Penguin Plunge 2013 a day to remember
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March 10, 2013 |
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The 2013
Special Olympics Bonners Ferry Penguin
Plungers were greeted by balmy
conditions today, this group shot taken
as the event got underway isn't all of
them; several were busy slathering on
lotion and/or working on their tan. |
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By Mike Weland
Boundary County Sheriff Greg Sprungl couldn't
attend Saturday's Penguin Plunge, and it showed.
After the past few years of his turning the
waters of the Kootenai cold with the traditional
dumping of ice, two officers; Bonners Ferry
Police Chief Steve Benkula and Chief Deputy Rich
Stephens both did the honor this year, but it
wasn't the same.
When Greg poured in the ice, cubes could be seen
by close watchers to be shrieking and shivering
under blustery gray skies, pushed by winds that
could blow away tents, and driven to misery by
sleet, rain and/or snow.
Not this year.
The slight breeze died on cue, the sun came out
to shine. Despite double the amount of ice, the
cubes did a leisurely back stroke and seemed to
say, "come on in! Water's fine!"
With the sun out, the water was a balmy
38-degrees F. What North Idaho natives call
beach weather.
"This was kind of fun," one jumper said later.
"I'm going to have to go for a swim just to cool
down!"
While the numbers aren't yet in, this year's
Penguin Plunge ... an event that traditionally
only attracts the most intrepid, was an
unqualified success. Brian Phillips and Justin
Scott traveled all the way from Spokane to make
a splash, and a tiny wisp of a woman, Marciavee
Cossette, age not important, showed the young
whippersnappers how things were done back in the
day.
But most talk was reserved for the team from
Safeway, a group that hasn't missed a single
Penguin Plunge.
A checker who works in the bakery went in in
full uniform, but the crowd was checking out her
bikini-clad teammates. Had the temperature been
just another degree higher, the tiki lights
would have been out and the beach party may well
have lasted to nightfall.
Helping warm spirits this year was the new
venue, the Boundary County Waterways boat
launch, offering a warm house and tables inside
full of hot cocoa, coffee, and chili.
The waterways building wasn't tested Saturday,
but all signs thus far indicate it may well be
the location of choice in years to come ... The
warming huts don't blow away!
There may well forever be controversy regarding
the judging, however.
Joshua Olmo, supervising agent of the FBI Bureau
office in Coeur d'Alene, who recently moved to
North Idaho with his family from more moderate
climes, thought it was cold out.
Judges Bonners Ferry Assistant Police Chief Joel
Minor and Bonner County Prosecutor Louis
Marshall fell down laughing.
Judge Brad Berdusco, Canadian Border Service,
made this an International incident when he
guffawed, "Oh, this is rich!"
He did not say, "eh."
Emcee JoJo Baker, KBFI Radio and Blue Sky
Broadcasting, was not so reticent.
"This is barely warm," he said.
"It's not cold?" agent Olmo asked.
"I'm talking about the chili," Jojo replied.
"Not quite as hot as I like it. Needs more
pepper."
Once again this year, the Idaho Special Olympics
Penguin Plunge was made possible with a lot of
help, and thanks go out to the local law
enforcement community, who organize the event
each year and who are always on hand to ensure
the safety of all who participate, to Super 1
Foods, Safeway, Bonners Ferry Conoco, Red
Rooster Coffee and Under the Sun, the Kootenai
River Brewing Company, Well Life Pharmacy,
Mugsy's and WalMart for their donations, and
especially to those who made the 2013 Penguin
Plunge and all the folks who came out to cheer
them on. |
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The Safeway
crew looked a wee bit hesitant as they
reached dockside, but they didn't bide
long ... |
| ... Taking a
deep breath and a leap of faith.
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... To
discover that the Kootenai was just a
wee bit chilly despite the long-awaited
sunshine! |
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Some teams
showed a bit more style going into the
water, as evidenced by Carolyn "Kneivel"
Testa and her crew, who turned a fine
pirouette on the way to the water ... |
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... Though
their moment of grace was short-lived.
"Penguin Plunge completed," Carolyn wrote on
Facebook later. "Gorgeous sun makes you
feel like you can do anything. Even jump
into 38 degree water." |
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Ever in
uniform, Tish Lagerwey and Sue Wilson,
both with U.S. Customs and Border
Patrol, came out of the cold Kootenai
looking only slightly worse for the
wear ... |
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... Their counterparts from north of the
border at Kingsgate also took the plunge
this year, making the leap with their
nation's banner proudly displayed. When
they came out of the water, though, that
bright red maple leaf had turned blue,
but they went away with one of two
Judge's Choice awards for their daring
dive. |
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Guests
arrived from the south, too, as the
Bonner County dive team jumped in
wearing all the latest in high-tech
dive gear. |
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The Bonners Ferry Police Department
was well represented, though choice of
attire differed somewhat. Retired (but
still active) former Police Chief Dave
Kramer chose to go tactical, while
Officer Willie Cowell opted for a more
laid back look befitting the balmy
temperature. "Oh SWAT, that water was
cold!" Kramer later quipped. |
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Through it
all, judges Joshua Olmo, Louis Marshall,
Brad Berdusco and Joel Minor stayed
warm, but theirs was the toughest job of
the day ... |
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... As some
of this year's Penguin Plungers made
quite a splash. |
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wasn't just cops Freezin' for a Reason;
kids in cowboy hat, Mom and even the family dog
made the chilly plunge for Idaho Special
Olympics as dive team member Caleb Watts
keeps an eye on things! |
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Among those
livening the spirit of the event was
Marciavee Cossette, attired in a
stunning blue gown and wearing a hat
evoking the arrival of spring, who had a
quiet moment of reflection, perhaps to
wonder why anyone would want do such a crazy
thing ... |
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... Before
blithely (and bravely!) wading out into
the icy water! |
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As always,
law enforcement personnel were joined in the icy
plunge by others who protect and serve,
as South Boundary Fire Chief Tony Rohrwasser led his crew, looking just
Smurfy, into the water. |
| The team
from U.S. Customs and Border Patrol won
one of this year's coveted Judge's
Choice awards ... |
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... And the
overall Spirit Award went to Team
Safeway, gratefully accepted on their
behalf by Kat Burnham. |
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Looking
considerably more comfortable after a
change out of sodden attire, Marciavee
was awarded the prize for Best Costume
... |
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... And Judge
Louis Marshall was honored to present
Bonners Ferry Police Officer Tiffany
Murray, who does so much each year to
help organize the Bonners Ferry Penguin
Plunge, the award for raising the most
money for Idaho Special Olympics. |
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Questions or comments about this
letter?
Click here to e-mail! |
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Reader comments ... |
Thanks for showing up and the great coverage of
the Penguin Plunge. More photos can be seen and
downloaded if they go to
http://www.flickr.com/photos/76841099@N05/
We don't have the final tally yet, as we
anticipate a few more online donations, but at
the end of the Plunge on Saturday, we showed
almost $4,700 raised so far for this year's
event, and this amount does not include all of
the in-kind donations that helped make it
possible.
We really appreciate the community and business
support and look forward to this event being
bigger and better next year. I think we have
found a great location with the building and
power to make sure there is a warm area for the
plungers after their dip. |
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Dave 'SWAT Team Commando' Kramer
Stampede Lake, Naples |
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