuaig said, with the help of Dwaine Sieler and the support of the Elks Lodge and local basketball teams.
For more information, visit www.elks.org/hoopshoot.
After three months working as the acting head administrator of Benewah Community Hospital, the board made it official.
“Jim Broyles proved himself capable and talented in his position during the last three months,” Mike LaPlante, the hospital board chair, said. “He had to make some difficult decisions and has handled some tough situations well. Additionally he has brought unity and harmony to the facility, and we are optimistic for the future. We expect good things from him.”
Mr. Broyles accepted the full-time position as the hospital’s CEO last week.
Jim Broyles (white jacket) accepted the CEO position at Benewah County Hospital last week. Here he is surrounded by doctors, nurses and other staff he works with daily including Dr. Karen Libsch, Janelle Buell, Meloni Donohoe,Tonia Thaut, Tracy Schwartzman, Susanne Reep and Kristi Masterson.
“My goal was to not act like an interim employee, but to work as if I already was the CEO, making necessary judgments and moving the medical center in a positive direction,” he said. “Frankly I’ve been so busy that I never thought about being an interim, I just did what I felt needed to be done.”
Part of that work included guiding the hospital through the recertification process. For the first time in eight years the hospital underwent a federal inspection. The facility passed inspection exceeding expectations in each area especially when it comes to infections.
“In reviewing national statistics we champion our zero percent hospital acquired infection rate and zero percent surgical site infection rate,” Mr. Broyles said. “This sets us way above national standards and makes this a premier place for people who need surgery and post surgical care.”
Mr. Broyles will also continue as the director of nursing.
“Though both jobs are full-time, 24 hours a day 7 days a week positions, I am a registered nurse, I have an assistant and the roles really do complement each other in a smaller facility such as ours,” he said. “We may find a need to hire somebody for the nursing position in the future but for now the board would like me to continue in the dual role.”
Mr. Broyles accepted the position because of the tremendous support he received from the community and staff and because he felt it is the right place to be.
“The incredible support I have received energized me and I felt that I could not refuse the offer,” he said. “Also the successful recertification gave me more confidence that I was in the right place, doing the right thing.”
Mr. Broyles said the hospital is making some changes and planning for future projects and programs.
The hospital now offers a full team of certified nurses and pharmacists in the chemotherapy program, and is restructuring the clinic to improve service.
The clinic has a doctor every day who is dedicated to walk-in patients without an appointment. The hospital is working to revitalize the childbirth education program, and recently started offering low-dose CT scans for assessing tobacco users for lung cancer.
New equipment includes a cardiac treadmill that will send data to a cardiologist located elsewhere in real time, making it possible for a patient to get feedback from their regular doctor and a specialist in the same visit. Mr. Broyles said in the future the hospital would like to start a community asthma education program, and have a great presence in orthopedics.
Two significant projects Mr. Broyles said he is working on is a plan to add behavioral and mental health to the hospital’s list of services and organize a hospital chaplaincy program through the local ministerial association.
Mr. Broyles said he plans to work in the position for as long as he is needed.
“I really am doing it for the right reason,” he said. “I am not worried about the next big promotion in life. It is an honor to be here. How many people are blessed to do the things they love every day? I live in St. Maries, help manage the hospital, get to see patients, teach at the high school and get participate in a community music program. All of these things give me incredible self satisfaction.”
The public is invited to a reception to recognize Mr. Broyles’ advancement between 4 and 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 19 at the Blue Spruce Café.
