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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 |
| Vicey Joyce Gross, August 20, 1928 ~ January 29, 2018 |
| Mary Catherine Mesenbrink, February 18, 1919 ~ January 22, 2018 |
| Stan Mastre, August 20, 1929 ~ January 27, 2018 |
| Amos Woodrow Morgan, May 5, 1939 ~ January 26, 2018 |
| Michael Young, January 26, 2018 |
| Leonard LeSchack, March 6, 1935 ~ December 15, 2017 |
| Thomas Allen Stahl, January 17, 1962 - January 9, 2018 |
| Gladys Edith Crumley, October 6, 1923 ~ January 20, 2018 |
| Judy James, February 22, 1938 ~ January 17, 2018 |
| Norman Lewis Ferber, December 13, 1924 ~ January 14, 2018 |
| Charles L. Grove, January 11, 1930 ~ December 12, 2017 |
| Christopher Haworth, March 10, 1945 ~ December 12, 2017 |
| Carolyn Joyce Brenner Hudlet, July 15, 1932 ~ January 2, 2018 |
| Cleone Anderson Spiering, September 8, 1929 ~ January 4, 2018 |
| Virginia Lea Barnett, May 29, 1935 ~ January 3, 2018 |
| Donna Marjorie Robinson Bakman, February 11, 1942 – December 24, 2017 |
| Eddie Dwayne Leach, December 28, 1956 ~ January 2, 2018 |
| Social |
 Two chosen as FFA district officers:
Meet newly elected FFA North Idaho
District Reporter Katelyn Hutchinson, left, and President Shawna Siver, both from the Bonners Ferry FFA Chapter. Congratulations! |
 Generous Valley View students honored:
Every month at Valley View Elementary, they celebrate a
different character trait. In December, they celebrated
"generosity" and the following students were highlighted as
Super Stars by their teachers ... Please congratulate these
generous students when you can! |
| Host families needed in area: The Germans are coming! And the Spanish, Italians and Brazilians too! All are high school exchange students who want to spend the 2018-19 academic year in the Bonners Ferry area! |
 Pack 114 has an outstanding day at the races:
It was another fine Pinewood Derby for Cub
Scouts in Pack 114 Saturday! Winners were Joe
Rogers, Bear, first, Zander Fuller, Wolf,
second, Landon Fuller, Lion, third, Brandon
Gardner, Bear, fourth, Matthew McCabe, Webelos,
fifth, and Joe Sutton, Bear, sixth. |
 Boundary County celebrates and honors MLK:
Boundary County residents young and old joined
together Saturday, January 13, at The Pearl
Theater to celebrate and honor the life and
dreams of Dr. Martin Luther King.
The Boundary County Human Rights Task Force
presented a film “Racism, Then & Now” by
Professor Timothy Braatz. |
 Hamptons welcome Wilbur Van Martin:
Kortny and Vince Hampton are thrilled to
announce the arrival of Wilbur Van Martin
Hampton! Wilbur was born at 5:57 a.m. today,
weighing eight pounds, five ounces. He was 21 inches
long.
"We are so blessed and in love with our perfect
little family," Kortny said. |
 Brady Bateman is Badger Awesome:
"Brady Bateman is one of the most respectful
young men that I have had the privilege of
teaching," said Bonners Ferry High School
advanced math teacher Russell Thorman. That
nomination makes Brady Badger Awesome Student of
the Week for this third week in January. |
 Mt. Hall names December Citizens of the Month:
These bright, shining faces belong to Mt. Hall Elementary
School's December Citizens of the month! They are, back row
(left to right) ... Nah! You'll have to click the link!
