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Bonners Ferry is
dedicated to providing news and information of importance to the
people of Boundary County, Idaho, when it happens, sometimes as
it happens. Our archives will stay on line as long as News Bonners Ferry does ... accessible to everyone and providing a look back at the news and information that was presented on these pages. |
| Obituaries |
| Jessica Noel Soule, December 23, 2017 |
| Ray Melvin Anderson, January 28, 1929 ~ December 23, 2017 |
| Doug Flory, November 13, 1939 ~ December 22, 2017 |
| Russell “Doc” Murrell Docherty, April 14, 1932 ~ December 9, 2017 |
| Barton Lee "Bart" Dinning, November 9, 1943 ~ December 23, 2017 |
| Mary Kopas, November 20, 1953 ~ December 20, 2017 |
| Cedella V. Richards, February 22, 1924 ~ December 15, 2017 |
| Leslie Ann Leach, April 8, 1956 ~ December 19, 2017 |
| Anthony F. "Tony" Hull, March 28, 1971 ~ December 19, 2017 |
| Jim R. Hill M.D., October 17, 1935 ~ December 11, 2017 |
| John Stuart McClelland, 1933 ~ November 26, 2017 |
| Todd L. Gerdes, November 7, 1963 ~ December 6, 2017 |
| Frank Phillip 'Phil' Prescott, July 10, 1929 ~ December 7, 2017 |
| Joseph Paul Hessenkemper, August 28, 1954 ~ December 4, 2017 |
| Charlotte Rae (Carter) Perin, April 16, 1941 ~ December 1, 2017 |
| Norma Jean (Hansen) Estep, March 18, 1934 ~ November 3, 2017 |
| Mable Lillian Grigsby, December 8, 1923 ~ November 28, 2017 |
| Social |
 Ruth Jackson grateful for help:
Ruth Jackson sends out thanks to those who
helped her get her driveway cleared of snow
after her plight was posted on the NewsBF
Snowline. She had been out earlier shoveling on
her own, when she fell, her weight landing square on her wrist,
snapping it badly. |
| Say a little prayer for Norma: NewsBF has received word that Norma Gorman, 84, Moyie Springs, has undergone major surgery to stabilize a neck fracture at Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, an injury sustained in a collision with a semi on Wednesday on Roosevelt Road. |
 Reoch retiring today at Community Thrift:
After 10 years as a volunteer at the Seventh Day
Adventist Community Thrift Store, 6778 Main
Street, Bonners Ferry, Pam Reoch is retiring,
and today is her last day!
Everyone is invited to drop in at the store,
next door to Wells Fargo Bank, for cake
until 5 p.m. today to give Pam your best wishes. |
 Rae nominated for Air Force, Naval Academies:
U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-ID) last week announced his
nominations to the United States Military Academies for the
2018-2019 school year. Victor "Ryne" Rae, Bonners Ferry, was nominated
for both the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, and the
U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado. |
 Serenity Winey an Airman E2:
Serenity Winey, the daughter of Robert and
Sabrina Winey, Bonners Ferry, and a 2017 honor
graduate from Forrest M. Bird Charter School,
Sandpoint, recently graduated from Air Force
basic training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland,
San Antonio, Texas. |
 Firefighting brothers honored:
Paradise Valley Fire District is proud to
announce our first ever tie for the Firefighter
of the Year award. This year, they voted to
bestow this great honor on a pair of brothers. |
 Banning joins Army infantry:
Army Private Dillain Banning, the son of Jesse
and Katie Banning, Bonners Ferry, graduated
today from Army basic training and advanced
infantry training at Fort Benning, Georgia, as
his parents and siblings looked on. "We are more
proud of you than you will ever know," his mother posted on
Facebook. |
 Lavala USAF basic honor grad:
U.S. Air Force Airman Isaac D. Lavala recently
graduated from basic military training at Joint
Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.
He is the son of Robert and Sheila Lavala of
Moyie Springs, and a 2017 graduate of Bonners
Ferry High School. |
 Stacey Dean BCH patient care Employee of the
Month:
Nurse Stacey Dean started working at Boundary
Community Hospital’s Acute Care Unit in April,
2014. She has a strong 20 year nursing
background, which makes her one great asset to
this facility. |
 Sonya Tice is BCH non-patient care Employee of
the Month:
Sonya Tice began her career at Boundary
Community Hospital almost eight years ago. She
began as a per diem health unit coordinator for the
emergency department and
medical floor, working both night and day shifts
to meet the needs of the hospital. |
 Bonners Ferry hydrologist gets his own forest:
A former hydrologist on the Bonners Ferry Ranger
District, Dale Deiter, has been selected as the
new Forest Supervisor for the Prescott National
Forest in Arizona. Dale’s reporting date is
January 8. He replaces Teresa Chase, who
retired in March 2017. |
 Three graduate BCH fall CNA class:
Boundary Community Hospital and North Idaho College announced
the graduation today of the fall semester Certified Nursing
Assistant (CNA) class. They are Lanilyn Hughes, Cheyenne Bennett
and Summer Norman. The next semester starts January 16. |
 Victoria Rae Badger awesome student of the week:
It is my pleasure to introduce Victoria Rae as
the Bonners Ferry High School Student of the
Week.
