St. Maries, Idaho – Hidden Jewel of the Gem State

Calling all bibliophiles! Whether you’re looking to fill your own shelves or start Christmas shopping for fellow book lovers, you’re going to want to check out what’s going on tomorrow because, even though Halloween is over, the St. Maries Public Library is still handing out goodies.

The annual St. Maries Library book sale is back for its ninth year, and volunteers expect it to be bigger and better.

The Friends of the St. Maries Library, the group that supports the library, organizes the sale in November each year. Over the year people donate books from all genres, and they are organized and stored in the basement for the big sale. The most popular category is fiction novels; in fact, the library has collected more than 25 boxes of fiction books this year.

Friends of the St. Maries Library members Linda Foxworth and Rhonda Bifford worked on organizing books for the annual book sale Nov. 2.

Hardback books will cost $1, paperbacks 25-cents and children’s books 10-cents. This year’s sale is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. tomorrow – Saturday, Nov. 2. The event usually raises between $1,200 and $1,500; the money goes to support library supplies resources and programs. Last year the group used the money to pay for The Traveling Lantern, an Idaho Theatre for Youth program that was brought to the elementary school. The money also helps pay for the Harvest Festival each year.

Leftover books will continue to be available for sale during regular library hours. Shoppers are encouraged to bring a grocery bag. For more information, feel free to call the St. Maries Library at 208-245-3732.

An overflow crowd attended the dedication of the Benewah County Veteran’s Memorial Oct. 19 at Woodlawn Cemetery.

The following is the text of the remarks made by Jack Botts at the ceremony. Mr. Botts was chairman of the committee that spearheaded the effort to build the memorial. Jim Shubert, Bill Caswell, Candy Pugh and Helen Kevo are the other members of the memorial committee.

Dedicated to all who served

October 19, 2013

The memorial committee and all of those involved in the creation of this tribute to our veterans thank you for your attendance here today. We appreciate the participation by the Plummer American Legion Post, John Wheaton, commander; the St. Maries Lloyd G. McCarter Post, Jim Shubert, commander; and the Marine Corps League from Coeur d’Alene commanded by Jim Flowers.

Jack Botts, the chairman of the Benewah County Veterans' Memorial committee, said a few words during the monument dedication ceremony Saturday afternoon at Woodlawn Cemetery in St. Maries.

I believe that in the heart of every American there is a special place reserved for our veterans and what they have given to all of us. The need to express our thanks in a tangible manner began to be discussed by a few local individuals over 10 years ago. In 2003, John Welz, who was always active in helping veterans, was asked to obtain a listing of war time casualties from this area. That list consisted of 27 names. That was the beginning. We began to gather ideas for a permanent memorial in St. Maries. Dan Hammes was an enthusiastic supporter of the project and gave great suggestions and encouragement. I have to thank Dan Hammes at this venue because he will never let me put it in print. For various reasons, real plans and committee work never got underway until early in 2012.

Everyone agreed that the need for this memorial was long overdue. One only has to walk through Woodlawn Cemetery and view the rows and rows of bronze markers and marble headstones that our government provides to veterans, to realize and be saddened that we have waited too long to thank them with their own memorial.

The committee’s primary goal was to honor the service of all veterans regardless of when and where they served. This was not to be a “War Memorial” rather a “Veterans’ Memorial.” We also wanted to include the US Merchant Marine which has frequently been slighted or forgotten.
The center monument is the All Veterans part of the memorial. There is no list of individuals veterans who have served. There were simply too many names to attempt to gather and many would have been missed. This monument IS for ALL VETERANS. There is a special plaque to recognize Disabled Veterans. We also wanted to pay tribute to those who endured the wars, conflicts and separations from loved ones on the home front. Benewah County residents have an exemplary record for the past 95 years of providing the support necessary to sustain those who serve.
We decided that our list of war casualties would include all those who died while on active duty during a time that this country was involved in a conflict. Our research and your calls and letters produced many additional names to add to the original list of 27. The memorial today has the names of 62 men from this county or surrounding area who died while serving. Their memorial stands as a solemn reminder of the true price of freedom.

George Pfeifer and Terry Murray served on the colorguard.

We were very privileged to get to honor three Medal of Honor heroes. One of these heroes was a native son and the other two had very strong ties to St. Maries. To have the opportunity to create a lasting memorial to these three men was a very special privilege for all concerned.
The components and general layout of the of the memorial were established early on and the earliest sketches look very much like the finished product. We asked Terry Mourning, a Spokane architect, with ties to St. Maries, to adapt our plans to the site. He also made several suggestions which contributed a great deal to the overall visual effect.

