Community Thanks July 29, 2012

TESH: Doing great work at Farragut

I would like to comment on the fine services that the TESH people provide. Every summer, my wife and I camp several times a month at Farragut State Park in the Gilmore campgrounds. The TESH folks clean and maintain the restrooms and showers on a daily basis.

As a disabled veteran, I have had the opportunity to stay at many military, government and commercial campgrounds. I have never seen cleaner facilities than what the TESH crew maintain at Farragut. They are courteous hard working individuals who are a great inspiration to those who observe them. My thanks go to TESH for providing an enhanced camping experience.

JON PEQUIGNOT

Coeur d'Alene

MILES: A great event for Dirne Community Health

Saturday, July 21, at the Kootenai Fairgrounds was an exhilarating day, as 2,000 runners, walked, crawled and slogged their way through a 2 mile course for the Dirne Community Health Muddy Miles Race. I was a participant as we made our way through this muddy maze, while we were being pelted with water balloons from the funny loving spectators in the grand stands.

This race is a fundraiser for Dirne that provides excellent medical and dental services to thousands in this community including 8,000 uninsured individuals. Though I have insurance, Dirne is my health care provider.

The last few days have been difficult for me as I was deeply saddened by the tragic events at the movie theater in Colorado. What is the benefit of extremely violent video games and movies? I couldn't help but contrast all of this, as I saw such happiness by the participants at this race.

In 1982 I ran my first Bloomsday to change my then harmful living style, and it has worked, as I have had a 30-year running career. When I finished the Muddy Miles, I was covered head to toe in mud, with plenty of rocks in my shoes - yet this was one of the funnest races I have ever been in.

Thanks to the generous sponsors including Helbling, Stan Craft, Kootenai Health, Classical Christian Academy, Premier Urgent Care and United Heritage.

Mother Teresa once said "I can do no great things, only small things with great love." Well, Dirne managed to do both on this sunny Saturday afternoon. It was a joy to watch this community come together to support Dirne, a fantastic health care provider, and in the process, for the participants to have a whole lot of fun.

STEVE BELL

Coeur d'Alene

HELP: Citizens stepped up to find missing dog

I am humbled and in awe of the citizens of your community! Being alone in a strange city when tragedy strikes is bad enough but when you are also in a foreign country it is even harder to cope. I wanted to thank everyone in your wonderful community for all the help, support and offers of places to stay for Cash, Baby and I that came pouring in when Chloe went missing on July 16. I'm still receiving calls from amazing people who took the time to wish us well and congratulate us on finding Chloe ... the little lost Canadian dog. A special thank you to Maureen Dolan and the Coeur d'Alene Press for reacting so quickly, without hesitation to a stranger's plea for help. Also to Diane from the Pet Resort for her countless hours putting up posters, talking to people and searching long into the night, then finally finding and catching Chloe. Dawn, also from the pet resort for being the dispatcher and for everything she did for us. Thank you, as well to KHQ TV for Webcasting a story on Chloe. The staff of the Shilo Inn were very concerned and supportive, thank you, you are all amazing! Thank you to everyone who helped in the search by calling to tell us immediately when seeing Chloe and by walking, riding bicycles and driving around helping to find her. I don't know all your names but I appreciate you taking time out of your busy lives to help. Now and forever when I think of Coeur d'Alene, it will be of fondness, you truly made me feel at home. Your community is in a beautiful setting but its true beauty is in the citizens who live there. Thank you!

Chloe also wanted you all to know that her grandfather was a highly decorated police dog from Colorado. I believe he is retired now but apparently he was one of the best police dogs to serve in the area he lived. She and her brother Cash try their best to make their grandpa proud. Right now they are sleeping at my feet, happy, safe and best of all...home.

With warm thoughts,

DAWN LAUDER

Fort Macleod, Alberta