Victoria is a sophomore with a 4.0 GPA who also
excels on the varsity volleyball team, qualified
for state in the discus and placed third in the
shot put as a freshman. By P.E. Teacher Ed DePriest |
 Mt. Hall names November Students of the Month: Mt. Hall Elementary School's
November Students of the Month were:
kindergarten; Madison DesMarais, first
grade; Dallin Baisden and Reya Riverman,
second grade; Kaitlyn Becker, Olivia
Lammers, Jack Marshall and Andres Ponce
... |
 Bev Heigel is BCSD 101 Classified Employee of
the Month:
I would like to introduce Bev Heigel as
November’s Boundary County School District’s
Classified Employee of the Month! Bev, a special
education assistant, is an outstanding
individual who makes Boundary County Middle
School a better place just by showing up every
day. By Principal David Miles II |
| Sports |
| Steelhead limits reduced for 2018 spring season: Steelhead anglers are reminded that Fish and Game commissioners extended the reduced bag and possession limits for the 2018 spring steelhead season, which starts January 1. |
| New Year, new hunting and wildlife watching opportunities: Welcome to 2018 and all it will bring for outdoors folks. Many are looking forward to hunting, and even if you’re not a hunter, you’re probably a wildlife watcher, so there’s lots of cool things in the coming months. |
| Badgers topple Colville at Eagle Holiday tourney: The Lady Badgers outshot the Colville Indians through four quarters Thursday morning to win their second match 64-41 at the Eagle Holiday Tournament at West Valley High School, Spokane. |
| Eagles hold off Lady Badgers in tournament play: The Badger girls put up a tenacious fight today, but fell to Eagle Holiday Classic host West Valley High School in Spokane, as the 5-4 Eagles managed to grind out a 63-55 win in tournament play. |
| Boys fall, girls win in hoops action: The Badger boys fell to the St. Maries Lumberjacks at home Thursday, while the girls hosted Lakeland Friday night and won. |
| St. Maries caps Lady Badger win streak: The Badger ladies started out strong Thursday at St. Maries, leading 14-8 after the first quarter, but the Lumberjacks chipped away through the rest of the game to hand the girls their first loss on the season, 57-45. |
| Lady Badgers undefeated in six games: The Badgers traveled to Post Falls Saturday for a day of basketball at Genesis Prep, and the Lady Badgers kept their undefeated season alive, defeating the Jaguars 61-37 to improve their record to 6-0. The boys results were not reported. |
| Badger boys fall to Grizzlies: The Badger boys traveled to Newport, Washington, Thursday night, where they fell to the Grizzlies 74-38 to drop their season record to 3-2. |
| Girls win, boys fall to Bulldogs: The Badger girls pulled off a win in the house of the Bulldogs Saturday, keeping their winning streak so far this season alive at five with a final score of 65-52. The Badger boys put up a tough fight, but couldn't over come a second quarter deficit and suffered their first loss of the season to the Bulldogs, 75-66. |
 BCMS wrestlers win District 1 championship:
Your District 1 Middle School Champions for the
second year in a row are the Bonners Ferry
Badgers! Taking first place spots on the dais
were Jake Summerfield, Marcus Regehr, Eli
Richards, Joel Cowley, Kyle Smith, Andrew
Sandelin and Hunter Higeretta. |
| Badger varsity romps at Cusick, face Sandpoint: The Badger girls trounced the Cusick Panthers in an away game Thursday, outshooting their opponents in every quarter to chalk up a 59-24 win. The undefeated Badger boys also won their match Thursday with a 78-66 win. |
| GPS collars show the hidden lives of deer and elk: The whup, whup, whup of a helicopter grows louder as a herd of deer flees toward a trap. A small army of Fish and Game staff and volunteers hide as the animals run into a hidden net and become entangled. People rush to the thrashing animals, and within seconds, untangle and calm them by placing a mask over their eyes and carefully pin their legs to their bodies. |
| Badgers go 3-0 with win over Wallace: Brady Bateman scored 22 points Tuesday night to lead the Badger boys to a 68-53 win Tuesday night at home, improving their record to a perfect 3-0. |
 Looking for action? Try Pickleball!
Pickleball is similar to tennis and badminton.
It’s played indoors with a paddle rather than a
racket. It's found its way to Bonners Ferry!
If you are 14 or older and like being physically
active, you might like to try the
fastest-growing sport for adults. |
| Trapper classes offered: Beginning July 1, 2018, every trapper who purchased their first trapping license after June 30, 2011, will be required to attend and pass a mandatory trapper education course before they can purchase an Idaho trapping license. |
| Letters |
| U.S. Representative Raul Labrador: This week, I voted for a major tax reform bill – the first substantial overhaul of our tax code in 31 years. This bill passed Congress and President Trump signed it into law. I supported this legislation because it will give much-needed tax relief to the majority of Idaho families and businesses. Specifically, it creates a flatter, simpler tax code. |
| Stuart Nelson, Jr.: It is with great sadness that I’ve observed the transitioning of Boundary County from rural agricultural to suburbia. We are now experiencing a level of chain migration that will exponentially increase the number of residents and eliminate our traditional rural way of life, very soon. |
| Maridel Merritt: How about a HUGE THANK YOU for the state, county and city road crews, all first responders, tow truck drivers and lineman. dispatchers too. Everyone who has been working very hard to keep all of us safe on a difficult day. |
| Marc Hansen: Regarding "Open house set on $9.4-million highway project:" You guys are going to create a horrible choke point by the casino area in both directions by following this stupid plan. Do you live in this county? |
| Rosanne Smith: From “Superintendent’s Scoop” December 4, 2017; “That said, the construction of the high school greenhouse cost more than I anticipated -- $10,000 more!” Am I the only one who wonders where the $2.4 million a year goes? |
 U.S.
Congressman Raul Labrador:
On December 8, 1967 – 50 years ago today – the
biggest story in America was the Vietnam War (“2
Battalions of Vietcong Crushed in Mekong Delta”
was the headline in the next day’s New York
Times); the number one song was "Daydream
Believer"by The Monkees; the number one movie
was Hells Angels on Wheels (don’t worry, I’ve
never seen it either); and the number one toy
for Christmas was Battleship. Oh – and that day
was the day I was born. |
| U.S. Congressman Raúl Labrador: There are few things more important than our children’s education. I know that from experience – as the father of five kids who attended Idaho public schools, and as the son of a single mom who pushed me to go as far as I could with my education. |
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| Home News Sports Social Obituaries Events Letters | ||||
| Boundary County Archives ~ DecSember 2017 | ||||
| News | ||||
| December 31 | ||||
| La Nina means cool, wet conditions to stay: Colder and wetter-than-average conditions persisted across the Pacific Northwest in November, with a La Nina weather pattern becoming well established and strengthening during the month, and the outlook is for much of the same going into March. | ||||
| Bluebird day on Schweitzer: Is there a better way to close out this calendar year than with a blue bird day? We didn't think so either and today is set to be a stunner. From the Schweitzer Snow Crew | ||||
| December 30 | ||||
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| Coeur d'Alene youth killed in I90 crash: A Coeur d'Alene youth was killed in a crash on I-90 last night after the driver of the vehicle the child was in attempted to pass another car and lost control. | ||||
| December 29 | ||||
 Can
you hear me? New face at ITD will help!
