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With the sun breaking through, an ambient air
temperature of a balmy 39-degrees Fahrenheit and
fresh snow just beginning to melt on the banks
of the river, more than 50 brave and intrepid
souls boldly leapt off the Deep Creek boat
launch at noon today for a chilly dip into the
icy Kootenai.
Just to make sure it was
actually icy, Bonners Ferry Police Chief Rick
Alonzo dumped a bag of ice into the river just
before the first plunge.
With Superman Dave Kramer
acting as safety officer, a rescue diver
standing by and the sheriff's patrol boat ready
to react in case of emergency, the swimmers
braved the frigid waters in the 2011 Penguin
Plunge for a good cause, to raise money for
Idaho Special Olympics.
JoJo Baker of KBFI Radio kept everyone on time
as announcer for the event, the warming tents
were up, manned and warmed, and from start to
finish the event was smooth as ice. Despite
several looks to the contrary on shocked faces
as they hit the water, no injuries were reported
and no body parts were reported to have fallen
off, though a few hats and wigs did, and
Superman's cape got turned completely around.
While names of all the
brave and dripping souls haven't yet been
received, the pledges tallied or the winners
announced, there were some standouts.
Michael Reasoner, going in with the team from
Mugsy's, left the dock a well-endowed blond
cheerleader, but came out of the water bald ...
his bald locks floating away to be rescued just
in the nick of time. His wife, Danielle, made
the plunge dressed as Little Red Riding Hood.
Brett Brown and his Safeway team were among the
first in the water, and while they didn't dress
up for the event, the looks on their faces as
their heads broke water were priceless ... and
likely brought on a touch of trepidation in the
hearts of those who were waiting to plunge.
Tish Lagerwey, port
director for U.S. Customs and Border Protection
at Eastport, led a team of officers in an act
way above and beyond the call of duty, and all
dressed in full uniform, even the canine unit,
whose name I've yet to learn but who gave me and
those around me an invigorating shower as she
left the water.
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| Carolyn
Testa |
Carolyn Testa, owner of The Groove Studio, was
by far the prettiest faerie princess at the
event, though her wings were drooping just a bit
as she came out of the water.
There were teams from
Bonners Ferry High School, athletes and Junior
Miss entrants, and Echo Springs Academy, representing
the younger generation, and one couple, who left
the water too quickly to grab a name, who appear
to have spent a long and happy life together.
It wasn't just plungers at
the event, either. Riverside Road was jam-packed
with parked cars and spectators outnumbered
plungers by about four to one. Bob Graham was
there, ready to respond to any emergency, as was
Bonners Ferry City Councilman Tom Mayo, decked
out like an Eskimo in parka and big boots, there
to serve as a judge and try to stay dry. Andrea
Kramer, Superman's wife, was also on shore,
taking some beautiful pictures, including one of
her husband, Dave, doing his best impression of
"Up, Up, and Away!" and very much looking like
he could do it, too!
An old friend, Dean
Satchwell, was there, taking pictures and
enjoying the fun, smiling and laughing at all
the antics. He and his wife, Janet, returned to
Boundary County in January from Alaska after
Dean was diagnosed with cancer. He told me he
wanted to spend what time he has left at home
and having fun among friends, and he truly
looked to be enjoying himself.
There was also a notable
absence, even though they'd registered and
raised their pledges. At the outset, JoJo Baker
announced that plungers from the South Boundary
and Paradise Valley fire districts couldn't
attend as they were working to save a home from
a fire that broke out earlier that morning.
Instead of making the plunge, South Boundary
Fire Chief Tony Rohrwasser, who tied last year
for the duration prize by staying in the water
an amazing 11 minutes (of course, it was warmer
last year by at least three or four degrees and
for safety reasons that award was not offered
this year), and his team were doing what all
Boundary County emergency responders do so well,
coming to the assistance of neighbors in need.
Julie Golder was there from
the Bonners Ferry Herald, and so was Roger
Fraser of the Flatlander. KBFI Radio had it
covered from start to finish, with JoJo even
calling a doctor to advise plungers of the
physical effects of jumping into frigid waters.
And there was a contingent
there from the very people to benefit, our local
Idaho Special Olympians, proudly wearing the
gold and silver medals they'd earned in
competitions past.
In all, the 2011 Boundary
County Penguin Plunge was a great success from
start to finish, and thanks go out to all who
made it possible ... and to those icily brave
souls who accepted the challenge.
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