Congratulations to each of you! |
 Pancakes power eight flight scholarships:
Eight flight training scholarships have been
awarded by the local Experimental Aircraft
Association, EAA Chapter 757. The Chapter
received eight applications and was able to fund
all applicants to some degree. |
 Dickson, Thorwart BCH Employees of the Month:
Jeanine Dickson has been working for Boundary Community Hospital
as a registered nurse for five years. Nita began her career with
Boundary Community Hospital as a certified nurses aide in our
Extended Care Facility in July, 2015. They are Boundary
Community Hospital's January Employees of the Month! |
 Eby earns credentials as an engineer:
Kara Cafferty, the daughter of Leonard and Edna
Eby of Boundary County, recently passed the
professional engineer exam to become a licensed professional
engineer. Kara is a 2004 graduate of Bonners Ferry high school. |
 Five from county earn LCSC honors:
A total of 896 students at Lewis-Clark State
College earned honor roll distinction for the
fall 2017 semester, LCSC administrators
announced on Tuesday. Among the honorees, 426
made the President’s List while 470 were named
to the Dean’s List. Five were from Boundary
County. |
| Sports |
 Third annual volleyball color run coming in June:
Bonners Ferry High School Volleyball's third
annual Color Blast 5k Run/Walk will be the event
to be at on Saturday, June 16, for a splash of
color in your life! Participants will take off
from the Boundary County Fairgrounds at 10 a.m.,
heading west. |
 Peyton, Brody shine at Elk's district hoop shoot:
Peyton Hinthorn is going to the Elks Idaho State
Hoop Shoot in Blackfoot after hitting 23 of 25
free throws to win in the 8-9 year-old division
today at the district hoop shoot in Kellogg.
Brody Rice, in the 10-11 year old division,
brought home a second place trophy as both
represented their community well! |
| Lady Badgers bury the Miners: The Lady Badgers hosted Wallace Saturday on Senior Day, and sent the Miners home with a 56-23 trouncing. The Badgers opened with a 22-3 first quarter, with all three of the Miner's points coming from the free throw line. |
 Celebrate senior day Saturday with the Lady
Badgers: It's Badger girls
basketball senior day tomorrow, as the team's
four seniors; Kadi Bateman, Tori Burt, Kassy
Skeen and Miranda Wenk, have contributed to an
awesome Badger season, and on graduating will
leave a strong legacy for their teammates to
carry forward. |
| Badgers prevail over Post Falls JV: Miranda Wenk scored 20 points and grabbed 18 rebounds to lead the Bonners Ferry girls to a 69-51 victory over the Post Falls JV at home Thursday. In the boys game, Chris Sabin scored 22 points to lead the Badgers to a 61-49 win. |
| Lady Badgers fourth in IdahoSports 3A power rankings: As of January 17, the Bonners Ferry Badger girls are ranked Number 4 in the Idaho State 3A bracket of the IdahoSports.com power rankings. The Badger boys are ranked Number 10. |
 Badger wrestlers 5-0 to win River City tourney:
The Bonners Ferry Badgers went 5-0 in the Copper
division to take first place at the River City
Team Dual Tournament in Post Falls, beating West
Valley, Gonzaga Prep and Shadle Park, Spokane,
Whitefish, Montana, and Bishop Kelly, Boise to
win. |
| What's this access/depredation fee? Why do I have to pay an extra $5 for my license? It’s a question that will commonly be asked when hunters, anglers and trappers buy their 2018 licenses, so here’s a quick refresher. The “Access/Depredation fee” is a new, one-time annual fee that applies to everyone – residents and nonresidents alike – when they buy their first annual license of the year. |
| St. Maries rolls over Badgers: The Badger boys fell at the hands of the 8-1 St. Maries Lumberjacks Thursday in a non-league away game, 57-44. The loss puts the Badgers at 4-5 on the season. Dylan Hittle led the Badger scoring drive with 11 points. |
| Badger girls fall to Timberlake: The Badger girls fell to Timberlake Tuesday in an Intermountain League road match 55-43. The Lady Badgers stayed within fighting distance throughout the game, with Miranda Wenk leading all scorers with 22 points. |
| Badger boys spank Spartans: Chris Sabin landed 21 points to lead the Badger boys to a 66-41 win over the Priest River Spartans at home Saturday night, improving their season record to 6-5 overall and 1-0 in league play. |
| Badger girls dominate Priest River: The Lady Badgers opened tonight's game against Priest River, the opening IML league match for both teams, with spark and pizzazz, jumping out to a 35-2 first quarter and never looking back in a 62-18 victory that saw the whole team enjoy game time. |