About 70 people attended an Idaho Transportation
Department open house in Bonners Ferry December
14, and many who attended walked away with
the impression that all the decisions had been made.
There was a new face wearing an ITD name tag at
that hearing, one that bodes well not only for
ITD, but for everyone in Idaho's District 1 who
share the same frustrations. |
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| Now is the opportune time to clear roofs: Depending on your specific location, you have received 8-20 inches of snow in the past 48 hours. Some of us are forecast for another 8-20 inches in the next 36 hours. None of your local infrastructure should be approaching max snow load at this time, however, Boundary County does not mandate a minimum snowload requirement for construction. | ||||
| Avalanche warning issued for region: The Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center has issued an avalanche warning indicating HIGH avalanche hazard for the entire forecast region, which includes Bonner, Boundary and Shoshone counties. Travel in the backcountry is not advised until the avalanche danger subsides. | ||||
| See three planets in a line before sunrise: As 2017 draws to a close, cloud cover permitting, three bright planets are lined up across the eastern sky before sunrise. In their order from the sunrise point upward, these worlds are surprisingly bright Mercury, dazzling Jupiter, and modesty-bright Mars. By Bruce McClure, EarthSky.org | ||||
| Another round of snow to usher in clear New Year's Day: According to the National Weather Service, a second, more intense storm than the one that just passed will impact the region Friday. This storm will bring the potential for heavy snow to locations north of Interstate 90, with mainly rain south of I-90. | ||||
| December 28 | ||||
| A look at Positive Train Control with BNSF: There has been an ongoing conversation about Positive Train Control (PTC) in Idaho and elsewhere around the country. At BNSF Railway, we have been a leader in implementing PTC and the company began developing PTC well before Congress mandated it. It's a system in use on BNSF trains passing through Bonners Ferry. | ||||
| Medicare options available: The Idaho Department of Insurance would like to remind Medicare beneficiaries who are under the age of 65 that they are eligible for a six month open enrollment period and may now purchase a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy as early as January 1. | ||||
| Veteran's service officers to visit Bonners Ferry: Representatives from the Idaho State Veteran’s Service Office will be in Bonners Ferry for three January visits at VFW Post 3622 at the Bonners Ferry Senior Center, 6635 Lincoln Street. | ||||
| December 27 | ||||
 Two
collisions, two rescues, one injured:
A Moyie Springs woman was seriously injured this
morning in one of two motor vehicle collisions
that kept emergency responders busy until well
into this afternoon.
The first incident occurred at about 9:12 a.m.
when a vehicle was reported to have gone over a
guardrail and rolled down an embankment on
Highway 95 near mile 501 on Peterson Hill. |
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| 3:07 p.m.: Winter storm warning issued for heavy snow: The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning in effect from 4 a.m. Thursday through 10 a.m. Saturday for heavy snow over North Idaho. Valley snowfall of 14 to 20 inches is predicted north of Athol and up to four feet could fall at higher elevations. Lincoln County, Montana, is also under a snow warning. | ||||
| Winter storm watch issued for region: The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch in effect late tonight through late Friday night, with possibly heavy snow making travel difficult. | ||||
 Brain farts and where to find them:
No human in the history of the world has ever
been immune to the most common affliction known
to man: Brain Farts.
We all have them, even though many dishonest
people would deny it. Of course, some of us have
more than most. Notice I said us, which throws
me under the cloak of those whose brain oozes
toots like a bean-eating buffalo. Musings
from Moyieboy, by Ken Carpenter |
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| Court dispositions and sheriff's log | ||||
| December 23 | ||||
 Troy family loses home to fire:
A family is homeless tonight after losing their
house and all it held this afternoon to fire
about four miles west of Troy. While grandma and
mom wonder about all the essentials, Sierra, 13,
and Jordan, 5, wonder if Santa Claus will be
able to find
them now. Neighbors are working to point Santa
in the right direction in time for Christmas,
with drop off points in Naples, Moyie Springs
and Troy. |
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| Woman from Bonners Ferry killed in Spokane crash: A Spokane resident was killed early Saturday when she drove her car the wrong way on Interstate 90 in downtown Spokane. Jessica N. Soule, who grew up in Bonners Ferry, was a mother of two. From the Spokesman Review | ||||
| Fun day on tap at Schweitzer: It is a beautifully starry sky filled morning out there as of 6 a.m., that will lead to a day filled with sun, but unless you have a beard like Santa, bundle up when we ski with him this afternoon! I am looking forward to giving myself some Detention followed by a little Recess this morning as the T-Bar is set to spin! By the Schweitzer Snow Crew | ||||
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~ Power almost all restored ~ As of 6:15 a.m., the count of those in the entire Northern Lights service area without power can be counted on one's fingers -- seven! In four small outages in Boundary County on Lions Den Road and the Westside Road. Crews are working to get them back online. |
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| December 22 | ||||
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~ Christmas Food Basket pickup today ~ If you requested a Christmas Food Basket, the Boundary County Ministerial Association is distributing them today from 3 to 7 p.m. today at Springs of Living Water Free Methodist Church, 6957 Labrosse Hill Street, Bonners Ferry. If you are having someone pick up your basket, please call Mikayla, (208) 597-5734, or Jacob, (208) 597-5618, to let them know. |
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| ITD kicking off winter safety campaign: The Idaho Transportation Department is starting the annual winter safety campaign that will help drivers stay safe during the winter months. The “ITD Winter Safety Campaign” offers information via Facebook, Twitter and press releases that helps drivers safely arrive at their destinations. | ||||
| NLI expects all power on today, cold coming: Northern Lights crews are making good progress, with about 708 members still out of power as of 6:30 a.m. today. And if you haven't already, get ready for frigid temperatures. | ||||
| December 21 | ||||
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 Man who led North Hill chase sent home:
After serving 25 days in the Boundary County
Jail, a man thought to be a dangerous felon who
led law enforcement on a merry chase on Bonners
Ferry's North Hill November 19 has been released
and will pay some fines as he goes home to
answer to drug warrants that were the reason he
bailed and ran from an ISP traffic stop. |
