'Junk monster' leaves behind startling assortment of items
Quick, who were the only sisters in Idaho to win local Junior Miss titles? Susan Wallace (now Vandament) and her younger sister Linda Sterling, both of Sandpoint. Or at least that's what their Dad says and who is going to argue with him?
Congrats to Sandpoint Rotary. The club doubled the fines to members Wednesday and kicked in $500 on top of that to contribute more than $1,000 to the Bonner Community Food Center after learning of severe shortages. It was President Mickey and First Lady Sue's idea after reading their favorite newspaper.
Believe me when I tell you that shower curtain rings look like fashionable bracelets in the eyes of a 5-year-old girl.
Go Bulldogs! Hurray to the Sandpoint Bulldogs boys basketball team for qualifying for the state tournament. This is the second time in 27 years the Bulldogs have made it. Is the beginning of a new streak?
If you didn't attend any of the high school hoops games this year, you missed a great show. I watched a few of the SHS boys and girls games as well as a Bonners Ferry game this season.
I'm always amazed how athletic and fast and savvy high school athletes are. I admire their dedication and the fact that most of our star athletes are also successful in the classroom — where it matters.
I also know that I was never that good and every year I get older, the further removed I am from ever being a basketball star.
I don't know at what age it kicks in, but I know darn well that I would not dive for a loose basketball for anything these days. If I actually did throw myself on the hardwood court, I wouldn't be able to move.
When did that happen?
The Sandpoint Middle School on Saturdays is also a great place to watch entertaining basketball. These third-through-sixth graders are a blast to watch.
After spending a few Saturdays there, I am convinced that in a few years Sandpoint will be known as the soccer AND basketball capital of Idaho.
Over the years, I have shared with you many of the triumphs and tribulations of my life.
You were there 14 years ago when I proposed to Marlisa. I have shared with you broken bones, barfing kids, blonde jokes, mother-in-law compliments, losses of life all the time trying to give you a look at my life and a snapshot of life in and around Sandpoint, Idaho.
I feel it is now time I can bare my soul to you.
I have a problem. I have a new desk.
I spent the last few weeks scouring the Sandpoint/Ponderay vicinity for a new desk. I checked out Sandpoint Furniture recently and was almost talked into a sectional for my living room. We went out to the Unfinished Furniture store in Kootenai and ended up buying barstools for our home. I tried The Inkwell and ended up buying desks in the office for almost everyone but me.
My last local stop was a place I always seem to end up when I need something: Belwood's Furniture.
Lori had the desk I wanted and was more than fair with the price we negotiated. She also threw in a wicker basket with irises for the Bee's business manager, Carolyn Inge.
Before I knew it, Lori and company delivered the desk and chairs and now my office has taken on what some folks say is a "presidential" air.
What they meant to say was that the office used to be a landfill. In fact, in the olden days, this column was titled "Somewhere on my Desk."
My five-year-old daughter, Olivia, made the mistake of calling me a "junk monster" in front of the wrong person Friday so there is a new nickname in the works around the watercooler.
The entire family was pitching in to clean the office to make way for the new stuff.
I needed help with my pack rat, messy tendancies, so maybe this intervention was what I needed.
As I cleaned out my old desk, I was startled to find:
? Eight spoons and six forks. The remains on a fork date back to birthday parties three years ago. I haven't gotten the carbon dating results back on the rest.
? Lots of confetti a few balloons.
? Three screwdrivers. Nuts and bolts. Box of staples that don't fit my stapler.
? Nine, count them nine, Handyman Services pens.
? Gum. None of the ABC variety. I am a compulsive gum buyer but not a gum chewer. Something has to give.
? A restroom token about the shape of a dime. Is there a restroom within 600 miles that takes tokens?
? 58 cents.
? A 9-11 commemorative key chain.
? 13 individual rubber stamps. I usually put a note on all paychecks when I sign them and if a stamp fits the occasion, I use one. The smiley one gets the most comments.
