County celebrates Badger Homecoming
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September 23, 2012 |
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Folks from
all around Boundary County ushered in
the first day of fall, packing the
Middle School cafeteria at the Rotary
Club's 10th annual CommUNITY breakfast.
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Story by Mike Weland
Photos by Mike Weland, Debbie Weland, Angela
Tucker and Lisa Solt
Though the game didn't go as Badger fans hoped,
Homecoming weekend in Boundary County ushered in
the first day of autumn in fine style, replete
with Badger pride and events that brought folks
from all around the county together.
 The
festivities kicked off Friday at noon with a
spirited homecoming parade that featured
cheerleaders, dancers, the Bonners Ferry High
School band, smoke-belching floats, tossed candy
and streets lined with folks showing their
Badger pride.
Panhandle State Bank was also bustling, showing
their customer appreciation and supporting the
Badgers with a Badger Booster barbecue,
cheerleaders and Buddy Badger waving to passing
rigs, most of whom obliged the encouragement to
either pull in or show their Badger spirit by
honking ... filling the air with a din of
cacophonous sound.
The stands at Kenny Mendenhall Stadium were
packed for the homecoming game pitting the
Badgers against the Orofino Maniacs, and while
the Badgers fell behind early and never could
catch up, no one on the hometown side, not the
spectators in the stands, the cheerleaders, the
Badger dance team or the high school band ever
let their school spirit waver, nor did the boys
on the field ever stop fighting.
Though trailing 36-14 in the final minutes of
the game, the Badgers continued to drive;
epitomized by Number 10 Josh Pluid, who took a
beating but wouldn't quit, always driving
forward in spite of a maniacal Orofino defense.
For his never-say-quit attitude, Josh was named
the Riverside Auto Player of the Game.
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Badger
booster Shelly Deitz works the kitchen
counter while compadre Laura Anderson
helps cook up a wonderful CommUNITY
breakfast. |
The first day of fall dawned early for the
Bonners Ferry Rotary Club, the Badger Boosters
and the Bonners Ferry High School Dance Team,
working together to put on the 10th annual
Rotary CommUNITY Breakfast.
As always, this year's CommUNITY breakfast was
well attended, with folks meandering through
table after table of great silent auction items
donated by many community minded businesses and
individuals to raise funds for the many
scholarships the Rotary gives to deserving
Boundary County students each year.
With Rotarians greeting folks and working the
floor, Badger Boosters were busy in the kitchen
cooking up a hearty free breakfast, served up in
firsts, seconds and sometimes even thirds by the
ladies on the Bonners Ferry High School Dance
Team.
Also, as is usual, those who attended the free
breakfast not only bid generously and ate
hearty, they used the occasion to visit old
friends and make new ones. The din of animated
chatter enlivened not only the cafeteria, but
the hall and the sidewalk as well, living up to
the "Unity" in "community.
On Saturday afternoon, downtown Naples, Idaho,
celebrated the roots of its name with its second
annual Italian Festival, turning the lawn
outside the Hostel renaissance with all things
Italian, from the red, white and green of its
flag to Italian sodas and pizza.
Homecoming weekend ended on a traditional and
sometimes even romantic note with the
umpteenth-annual homecoming dance at Bonners
Ferry High School.
The high school cafeteria, transformed into a
ball room, was filled with young couples
flirting, working up courage their courage and
dancing, some making that boy-girl acquaintance
shyly for the first time, others already knowing
who they intend to share their lives with.
Many of them were the children or grandchildren
of couples who danced first together, once upon
a time, not on this same floor, but on the dance
floors of Badger homecoming celebrations of
yore. |
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Homecoming weekend in pictures ... |
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While
technically not allowed, it proved hard
for those who lined the streets of
downtown Bonners Ferry Friday to resist
the great assortment of candy thrown by
smiling Badgers during the Badgers
Homecoming Parade. |
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With the
Bonner Ferry High School Band leading
the way ... it was nearly impossible not
to feel the spirit of Badger pride ... |
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... Even when
they set their instruments down to sing
Badger fight songs! |
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The
smiles and spirit of the Badger
cheerleaders ... |
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...
introduced this year's Badger Royalty |
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Waving and smiling ... |
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...
representing their class and their
school ... |
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... with dignity and aplomb. |
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Most times,
though. words aren't needed at all to
convey Badger pride. |
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Buddy Badger didn't stop marching
after the parade, either ... |
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... Nope ..
Buddy and friends took Badger spirit to
everyone passing through! |
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Even though the Badgers didn't win
their homecoming game, we admired who
our Badgers are. Players like Josh Pluid,
the Riverside Player of the Game,
epitomized what it means to always fight
on. Joslyn Invernon's smile shines with
the pride we all feel in our Bonners
Ferry Badgers. |
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Getting up at
the crack of dawn Saturday, the first
day of fall, the Bonners Ferry Rotary
once again exemplified the UNITY in
"community," joining forces with Badgers
and Badger Boosters to promote and
encourage this community's students to
excel. |
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Amid good friends and better
company, those who attended the
CommUNITY breakfast enjoyed a hearty
breakfast, the warm smiles of the
talented young women on the BFHS Dance
Team, and the knowledge that their
participation will contribute to the
continuation of the many successes
anticipated of the next generation of
students. |
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Meanwhile ...
in Naples... the spirit of the
Renaissance was infusing the metropolis
with all things Italian ... |
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... and even the chefs donned the
colors of the old country. |
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Italian sodas
were well received ... |
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... and
"ti voglio
molto bene" was shown in so many
ways. |
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