The next phase was asking for your help in building “the dream.” The response was phenomenal and as the project developed it began to take on a life of its own – as expressed by one of our committee members. We broke ground five months ago and since then there has been generous assistance given in every phase of the construction. There are simply way too many people to include in the brief remarks I will make today. We are planning a special appreciation day event soon to acknowledge all the efforts of our volunteers and contributors.

There are however, three men whom I must tell you are largely responsible for the physical construction of what you have before you.
In the Navy he was a Chief Petty Officer, in civilian life he was a Fire Chief and as a memorial committee co-chairman he became “Chief Engineer.” Jim Shubert’s skills in design work and experience in construction combined with his passion for detail and “doing it right” have been invaluable throughout the construction. Jim also spent countless hours doing the tiring, physical labor required from day to day. Jim did whatever needed to be done.

We were very fortunate that Randy Nold came to us and volunteer to do the concrete work. He has spent the past five months fully committed to creating this memorial. Randy has labored in every extreme of weather, often alone, to advance this project. The hundreds of hours that Randy gave to this memorial were in addition to operating his own private business. I cannot begin to express to you how hard he has worked for all of us. He has truly gone above and beyond. Randy – if this project didn’t burn you out on volunteering then nothing ever will.

Jeremy Buell designed and constructed the three monuments and they are much more than mere stone columns. He developed a special feeling for this project and it was reflected in the design and construction of these three monuments. Each one posed special challenges and he had the expertise and enthusiasm to solve each problem that we encountered.

Please give these three your applause.

Work on the memorial is not finished. Guard rails on the short wall will be installed, six bronze plaques will be placed behind their respective service flags, and the perimeter and parking area will receive additional attention. We have always planned for a permanent Flag Replacement & Maintenance Fund to insure that this memorial is maintained properly.

A special Memorial Remembrance book will be assembled to record your names and those whom you asked to be remembered with your contributions. We will develop a place where the names of any veteran can be recorded. This registry will eventually offer the convenience of online entry.

Your generous support of this memorial has allowed us to pay all the bills and we will have a balance left to fund the work remaining and maintain this memorial.

I know I speak for the entire memorial committee when I say what a privilege it has been to be a part of this grand salute to our veterans. Jeremy Buell commented that to be a part of something like this is a once in a lifetime experience. I couldn’t agree more.

Retired Marine Harold Wadley, a decorated Korea and Vietnam veteran, also participated in the ceremony. He was previously presented the Silver Star at a veterans' memorial ceremony in St. Maries.

I have covered the who, what, when, where and how of this Veterans’ Memorial. We hope that current and future veterans will visit this place and realize that we cared enough to build it as our way of thanking them. If they leave this place and that “thank you” transfers from that special place in our hearts to theirs, then we will know WHY we built it.

In conclusion I would ask something of each of you. As you visit this memorial or drive past and gaze upon it: think of this message that I recently read that is so appropriate.

Remember that: “Our flag does not fly because the wind blows it. It flies with the last breath of each soldier that dies protecting it.”

Thank you very much.

Retired Air Force veteran Master Sergeant Harve Balbi salutes during the flag ceremony.

Because Halloween is about more than just candy – and is for more than just the kids – we have turned it into a more than just one-day event.

For us, the holiday starts tomorrow.

Between indoor trick-or-treating at Benewah Community Hospital, a PTO carnival at Heyburn Elementary, downtown businesses open late to offer screaming good deals (think: early Christmas shopping) and even a couple haunted runs planned, this Halloween celebration has something for all ages.

Halloween Fright Night at Benewah Community Hospital kicks of area festivities Oct. 25. The event is free and open to the public from 5 tp 7 p.m.

After treating the kids to some fun at the hospital’s fright night, treat yourself to some deals downtown for Moonlight Madness, that same evening – Oct. 25 – from 7-10 p.m. Several area retailers will be open late, all of which will offer scary good deals (sorry, I had to) on nearly all of their inventory.

Enjoy running and/or walking and want to burn off some of the candy you stole from your kids’ trick-or-treating buckets? Join the Zombie Run Oct. 25 at Cherry Bend. The fun run starts at 6:30, the cost is $10 plus a can of food for the St. Maries Food Bank, and comes with a fun zombification makeover (that process starts at 4 p.m.).

Looking for more fun opportunities for the kiddos? We’ve got you covered. All. Week. Long.

The Heyburn PTO will have its annual Harvest Festival from 4 to 7 p.m. Oct. 26 at the elementary school gymnasium. Activities planned include a costume and pumpkin carving contests, bouncy house, cake walk, bingo, mini-golf, children’s games and prizes and pizza for dinner. This year’s game will include Monster Mash and Candy Corn Relay.