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| Court dispositions and sheriff's log | ||||
| Road & Bridge removing trees on Westside Road: Boundary County Road and Bridge will be conducting tree removal projects on Westside Road today from Myrtle Creek Junction North to Hickory Road. Expect delays in this area and please follow the directions of flaggers and signs. | ||||
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~ VVES Christmas program off until next
year ~ 7:57 a.m.: Despite hopeful rumors to the contrary, the Valley View Elementary School Christmas Program that was a casualty of the snowstorm has officially been cancelled for this year. |
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| A new way of covering a storm: I've covered a few storms in the nearly 30-years I've been in Boundary County, almost all of it involved, in one way or another, with news. The internet, purely from an editorial standpoint, takes the best attributes of each of our existing mainstream news media and combines them all into a single superlative package ideal for a return to small-town news. By Editor Mike Weland | ||||
| December 20 | ||||
| NewsBF Snow Line back in action: With all the heavy snow, county residents are being encouraged to shovel your walks, plow your drives and private roads, clear your roofs and decks and many of our neighbors, especially the elderly, the ill, single parents with young children and others just can't safely do the work, NewsBF is once again activating the Snow Line. | ||||
| Action sought to stop mining waste flowing into Kootenai: After long-developing documentation of high levels of selenium, a bi-product of mining in British Columbia’s Elk Valley, and the failure of a water treatment plant to curb the problem, the state of Montana and tribal governments are weighing in on the matter. From the Columbia Basin Bulletin | ||||
| Comment sought on Camp Robin project: The Idaho Panhandle National Forests is seeking public comments on the Camp Robin Project located on the Bonners Ferry Ranger District. The public comment period is open for 30 days, with comments accepted through January 19. | ||||
| County hit hard by winter: During the last 24 hours, Boundary County has suffered 18 to 24 inches of snow depending on the location, power outages, internet failure, overloaded Verizon phone system, stop lights not functioning, and a bunch of fender benders and accidents closing roads and highways. First responders have been stretched to the limit. By Public Information Officer Michael Meier | ||||
| NLI making progress, problems persist: From Northern Lights: NLI made some progress today restoring outages. Crews will continue to make repairs through the night. Even though the snow has stopped falling, new outages are popping up as trees continue to topple. | ||||
| State highways in good shape, city, county roads getting there: As of 4:45 p.m. today, ITD had upgraded conditions on Boundary County's state-maintained highways; 95, 2 and 1, from "fair" to "good." Work is progressing on getting county roads clear so Santa will have clear places to land at homes with too much snow by the chimney, and Bonners Ferry is making good progress in getting city streets back to normal. | ||||
 Beware telephone fraud:
“Hello, Grandad, is that you? This is your
grandson.”
This is how innocently it started. It was not
his grandson, but a crafty scammer who was
trying to bilk the old man out of $2,500. I
first heard about it when the incredibly alert
people at Columbia Bank called me and told me
that my father-in-law was drawing money out of
his savings account. By Sergeant Foster Mayo |
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~ Community Worship Service tonight at 6
still on There will be no mid-week activities tonight at First Baptist Church of Bonners Ferry due to the weather and road conditions., however, the Ministerial Association's Community Worship Service in the Becker Auditorium at Bonners Ferry High Scholl at 6 p.m. tonight is still on, however! Everyone is welcome to enjoy and join in on the many Christmas Carols to be sung, and to join together in thanks that our community once again breezed through a harsh storm with few to no serious losses or injuries! |
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~ City power restored, outlying areas,
not so much ~ 2:48 p.m.: The power went out in Moyie, and I did too! Sorry ... I just woke from a nap. All power in Bonners Ferry has been restored, but Northern Lights is still working to restore widespread outages with 6,464 members still reported without electricity, including many in and around the Moyie Springs area. |
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| County roads terrible, for a reason: County roads are horrible as the main focus for Boundary County Road & Bridge personnel up to this point has been to clear downed trees from roadways so the plows and sanders can get to clearing the roads. | ||||
| All Boundary County and Lake Pend Orielle public schools are closed today due to weather. Any Boundary County School District 101 extra curricular activities are also cancelled. | ||||
| First half tax deadline today: Boundary County Treasurer Susan M. Larson would like to remind all Boundary County taxpayers that the deadline for paying the first half of the 2018 property taxes without penalty is today. | ||||
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~ Winter storm warning canceled ~ At 2:47 a.m., the National Weather Service cancelled the winter storm warning that had been in effect. Scattered snow showers will continue this morning but further accumulations will be minor and spotty. |
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| December 19 | ||||
| Avalanche warning issued above 4,000 feet: The North Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center has issued a backcountry avalanche warning effective from 6 a.m. Wednesday to 6 a.m. Thursday. The area affected includes The Selkirk, Purcell, Cabinet and St. Joe Mountains and the St. Regis Basin. | ||||
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| 12:33 p.m.: All truckers driving through Boundary County are strongly advised not to "save" time trying to take the hills without chains! Roads are as bad or worse than they look -- chain up before taking the hills, you'll be doing yourself a favor! | ||||
|
All Boundary County public schools and Lake Pend Oreille School District schools are closed today due to weather. All Boundary County School District 101 extra curricular activities, including the girls home basketball game and the Christmas Choir concert, are at this point cancelled, per superintendent Gary Pfleuger. |
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 Getting ready for the (possible) snow storm:
As of 12:05 a.m., there are no adverse road
reports in Boundary County and the radar capture
above shows most precipitation falling as rain, heavy
at times (dark blue/green), rain/snow mix (pink)
and snow (light blue) to the south of us, with
the system at present moving east northeast into
south Bonner County. |
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| December 18 | ||||
 Spin last seen Friday at Moyie Store:
Spin has been missing since just before our snow
storm last Friday, and a young man is missing
him terribly.
