Coeur d'Alene Press article on KCRCC's Lincoln Day Innacurate

Here is our Vice Chairman’s email to Mike Patrick of the Coeur d’Alene Press. This is in response to their article on our Lincoln Day Dinner last night.

“Mike,

I want to set the record straight as to last night's event and Craig Northrup's attendance.  I was in charge of our security team for the Lincoln Day dinner.  We had established a safety protocol that said no one was allowed into the banquet room unless they had purchased a ticket and this applied to everyone, even KCRCC members.  

John, one of the security team members, saw a gentleman (Craig) sitting at a table at the back of the room.  Craig was taking notes and had a camera with a very large telephoto lens attached to it.  John and I approached Craig and asked him if he had a ticket and he said he didn't but he'd been invited into the banquet room by Brent Regan.  I asked him to step out into the adjacent hallway so we could discuss the matter without creating a "stir" with those in the banquet room.  Craig proceeded to pack up his camera and notepad and then he, John and I moved into the hallway.  I was surprised that he packed his gear because I just wanted to get his side of the story and wasn't, at that time, prepared to ask him to leave the dinner.

Craig said that Brent had invited you and that you, by inference, had told Craig to attend in your in your place.  Craig spoke with Brent, who asked Craig if he had a ticket, to which Craig said he was there in Mike Patrick's place but he did not have a ticket.  Brent told Craig he could stay but to do so in the back of the room and to "be unobtrusive."  

John saw him there with his camera and notepad and was concerned so that's when John and I asked Craig to step out into the hallway.  At no time did I tell him he wasn't welcome or that he had to leave.  I did tell him that I needed to speak with Brent in order to get both sides of the story.  Craig then said, "You know, I have better things to do, like go home and see my son."  I said he could stay but to please be patient while I conferred with Brent.  Craig then turned and left, even after I said he did NOT have to leave and we just had to get the issue cleared up.

I went inside and spoke with Brent while one of our speakers was talking to the guests.  Brent told me what he'd told Craig and I told him Craig had chosen to leave.  We both shrugged and said, "Oh well."

At no time was Craig "forced to leave" as his last paragraph reads in this morning's article and he would have been invited back in had he chosen to stay while I got the story straightened out with Brent.  

Mike, those of us who were aware of the issue were wondering how this morning's article would treat the issue and, sadly, we weren't too far off.  I truly resent what Craig wrote as that is NOT the truth.  I'd like to see a retraction, please.

Don”

Click here to read the CDA Press Article.