STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK
Three teenagers jumped in at the last minute when another act bowed out.
And Sunday afternoon Amariah Guya, Charlotte Cox and Brooke Sali serenaded four new Ladies of the Heritage Court with a smooth flowing three-part harmonic rendition of Elvis Presley’s “When Fools Rush In.”
“It was fun,” said Guya, “And nice to honor the ladies.”
A wide range of artists came together to honor the latest ladies to be honored by the Blaine County Historical Museum’s Heritage Court.
Carlos Konstanski and Andrew Moffat, violinists with the Wood River Orchestra, performed a moving rendition of Mazas’ Allegro Maestoso of Duo No. 1. Country singer and songwriters Jason Parten, whose song “Better Man” was a No. 1 hit on the Indie charts, performed his ”Way Too Long Alone.” And dancers with Footlight Dance Company performed two dances from “Peter Pan,” with which they marked the company’s 40th year in May.
The ladies inducted into the 21st annual Coronation Ceremony were:
JERRY ANN HEANEY—Escorted by Ketchum Mayor Neil Bradshaw, Heaney worked for Sun Valley Resort in the days the resort offered dog sled rides. After several years at Sun Valley, she waitressed at the Christiania restaurant for 26 year while helping her husband John with a ski repair and consignment shop. The couple also introduced wind surfing to the valley in the late 1970s.
BETTY BROOKS—Escorted by Hailey City council Member Juan Martinez, Brooks worked in her grandmother’s Marinello’s Beauty Salon before becoming a family advocate for Head Start and a counselor for adults experiencing depression and anxiety.
ANN VANEVERY—Escorted by Bellevue Mayor Chris Johnson, VanEvery and her husband Ed helped form the valley’s first Search and Rescue in 1973. She worked as head cashier at Sun Valley Resort, becoming friends with resort owner Carol Holding. And she has been a steadfast caretaker for a couple of family members who rely on wheelchairs and other help.
DIANE PARKE—Escorted by Carey’s interim mayor Alyssa Cenarrusa, Parke taught elementary school in Dietrich and Carey for 19 years. She and her husband Darwin then accepted an LDS mission to the Navajo Indian Reservation where they taught employment skills and helped some of the residents there get GEDs.
VanEarly’s stepson Gabe was pleased as a pup at a dinner bowl as he watched his grandmother receive her crown and a bouquet of flowers.
“I heard about this a year ago and I decided then that I was going to nominate her,” said the young man, who made his pitch to the Blaine County Historical Museum. “She deserves this with all she’s done for people from volunteering on the Wood River Toy Run to get toys for kids at Christmas to her work as a caregiver.”
The Blaine County Heritage Court was established by the late Laura Hall and Teddie Daley, who decided that men had always been honored and it was time to honor ladies for what they’ve done to make the valley what it is today. Women must be at least 70 years of age and have lived in Blaine County for at least 30 years to be considered.