Communication put to the test

Friends, family and couples got to test their communication skills Saturday as the Clark Fork Valley Elks hosted the second annual Blindfolded Side by Side competition at the Lodge in Thompson Falls.

While there were only five teams of two in this year's competition, there were plenty of spectators and volunteers to cheer them on as they traversed an obstacle course. The concept was simple - with the driver blindfolded, the passenger navigated the teams around hay bales and over obstacles around the course. Once they crossed the finish line, the team members switched seats and the passenger became the blindfolded driver, being navigated around a tree and then completing the course in the opposite direction.

"You gotta go slow to go fast on the course. It's all about technicality," emcee Dave Edgecombe told the teams before the event. He stressed that the passenger could not touch the steering wheel. "The more info the navigator gives the driver the better you're going to do."

Organizer Chelle Mitchell was pleased with the event, which included a handful of vendors, a food truck, bounce house for kids, silent auction and raffle. The event supports the Clark Fork Valley Elks Charitable Foundation.

David Mitchell manned the green and checkered flags at the start line, while Norena Edgecombe was the official timekeeper.

The Mitchells' grandson Jobe Zuniga and his girlfriend Janne Befke of Washington competed in the event last year. They had so much fun that they came back this year. Zuniga said that this year they have been together longer so they trust each other and have more patience. "We were less afraid of shouting," he quipped. The duo finished last place in 2022, but were unable to place in the top three this year.

Zuniga's brother Sunny also came up from Colorado for the event. His partner was Jeri Miller of Thompson Falls, who said she had never driven a side by side before. Sanders County Sheriff's deputy April Phillips competed with her son Benjamin Grant, who just obtained his learners permit. The two were the second team to complete, so had the opportunity to watch Zuniga and Befke first. Other teams were Brian and Mary Jorgensen of Thompson Falls and Marty Whitton and Tony Smith of Thompson Falls.

There were two heats in which everyone got a turn, at which point the times were combined and the team with the shortest cumulative time was determined the winner. Penalties in the form of time were added if anyone drove off course, hit an obstacle within the course, or drove in reverse. The top three teams received trophies and gift certificates. Marty Whitton and Tony Smith of Thompson Falls won with the shortest cumulative time, while the Phillips-Grant team finished second. Zuniga and Miller finished in third place, Zuniga and Bethke won the spirit award and the Jorgensens were honored with the Turtle award. "Everyone is a winner today," Chelle Mitchell said.