Welcome, baby Bennett
BILL BULEY | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 4 years, 11 months AGO
Cody and Jessica Smith of Coeur d'Alene pose with their son, Bennett, born New Year's Day at Kootenai Health.
BILL BULEY/Press
Bill Buley covers the city of Coeur d'Alene for the Coeur d’Alene Press. He has worked here since January 2020, after spending seven years on Kauai as editor-in-chief of The Garden Island newspaper. He enjoys running. | January 5, 2021 1:00 AM
COEUR d'ALENE — Cody and Jessica Smith didn't get a lot of sleep Sunday night.
That happens when you bring a newborn home.
The Coeur d'Alene couple are the parents of the first baby of 2021 born at Kootenai Health.
Bennett Smith was born at 4:33 a.m. Friday, New Year's Day. He weighed 5 pounds, 4 ounces and was 20 inches long. He was born a few weeks earlier than expected.
"A surprise to everybody," his father said.
He joins a 4-year-old brother, Graysen, in the family.
Bennett is healthy and he and his mom and dad were doing well on Monday — other than being a little tired from a sleepless night.
The name Bennett isn't after anyone in the family.
"With a name like Smith we wanted to have something a little different," Cody Smith said.
ARTICLES BY BILL BULEY
Companions Animal Center has adopted out nearly 2,000 dogs, cats in 2025
Companions Animal Center has adopted out nearly 2,000 dogs, cats in 2025
As if to prove it, signs on two kennel doors proclaim “I have been adopted! I’m currently waiting to be picked up by my new parents.” One is a timid black mastiff. But the shelter remains crowded. Monday, it has about 50 large dogs filling kennels, including in the new wing oped this year, and there is still a four-month waiting list with names of about 80 dogs that people are looking to surrender pets.
Post Falls man named director of ministry with global reach
Post Falls man named director of ministry with global reach
Grassi, a longtime hunter and fisherman, started what was originally called “Let’s Go Fishing Ministry, Inc.” with a focus on outdoors, men and God. It was later changed to “Men’s Ministry Catalyst." The emphasis was on helping men understand their role as defined in the Bible.
Nonprofit foundation helps family become homeowners for first time
Nonprofit foundation helps family become homeowners for first time
The Young Family’s Foundation launched about a year ago with a mission "to empower young, hardworking families to achieve the dream of home ownership. Even if a family saved $25,000, they would still be $19,000 short of the down payment needed to buy a $550,000 home, which is the median price in Kootenai County. It’s estimated that only about 20% of area households can afford to buy a home.