The year old shepherd mix was last seen Friday
at the Moyie Store, and may be trying to get to
his home at the bottom of the Sandhill. |
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 Grab your popcorn:
Solstice coming up December
21:
Late dawn. Early sunset. Short day. Long night.
For us in the Northern Hemisphere, the December
solstice marks the longest night and shortest
day of the year. Meanwhile, on the day of the
December solstice, the Southern Hemisphere has
its longest day and shortest night.
No matter where you live on Earth’s globe, a
solstice is your signal to celebrate! |
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 With snow on the way, time to prepare:
With the promise of a white Christmas suddenly
upon us, and one that the National Weather
Service predicts could arrive in a fairly big
way over the next few days, I'd like to ask
everyone in our communities to be ready for
whatever the weather might bring. Community
Watch, by Sheriff David Kramer |
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 Young swimmer has her path laid out:
The young woman who brought home Bonners Ferry's
first Idaho State swimming trophy November 2,
and the first and only Bonners Ferry Badger
to compete in swimming, is a remarkably
poised young athlete who is using her sport to
fuel her dreams, and also to propel her into her
future. "The Olympics are a dream," sophomore
Julia Cummings, 15, said. |
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| December 17 | ||||
| Winter weather warning issued for snow: The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for heavy snow for Boundary and Bonner Counties, in effect until 7 a.m. Wednesday. Through Monday afternoon, one to three inches of new snow is expected in the valleys and up to nine inches is likely at higher elevations. On Monday night through Wednesday morning, an additional three to eight inches is likely in the valleys with as much as two feet falling in the mountains. | ||||
 Naples
man boldly goes where few have gone:
Here's an improbable story about two kids
growing up on opposite ends of the country, both
watching the original Star Trek, and both
playing the various roles of the crew of the USS Enterprise; Captain
Kirk, Spock, Scotty, Mr. Sulu, et al, in
childhood romps with their best friends. Unlike
most of their other friends, though, being fans of the 1960s classic never faded
for these two. |
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| December 16 | ||||
| Winter snow advisory issued: The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory in North Idaho for snow and slick conditions, in effect from 10 a.m. Sunday through 10 a.m. Monday. Two to four inches of fresh snow are forecast for the valleys; higher elevations could see up to eight inches. | ||||
| December 15 | ||||
 Woman injured in December 1 collision dies:
A woman severely injured in a December 1 head-on
collision on the North Hill lost her fight for
life today. Jennifer R. Jones, 39, of Ponderay,
succumbed to her injuries at Harborview Medical
Center, Seattle, today at 5:40 p.m. She leaves
behind three children. |
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|
The 2018 Fair Theme has been announced! "Shout n' Loud ~ We're County Proud" August 15 through 18 |
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 Saturday "elf" matinee a
great chance to shop: The Pearl
Theater will show free holiday movie Saturday,
and it’s a take on the golden days when the Rex
Theater used to offer a free holiday movie each
year. It's a great time for the parents to sneak
away to some of Boundary County's wonderful
shops or stores to get some Christmas shopping
done! |
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 Eight graduate BFHS CNA program:
Congratulations to Bonners Ferry High School's
recent Certified Nursing Assistant graduates!
The Certified Nursing Assistant program is
offered to Bonners Ferry High School students by
Boundary Community Hospital in affiliation with
North Idaho College. |
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| Yoder's Market getting ready for big move: Yoder's Market will be closed January 12 to 15 for moving the store from Bonners Ferry to their new location near Three Mile, and plans are to reopen at the new store on the west side of Highway 95 three miles north of Bonners Ferry on Tuesday, January 16! | ||||
| Driver's licensing offices back online: The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) has corrected the issues in its driver's license computer system and restored full service to county offices. Idahoans who delayed getting a license renewed during the outage are encouraged to visit their county DMV office for service. | ||||
| Fair board has a vacancy: The Boundary County Fair Board is seeking letters from county residents interested in filing a board vacancy after member Craig Kelson elected not to renew for another term. County commissioners and members of the fair board extend their appreciation to Craig for his time and service in helping to make the Boundary County fair a success. | ||||
| County Commission agenda - week of December 18 | ||||
| County Commission minutes, October 9 | ||||
| County Commission minutes, October 16-24 | ||||
| County Commission minutes, October 30 | ||||
| County Commission minutes, November 13 | ||||
| County Commission minutes, November 20 | ||||
| December 14 | ||||
 Beware of too good to be true holiday offers:
Much like the citizens we serve, law enforcement
personnel take crimes during the holiday season
just a little bit harder than at other times.
It's supposed to be a season of good cheer, of
generosity and giving, but sadly, thieves know
this and do their best to turn it to their
advantage. Community Watch, by Sheriff David
Kramer |
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| December 13 | ||||
| Court dispositions and sheriff's log | ||||
 Ray and Beth get a Christmas surprise:
Cold, dreary, grey, uneventful and nothing going
on much at the Wildhorse Mercantile and Saloon,
but aren't we lucky to be here? Christmas is
coming and what a surprise Ray and Beth Holmes
got Wednesday night when they found out David, a
master chief in the U.S. Navy and their
youngest, is going to be home this Friday for a
few days for a surprise visit! |
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 Audubon bird count drawing near:
Local bird lovers will be getting together for
an early breakfast on Thursday, December 28, and
then scatter to all corners of the greater
Bonners Ferry area to
take part in the 118th annual Audubon Society
Christmas Bird Count.
