The Prez Sez...

We had a great meeting at Coulee Creek Floral. Nancy won the goat milking contest, so make sure you congratulate her the next time you see her!

We voted to have 5 booths at the September Bridal Fair, Tammy Schneider has offered to let us have 5 booths for the price of 3.

I was recently looking at our website - inpronw.com. I noticed that many of you have not added a picture or a description to your listing. I encourage all of you to contact Beth to update your listing. 

I hope you are all having a great summer!

I look forward to seeing you on the bus to Heartland Ranch!

-Gene

Bus to Heartland Ranch 

The bus to Heartland Ranch leaves from Red Lion River Inn at 5:15pm sharp. There is one additional stop at Stein's IGA in Rathdrum, departing there at 5:45 sharp. Cost is $5.00 per person. Please contact Scott Cook for more information.

'Still Beautiful'
Story appeared in the July 17, 2008 Inlander. 
By Jacob H. Fries

From a giant window on the seventh floor of Sacred Heart Medical Center, the couple watched as last week's wildfire moved over Dishman Hills. Through plumes of gray smoke they saw trees explode in bursts of orange and red. They gazed in awe until midnight, refusing to consider that the blaze might reach their own home of the past 25 years.

"We didn't want to believe it," recalls Pat Kroetch, 58. She had more important things on her mind: Her husband, Greg, was diagnosed with a rare disease called Wegener's granulomatosis in April, and he's been in and out of hospitals ever since. Sitting by his side, she blocked out thoughts that one of the red explosions could be their home.

She still didn't want to believe it when her son Mike called later on Thursday, saying firefighters told him that homes on Lewis Lane were among the first to go. "I know it's not true," she recalls thinking. "They must have made a mistake.

The next day, she went with her son to look for herself, but authorities turned them away. They decided to drive to a vista point - hoping for a glimpse of the house through the trees - but they couldn't see anything.

Finally, on Saturday, when Kroetch and her son returned, they drove into the neighborhood. There, in front, stood their Lexus, untouched. They had left the SUV in the driveway because the garage was too crowded.

Now, beyond the Lexus, the garage was gone, burned to the ground. So was the sprawling, million-dollar home. It has been so beautiful, tucked away in the woods, their own paradise. The house had been designed like an old-fashioned wood-frame home with ceramic tile and hardwood floors. The architect had made it so that every room had an incredible view and allowed in volumes of light. It reminded Kroetch of the house her own grandmother had lived in, and she enjoyed nothing more than sitting in the family room as the morning sun poured inside.

But now Kroetch walked through the rubble and ash. Except for some cast-iron cookware and a few clay flowerpots, everything was destroyed. The family photos. The keepsakes. The computer holding records for the family restaurant, Percy's Cafe Americana.

(Continued on page 4)

From the Vice Presidents

Nancy
This is written to notify all INPRO members that Gregg & Pat Kroetch, the owners of Decade, not only lost their home in the Valleyview fire, but also that as of Sunday, July 20, Gregg lost his battle with cancer. If you would like to send your condolences to the Kroetch family you may do so at 10512 E. Sprague, Spokane Valley, WA 99206.

Chris
If anyone would like to link exchange with other INPRO members, please email or call me at spokane@cmusic.com or (509) 927-3535. I would be happy to get them linked up!