Centennial birthdays, breaking records and saving a life
Coeur d'Alene Press | UPDATED 6 years, 10 months AGO
Jessie Jordahl will celebrate her centennial birthday on Monday, March 26. She and her late husband, Orland, were married for 73 years before he passed away. The couple have four children, 12 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. Jessie lives at Orchard Ridge now, spending her days playing bridge with friends at Northstar and pinochle every Friday night. According to her son, Lonne Jordahl, his mom still plays a mean game of Scrabble. Happy 100th birthday Jessie!
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I saw Loren Benoit’s photo of Post Falls High School athlete Tyler Trengove breaking the school record with a high jump of 6 feet, 8.5 inches last week in a meet with Lake City High School. Surprisingly (since I can’t remember what I did yesterday), I recalled when the record was last set. It was in 1994 and the three-sport athlete (North Idaho Athlete of the Year) who set the 6 feet, 6 inch record was Darick Pope, PFHS Class of 1995.
I messaged Darick to confirm my memory, which he did. Darick now lives in Orlando, Fla., but sent this message to pass along to the new record holder. “Congratulations Tyler Trengove on your excellent achievement! I hope that record holds for another 24 years.”
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Northern Lakes Fire Chief Pat Riley was up-close and personal with a life-saving Heimlich maneuver over the weekend. Pat’s been a first responder for a quarter century. In his early years as a firefighter/EMT he was able to successfully use the Heimlich on his then-toddler daughter, Katy, when she had a coin lodged in her airway.
Over the weekend 21-year-old Katy had the opportunity to repay the favor when the family was sharing a pie. Pat began choking and Katy jumped into action. Their size difference was a challenge, so when they realized it wasn’t working, Katy helped her dad use the self-Heimlich on the edge of the kitchen counter top. On the second try the pie was dislodged.
Chief Riley said he’s used to emergency situations but not when he’s been the one needing help. “My wife, Traci and I have been on an awesome weight loss/wellness program and decided to treat ourselves and the family to a slice of pie to celebrate our recent accomplishments,” said Pat, who’s lost 30 pounds.
He’s likely to skip treats from this point on but does want to remind the public that learning life-saving skills is a family affair.
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More Ain’t Love Grand stories ... Todd Jenicek was an NIC student in the 1980s when he was tapped to add his tenor voice to the original Christmas carolers at the Coeur d’Alene Resort. Maria-Cristina Avila Lualhati was also a caroler. The two met, fell in love and will celebrate 27 years of marriage in May. They own Calypso’s Coffee House, a block from where they first met.
Angela Ippolito met a handsome fellow fresh from the Marine Corps in a southern California bar. She knew he would be the father of her children. John and Angela Cross just celebrated 56 years of marriage, with their children and grandchildren!
Teresa Snider was a cook at TJ’s Pantry in Post Falls. Chuck Wasileski would come in after his graveyard shift and eat. The old saying that the best way to a man’s heart is through his stomach is true. The Wasileskis have been married for 34 years.
In 1975, Greg Matelich sold Susan Stream her first sailboat, and gave her a job working on the Matelich Marine docks and in the bar at the INNtrepid on Lake Coeur d’Alene. They’ve been “together” since 1980 and married for 11 years. Mrs. Matelich says it’s been smooth sailing all along.
John was a coach for the ISU football team. Julie was a song leader. Mr. and Mrs. Billitz are celebrating 42 years of marriage in August.
Tatiana Monroe met Al Harrison at basketball practice in February of 1979. They married five months later on July 7, on the first tee of Ponderosa Golf Course. They’ll mark 39 years of wedded bliss this year.
Love can be messy and muddy. Keith and Jennifer Van Slate met in 2012 when they were placed on the same Dirty Dash team sponsored by their gym. They cleaned up and were married in 2016.
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Things to Do: The 9th Annual Coeur d’Alene Blues Festival, Friday through Sunday at the Coeur d’Alene Resort. cdaresort.com.
On Saturday, the annual Penguin Plunge to benefit Special Olympics Idaho is at Coeur d’Alene City Beach. Register at the bandshell at 11 a.m., plunge at noon. Donate here: www.firstgiving.com/event/idso/coeur-d-alene.
Also on Saturday, The Sons of Norway invite the public to their Norwegian Waffle Social at Trinity Lutheran Church in Coeur d’Alene from 9-11 a.m. $7 adults, $2 under 12 and under 6 free.
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Happy Birthday today to Brandie Chapman, Kelleye Heydon, Luke Paul, Michelle Lewis, Marla Lopez, Trudie Chamberlan, Julie Billetz, Steve Hanson, Jacque Kress, Derek Teal and Jack Crawford. Tomorrow Beverly Larsen, Rich Anstine, Greg Cook, Jack Budvarson, Julie Perry, Katie Vaughan, Bernie Currie, Pam Adams, Boston Pierce, Cole Jaworski and Rob Carpenter will mark their special day. Friday Tad Leach, Paul Ray, Herb Huseland (80!), Lori Weaver, Julie Perry, Linda Lewis, Landon Stepro and Jacey Brockhoff enjoy a piece of birthday cake. March 24 birthday celebrants are Dick Harris (81!), Esther Paul and Nichole Frank. Taking another trip around the sun on Sunday are Jame‘ Davis, Ray Oliver, Colleen Brown, Jerry Ausburn, Brenda Buckingham, Alyssa Romero, Mike Carle and Alexander Carle. On Monday Dave Fair, Julie Harris (50!), Julie Readel, Nancy Noordam, J.B. Romero, Lorna Griffin, Mike Bennett, Cyndy Griffin, John Hart, Mistie Cooper and WJ Lazerus put on their party hats. On Tuesday Chet Lindquist, Lila Kimm, Theresa Hart, Jamie Green, Katherin Pope, Dan Dunham, Sharon Erickson, Chris Magera, Susan Reynolds, Lynne Wiedemann, Alie Hotchkiss, Ralph Nelson, Irene Bowman and Julie Harris will celebrate.
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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.