Everyone interested is welcome to join in, even
if all you can do is sit at home and count the
birds coming to your feeder! |
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| IPNF seeks comment on proposed rate hikes: The Idaho Panhandle National Forests is interested in receiving your comments on a proposal to increase the fees at 11 campgrounds/group sites, 10 cabin and lookout rentals, the Emerald Creek Garnet site, and the Upper Landing RV dump station. | ||||
 Saving Idaho
wildlife – one orphan at a time:
Mystic Farm Wildlife Rescue, Sagle, provides
care for injured and orphaned fawns in
preparation for release back into the wild,
where they belong! Due to medical issues and a
limited number of volunteers, they will not be
holding their annual “Grow More Spots”
fundraiser this year. |
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 USFS welcoming two new IPNF leaders:
Regional Forester Leanne Marten is excited to
announce Holly Jewkes as acting Forest
Supervisor on the Idaho Panhandle National
Forests, starting January 22. On the Priest Lake
Ranger District, Felipe (Phil) Cano will be
starting as the new District Ranger starting on
February 4. |
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| EAA extends flight scholarship deadline: Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Chapter 757 has not received any scholarship applications for the year ahead, and they have extended the application deadline through December 19 in case there is someone out there with a dream of a future in aviation and the willingness to work hard to achieve it. | ||||
| Historical Society lands IHC grant: The Idaho Humanities Council (IHC), the statewide nonprofit organization devoted to enhancing public awareness, appreciation and understanding of the humanities in Idaho, awarded $72,658 in grants to organizations and individuals at its fall board meeting in Boise. | ||||
 Be safe on the roads this holiday season, be
sober:
As the holiday season gets underway in Idaho,
the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is
partnering with law enforcement agencies across
the state to remind drivers that Buzzed Driving
is Drunk Driving.
Beginning today through
the end of the year, additional officers will be
on the road looking for drunk drivers. |
||||
| NWA offering $500 sign-on bonus: Northwest Academy in Bonners Ferry has openings for night staff counselors for its female dormitories, and they are offering a $500 sign on bonus for successful applicants! | ||||
 Shooting added as BFHS extracurricular activity:
There's a new club at Bonners Ferry High School,
and all BFHS students interested in the shooting
sports are invited to check out the recently
approved extracurricular activity! The Bonners
Ferry Clay Target Youth Club practices every
Saturday morning at 10 a.m. at the Bonners Ferry
Gun Club. |
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| Already midterm at BFHS: We are cruising through the year at Bonners Ferry High School! I struggle to believe it is already midterm of second quarter, and we are quickly approaching the midpoint of the school year. I am proud of the staff and students at BFHS. Great work is happening here. By Principal Kevin Dinning | ||||
| Beans, beans the musical fruit: Dried beans have been cultivated as a staple of the human diet for over 9000 years. Interestingly enough, a clue perhaps to the picky society we live in, Beano did not make an appearance until the last half of the 20th century. Musings From Moyieboy by Ken Carpenter | ||||
| December 11 | ||||
 BVA names personnel of the year:
Boundary Ambulance hosted its annual meeting
December 2, and Chief Jeff Lindsey announced
2017 Volunteers of the Year Pam Hamilton and
Mike Kralik, as well as the 2017 Paramedic of
the Year Kelly Halleman. |
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| Still many Badger Passes left to sell: Boundary County Middle School students are selling Badger Passes, and they still have a lot of them to sell, and with a deadline of this Thursday, they hope that getting word out to the community helps their effort. The Badger passes, with are $10 each, offer great savings from businesses throughout the community, and proceeds from their sale will fund this year's eighth grade graduation activities. | ||||
| Open house set on $9.4-million highway project: The Idaho Transportation Department invites the public to an open house on Thursday, December 14, to learn about a project to improve safety on US Highway 95 through Bonners Ferry. The open house will be held at Boundary County Middle School from 5 to 7 p.m. | ||||
| Air quality advisory extended: A week-long air quality advisory issued on Friday has been extended for an additional day, and will remain in effect until 10 a.m. Friday, December 15. | ||||
| December 10 | ||||
| Don’t miss the Geminids as 3200 Phaethon swings near: The Geminid meteor shower – always a highlight of the meteor year – will peak in 2017 around the mornings of December 13 and 14. Geminid meteors tend to be few and far between at early evening, but intensify in number as evening deepens into late night. | ||||
| December 9 | ||||
 Maya shines in Miss Teen of America Pageant:
Bonners Ferry's own Miss Teen of Idaho, Maya
Roberts, traveled to Orlando, Florida, in
November to compete in the 2018 Miss Teen of
America Pageant, and against a strong field of
amazing young women, she brought home the title
of third runner up! |
||||
 BCMS sending both robotics teams to next level:
Science teacher and robotics coach Jacob
Garrison and not one, but both of his Boundary
County Middle School Omega robotics teams are
moving on to Moscow for the next competition. |
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| Spokane man dies in Bonner County crash: A 29 year-old Spokane man died Friday night in a single vehicle crash on Dufort Road near Priest River. According to the Idaho State Police, Andrew P. Blum was driving a maroon Mazda Tribute west in the 9000 block of Dufort Road at about 9:19 p.m. when he lost control while negotiating a curve. | ||||
| December 8 | ||||
 VVES lost and found overflowing:
The Valley View Elementary lost and found is
overflowing! Coats, sweatshirts, hats, gloves
and lunch boxes. These treasures will be
donated to local thrift stores over Christmas
break if not claimed. Please have your children
check for their personal belongings before
December 21! |
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| First half tax deadline just ahead: Boundary County Treasurer Susan M. Larson would like to remind all Boundary County taxpayers that the deadline for paying the first half of the 2018 property taxes without penalty is Wednesday, December 20. | ||||
| Air stagnation advisory issued for week ahead: The National Weather Service has issued a week-long air stagnation advisory as an air mass settles over the region. Pollutants are expected to increase through noon Thursday, December 14. | ||||
| ICF makes North Idaho grant cycle more responsive: The Idaho Community Foundation (ICF) has made several important changes to the Regional Grant Cycle program in North Idaho in response to feedback provided by its past applicants and grantees. The Northern Region Grant Cycle, which provides grants of up to $5,000 to nonprofits, schools and public entities, is now open year-round. | ||||
| December 7 | ||||
 'CELEBRATE' the end of an era:
The Bonners Ferry Community Choir is celebrating
40 years under the direction of conductors Vicki
Blake Thompson and Barb Nelson, who are
presenting their final community choir Christmas
concert together. “CELEBRATE!” will be staged at
7:30 p.m. Friday December 15, and at 3 p.m.