| Badgers ride a long way to beat the Lions: The Badgers traveled to Lincoln County High School on Wednesday in Eureka and both the boys and girl's varsity got on the bus for the long ride home with wins. |
 Porter named Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week:
The Canadian Hockey League today announced that
rookie James Porter of the Kelowna Rockets is
the Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week for the
week ending December 31 after posting a 2-0-0-0
record including one shutout with a
goals-against-average of 0.48 and save
percentage of .987. |
| Letters |
| District 1 Representative Heather Scott: During the legislative session the halls and the Rotunda are always full of citizens promoting their ideas and agendas to legislators. It is a great opportunity to learn how government works and how legislation effects individuals and groups. Last week was the deadline for personal bill introductions in the House. |
| U.S. Representative Raul Labrador: It took too long, but our legal system delivered a blow for justice this month when a federal judge in Nevada dismissed charges against rancher Cliven Bundy, his two sons and a fourth man. |
| Debbie Flory: In 2017 we experienced greater economic inequality than at any time in the history of our country. When Idaho Senator Jim Risch voted for the tax bill last month, he voted to cut his own family's taxes by $4-million. |
| U.S. Congressman Raul Labrador: Since abortion was legalized across America, almost 60 million babies have been denied the most fundamental of all human rights – the right to life. Millions of Americans, however, refuse to surrender to the status quo and continue to raise their voices to speak for those who can’t speak for themselves.v |
 Idaho Representative Ronald Nate:
Every year one of the first bills in the Idaho
legislature is the Tax Conformity bill. This
bill updates Idaho’s tax law making Idahoans'
adjusted gross income (AGI) be the same as is
calculated on their federal tax forms. This
makes taxes for Idaho very easy to calculate
because you just take the AGI from the federal
form and use it on your Idaho tax form. |
| Tim West: For those of you who have expressed concerns over the Highway 95 reconstruction project, this is the email I received from Damon Allen at ITD. It basically states that concerns of one citizen are not taken into account, so if you have concerns and want to make a difference, then I ask that you make a simple phone call or write a quick email posting your concerns. |
| Idaho Lieutenant Governor Brad Little: The second session of the 64th Idaho State Legislature has convened, with familiar faces returning as well as a few new ones. I’m excited to be back and working on behalf of the citizens of Idaho. |
| Terry Roth: We will never be able to satisfy anyone one in Boundary County anymore. Having to deal with the influx of all these people moving into the county is taking its toll and is most certainly degrading the once wonderful lifestyle most enjoyed here. |
| U.S. Representative Raul Labrador: In my capacity as chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security, today I am joining three distinguished colleagues in introducing sweeping legislation to fix our broken immigration system. |
| Kirk & Devonna Dixon: Well here we are, voting again this year. With voting fraud at a record level nationwide, where do you imagine it is generating from? |
| Rosanne Smith: Recently, Stuart Nelson Jr. wrote about growth in the county. While I agree with his concern, I do not agree with his proposals for private property management. I believe that our Commissioners and County P&Z have done an extraordinary job in balancing the wishes of the landowner and doing what is best for the county and its citizens. |
| Representative Heather Scott: It’s a new year, and expectations are running high that limited-government ideas are spreading throughout Idaho and the country. We are excited to kick off the 2018 legislative session with our first Annual Legislative Review hosted by liberty legislators from across the state. |
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| Home News Sports Social Obituaries Events Letters | |||
| Boundary County Archives ~ January 2018 | |||
| News | |||
| January 31 | |||
 'Between Tower and Sea' coming to the Pearl:
The Pearl Theater presents “Between Tower and
Sea,” a project by Paul Bonnell, at 2 p.m.