Vice President of Heyburn PTO Staci Yehle is heading the organization efforts for this year's Heyburn PTO's Harvest Festival. Candy donation collection bins have been placed at grocery stores in St. Maries.

One hundred years after receiving its charter, members of the St. Maries Eagles Lodge continue to exemplify their motto: People Helping People.

the group will celebrate its history of accomplishment with a steak dinner Friday. Though much has changed over the years, members remain dedicated to their mission. It is safe to say that the local lodge has helped raise more than $1 million for local and national charities since its inception in 1913, said Dale Hill, who serves as secretary for the local lodge and treasurer for the district and state organization.

“It is not uncommon to see more than $20,000 raised in a single night during a benefit function at the lodge,” Mr. Hill said. “In the last 20 years I bet we have had over a quarter-of-a-million raised for the community through the Eagles.”

Local Eagles officers include (front) Aerie secretary and District 3 and State treasurer Dale Hill, trustee Gordon Hutchison, past president Al Townsend, (from left standing) auxiliary District 3 chaplain Jan Doherty, past president Shirley Dugger, conductor Lou Epler, trustee Billie Machado, secretary Juanita Jack, trustee Patty Boggs, and Aerie past president Randy Nold, trustee Don Eckman, inside guard Duffer Michael, president Jeff Hickman, vice president Cathy Valley, chaplain John Darden and District 3 past president Greg Doherty.

The Fraternal Order Eagles Aerie was started in St. Maries with 70 charter members. The women’s chapter (Auxiliary) formed in 1927 with 50 charter members. Meetings were first conducted in the old Skelton Hall on the waterfront, then moved to Woodmen’s Hall until the structure was destroyed by fire in 1934. The organization met in a room above what is now Two Rivers Realty until they were able to dedicate their own building in 1949.

Membership has fluctuated over the years, beginning as high as 600 in 1949. Currently the Aerie has 227, and the Auxiliary has 189 members.

Eagles Auxiliary members Margaret Holstein, Esther English, Audra Swofford, Ruby Toland and Jerry Justus in the late 1960s.

As is evident based on the amount of money raised throughout the years, the lodge’s reputation for assistance precedes itself. And the Auxiliary provides charity of another sort.

The women’s group provides funeral dinners for members and their families, blankets to victims of house fires, donates to Wigs for Kids and sponsors the blood mobile visit four times each year.

Auxiliary members Alma Gosser pins Ruby Toland.

Leaders within the organization hope to attract more participation from young people and families, those who will carry on the legacy of loving the community. Despite dwindling participation, the lodge continues to donate to several national charities each year and supports various community projects.

Friday’s dinner begins at 5 p.m., costs $15 and is open to the community.

A year’s worth of work will be unveiled at the Benewah County Veterans’ Memorial Saturday, Oct. 19.

The dedication ceremony starts at 1 p.m. at Woodlawn Cemetery in St. Maries. Ample parking will be available on the south side of the memorial. Traffic flow will be directed around the perimeter of the cemetery, Jack Botts said.

Those who do not wish to park at the cemetery will be able to park at the Benewah County Fairgrounds.

“Valley Vista will be running a shuttle bus from the fairgrounds to the cemetery starting at noon,” Mr. Botts said. “It will also operate after the ceremony.”

Chairs and bleachers will be set up to accommodate those who attend. However, Mr. Botts said it might not be a bad idea for people to bring a folding chair just in case.

The effort to build the memorial officially launched last year at the end of October. Since then, residents and businesses have rallied to support the project. It’s the community effort, Mr. Botts said, that has made the Benewah County Veterans’ Memorial a reality.

Steve Hartman, city crew members Candi Schiermeister, John Parker and Marla Schauls, and Jim Shubert have spent time working on the veterans' memorial in preparation for Saturday's dedication ceremony. The event starts at 1 p.m.

The committee had planned to have Tom Hammes speak at the ceremony, but Mr. Hammes’ trip was cancelled. Mr. Botts said retired Lt. Colonel Myron Hodgson will speak briefly.

Mr. Hodgson grew up in the Benewah Valley and graduated from Cheney High School. He was an outstanding athlete in both high school and college. He served 23 years in the Air Force before he retired in 1980. He currently lives in the Spokane area.

The St. Maries Community Band and Chorus will perform throughout the dedication ceremony. Dan Felton has agreed to be the master of ceremonies.

Work continues on the veterans' memorial as volunteers prepare for Saturday's dedication ceremony.