? Three golf balls, two tea bags, two valentine's cards from the kids (like the kind they give to friends at school).
? A Ross Hall Studios postcard collection set.
? A tube that shouts "Extra, Extra Read All About It. Exciting News." That's so cool!
? A Mercury 7 Scott Carpenter pin given to me by Chris Naccarato. Is there a more committed teacher in North Idaho?
? A 2001 Festival at Sandpoint postcard collection featuring Dan Shook's sculptures and Dann Hall's photography.
? A note from Rose Preston, who was sharing a tender moment in her life about her son's baseball exploits.
Her son, Ethan Koopman, qualified for the Little League 9-10 All Star team last year. It was the last game of the tournament and Ethan stepped up to bat against Post Falls. He quickly had two strikes against him and the game was nearly over when … WHACK, Ethan hit a grand slam home run and brought home Dean Knaggs, Carson Paull and Gavan Rosteck.
"Dad was grinning and mom was crying," Rose wrote.
The Preston clan welcomed baby brother, Jack, to the team recently so I bet Dad is still grinning and Mom is smiling.
Ethan is one of the nicest kids I know, by the way.
Speaking of nice people … Happy trails to Yoke's manager Steve Brooks. The Yoke's people recognize quality and leadership and after six years here, are sending Brooks to the Tri-Cities to manage a new store. He is replaced by Scott Brower. Scott was an assistant manager here 11 years ago and has managed a Yoke's store in Spokane in the meantime.
So, to get promoted at Yoke's, a person has to be community leader, like helping other people and apparently have the initials S.B.
Good luck, Steve!
Yoke's Outrageous Air Show comes to Schweitzer Mountain Resort this Friday and Saturday. The Outrageous Air Show begins immediately after the torchlight parade and has some of the nation's top skiers and snowboarders perform a 45-minute aerial show in the village.
E-mail of the Week:
Friendship Between Women:
A woman didn't come home one night. The next day she told her husband that she had slept over at a friend's house. The man called his wife's 10 best friends. None of them knew about it.
Friendship Between Men:
A man didn't come home one night. The next day he told his wife that he had slept over at a friend's house. The woman called her husband's 10 best friends. Eight of them confirmed that he had slept over, and two claimed that he was still there.
Last week's online poll question:
Did you buy a lottery ticket last week? 91 people voted. 48.4 percent voted yes and 51.6 percent voted no.
This week's question: If the governor's race were held today, who would you vote for? Republican Butch Otter, Democrat Jerry Brady or Bee Publisher David Keyes?
Bee blog
On Wednesday, the Daily Bee received 41 online messages on 13 stories that have appeared in the paper during the past week.
The most commented on stories concerned Hidden Lakes' planned expansion and the sentencing of a man in the shooting of a repo agent. The closing of the Cinema 4 Theater and the police warning of Liberty Dollars.
A few samples:
Hello?
"Would there be objection to a heterosexual club? You betcha." (from IP: 71.80.226.229 Source - Edit)
Nasty Ted on 02/26/2006 04:00:05 said:
"To Mr. Spaude, I am relieved that your charges were reduced. You were living the North Idaho ethic of protecting ones property, yourself and your family. I am thankful you will not be put away for murder. You sound like a good man. I'm glad the courts reconsidered. I hate loan sharks. They really need to get a life don't they! Respectfully, Ted" (from IP: 159.221.32.10 Source - Edit)
Mitch Monger said:
"I used to work at the Cinema 4 and I'll sorely miss the place. It and the other businesses which were its neighbors had a great local flavor which can never be replaced. Some people think that giving up what makes your town unique is progress and it's inevitable. Is it really? I think it's a choice, and a bad one at that. "The closure of Sandpoint Cinema 4 — leaves only one movie theater" Um, excuse me, have you ever heard of a place called the Panida Theater? It's right down there on 1st Ave. You can't miss it. The Panida's main source of income is movies. It started as a movie theater and is still the best one in N. Idaho."
David Keyes is publisher of the Bee. His column runs weekly