Green wave washes over Cd'A
BILL BULEY | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year, 1 month AGO
Mary Reno with the Blazen Divaz smiles and waves during the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Coeur d'Alene on Saturday.
BILL BULEY/Press
Cousins Finn Terra and Jack Dodgion don Leprechaun outfits for Saturday's St. Patrick's Day Parade in Coeur d'Alene.
Gabe Thomas with Idaho Central Credit Union joins the St. Patrick's Day Parade.
A crowd lines Sherman Avenue for the St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday.
Tinkerbell waves her magic wand during the St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday.
Lincoln Dietz sports a spud outfit as he gives out high fives in the St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday.
Lisa Houston and her English bulldog Obi-Wan Kenobi walk the St. Patrick's Day Parade.
Ireland was the minds and backs of parade goers on Saturday.
Heath Wiltse wears his Guinness costume for the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Coeur d'Alene on Saturday.
Girl Scouts walk the St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday.
Big, green hats were popular on Saturday in Coeur d'Alene.
The All Things Irish float passes by the crowd during Saturday's St. Patrick's Day Parade.
Katie Terra pushes son Wells in his stroller during the St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday.
Big, green hats were popular on Saturday in Coeur d'Alene.
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. | March 17, 2024 1:08 AM
COEUR d’ALENE — When it’s time for Coeur d’Alene’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Heath Wiltse doesn’t hold a can of Guinness.
He wears one.
For the 18th year, Wiltse donned his familiar costume, then jigged and waved his way through the annual celebration on Sherman Avenue on Saturday afternoon.
“It’s fun. The kids love it, the adults love it even more,” he said.
Cameron Dietz and son Lincoln joined the parade in potato costumes, each with a green hat and green bow tie. Dad was “Masher the Potato” and son was “Sprout the Potato.”
While Cameron danced about, Lincoln ran around giving out high-fives. It was their first time as a duo in the parade.
“Awesome,” shouted Cameron.
On a sunny, 65-degree day, with the luck of the Irish in the air, thousands of adults and kids lined downtown Sherman Avenue.
The 30-minute parade with a “Green and Gold” theme featured about 25 entries. It was put on by the Coeur d'Alene Downtown Association in partnership with Idaho Central Credit Union.
It was a magical day; all that was missing was a rainbow. The sound of bagpipes filled the air, Sheriff Bob Norris wished everyone a happy St. Patrick's Day and Tinkerbell cast a joyous spell over the crowd.
Nancy DiGiammarco was the grand marshal. Other parade honorees included Patrick Strain as Irish Man of the Year; Laurie Thomas as the Irish Woman of the Year; and Keelin Wilson as the Irish Colleen of the Year.
Almost everyone in the crowd seemed to be wearing green — shirts, pants, hats, socks or shoes, or all of the above.
ICCU perhaps displayed the most spirit, with staff joined by family and friends in moving a wave of green and giving out candy to kids.
“Feeling great,” said ICCU’s Gabe Thomas, sporting sunglasses and a derby hat.
Lisa Houston with the Coeur d’Alene Dog Fanciers was joined by her English bulldog, named Obi-Wan Kenobi, who wore a green handkerchief around his thick neck.
“He’s my 100-pound lap dog,” a smiling Houston said.
The parade couldn't have been any better, she added.
“I’m so excited,” Houston said. “The sun is out. It’s a great day.”
Laurie Thomas, the Irish Woman of the Year, walked the parade route like royalty.
“Loving it,” said Thomas, who is a quarter Irish. “It honors part of my heritage.”
Mary Reno with the Blazen Divaz wore a green shirt, green beaded necklaces, green bracelets and even green stickers on her face.
She was beaming as she held the Blazen Divaz banner with her right hand and waved with her left.
“Beautiful day,” she said. “Everybody comes out and everybody is Irish.”
The St. Patrick’s Day fun continues today at the Coeur d’Alene Public Library with music, trivia, prizes and more with an Irish theme. It starts at 1 p.m.
Cousins Finn Terra and Jack Dodgion don Leprechaun outfits for Saturday's St. Patrick's Day Parade in Coeur d'Alene.
Gabe Thomas with Idaho Central Credit Union joins the St. Patrick's Day Parade.
A crowd lines Sherman Avenue for the St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday.
Tinkerbell waves her magic wand during the St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday.
Lincoln Dietz sports a spud outfit as he gives out high fives in the St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday.
Lisa Houston and her English bulldog Obi-Wan Kenobi walk the St. Patrick's Day Parade.
Ireland was the minds and backs of parade goers on Saturday.
Heath Wiltse wears his Guinness costume for the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Coeur d'Alene on Saturday.
Girl Scouts walk the St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday.
Big, green hats were popular on Saturday in Coeur d'Alene.
The All Things Irish float passes by the crowd during Saturday's St. Patrick's Day Parade.
Katie Terra pushes son Wells in his stroller during the St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday.MORE FRONT-PAGE-SLIDER STORIES
PHOTOS: State A basketball tournament action from March 7
Daily Inter-Lake | Updated 1 year, 1 month ago
ARTICLES BY BILL BULEY
Coeur d'Alene's Garden District makes history
Listed on National Register of Historic Places
The effort to recognize the neighborhood’s historic significance began when a group of Garden District neighbors approached historian Robert Singletary, then the Chair of the Kootenai County Historic Preservation Commission, with the idea of placing their neighborhood on the National Register, a press release said.
Coeur d'Alene gathering marks eight worker deaths in 2024
Coeur d'Alene gathering marks eight worker deaths in 2024
It was a somber occasion, marked by the playing of Taps, calls to correct workplace wrongs and a prayer of Dale Broadsword, president of the Idaho Alliance for Retired Americans. “We pray for families, friends, and neighbors who have lost their lives at work,” he said. ‘That your grace and peace be with their loved ones. We pray for those whose lives were lost due to our unjust systems and the circumstances of their work.”
Idaho Gives' kicks off key week for Kootenai County nonprofits
Idaho Gives' kicks off key week for Kootenai County nonprofits
Nearly 20 nonprofits shared their life-changing and life-saving missions at Companions Animal Center for the Idaho Gives awareness event, including Canopy Village, Habitat for Humanity North Idaho, Idaho Trail Association and Mountain States Early Head Start. Idaho Gives is the state’s largest collective giving campaign, taking place April 28 to May 1.