Faces of the week

I haven't seen June Paulet's face since Boise in August, but I did want Ginny in Salmon to know that her mom's having a good time up here. Talked to June yesterday, and she told me she'd hit pay dirt at a funeral and a birthday party Saturday. Paydirt in Sandpoint, for some of us, means running into a whole bunch of friendly faces you've known for a thousand years.

Obviously one occasion was solemn, but when June showed up that afternoon at Mary Ellen Black's 90th birthday party, she knew she was in for a good time. I don't know if any of the guests got up on the table at the Senior Center and danced, but I'm sure a good time was had by all at that party.

Here's a little dose of what we all enjoy about old Sandpoint, and I'm happy to say that even some of the relatively new people have figured it out. Before going to coffee cult on Saturday, I stopped by Yoke's because I know that's June's Sandpoint office when she comes visiting. I didn't see her in the coffee shop so I went over to an employee at the deli.

"Do you work here regularly?" I asked.

"Well, as a matter of fact I just started working here three weeks ago," she told me.

"Oh, well, it won't do much good to tell you," I lamented. "I was going to leave a message for a lady from Salmon who comes here and uses the coffee shop as her office, but you haven't been working here long enough to know her."

"Oh, June!" she said. "I know her! I used to swim with her at the health club. She's such a nice lady . . . ."

I had hit paydirt after all, so I went ahead and told the clerk to tell June I'd stopped by. The lady did her job. When I talked to June yesterday, she'd gotten the message.

June also told me that the University of Idaho had called her for some history on their Sand Creek Angus Farm, which they sold a few years ago. Seems that it's looking almost for sure that part of it will be used for University of Idaho's Sandpoint research work, thanks to Coldwater Creek owner Dennis Pence's efforts to bring the university north. So, I know June is proud.

Speaking of Coldwater Creek, I'm hoping to see the face of Georgia Shonk-Simmons, one of their head honchos this week. She's the mastermind behind much of the money that's poured into the Panhandle Alliance for Education (PAFE) coffers, and I've gotta talk to her for a story I'm doing about the organization's five years of history.

Georgia spearheaded the annual golf tournament at The Coeur d'Alene Resort last week, where she's been known to literally take wallets from participants, telling them to ante up for Lake Pend Oreille School District education. Some might call this golf-course robbery, but the victims know they're dealing with a good-hearted extortionist, so they happily give in and give generously.

I've been having a hard time getting ahold of Georgia, so I'm wondering if I'd go down to Yoke's and tell the deli folks----maybe I'll get a message through to her.

This week's faces also include Marcia Wilson, down there at the PAFE office who's gonna give me a video to watch and the program for the PAFE art auction gala this summer. Allison Gilmore, who drummed up a lot of the art, said it's worth seeing.

Then, I'll spend some time picking the brain of Gretchen Hellar who's running for mayor of Sandpoint. She's agreed to do a Q and A feature for my next "Love Notes" column in The River Journal. If anyone has any pressing questions they'd like me to submit to Gretchen, send 'em my way. I'm gonna ask her if she'll bring the mayor's office to Yoke's to meet with the people----oops, that's in Ponderay, but a lot of Sandpoint's residents do shop there. Maybe I'd better suggest Safeway. Wonder if she has that "club" card they harass me about every time I go through the check stand.

Besides asking Gretchen a bunch of questions, I've already submitted some questions to Lois and Skip Barron who live in Malin, Oregon. They're head honchos in the SOAP club. That's an Appaloosa group in Southern Oregon who claim they have "good, clean fun." Lois and Skip are the featured folks in my next Appaloosa Journal story.

I'll also be seeing my friend Howard. He's the one who sleuths down premium second-cutting alfalfa for me. Howard and everyone around will tell you hay is in short supply this year. Well, Howard told me that yesterday, but he also takes great pride in knowing where to look. He's told me this mystery hay that he's gonna sell me comes from more than 100 miles away, but he's not telling me where. I don't care where it comes from, nor do my horses. If it's good hay, they'll munch it down.

I don't know what other faces I'll see as the week unfolds, but, as usual, I'm looking forward to the adventure. Have a great Monday.