For the week of January 15 - 21, 2003

Wood River Girl Scouts make appearance at Inaugural Ball

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By DANA DUGAN
Express Staff Writer

Among the dignitaries, fans and politicos at Gov. Dirk Kempthorne’s second Inaugural Ball last Saturday night in Boise were the three members of the Silver Sage Girl Scout Troop 611 from the Wood River Valley.

Eighth-graders Amy DiFrancesco, Nini Casser and Ashley Rendahl helped serve hors d’oeuvres and pour sparkling cider during the early part of the ball. They wore their uniforms but later changed into ball gowns to mingle with the more than 2,000 folks at the Capitol.

The three Scouts were the youngest of the 25 Idaho Girl Scouts invited to participate in the celebrations.

"These three I expect to do something," Cindy Jessinger, a parent and chaperone on the trip, said. "They’re really politically active."

Wood River Valley Girls Scouts who helped serve at the Inaugural Ball last Saturday are, from left to right, Amy DiFrancesco, Ashley Rendahl and Nini Casser. Photo by Cindy Jesinger

Earlier in the day the group met with ball co-chair Donna Shepard of Boise and members of the Boise Assistance League, a group of women who help support children and women’s programs.

They were given a tour of the Capitol and spent time in the House chambers with Rep. Julie Ellsworth, whose husband is Maurice Ellsworth, a former U.S. Attorney for Idaho, and twice a state Senate candidate in Blaine County.

They also met with Superintendent of Public Instruction, Marilyn Howard and with Chief Justice Karen Lansing of the Idaho Court of Appeals.

The 25 Scouts hail from Boise, Caldwell, Mountain Home, Idaho Falls, Jerome, Blackfoot, Meridan, Greenleaf, American Falls and Wood River Valley.

Two of the girls were chosen in a drawing to have a dance with Kempthorne and Lt. Gov. Jim Risch.

Jesinger, whose son Joe was recently accepted to West Point, said her daughter Amy is already planning for the ball four years from now.

 

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