Sunday, December 17, at Trinity Lutheran Church. |
||||
 More
than 13 years later, missing daughter found:
The body of Christine Lott, who went missing
more than 13 years ago, has been found. Her
parents, Leonard Jr. and Lucille Kucera, were
notified on Wednesday. They spent the rest of
the day and well into the night contacting
family to let them know the sad but so long
awaited news. |
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| BCSD 101 loses most free breakfast benefits: Boundary County School District #101 Food Service recently closed a review from the Idaho State Department of Education, and unfortunately, as of January 8, all schools except Valley View Elementary will no longer be participating in the Provision 2 Breakfast Program. | ||||
| Elderly man believed killed after interrupting burglary: On the evening of Wednesday, December 6, members of the Bonner County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to the 1200 block of Mountain View Road, Clark Fork, to a report of a deceased male. Detectives believe the victim, George Andres, 73, Clark Fork, was returning home and interrupted a burglary in progress. | ||||
 Former RMA director killed in police shootout:
Former Rocky Mountain Academy director Scott
Addison, 49, was shot and killed Wednesday
afternoon in Cheyenne, Wyoming, after a brief
standoff with police. Addison had been charged
March 1 in Laramie, Wyoming, where he was
living, with 25 felony counts after multiple
women accused him of sexual assault and
attempted blackmail. |
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| ICF grants help local behavioral health programs: The North Idaho Action Fund in the Idaho Community Foundation is providing over $55,000 in grants to four projects working to improve the accessibility and quality of behavioral health programs in Boundary and Bonner Counties. | ||||
| December 6 | ||||
 Lawbreaker who bit bitten back:
Taking a bite out of crim ... er, a cop, and
trying to lie down instead of climbing into the
back seat of a patrol car last April proved costly
to a 26-year-old
Bonners Ferry man, who was sentenced last week
to serve 30 days of a four-month sentence and
ordered to cough up $450. |
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 Arraignment set in murder case:
A Bonners Ferry man who has been in jail on
$1-million bond since his arrest for
first-degree murder May 1 is scheduled to enter
a plea in court at 9 a.m. Thursday, December 21,
before District Judge Barbara Buchanan. Eric
Allen Dante, 37, is accused of shooting Jesseka Musson,
38, to death. |
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 Christmas Concert & Silent Auction around the
corner:
The Bonners Ferry Band’s annual Christmas
Concert and Silent Auction will be held at 7
p.m. Thursday, December 14, in the Becker
Auditorium at Bonners Ferry High School.
Students need to arrive before 6:30 p.m.,
dressed in their finest concert black. Band
Notes, by Jessica Hanna |
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 The Pearl ringing in the New Year in style:
The Pearl Theater is ringing in the New Year in
style at their 5th annual New Years Eve Party,
with the theme, "Decades," at which guests are
encouraged to dress to the nines in the style of
their favorite decades. Celebrated from 6 to 9
p.m., this fundraising event will be the perfect
way to spend the evening! |
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 A lot of reading happening at Valley View:
What tales do you remember from childhood? Any
fables come to mind? How about folktales? Well,
here at Valley View, we celebrated Idaho Family
Reading Week during November with this year’s
theme of “Tell me a Tale” featuring Jack and the
Beanstalk. We had a beanstalk with a giant
climbing down it as a photo prop, and all the
kids who were “Caught Reading” by their teachers
had their pictures taken with it. |
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| Flags to half-staff to remember day of infamy: United States Flags are to be flown at half-staff Thursday, December 7, in honor of National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. | ||||
| Santa to visit kids at houses of heroes: Santa Claus will be taking time out from his hectic Christmas schedule this Saturday to visit with kids at several of the places in Boundary County where you can always find heroes; our fire stations! | ||||
 ISP Detective Brostmeyer a 'Guardian of the
Flame:'
Before competition begins at the 2018 Special
Olympics USA Games in Seattle next July, an
elite group of individuals will serve as the
"Guardians of the Flame" and escort the Special
Olympics Flame of Hope on a journey across
Washington state. Idaho State Police Detective
Michelle Brostmeyer, Coeur d'Alene, is among
them. |
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| Moyie Springs City Council Minutes, November 8 | ||||
| Court dispositions and sheriff's log | ||||
| December 5 | ||||
 April Lloyd
has been found:
UPDATE 8:53 p.m. December 5: We have it from a
trusted source that April has been found and is
safe. We do not have details at this time, but
if the family chooses to share details, we will
publish. On behalf of the family, thank all of
you for your help and concern. |
||||
| State unveils revamped IdahoVotes website: Today in a press conference from the Idaho Capitol, Secretary of State Lawerence Denney unveiled a project that has been one of his desires since his first days in office – an Online Voter Registration System. | ||||
| December 4 | ||||
 Ponderay PD seeks info on burglary:
The Ponderay Police Department is seeking
information from anyone with information that
will help solve a burglary and theft.