Many past and present veterans will be involved in the special flag raising ceremony. There will be an unveiling of three monuments by various groups of individuals who have been selected because of their history and connections to the monuments. Chaplain Tim Hall will do the invocation and benediction at the ceremony.

Mr. Botts said he expects the ceremony to last an hour. There will be a reception to follow at the Elks’ Lodge. Dessert as well as a beverage will be served.

“We’re very excited,” Mr. Botts said of the approaching dedication. “All the pieces are coming together, and I’m anxious to see all those flags flying.”

We read news every day about local high school graduates who leave our area and do big, important things elsewhere. Every so often, though, they come back and do those big, important things right here.

Like in the case of St. Maries High School graduate, Chris Asbury.

Chris Asbury returned home this summer to fill a position as the principal/superintendent of the Avery-Calder-Clarkia school district.

After 13 years in education, Chris returns to the St. Maries area to manage the Avery-Calder-Clarkia School District. He graduated from SMHS in 1995 and comes back to us with a catalog of qualifications.

He earned his bachelor degree from Lewis Clark State College and masters in educational leadership from the University of Idaho. He’s certified in social studies and has taught special education. Chris has also coached varsity softball and worked as an assistant athletic director. He is currently working toward his second masters.

He worked for a year at Moscow High School before spending 12 years teaching and coaching in Mountain Home. For the past 15 years he has returned to the St. Maries area each summer to work for the Department of Lands fighting fire.

Chris decided to return home more permanently this summer when he was hired as the new superintendent for the district. He has a six-year-old daughter, Mia, and is the son of Ron and Maggie Asbury.

Small towns just get it.

We understand the importance of little things, things like charitable organizations and the civic-mindedness they promote and how, more often than not, volunteerism does not need to be mandated. Small towns are a constant reminder of how those little things end up becoming big things. Important things. Things that thread families, their histories and stories together.

Take Patty Boggs, for instance, and the important role that the Eagles Lodge played in her family’s narrative.

She remembers her mother rushing to meetings every other week and how, as a teenager, she learned to dance at events sponsored by the St. Maries lodge.

“We’d spend weekends picnicking together and went to all the teenage dances in the ‘50s,” she said. “It was like a big family.”

It wasn’t until after she was grown and married, though, that she joined and discovered what the Eagles was truly about. Originally, she had joined to satisfy a family member who had invited her to do so, but once initiated, her perspective changed.

“I found out how hard they worked for charity and continued to go,” she remembered.

Eagles Auxiliary officers include district chaplain Jan Doherty, past president Shirley Dugger, conductor Lou Epler, trustees Billie Machado and Patty Boggs, and secretary Juanita Jack. Those note pictured include inside guard Ruby Toland, president Freda Albert, treasurer Margie Bonds, trustee Lynne Linnemeyer, vice president Jodi Harpole, chaplain Frances McDowell and district/state trustee Chris Hill.

She and a group of other active members gathered to commemorate their history and honor past and present presidents and their 86th anniversary celebration this week. The ladies’ chapter of the local lodge began in 1927; since then 22 presidents have served the group. Today the auxiliary has 189 members, 79 of which are older than 75 years. Its longest living member is Ruby Toland, who has been active in the group for 66 years.

But that’s not all.

The Auxiliary anniversary is one of three celebrations the Eagle’s Lodge has planned over the next several weeks.

The centennial anniversary celebration of the local lodge is Oct. 18. Local members have been working hard to remodel the lounge in preparation for the celebration, including the installation of a new floor, lighting and painting.

Additionally, the lodge will host the annual Idaho State Mid-Winter. The gathering of all the district and state officers from the area is Nov. 1,2 and 3 in St. Maries.

“This is only the second time in 20 or 30 years we’ve hosted the meeting,” said Dale Hill, Aerie Secretary and state and District 3 treasurer for the organization.

Officers award grants to various lodges that have submitted applications over the past year to support projects at the gathering. This year the St. Maries lodge has applied for a few grants, including one to pay for a kitchen upgrade for the Senior Meal Site, one for the M. “Blackie” Floyd Alzheimer’s fund and another from the Golden Eagle Fund to give to the local chapter of hospice.

Lots of really, really good things coming from a small group of hard-working volunteers over a very long period of time. Definitely something to celebrate, small-town style.

Ginger Carpenter, a long-time St. Maries resident, is one of 21 people chosen from across the country to serve on an advisory committee that provides recommendations on rural health and human services issues.

The National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services was created in 1987 to advise the Secretary of the Department of Heath and Human Services on ways to address health care problems in ruralAmerica. The group meets four times each year.

