The new pond at the sportsman’s access site has been named after a local Fish and Game officer.
The site, which is located a mile south of St. Maries on State 3, has reopened to the public. It was closed while undergoing renovations, including the installation of a one-acre fishing pond. That pond is being called Spicer Pond, named after the late Dave Spicer.
Mr. Spicer died July 29, 2013 of a rare type of cancer. He accepted a position with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game in 1990 after moving to Post Falls. He worked as a wildlife biologist. Mr. Spicer and his family moved to St. Maries in 1998 where he continued to work with the department.
The new pond at the St. Maries Sportsman Access Site has been named after Dave Spicer, who died last year. Mr. Spicer was an officer with the Idaho Fish & Game. Yvonne Spicer holds a picture of her late husband. She said he enjoyed his work and the area.
Mr. Spicer’s widow, Yvonne, said she had no idea that Fish and Game planned to name the pond after her husband.
“I was completely surprised,” she said. “It was heartwarming.”
Mrs. Spicer said when her husband worked for the department the other employees were more than just co-workers, they were family. She said the random carts of kindness from the St. Maries community and his Fish and Game co-workers were appreciated during her husband’s illness.
Spicer Pond is expected to be stocked next spring. Other improvements at the site included the installation of some picnic tables and a vault toilet. The project cost approximately $260,000. It was paid for by the Fish and Game Department and Avista, as part of the utilities’ agreement for the licensing of the Post Falls Dam.
They will do it again this Sunday, July 13.
Mary Bedwell and Bill Fletcher invite everyone to attend the Benewah Valley Association’s Old Timers Picnic Sunday, July 13.
The annual Benewah Valley Association’s Old Timers Picnic starts at 11 a.m. at the Benewah Valley Community Center with the parade. The center is located 11.5 miles up Benewah Creek Road.
Following the parade, a potluck lunch will be served. Those who attend the picnic are asked to bring a dish to share. Turkey and ham is provided. Children’s games and a horseshoe tournament will take place in the afternoon, following the feast. A live auction is also planned.
A raffle will be held, with the winning ticket being drawn for a 6′ by 10′ playhouse. Tickets for the raffle are available at Harvest Foods and AmericanWest Bank. They will also be available during the picnic.
If you were in the area over the holiday weekend, you probably saw lots of celebration, lots of parties and, of course, plenty of fireworks. We know how to unwind, that’s for sure.
But if you got up early the next day, you might notice that much of St. Maries didn’t miss a beat because there was still work to be done, fields to be harvested and shops to be opened.
A man loads his truck with bails of hay Saturday, July 5 during the 2014 harvest.
Here in St. Maries, we work hard in order to play hard because we know that, especially in the summer months, we have a short amount of time to get that play in. And right now we’re working extra hard because a new summer staple is coming up, the fifth annual Summer Sucks Grass Drags event is July 19 and 20.
A favorite among locals and visitors alike, the Summer Sucks Grass Drags feature snowmobile racing in July and is just the type of event one would expect to find featured in St. Maries.
Tyson Haynes (#92) and Marnie Henrie (#23) go sled to sled in this heat as the crowd watches in the background during the 2013 Summer Sucks Grass Drags.
We want to show you lots of stuff, actually, but what we’re most interested in introducing you to – today, at least – are our Main Avenue attractions, our stores.
But we want to do more than just show you around downtown St. Maries, we want you to get to know us, which is why we have created a sister site to this one in Show Me St. Maries.
The Renaldo family is the driving force behind Renaldo Land Surveying in St. Maries, Idaho.
Show Me is a place to learn more about us, read our stories and get an idea as to what makes us tick. As you already know from reading through these pages, our people put on lots of events throughout the year. One thing that might not be evident, though, is that a big part of the reason those events take place is because of the generosity of local businesses. Community events wouldn’t be possible without donations. And those donations, more often than not, come from St. Maries businesses.
Take some time and browse through the pages of Show Me St. Maries, and the next time you’re in town, stop by the storefronts.
Fish out a rod and reel.
The Elks 6th Annual Fishing Derby, hosted by Felton’s Auto Sales, is Saturday, June 28.
Children 12 and younger may participate for free. Anyone 12 and older must pay $10. Tickets to participate in the derby can be picked up at the St. Maries Elks Lodge, St. Joe Sports Stop, Blue Goose and Felton Auto Sales through Friday, June 28.
Jim McCuaig invites area children and adults to participate in the 6th Annual Elks Fishing Derby Saturday. Friday will be the last day for those who want to participate to get tickets. The event is free for children 12 and younger. All others pay $10.
