The Woman Behind the Stories
By Dana Greig
If Idaho County had its own category in Jeopardy, a $200 “gimme” answer to start the category everyone from the county would easily know could be: “Idaho’s oldest weekly newspaper, The Idaho County Free Press, has been home to many career writers, including this current female Community Editor.” - Who is Lorie Palmer.
Sure, people throughout the county and beyond have been reading Lorie’s words for three decades now, but how many people truly know the answer to “Who is Lorie Palmer?”
Lorie grew up in Custer Wash., which sits just on the cusp of the Canadian border. With her father, Dave Palmer, stationed in Vietnam with the Air Force when she was born, her mother, Arlene Palmer, cared for her and her two brothers, who were 7 and 10, for eight months before his return.
That last stint, however, enabled Lorie’s parents to buy a home in the country on seven acres of land where she said she had an idyllic childhood. A large portion of that time, Lorie remembers pretending she was Laura Ingles Wilder writing novels, even signing her stories with “Laura.”
Her flare for creative writing followed her into high school where she utilized her creative writing skills for the yearbook and school newspaper. Slightly crippled in the interview department by her shyness, Lorie chose to no longer hold herself back in that regard once getting to her college campus, Northwest Nazorean University in Nampa.
“I remember the day I walked onto campus, and I thought: ‘I can be anyone I want to be and I’m going to be a writer,’” reminisced Lorie. “It was the best decision ever because I loved it.”
Lorie loved every aspect of college, especially working for the paper and yearbook, her involvement in student government, and above all time spent with friends. She hadn’t planned life past college, which is why she admits she felt a little lost during the following year.
After dabbling in tutoring, babysitting and housesitting, Lorie landed a job she loved through the Job Corps as a community relations coordinator for The Alzheimer’s Society of Washington in Bellingham. It was here she met mentor, Josselyn Winslow, who taught her many lessons she would carry throughout her life.
“She taught me it’s all about people and relationships,” explained Lorie. “She was a terrific mentor and I really loved my time there.”
Upon learning of her first child on the way, Lorie and husband, Valor Russell, decided to move to Grangeville to be close to the support of her parents. It wasn’t long before she saw a help wanted ad in the paper and knew it could be her foot in the door to a career that had always felt natural.
On June 14, 1995, Lorie was hired as a typesetter for the Idaho County Free Press. She would later become a writer, and then, alas, Community Editor. Like her dear mentor, she would also become an advocate for people.
“It’s the personality features that give me the most excitement,” smiled Lorie. “I have the privilege of telling their story. Sometimes giving a voice to someone who might not have one otherwise, that’s important and makes a difference.”
Lorie said that one of the aspects of her writing career she has been grateful for has been the flexibility it gave her while raising her three daughters, Elizabeth (43), Avery (32), and Hailey (25).
“I drug them to everything,” laughed Lorie. “We did so many things and they joke about being taken everywhere, but they also say there were lots of good times.”
While making memories with her daughters and bringing local stories to life, Lorie was also earning awards for her work. With more than 30 awards earned throughout her career, Lorie said her favorite has been a medallion from the Idaho Mental Health Association, one that was given to her by surprise.
“One of their members came and surprised me with it one day,” grinned Lorie. “It’s a nice little reminder of the importance of making a difference.”
Although she admits it’s cliché, Lorie says her best advice is to spend your life doing something you love. She has learned a lot about the way lives get spent by countless people she has interviewed. Her hope is that people find a career as fulfilling to them as hers has been.
“You’re never too old to stop doing something that isn’t working,” emphasized Lorie. “Change it up, there’s options. For the most part, coming to work everyday is not like going to work. It’s doing something I love to do: visit with people and write about their lives. That is a dream come true for me, I got my dream.”
Idaho County for $1,000, please.
“This woman, with a pulse on all happenings throughout the county, is known as the one to ask for any kind of Idaho County trivia.” - Who is Lorie Palmer.
Who is Lorie Palmer? A daughter, sister, wife, mother, friend, mentor, capturer of history, storyteller extraordinaire, positive influence, and a gem to Idaho County.