By BRIAN WALKER

Staff writer

Progress will be celebrated during Rathdrum Days on Friday and Saturday.

Police Chief Kevin Fuhr, who is in remission with cancer, will be the

grand marshal of Saturday's parade at 10 a.m. on Main Street.

Fuhr has assisted with planning for the city's inaugural Relay for

Life, an American Cancer Society fundraiser, Aug. 12-13 at Lakeland

High.

"It's an honor, but I'm not one for the spotlight," Fuhr said of being

selected grand marshal. "I like to be the one moving barricades at the

end of the parade, but this year I get to be in it. But I don't want

to overshadow the (Relay) event itself."

Fuhr said it will be nice for Rathdrum to have a Relay that it can call its own.

"We're hoping for a successful first year so it continues," Fuhr said.

All cancer survivors are invited to ride the Relay's float in the

parade. Those interested should be at the chamber of commerce at the

corner of Main and Coeur d'Alene before 10 a.m.

"When you hear the words 'You've got cancer' you start to look at

things differently," Fuhr said. "You start to think more about family

and friends and less about the petty things."

Another new addition to the area, the Star Discovery Bus, associated

with the future Star Science Center north of Rathdrum, was unveiled

during a robotics camp at Prairie View Elementary in Post Falls on

Tuesday.

The bus, which has hands-on science exhibits and will be at schools

and community events, will be at Rathdrum Days along with the

nonprofit Discover Technology's robot DiscoTech.

"This is an opportunity I hope you take advantage of," Rathdrum Mayor

Vic Holmes told students at the ceremony.

Lorna Finman, Discover Technology president, said the bus is intended

to complement schools' science programs.

"We're hoping to get into rural areas with the bus and take field

trips to schools," Finman said.

The science center is scheduled to open in fall 2012. A

conditional-use permit was granted recently by the county to allow for

construction.

"We hope to move some dirt by the end of the month," Finman said.

Rathdrum Days opens at noon on Friday with vendors, a carnival, music,

kids' activities and other entertainment at Lakeland High. The

festival runs to 8 p.m. A classic car cruise starts at 5 p.m. at

Lakeland Junior High.

Saturday's activities also include a pancake breakfast at the Lion's

Club on Highway 53 at 7 a.m., a fun run at the high school at 8 a.m.

and old jail tours and Dutch oven cooking and blacksmithing demos from

10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

"We will be showcasing the newly paved Second Street in front of the

jail along with new sidewalks," said Brett Boyer, city administrator.

Vendor booths open at 10 a.m. at the high school and there will be

entertainment from noon until 6 p.m.

Here's the schedule:

Friday, July 15

At Lakeland High School grounds

Noon - Vendors Open: Commercial, Craft, Food, Petting Zoo, Camel Rides

and Carnival Booths

At Lakeland Junior High School

5 p.m. - Classic Car Cruise starts at Junior High

Entertainment on the Stage

12-4 p.m. - Music and Karaoke by John Henden

4 p.m. - Dance Theatre Northwest

5 p.m. - Ronald McDonald Magic Show

6-8 p.m. - Celebrate Recovery Band

Saturday, July 16

Throughout Rathdrum

7 a.m. - Pancake Breakfast at the Lion's Club on Hwy 53

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. - Heritage Skills and Craft Guild at the Old County

Jail featuring Live Music, Dutch Oven Cooking, Black Smithing, Period

Tools, Lashing, Fire Starting and more.

10 a.m. Parade on Main Street in Rathdrum including Kiddy Parade

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. - Lion's Club Classic Car Show at the Junior High

11:45 a.m. - Wiener Dog Races at the Junior High

1 p.m. - Lawn Mower Races on Main Street behind the Rotary Soccer Field

3 p.m. - "Let the Chips Fly" Rotary Club Fundraiser with a $1,000

giveaway The chips fall at 3 p.m. on the Rotary Soccer Field

At Lakeland High School Grounds

8 a.m. - Fun Run, Start at East End of High School

9 a.m. - 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament, East Side of LHS

10 a.m. Vendors Open: Commercial, Craft, Food, and Carnival Booths

Noon - Petting Zoo and Camel Rides, East Parking Lot of LHS

1 p.m. - Ronald McDonald Big Wheel Races, East Side of LHS

Entertainment on the Stage

12-2 p.m. - Ryan Larsen Band, Country

1 p.m. - Kiss the Donkey Contest

2:30 p.m. - Zumba Class Demonstration with Tera

3 p.m. - Dick Frost the Magician

4 p.m. - Watermelon Eating Contest

4:30 p.m. - Ronald McDonald Magic Show

5-6 p.m. - Northern Exposure, rock with a little bit of country