Uniqueness and the American identity

At the Nez Perce National Historical Park museum, I met park ranger Beth Erdey,  IMG_0581
who happens to be getting her PhD in history from Washington State University.

She believes Americans latched onto the idea of the "Indian" early, exaggerating aspects of it, in part, because it was unique and we could claim it as "ours."

"American identity, even while it is so nebulous and complex, is constantly struggling to develop this uniqueness,"
she says.

The Lewiston Tribune

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The Lewiston Tribune is a daily a.m. paper with 25,000 print subscribers. A news desk of 10 reporters and editors covers eight counties in northcentral Idaho and southeastern Washington.

City Editor Craig Clohessy says the paper has lost about 300 subscribers during the past couple years, but some of that may be due to less aggressive subscription sales.

The paper is family owned and plans to remain that way, says Clohessy. That's enough to set it apart.

It's also got some cool history, including a gargoyle mascot of sorts and a small museum that is open to visitors.

"We believe both mediums will move forward," Clohessy says of print and Internet.

Two years ago, the paper's owners purchased a new press for $8 million, which Clohessy showed me on Thursday.

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A week ago, The Tribune launched the new face of its website.

About the same time, a video that accompanied a crime story received 20,000 unique views — nearly as many as the paper has print subscribers.

‘A Palouse Horse’

The Appaloosa Museum and Heritage Center in Moscow, Idaho is a little gem for horse lovers. It's got lots of regalia and history of the Nez Perce tribe, primarily responsible for cultivating the breed. It also has a whole wing dedicated to the Appaloosa Horse Club, which has helped preserve that history.

I had forgotten these amazing horses were named for the Palouse region of Washington and Idaho.

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The museum has an older mare living on the property, which is kind of cool.

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Coeur d’Alene Press

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The city's daily newspaper, also owned by Hagadone, employs a staff of seven full-time reporters. Its primary coverage area is Kootenai County, where its print-based circulation is between 18,000 and 20,000 readers.

Education reporter Maureen Dolan took a few minutes to chat with me, Monday. IMG_0431
She's been at the paper three years and made it past a small round of layoffs, recently.

"We were doing pretty well (before the recession),"
she says. "I really think the economy just accelerated what was happening with newspapers."

The paper is slowly increasing its web presence, Dolan says, "But there's no big rush, at this point."

She adds: "I feel pretty confident that papers that are committed to community will ride this out in some format… and I don't think the print edition will ever completely go away."

Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

With an estimated population of just over 40,000 residents (up from 17,000 in 1973), Coeur d'Alene has a disproportionately busy downtown.
Its entire strip of shops and bistros is easily walkable, with free parking for up to two hours.

Hagadone Corp.'s resort towers over the long, jagged lake, attracting national and international tourists.

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The resort's setting in conservative, rugged Idaho helps prevent things from feeling too commercialized.

On the northeast edge of the lake, next to the resort, the city boasts the longest boardwalk in the nation — a pleasant promenade that takes you over a small twisting stairwell and bridge and past a marina of colorful, well-kept boats.

I may post pics of the lake later, though that would be soo predictable.

'Till then, enjoy some shots of art, cars and buildings found downtown, along with a "who's that girl?" shot just for fun.

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