A testament to commitment, legacy

Last week, I had the pleasure of attending the unveiling of the Viking bronze statue, Sigvard, at Coeur d’Alene High School. The impressive piece stands at 6 feet, 5 inches tall, weighs over 800 pounds and was created by renowned artist Terry Lee (CHS '67).

The quest to privately fund this $75,000 gift to Coeur d’Alene High School began with Rebecca Priano and Anne Lunceford Capellen and their CHS Class of 1972 50th reunion committee three years ago. They enlisted members of the CHS Class of 1967 for the fundraising efforts. Rick Rasmussen, CHS ‘84, a mover and shaker, get-things-done kind of guy, was recruited to take point on the fundraising. Trivia: Sigvard is Rick’s middle name!

So the gathering last week was a testament not only to school and community pride but the generous commitment from generations of Viking alumni, many of whom were in attendance.

Terry Lee is an artist of enormous talent who has traveled and painted around the world. His Mudgy and Millie sculptures and the Coeur d’Alene History Walk featuring six life-size bronze statues honoring the trades, farming, mining and logging, a Suffragist and a soldier will stand the test of time and place.

As I listened to Terry, whom I’ve known since we were both teens, describe the yearslong process of creating the Viking in his Hayden studio, his voice catching with emotion, I realized Sigvard is a true legacy piece. Not just because Terry’s talented hands painstakingly worked on every detail, but because of his heart and personal history and connection to what the Viking represents. 

Once a Viking, always a Viking.

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We’ve had the newspaper delivered to our same home address since 1987. Seven days a week (now six), our Coeur d’Alene Press appears in our curbside newspaper box long before we wake up. It’s just one of those things that happens that we don’t really think about.

When I received a Christmas card from our carrier last week, I decided to give him a call. Jimmy McCart has been delivering The Press in retirement since 2009 and to our Post Falls neighborhood for the last several years. He also has a Hayden Lake motor route.

Jimmy said he enjoys the job and the three hours or so in the wee hours of quiet to cover 300+ subscribers. Jimmy sees our communities without the hustle and bustle and noise and traffic. I’m glad I took the time to chat with him on the phone, to thank him for providing a service that we easily take for granted.

I encourage those who receive the newspaper to generously tip their carrier this holiday season.

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Wreaths Across America is taking place locally Saturday, Dec. 13, at 9 a.m. at Coeur d’Alene Memorial Gardens, 7315 N. Government Way. If you’d like to help place the wreaths, arrive an hour or so before the 9 a.m. program starts.

Remember, honor, teach is the mission as nearly 1,000 wreaths will be placed on veterans’ graves in Coeur d’Alene.

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The 39th Annual Shalena’s Breakfast with Santa and the Hauser Lake Volunteer Fire Department is Sunday, Dec.14, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Hauser Lake Fire Station, 10728 N. Hauser Lake Road.

P.S.: One kind word can warm three winter months.

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Happy birthday today to Dick Wandrocke, Shannon Clark, Richard Carlson, Burt Bachelder, Matthew Lemieux and Gavin Broadwater. Tomorrow, Christina Petit (50!), Steve Cornelius, Kathy Hughes, Duncan Menzies, Stephanie Hunter, Michael Matt, Katrina Mayer, Kym Hamby, Leigh Sales and Aleta English blow out the candles. Special birthday wishes on the 12th day of the 12th month to Mary Sanderson, Margot Mitchell, Alexis Davis, Sialas Tripp,  Amy Alderman, John Austin (70!), Mary Finley, Teresa Capone, Mark Orlowski, Konrad Hochhalter, Monte Miller, Richard Stevenette, Colleen Williams, Dave Sayers, Lynn Knapp and Jessica White. Saturday birthdays for Jim Freeman, Austin Lee, Kim Buer and Denise Higgs. On Sunday, Eve Knudtsen, Kyle Siegert, Angie Hatch, Jeannette Conroy, Sybil McCormack, Sandy Clemons, Amber Briles, John Medlock, Vicki Peoples, Karen Kastning, Tammy VanBrunt and James Forster will jingle the birthday bells. Starting the week with Monday birthdays are Nellie Armstrong, Kerri Wilfong, Susan Schneidmiller, Cat Troy, Jann Kinnard, Josef Dreps, Brenda Young, Janelle Stimson, Anne Marie Toothaker, Travis Gardner and Austin Wuest. Marci Clark, Pam Pereira, Mimi Eismann, Lori Dawson, Harmony Taylor, Dot Neirinckx and Tim Kastning take another trip around the sun Dec. 16.

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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 [email protected].