Columns

Red Hatters from Libby and Yaak, Mont., last week met for shopping and lunch in Bonners Ferry.

Members attending from the Yaakity Yaakers were Gracie Allen, Bonny White and Marnie Malet. Those joining from Libby Red Hat Rebels were Adrene Adams, Adrene's mother Mary Teater and June Bindel.

The woman chose to meet for their monthly gathering in Bonners Ferry instead of the Yaak because their meeting place in the Yaak — The Dirty Shame Saloon — is closed until February.

While in Bonners, they visited Under the Sun, Dollar Depot, The Gallery and Three-Mile Antiques. They had lunch at Jill's Cafe.

The Red Hat Society is an organization of women who meet to socialize and wear red hats and purple dresses.

Samantha Stuurmans, 15, of Bonners Ferry won the Editor's Choice Award from the International Library of Poetry.

Samantha's poem "Lord" was published in Forever Spoken and featured in the International Society of Poets Showcase 2008, which will be available on Amazon.com and through Barnes & Noble bookstores.

She is the daughter of Bob and Annette Stuurmans and attends Keystone National High School, an online program.

"Samantha began exhibiting signs of her talent for writing poems and stories as early as the second grade," her mother said.

Word has it football fans are keeping an eye on a rookie with the New York Giants, who has ties to Bonners Ferry.

Kevin Boss is the grandson of the late Ray and Frances Houck and son of Teresa Houck, who grew up in Bonners Ferry and graduated from Bonners Ferry High School.

A graduate of Western Oregon, Boss averaged 13.1 yards on nine receptions and two touchdowns when he was called off the bench to replace an injured player. The 24-year-old was born in Corvallis, Ore., and graduated from Philomath High School.

Krista Shoman of Porthill was promoted to the Gold level as an independent distributor for Waiora, a nutrition company dedicated to helping people maintain their health.

Shoman received a certificate featuring the Waiora embossed seal.

Chad Deitz with Century 21 Four Seasons in Bonners Ferry recently received the Graduate Realtor Institute designation. A member of Selkirk Association of Realtors, Deitz completed a 90-hour curriculum that included contract law, professional standards, sales and marketing, finance and risk reduction.

Cindy Orr, principal at Valley View Elementary School, and her family spent a week in Florida over the Christmas break. Cindy and her daughters, Isabella, 14, and Fallon, 12, and her husband, Loren, went to Disney World and stayed at Wilderness Lodge near the Magic Kingdom.

Spreading the Word is about the people of Boundary County. If you've gone on a vacation, have a wedding planned, are moving or anything else you'd like to share, call Gwen Albers at 267-5521 or send an e-mail to galbers@cdapress.com.