Ms. Carpenter was chosen because of her expertise in nursing, health administration and her experience working with the Human Resources and Service Administration.

Ginger Carpenter was appointed to a national rural health advisory board last month. She is one of 21 members who will serve a four-year term on the committee.

She has worked in rural health since 1985. She began her career working at Benewah Community Hospital as a nurse, and after receiving her master’s in administration from Gonzaga University, she worked for Benewah Medical Center. In 2010 she became a nursing instructor at North Idaho College. She now teaches the certified nursing assistant class at Valley Vista Care.

I know it seems like we tell you to get here for some type of event nearly every weekend, but it’s for your own good. And this weekend is no different.

Harrison’s Sixth Annual Oktoberfest is from 1 to 7 p.m. Saturday in Harrison’s City Park – rain or shine.

The event is sponsored by the Harrison Chamber of Commerce and benefits the Fourth of July Fireworks, the Summer Concert Series and other chamber products.

Plus, it’s just plain fun.

According to event organizer Teri Riberich, more than 800 glasses were sold at the 2012 Oktoberfest (pictured here). The annual event is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 5 and will run from 1 to 7 p.m.

And the scenery couldn’t be better: Harrison’s City Park is located just up the hill from Harrison City Beach and, as all you geography buffs are probably already figuring out, gives way to a beautiful view of Lake Coeur d’Alene. Throw in a few red- and orange-tipped trees and – blamo! – pure North Idaho autumn beauty.

Add food booths, children’s craft tables and the microbrew sampling stations, and you’ve got yourself a lakeside town’s take on Oktoberfest.

The cost for adults to sample the beer is $10, which includes four beer tickets and a souvenir glass. Participating breweries include Wallace Brewing Company, Trickster’s, North Idaho Mountain Brew, Idaho Hops, Payette and Crooked Fence.

There will be a painting table and games for children and a scavenger hunt for both kids and adults. The hunt will lead participants to local businesses.

Music will be performed throughout the day and KY102 Radio will broadcast from the event.

Did we mention the lake would serve as the backdrop?

It isn’t unheard of for our newspaper to be filled with features about local youngsters doing big, important things. But that doesn’t mean those accomplishments should be looked at as pedestrian because of the frequency of their occurrence. On the contrary. They should be highlighted.

And are, as evidenced by a recent issue that detailed two students from two different high schools achieving greatness in two very different fields of study.

First up, representing the left side of the brain:

A Kootenai High School student was one of 16,000 high school seniors named to the 2014 list of semifinalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program. Shannon Riley said she was surprised to hear she earned the honor. The list represents less that one percent of high school seniors nationwide.

Shannon Riley was one of 16,000 seniors selected as a semifinalist in the National Merit Scholarship Program. She is a senior at Kootenai High School.

More than one million juniors from more than 22,000 high schools entered the 2014 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2012 Preliminary SAT/Nation Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. While she didn’t think she would do well enough to qualify for the program, Shannon said she does typically do well on standardized tests. She is now working with the school to submit a detailed scholarship application in order to compete for a spot as a finalist.

To become a finalist, a student must submit an application that includes information about his or her academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, honors and awards received.  A semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay and earn SAT scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance.

Shannon is the daughter of Lisa Hawdon and Dennis Riley, and she said she has plans to attend college and study biology after graduation.

And a quick flip through the pages of the newspaper shows how diverse the areas of achievement are, transitioning from science to a more right-brain dominated field, music.

Dylan Miller has earned the distinction as one of the most talented young musicians in the region. The St. Maries Middle School eighth graders has been accepted into the Coeur d’Alene Youth Orchestra. Only the most gifted young musicians from throughout northern Idaho and the Spokane area qualify to play with the prestigious group.

This is not only a first for a St. Maries student, but the manner in which Dylan earned the honor may also be a first for the orchestra.

Dylan Miller, with his instructor Jim Broyles, was accepted into the Coeur d'Alene Youth Orchestra after only two years working with the violin.

Dylan took fewer than two years to gain enough proficiency with the violin to earn a seat with the orchestra. He is the only student in the orchestra with fewer than two years of practice. Most begin with their instruments in third or fourth grade and are not accepted into the orchestra until high school.

The Coeur d’Alene Youth Orchestra performs three concerts a year and participates in competition in western Washington annually. Its next performance is at 7 p.m. Nov. 25 at the Kroc Center in Coeur d’Alene.

Dylan is the son of Brian and Jenifer Miller of St. Maries and has a 10-year-old sister Kirsten.