“You have to get your tickets prior to the day of the event,” Jim McCuaig, exalted ruler of the Elks, said. “Everyone must have a ticket.”
Once registered, participants can head out to their favorite fishing hole Saturday in the St. Joe, Coeur d’Alene Lake or Coeur d’Alene drainage to try to catch the largest fish in one of the five categories: blueback, salmon, pike, panfish (no bass) and other fish (tinch, squaw, bullheads, etc.). Trout will not be accepted.
“When we first started we had about 15 kids and then last year we had more than 70,” Mr. McCuaig said. “The kids always have fun and that’s what it is about. It’s neat because the whole family can get together and come to this event including parents and grandparents. It’s always a lot of fun.”
Half of the proceeds from ticket sales will go toward cash prizes for winners of each category. Mr. Felton also donates money for prize winners which is then added to the money collected from ticket sales, Mr. McCuaig said. He said the other of half of the proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the Elks Lodge.
“We have one winner in each of the five categories for both kids and the adults,” Mr. McCuaig said. “I think each winner got between $50 and $60 last year.”
Mr. McCuaig said adults are encouraged to participate because it really supports the rest of the event.
He reminds people that the longest fish, not the heaviest wins. Fish will be measured from 4 to 5 p.m. in the parking lot at the Elks Lodge. Participants keep their fish. Barbecued hamburgers, hotdogs and all the fixings will be served. The cost is $5 per person.
The awards ceremony will follow at 5:30 p.m.
Mr. McCuaig said there will also be different raffles. Everyone who enters the derby will receive a raffle ticket. It will either be placed in the children raffle or the adult raffle. Tickets are sold for a third raffle.
Prizes for adults include gift certificates to area businesses including Fast Eddie’s and Hughes Ace Hardware, Casa De Oro, and the St. Joe Lodge. Other items include sporting good items, towels, blankets and more. Prizes for children include rods and reels, tackle boxes and more.
“People from St. Maries and the businesses here are so good about provide prizes and raffle items,” Mr. McCuaig said.
Cabelas also donated 50 rods and reels for adults and children. Mr. McCuaig said they also donate something every year for the event.
“We definitely have more prizes for the kids. We really try to make sure every kid leaves with something,” Mr. McCuaig said. “So far, we have been able to do that.”
Mr. McCuaig said he enjoys the event every year and is again looking forward to this year’s derby.
“I’m just hoping for a big turnout again,” he said.
Rat rods return to St. Maries this weekend.
The third annual Rattitude Rod Rumble is Saturday, June 21, but the fun starts Friday evening (June 20) with a cruise through town, beginning at 6 p.m. A drive-in movie, Smokey and the Bandit, will be shown at dark.
This crew of rat rod enthusiasts have helped organize the third annual Rattitude Rod Rumble, which is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 21, at Aqua Park. There will be a cruise and drive-in movie shown Friday night and there will also be burnouts Saturday evening. Pictured here from left to right is Chuck and Carol Ryan, Denny Dunn, Sean Ryan and Brad Michael, Vanessa, Darren Jr. and Kyler Jackson, Brady, Chase, Amanda and Brad Beckner, and Jodie and Darren Jackson Sr.
Rat rods will line up at the Federal Building for the cruise at 5:30 p.m. The cars will travel down 6th Street and then along Main Avenue so the public can catch a view.
the movie is open to the public to drive in or walk in, and donations are suggested to help pay for the cost. It will be shown on the ball fields at the city park, and cars may start to arrive at 7:30 p.m.
On Saturcday, the Rattitude Rod Rumble is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Aqua Park. Organizer Darren Jackson Jr. said he does not know how many cars to expect but said last year the show had 53 entries, which more than doubled the number at the inaugural show. Admission to the show is free.
Saturday’s show will be capped off with burnouts beginning at 5 p.m. where Railroad Ave. intersects with Aqua Park at the landing owned by Jack Buell.
The countdown has officially begun to the 2014 Rattitude Rod Rumble.
It’s all taking place this Friday and Saturday, June 20 and 21 in downtown St. Maries. We’ll have a full schedule posted no later than Thursday — but to be sure, it will be jam-packed with fun and unique events for adults and children alike.
Mike Stroh, Cathy Britschgi and Aysan Tyrrell walk through a lineup of rat rods during the 2013 show.
Not sure what to expect? Read about the event and learn more about how and why it was created here. I think you’ll discover pretty quickly that this isn’t your average car show. It’s way cooler.
Another thing you’ll learn, it’s one in a series of kickoff events to our small-town summer.
