In the 1980s, I learned a valuable lesson about stating a goal out loud, ideally to people who can help you achieve the goal.

For four years during the annual "interviews with the publisher" I would answer the question of where I saw myself in the next five years with the company with my goal to become the publisher of the Post Falls Tribune.

On Friday night I had the opportunity to publicly thank the Coeur d'Alene Press publisher who made my goal a reality when a reception was held for the retirement of Jim Hail. Jim achieved much success and acclaim as the founder of The Black Book directories, but in the late '80s he was the editor and publisher of the Coeur d'Alene Press and the president of Hagadone Communications North Idaho News Network. Jim was a tough task master and a passionate newspaperman.

For me he was one of the people early on who genuinely believed in my abilities when there was scant evidence beyond my determination. I will long be grateful for that belief and wish my friend and mentor a long and happy retirement.

Thirty-three years ago this month, Ben Wolfinger started with the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office. The sheriff at that time (Floyd "Merf" Stalder) told Ben that due to his height he would probably never make it.

Today Ben's the sheriff of Kootenai County. For every person who's been labeled too short, tall, skinny, fat, young, old and other things, this story is an inspiration.

Another of those "I Love Where I Live" events celebrates Arbor Day with the annual Free Tree Day at Q'emiln Park in Post Falls on Saturday.

The event is coordinated by the Post Falls Parks and Urban Forestry departments and made possible by sponsors J-U-B Engineering, Pioneer Title Company, Cannon Hill, Starbucks, Northland Nursery, Wilbur-Ellis, Super 1 Foods, Bestway Spray, Cooper Fabrication, Donut Dugout, Subway, Starbucks, Specialty Tree Service, Tree Removal Services, Ultra-Lawn and Helena Chemical Company, and helped by volunteers from the Post Falls Lions Club, Boy Scout Troop 206 and Idaho Master Gardeners. People can choose as many as three bare-root trees. Several varieties will be available from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. It's not just for Post Falls residents; our neighbors are welcome to come adopt a tree for their yards, too!

There's great fun in store on Friday night with the fourth annual Cowboy Ball to benefit the North Idaho Fair and Rodeo Foundation. Kudos to event chair Kim Edmundson, foundation president Katie Bane and fairgrounds GM Dane Dugan for achieving what every fundraising committee aims for: Selling out more than a month before the event takes place. I'm looking forward to emcee duties and Kelly Hughes and his band getting the crowd onto the dance floor.

I love this event for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that outside of an actual rodeo, it celebrates the real cowboys, ranchers and farmers who for generations have contributed so much to our North Idaho way of life.

Happy birthday today to Amy Bartoo, Greg Prado, Kevin Kram, Patrick Hughes, Veldon Lee and Shanna Riske.

Tomorrow wish Nicole Medlock (40!), Jodi McKenzie, John Hays, Caleb Peck, Carol Graham, Marvin Erickson, Joan Nowoj-Phelps, Cynthia Taggart (60!) and Tom Messina happy anniversary of their birth. Dianna Scott, Sandra Borg, Jim Hightower, Rosie Diana, Darin McEvers, Sharon Finnerty, Kathryn Rosia and Nancy Benjamin put on their party hats on Friday.

On Saturday, Idella Mansfield, Lonna Duncan, David Bond, Doreen Johnson, Karen Reagan and DiAnna Macklin will celebrate.

On April 12, Mallory Stubblefield-Martinez, Russell Heistuman, Connie Munk and Kevin Reed will kick up their heels.

Look for Madison Leonard, Evalyn Adams, Kathy Behm and Corbin Messina to blow out their candles on Monday. Phil Damiano, Joan Harmon, Delaine Lewis, Mark Robitaille, Dana Shapland and Bill Gough, aka the One Man Band who's turning 70, have Tuesday birthdays.

Kerri Rankin Thoreson is a member of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and the former publisher of the Post Falls Tribune. Main Street appears every Wednesday in The Press and Kerri can be contacted on Facebook or via email mainstreet@cdapress.com. Follow her on Twitter @kerrithoreson.