Northwest Notes: Jan. 10, 2015

Author Hanggeli to speak at NIC Booster Club luncheon

Author Beth Hanggeli will be the guest speaker at the North Idaho College Booster Club luncheon at noon on Tuesday at the Outback Steakhouse in Coeur d'Alene.

Hanggeli is a writer and a lyricist who authored the book Soul Searching. She formerly served as the NIC Booster Club coordinator before working with Semester at Sea, a program that sends college students around the world as part of their college education. She has written articles for the North Idaho Business Journal and is currently a freelance writer for the Coeur d'Alene Press. Her lyrics can be heard on Radio Margaritaville. Visit her website at www.bethhanggeli.com.

Luncheons are held at noon on the second and last Tuesday of each month. Admission is free, but does not include the cost of lunch. The public is welcome to attend.

Information: 769-3348

Illinois State to pay tribute to father of Eastern lineman

Illinois State will pay tribute to the late father of an Eastern Washington football player by wearing a "65" sticker on its helmets today in the title game of the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision Playoffs against North Dakota State (10 a.m., ESPN2).

John Rodgers suffered a sudden cardiac arrest in the stands during the final minutes of Eastern's FCS playoff game against Illinois State on Dec. 13. He was resuscitated by first responders - including a registered nurse who was in the stands watching the game - but passed away on Dec. 26 at the age of 54. His son, senior All-American offensive tackle Jake Rodgers, played for the final time in the 59-46 loss to the Redbirds, then rushed after the game to be with his father at the hospital.

Mather named manager of Missoula Rookie League team

The Missoula Osprey, a Rookie League affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, announced that Joe Mather will manage the Osprey for the 2015 season.

Mather, a former resident of Coeur d'Alene and Sandpoint, spent parts of four seasons in the major leagues as a utility player, appearing in 229 career games with St. Louis (2008, 2010), Atlanta Braves (2011) and Chicago Cubs (2012). He played for current Arizona chief baseball officer and then-St. Louis manager Tony La Russa in 2008 and 2010.

Jeff Bajenaru will return to Missoula as pitching coach and Tack Wilson will join the staff as hitting coach. It marks the first time since the 2012 Pioneer League championship team that all three Osprey coaches played at the major league level.

Morris, Murphy, Weir, Boling earn state media awards

Tom Morris, radio play-by-play voice of the Idaho Vandals football team, was selected by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association (NSSA) as the 2014 Sportscaster of the Year for the state of Idaho.

Brian Murphy, columnist at the Idaho Statesman newspaper in Boise, was named Sportswriter of the Year for Idaho.

Larry Weir, radio play-by-play voice of Eastern Washington University since 1991, was named Sportscaster of the Year for the state of Washington.

Dave Boling, former Coeur d'Alene Press sportswriter now at the Tacoma News-Tribune, was named Sportswriter of the Year for Washington.

Spokane Golf Show scheduled for Feb. 21-22

The 17th annual Spokane Golf & Travel Show is scheduled for Feb. 21-22 at the Spokane Convention Center.

Event/show hours are Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $12, and children 12 and under are free. Tickets are available at all TicketsWest Outlets or the golf show website at www.spokanegolfshow.com.

Every adult paid admission will receive a free round of golf from Spokane's Fairways Golf Course and another bonus golf offer - most free - from a variety of courses including: Priest Lake, Columbia Point, Bryden Canyon, Redstone, Cascade, Chewelah, Prairie Falls and Colfax.

Information: www.spokanegolfshow.com, (509) 621-0125