Ben Wolfinger to lead Coeur d’Alene Fourth of July parade

The Coeur d’Alene Chamber of Commerce said it is thrilled to give Kootenai County Sheriff Ben Wolfinger the send-off he deserves.

Wolfinger, who is retiring at the end of his term, will be the grand marshal for this year’s Fourth of July Parade.

“We’re just delighted that he accepted,” Chamber CEO Derrell Hartwick said. “He’s very deserving. He’s been a great person to work with.”

Wolfinger, a Silver Valley native, has been with the Sheriff’s Office since 1983. During his tenure, he worked at the jail, on patrol and in the detectives unit before being promoted to captain in 1995. The former Coeur d’Alene City Council member was elected sheriff in 2012.

His term ends in the new year.

The theme of this year’s Fourth of July Parade and Festival is “Reunited Coeur d’Alene,” a theme the chamber is moving forward with to counter the challenge of social distancing.

The parade begins at 10 a.m. on the corner of 15th Street and Sherman Avenue, ending at Independence Point. The chamber has received 60 submissions for float entries so far with a week to go before the June 18 deadline. Wolfinger, meanwhile, said he was honored to take part in a much-needed Coeur d’Alene tradition.

“In this unprecedented year, I think anything that brings the community back to what we know as ‘normal’ is a great step forward,” Wolfinger said. “The Fourth of July Parade is a time-honored tradition that takes a huge leap forward towards ‘normal.’”

He added that, through his years of service, one constant has remained the same: the resilience of the people who call North Idaho home.

“Through all of the bumps and bruises, the people here always come out on top,” Wolfinger said. “They do that because of the resiliency that permeates our community. I am proud to have served the communities of Kootenai County as a deputy and as their sheriff. I’m looking forward to the next adventure, whatever it may be.”

Wolfinger has served as chairman of the Coeur d’Alene Chamber Board of Directors, received the Distinguished Citizen of the Year Award and the Ed Abbot Volunteer of the Year Award.

“Sheriff Wolfinger’s dedication and service to our community will continue to be felt by all of us who experienced the benefits of his gracious support,” said Patty Shea, chair of the chamber’s Awards Committee. “The Coeur d’Alene chamber is proud to honor him as our 2020 Fourth of July Parade grand marshal. We thank him for all the countless hours he has spent keeping our community safe and ensuring a wonderful place to live, work and play.”