Be sure to stick around St. Maries for a lot more unique events, like our snowmobile races (yep, you read that right). Every July our local snowmobile club, the St. Joe Snowriders, puts together a summer run, the Summer Sucks Grass Drags. Part philanthropic event, part memorial ride, all fun, the Summer Sucks Grass Drags are something you need to see to appreciate.
Austin Schiermeister, racer #101, gains the lead heading down the track at the annual grass drags July 2013. The snowmobiles are raced in a hay field adjacent to Lumberjack Lane just outside St. Maries.
Harrison’s Annual Pig-Out-in-the-Park and Craft and Trade Fair is June 14. This is a big fundraiser for the Harrison Chamber of Commerce. All profits from the event will help pay for the Fourth of July fireworks, flowers for the park and the weekly concerts in the park.
Shelley Low and Joe Cornell stand near the sign advertising the Pig in the Park slated for Saturday. The money raised at the barbecue dinner will help pay for the annual fireworks display over the southern end of Coeur d’Alene Lake at Harrison.
The craft and trade show is from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The meal will be served at 11:30 a.m. and continues until everyone is full or they run out of meat. If there is any leftover, it will be available for bulk sale around 3 p.m.
Robb Boatsman and Rampage will provide live music in the park from 2 to 5 p.m.
Joe Cornell puts the pig in the barbecue and it cooks slowly for 24 hours before the dinner is served. He designed the barbecue so it can be pulled behind his truck to the park.
In addition to the slow-cooked pork, the meal will include Scheffelmaier smoked turkey, Shelley Low’s famous baked beans, potato salad, corn bread, dessert and a beverage. The cost is $10 for adults and $7 for children 16 and younger. A beer garden will also be available for people 21 and older.
You don’t always need a beach or an unbrella to squeeze reading in during the summer. You just need your local library.
Each summer local libraries pack the calendar with events and activities for children and young adults to keep them reading throughout the summer months.
The St. Maries Public Library will offer a summer of scientific wonder and will offer two weekly sessions every Tuesday from June 24 to July 29. Story hour for three, four and five year olds will be at 10 a.m., and firth through fifth graders will gather at 11 a.m.
The annual Family Night festivities will feature Radical Rick the Extreme Scientist on July 31.
The Plummer Public Library will host a summer read-a-thin from June 12 through August 7. The summer kickoff event, which includes an activity day, begins at 1 p.m. June 12 at the library. The event is open to all ages. Patrons who wish to participate should pre-register by today, June 10.
The Tri-Community Library in Fernwood will feature “Music with Miriam” each Monday from June 30 through July 29.
The Tensed-DeSmet Library will also sponsor a read-a-thin for the month of July. Record sheets are available at the library, and they must be turned in no later than July 31.
When you consider the fact that our town has a population of just around 2,400, the fact that our summers are filled with events the caliber of what you might find in a larger town speaks to the hard-working nature of St. Maries.
It makes what we do pack even more of a punch.
Nearly every weekend offers some sort of family-friendly activity, and nearly every activity is put together by volunteers. Even better – nearly every event offers something different from the one before. This is significant not just for the local residents but also for people exploring from out of town.
Don’t believe me? Just check out our lineup this summer, which was kicked off last weekend with the Race the Joe! jet boat championships. A whopping 26 teams — one of which traveled from New Zealand — raced along the 25-mile stretch from St. Maries to Calder and back while thousands of spectators lined the banks of the St. Joe River to watch the boats speed by.
The driver and navigator of FX19 Know Idea race up the river at the 2014 Race the Joe! jet boat competition.
This weekend, June 7 and 8, marks the fourth annual St. Joe River Marathon, Half Marathon and 5K. More than 400 runners — some coming from as far away as Georgia, North Carolina, New York and Texas — will participate in the annual event.
Two weekends after that, the third annual Rattitude Rod Rumble will cruise through downtown St. Maries, offering an eclectic take on car shows.
Later in the summer, St. Maries will put art front and center in its always-anticipated smART festival. The Benewah County Fair punctuates the summer celebrations August 14-17 when local youth get to showcase their summer projects at the Benewah Community Fairgrounds.
The Paul Bunyan Days fireworks show is funded entirely by donations and draws thousands of visitors to the city every year.
And our summer ends with a bang — literally — at the Paul Bunyan Days celebration over Labor Day weekend when St. Maries celebrates with a carnival, a parade, logging competitions, water events and the biggest and best fireworks display in the area.
Whether you live here, like to travel here or are hoping to, just about any weekend this summer will provide you with an experience that will make you glad you did.
