Ian Waltz had a memorable and record-breaking high school athletic career back in the early 1990s before graduating in 1995 from Post Falls High School. He earned four track letters and three letters in football; and was named Idaho Athlete of the Year as a senior. Ian's state record discus toss of 203.9 feet still stands today. He went on to graduate from Washington State, earning two Pac-10 discus championships and where the seeds of the goal to compete in the Olympic games took root.

Fast forward to 2012 and Ian is poised to compete for his third US Olympic team in the June US Olympic Trials. I had the chance to visit with Ian this week when he was back in town for a few days. He's living in the San Diego area with his wife, Olympic Gold Medalist pole vaulter Stacy Dragila and their daughter, Allyx, with another daughter due in a few weeks.

Ian represented the USA in the 2004 Athens games and in 2008 in Bejing. He's looking strong and has worked hard for June's Olympic Trials. Ian is primed for the London Olympics and I'm thinking that 2012 is THE year for Ian. He's a great guy who's shown the kind of dedication that true Olympians possess. Go for the gold, Ian, your hometown is cheering for you!

Renowned artist Stephen Shortridge undertook a unique performance art project last week at Heart of the City Church in Coeur d'Alene. During the Friday evening and Sunday sermons, he painted a depiction of Jesus washing the feet of the disciples. Beautiful work.

Last year our first Bloomsday was a victory for my sisters and me, finishing hand-in-hand just under the wire to claim a coveted finisher T-shirt. My personal goal was to finish, after looking the big buzzard on Doomsday Hill right in the eye. I was planning the experience to be a one and done, been there, done that, got the T-shirt kind of deal.

But it seems my daughters had different ideas, so they're coming home and we're doing Bloomsday No. 2. They will actually run Bloomsday. My sister Janna and I will "do" Bloomsday, which means we'll make the effort to finish in front of the sweeper trucks. Be sure to wave and say hello if you pass us on the way to the finish line! Looks like raingear might be the favored fashion for Sunday's event.

A very special "birthday" was celebrated by Dave Chamberlain on Sunday. It was the two-year anniversary of his life-saving heart transplant. He's healthy, happy and grateful for the second life he's been given. If you're not already listed as an organ donor, sign up today. The gift of life indeed.

Happy birthday today to John DeLuca, Jan Bryant, Tre Lewis and Randy Hurt. Tomorrow Tracy Flaa, Robbie Canfield, Peter Willits and Becky Camarata will celebrate, as will Idaho's Governor Butch Otter, who's turning 70. Kay Pollard, Jeanette Bangs, Joni McCrory, Scott Hayden, Rand Wichman, Brittany Smith and Scott Jacobson (50!) blow out the candles on Friday. Happy Cinco de Mayo birthdays to the Polar Bear Plunge King Robert Cliff, Ben Miller, Joni McCroury, Carol Toomy, Lisa Peterson and Andy Fischbacher. On Sunday Tamatha Dougal, Kristi Pope, Connie Clark, Steve Eachon, Jeff Rhodes and turning 70 and proving that it's the new 50 are Karen Ouren and Kathy Sims. May 7 is the birthdate of Kathie Brack, Lisa Aitken, Rob Rinard, Jr., Rena Pruitt, Ramona Kaiser, David Dasher and Phil Pyseky. And on Tuesday Matt Barkley, Coke Hough, Lindsay Sales, Tiffany Moore Teal, Jared Raynor, Mary Rednour, Cory Snyder and Dave Walker will put on their party hats!

Kerri Rankin Thoreson is a member of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and the former publisher of the Post Falls Tribune. She was voted Best Local Writer for 2012 by the readers of the North Idaho Business Journal. Main Street appears every Wednesday in The Press and Kerri is on the air Mondays and Wednesdays on 1080 ESPN AM (KVNI).