"Details that we have so far are that on the
night of November 24, an unknown male and female
committed a burglary at Perfection Tire's
Ponderay Store and were able to steal
approximately $9,000 worth of various tires,"
detective Michael Victorino said. |
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 Funds, hams and breakfasts in BCSD 101:
Now that we have come to the end of the first
quarter and trimester of the 2017-2018 school
year, it is time to reflect on what we have
learned and what we still need to do. Starting
with good news: our enrollment has remained
steady and strong. Superintendent's Scoop by
Gary Pfleuger |
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 Great things going on at VVES:
The Valley View Elementary School staff is
excited to be back in school after a wonderful
Thanksgiving Break and are looking forward to
giving our students a well-rounded education as
always. By Principal Nathan Williams |
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| Welcome Allen's Property Management: Bid welcome Bonners Ferry's newest business and the Bonners Ferry Chamber’s newest members, David and Lori Allen of Allen’s Property Management! They can handle all of your property management needs, including house caretaking and home cleaning service. | ||||
 One bird’s north is just another bird’s south:
Sad some of your favorite birds are going south
for the winter? Don’t worry — others are coming
to take their places. As birds that breed in the
lower 48 states head to Central and South
America, those from the boreal forests of Canada
and Alaska are also heading south in search of
warmer climes. By Ashley P. Taylor |
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| Crisp day at Schweitzer: A clear and crisp morning greets us as we watch the last of the super moon descend across the sky. Should be a great day for finding all those lines we could not see yesterday. Bring your face mask and come ride with us! | ||||
| December 3 | ||||
 Blind/deaf Sadie missing in Camp Nine area:
The Ussher family's dog Sadie, a 14 year old,
blind/deaf Queensland heeler, wandered off from
home this afternoon at around 4:30 p.m. in the
Highway 95 area between Camp Nine Road and
Holmes Road. UPDATE: Her
owner's report that Sadie wandered blindly for
over a mile through the forest and ended up at a
friend's ranch this morning. She is cold, tired,
but very happy to be in front of the fireplace! |
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 Wesley is missing from home up Katka:
3:26 p.m. UPDATE: Wesley is
home! Tina sends out a BIG thank you to Robin
Beckle for bringing him home and to all those
who kept a lookout for him! "We love our Bonners
Ferry community!" she added. |
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| This holiday season, sing, and give a caregiver rest: Caregivers of loved ones with conditions such as dementia or Alzheimer's endure because they have hearts of spun gold. I challenge everyone reading this article to either give a caregiver a break, or spend time at a local facility during this Christmas season. The last thing a brain with dementia retains is music, and as this is the season of giving and music, come and belt out Christmas tunes for others! By Lana M. Galbraith, AD, MS | ||||
| Forest Service seeking resource assistants: The U.S. Forest Service is offering a Resource Assistants Program to help those wishing to start careers get a faster track on their ambition. The program is a rigorous, immersive, paid internship for individuals interested in Forest Service careers. | ||||
| December 2 | ||||
 Girls working to serve on trip of a lifetime:
Next June, ten young Boundary County women hope to
embark on the trip of a lifetime. If they work
hard enough and all goes to plan, they will be
traveling to Thailand under the guidance of
Global Gateway Network, a volunteer team of
professional people seeking new ways to make
life better by sharing the Good News through
holistic service to help the hurting in remote
parts of the world, and by giving young people
here the chance to serve others, even as they
themselves are blessed. |
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|
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 Troy
Art Club ornaments an amazing success:
When she first learned that the 2017 National
Christmas Tree was going to be harvested on the
Kootenai National Forest (KNF), U.S. Forest
Service National Environmental Policy Act
coordinator Lisa Osborn knew that the tree
wouldn't be complete without ornaments, so she
put out a call for artists from throughout the
KNF to bring forth their best work. For members
of the Troy Art Club, it's been an amazing ride! |
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 Head on collision sends three to hospital:
At about 8:09 p.m. Friday, a Boundary County
dispatcher alerted deputies of a tip from a
motorist reporting a possibly impaired driver
who was erratically driving south on Highway 95
from Three Mile. One minute later, at about 8:10
p.m., the dispatcher alerted deputies that the
vehicle had hit another vehicle head-on on the North Hill near the
45 mile per hour sign. |
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| Hunter's bullet hits sleeping couple's bed: On November 30 at approximately 8 a.m., the Boundary County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence in the Pleasant Valley area where a bullet had pierced a bedroom wall and struck an occupied bed. By Boundary County PIO Michael Meier | ||||
| December 1 | ||||
|
~ Head on
collision on North Hill ~ A two vehicle, injury head on collision occurred at about 8:10 p.m. on Highway 95 between mile markers 508 and 509 on the North Hill. This is a multiple injury collision. Avoid the area if possible, use extreme caution if traveling through the area. Expect delays. For up to the minute updates, visit https://www.facebook.com/newsbf. |
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| Price of USFS maps going up: For the first time in nearly a decade, increasing costs of production, printing and distribution are driving the need for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to increase the price of its maps. Prices of USFS paper and plastic coated maps will increase to $14 on Monday, January 1. | ||||
| Plummer man gets prison for child porn: Scott Allen Reed, 67, Plummer, was sentenced Thursday in federal court to 70 months in prison followed by ten years of supervised release for possession of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced. Reed pleaded guilty to that charge on June 28, 2017. | ||||
 Watch for 2017's first and last supermoon:
This month's full moon happens at the same instant worldwide
on December 3 at 15:47 UTC, which is 7:47 a.m.
Pacific Time. It’ll be 2017’s first, last and
only supermoon. And it's the first of three full
moon supermoons in succession -- of which one
will be both a blue moon and an eclipse! |
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| New snow has Schweitzer team giddy: The village is sitting in a cloud right now as a light snow falls and our excitement builds to kick this season into high gear! With two new inches of snow overnight, and with more snow in the forecast, it is time to come on up and play! | ||||
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