Lincoln Day luncheon a grand affair
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March 23, 2013 |
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More than
60 people, many who traveled miles
through snow, sleet and ice to get
there, attended today's Lincoln Day
luncheon at the Great Northwest Events
Center, hosted by the Boundary County
County Republican Central Committee,
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This time of year, you don't know what you might
get in North Idaho, as Idaho Senators Shawn
Keough, Sandpoint, and Russell Fulcher,
Meridian, both testified. They both left Boise
after a full day's work Friday to attend the
Boundary County Lincoln Day luncheon today, and
faced all an Idaho spring offers to get here; a
little bit of sun, snow, hail, wind and rain.
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Annica
Blackmore |
But when they arrived at the Great Northwest
Events Center at the end of Mountain Meadows
Road, neither the weather nor the ambiance could
have been more perfect.
With local federal representatives stuck in
Washington, D.C. fighting for a national budget,
with our team insisting that it balance, their
proxies gloated.
"If (insert name here) saw what a beautiful day
this was, they'd have been here instead of me!"
Two of our local state representatives could not
attend; Representative George Eskridge had to
attend a close friend's funeral in Coeur
d'Alene, while Representative Eric Anderson left
it up to Keough to explain.
"I don't know how many of you know, but Eric's
wife is from New Zealand, where she's been on a
visit," she said. "He really wanted to be here,
but he had to choose between being here or
picking his wife up at the airport. I think
he'll find he made the right choice!"
The event started out well and only got better.
Guests, buoyed by sunshine streaming through the
windows looking out on a beautiful meadow view,
were convivial, chatting, greeting friends not
seen in a while, shaking hands, hugging.
With the Bonners Ferry High School Honor Choir
standing poised in the background, Northwest
Territories owner Breda Liermann and her great
staff going table to table to welcome those in
attendance, and precinct committee members
taking turns greeting arrivals, everyone was
having a great time.
And then a shrill whistle sounded, cutting
through conversation and bringing the room to a
standstill. Precinct committeeman Rob Pluid,
Moyie Springs, looked around sheepishly as every
eye in the house turned toward him as the source
of that terrible noise, but to be fair, chairman
Tim Dillin needed something drastic.
In the sudden silence that ensued, he introduced
David Carpenter and the Bonners Ferry High
School Honor Choir, who launched into an amazing
set that included music from Africa and France
to the Beatles.
"Beep beep mm beep beep, yeah!"
Carpenter then asked a moment's hesitation for a
brief costume change.
He then introduced Bonners Ferry High School
Junior Annika Blackmore, one of this year's
Distinguished Young Women participants, who lent
a preview of the talent this community will see
April 27. Hers was a beautiful performance, and
the rest of the event was turned over to
politicians, a letdown.
Just kidding!
Lunch was served first.
Spaghetti and lasagna, rich garlic bread, salad
with fresh spinach slathered in dressing ...
delectable.
And dessert ... oh my! It was rich!
The politicians weren't allowed to talk until
Rob let out another of his crowd-cowing two
fingered whistles, sharper than any knife in the
house. Once again, the room fell silent.
Can't be sure if it was because we'd been
rendered temporarily deaf or if we just couldn't
hear, but Dillin enunciated clearly enough that
those who couldn't yet hear him could read his
lips.
Katie Brody spoke on behalf of Idaho Governor
Butch Otter, Aaron Calkins for Congressman Raul
Labrador.
Sid Smith spoke on behalf of Senator Jim Risch,
recently voted the most Conservative Senator in
federal service (acknowledging that counterpart
Mike Crapo was ranked seventh; Karen Roetter
stood up for Crapo and reminded Sid that Crapo
had been ranked seventh last year to Crapo's
third. Aaron Calkins spoke of Raul Labrador's
work in the U.S. House.
Keogh and Fulcher spoke on what is going on in
Idaho's House, Keough emphasizing that in Idaho
a balanced budget isn't a goal, but a
requirement. Keough announced legislation long
sought here to reduce property tax.
To an official, those serving us locally,
Commissioners Dan Dinning and Walt Kirby,
Treasurer Jenny Fessler. County Clerk Glenda
Poston, spoke gratefully of how well our local
officials have access and ear to those who serve
us at the state and local level.
When Sheriff Greg Sprungl stood up and announced
a second admission in the rash of bomb threats
plaguing county schools, he was met with an
ovation.
And then Idaho State Republican Chairman Barry
Peterson stood to laud the people we've elected
here at home, and sound a warning.
"This nation," he said, "is indebted to people
who don't like us ... we should not borrow, but
our government has. We owe people who the people
hate us. This isn't right. |
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