ENGAGEMENT

Izatt-McKinney

Bruce and Debbie Izatt of Post Falls are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Cristy Lauren Izatt to Chad Michael McKinney, both of Liberty Lake, Wash., son of Dick and Sherri Jahns of Euless, Texas.

Cristy graduated from the University of Idaho with a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering. She is employed as a mechanical engineer at Itron Inc. in Liberty Lake. Chad graduated from Eastern Washington University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in business. He is a buyer for Huppin's Hi-Fi Photo & Video.

The couple will be united in marriage at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24, 2013, at the Hagadone Event Center at The Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course.

MILESTONE BIRTHDAY

Ken Johnston

90th Birthday

Ken Johnston celebrates his 90th birthday on Monday, May 20, 2013. He was born in Buhl, Minn., and raised in western Kentucky.

He served in the Army Air Corps in Word War II. In 1957, he married Delores Nohr in Chicago, Ill., where he was a reservation agent for Santa Fe Railway. In 1958, they moved to Auburn, Wash.

As a U.S. Postal Mail Carrier until his retirement in 1985, he was very active in the National Association of Letter Carriers Union. Ken and Delores moved to Coeur d'Alene in 2002. He is a member of Peace Lutheran Church in Post Falls.

Ken has three sons, three grandchildren and two great-granddaughters. His son Paul, his wife, Julie and granddaughter Amanda also live in Coeur d'Alene.

Births

Sage Mallory Lethrud was born at 5:39 a.m. May 10, 2013, to Stephanie Lethrud and Loren Smith of Sandpoint. She weighed 6 pounds, 9 ounces was 19 inches long. Brother is Olaf Lethrud. Sister is Shayla Lethrud. Maternal grandparents are Valarie and Marty Lethrud, and Carole and Olaf Lethrud. Paternal grandparents are Loren Smith, and Joe and Crystal Bowman.

EDUCATION

The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution named Mrs. Robyn L. Palmer, U.S. History teacher at Lakes Magnet Middle School, as Idaho's Outstanding Teacher of American History at their 100th State Conference held at The Coeur d'Alene Resort last week.

Mrs. Palmer's dedication to the teaching profession, her skills in teaching and in sharing her love of American History are readily evident when talking with Mrs. Palmer. "I firmly believe that to hook students at this age, or any age, history must be experienced at a deeper level than just reading about it in a book. This is my philosophy, that the instruction should be meaningful, should be challenging and should allow the student to feel history, not just know history." She uses simulations to immerse students, as much as possible into historical settings.

Many of her historical events get the entire school as well as the community involved. Mrs. Palmer continued, "Although the simulations are fun, I believe my most important job is in teaching the Constitution. This is one area of history that most affects students' lives today. I believe if students are going to participate fully and knowledgeably as citizens of a representative democracy, they need to understand the workings of their government." Mrs. Palmer's dossier has been sent to Washington, D.C., for competition at the National Level.

Doug Blaty, D.O., of Coeur d'Alene, has completed the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree at the Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine (AZCOM) of Midwestern University. An official graduation ceremony and conferring of degrees will take place on the Midwestern University campus in Glendale, Ariz., on Thursday, May 30, 2013.

Dr. Blaty is the son of Post Falls residents Bruce and Deanne Clifford. He graduated from Lake City High School in 2001, and earned a B.A. in mathematics from the University of Washington as a student-athlete in 2006. He then completed a M.S. in biomedical sciences from Barry University in 2008. While at Midwestern, he served as the Orthopedic Club president, received the Spirit of Service Scholarship for academic achievement and community involvement, and was a two-time Northwest Osteopathic Medical Foundation Scholarship recipient. Nationally, he scored at the top 1 percent on the Board Licensure Examination and has been selected into the Sigma Sigma Phi Osteopathic Honorary Fraternity.

After graduation from Midwestern, he plans to complete an Orthopedic Surgery Residency in Corvallis, Ore., with the possibility of specializing in orthopedic spine surgery.

The osteopathic medical profession employs a patient-centered, holistic approach to health care, with an emphasis on primary care and preventive medicine. Osteopathic physicians (D.O.s) enjoy the same rights and privileges as allopathic physicians (M.D.s) and possess an additional skill to treat patients: osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM). By combining OMM with traditional medical approaches, D.O.s provide patients with the most comprehensive care available today.

MILITARY

Army Pfc. Nicklaus J. Schmeckpeper has graduated from basic infantry training at Fort Benning, Columbus, Ga.

Schmeckpeper is the son of Betsy and Kevin Schmeckpeper of Post Falls.

He is a 2012 graduate of Lake City High School in Coeur d'Alene.

Submit your milestones to hmain@cdapress.com or in person at the Coeur d'Alene Press, 201 Second St., Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814.

Listings include:

- Wedding anniversaries for couples married 25 years and every fifth year thereafter (2 photos accepted)

- Wedding engagement announcements (1 photo accepted)

- Births (1 photo accepted)

- Milestone birthdays at age 70 and every fifth year thereafter or every year after age 90 (1 photo accepted)

- Academic honors and higher education accomplishments (1 photo accepted)

- Military announcements (1 photo accepted)

Deadline is 3 p.m. Tuesdays.