Saturday, February 10. More than a
well-respected teacher and dedicated family man,
Bonnell is a writer whose words capture the
experiences, emotions and essence of an amazing
life, an epic journey. |
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| January 30 | |||
| Court dispositions and sheriff's log | |||
| January 29 | |||
| Public hearing set on Green Mountain drilling project: The Idaho Panhandle National Forests will be hosting an informational meeting about the Green Mountain Exploratory Drilling Project Plan of Operations. The public meeting will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, February 8, at the Sandpoint Ranger District Office. | |||
| City has job opening: The City of Bonners Ferry is seeking an individual to work as a water/waste water operator, paying $17 to $23 per hour. Applicants must submit an application to the Job Service in Bonners Ferry to be considered. Closing date is February 28. | |||
| City seeks input as transportation planning gets underway: The City of Bonners Ferry is developing a plan for all types of transportation throughout the city, and city residents are being asked to contribute in two important ways; by taking a short survey, and by going to an interactive map, viewing what is currently being considered and giving your comments on what would improve all modes of transportation in your neighborhood. | |||
| Comment sought on EIS, release of funds for city project: Around February 19, the City of Bonners Ferry will submit a request for the release of Idaho Community Development Block Grant funds for the $692,152 Bonners Ferry wastewater river crossing upgrades, and a call for public comment has been issued. | |||
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~ Let there be (LED) lights! ~ The City of Bonners Ferry said the LED light bulbs have shipped to all residential city electric customers. Look for your box of four lights in the mail this week! |
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~ Meeting rescheduled ~ The special School District 101 Board of Trustees Meeting originally scheduled for tonight has been rescheduled to Monday, February 5. |
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| January 27 | |||
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~ Area roads slick ~ 8:20 a.m.: Expect slick conditions and light snow/rain snow mix if you're out and about this morning. A truck pulling a horse trailer spun out earlier on Highland Flats Hill, completely blocking the road, a tow truck has been dispatched. Highways in Boundary County are listed by Idaho 511 as fair, with patchy snow, in Bonner County south to Coeur d'Alene they are listed as difficult, with falling snow and snowy highways. It's 34-dgrees currently in Bonners Ferry, so ice is possible. Heading east toward Montana, it drops below freezing, with 28-degrees in Troy, highways are snow covered with icy patches to Kalispell. |
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~ Great skiing and a lot of new snow on
Schweitzer ~ Heavy snowfall is coming down at Schweitzer and seven inches fell overnight! With 53 inches in the last seven days, the skiing and riding are epic! Twilight skiing until 7 p.m. gives you ample time to come play in the snow, and Miah Kohal is in Taps from 3 to 6 p.m. for your listening enjoyment! |
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| January 26 | |||
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~ Are your missing items at the
sheriff's office? ~ The sheriff’s office has a collection of assorted keys, cell phones and other items that have been turned in over a period of time that they have not been able to identify an owner for. If you have lost items please check with sheriff's dispatch. Stop in or call (208) 267-3151, extension 0. |
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| Dispatchers are heroes, make their jobs easier: Hardly a day that goes by that 9-1-1 somewhere is not credited with saving someone’s life. If someone were to look up the definition of “unsung heroes” in the dictionary, you might find a picture of our local sheriff's dispatchers. They are some of the most important people in our lives. By Sergeant Foster Mayo | |||
| Snow advisory issued for Saturday: The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for snow in effect from 2 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, January 27. Slick roads are expected throughout Boundary and Bonner Counties. Valley accumulations of two to five inches are forecast. | |||
| Looking for campground hosts on the St. Joe: The St. Joe Ranger District is looking for volunteers to serve as campground hosts from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, Friday through Monday. | |||
 Ingredients for life found in space rocks that
fell to Earth: Two space rocks,
which separately crashed to Earth in 1998, share
something in common: the ingredients for life.
Scientists say they are the first ever found to
contain a mix of complex organic compounds and
microscopic traces of liquid water believed to
date back to the infancy of our solar system. |
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| January 25 | |||
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~ Gun show tables nearly sold out ~ Bonners Ferry Gun and Horn Show vendor tables are nearly all taken! If you plan to have a booth at the show, taking place at the Boundary County Fairgrounds February 9-11, you need to get your registration and money in immediately! To reserve yours, call Earl at (208) 691-5736 as soon as possible. |
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~ Reminder to Bonners Ferry dogs ~ The City of Bonners Ferry reminds dogs to tell their people that dog licenses, required on all dogs living in or visiting the city, are half price until January 31! After January 31, the cost goes up to $24. Your person can buy you extra snacks if you don't delay! Good boy! |
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 Honor guard forming, seeks donations:
Have you ever been to a funeral or event where
an honor guard has provided services such as
flag folding, presentations or marches? It is
very moving to the public and an honor to be a
member of an honor guard, I know I have been in
two. By Michael Meier |
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| Mountain Meadows slide movement expected: The landslide on Highway 95 at Mountain Meadows Road is experiencing some movement visible from the road. This movement of surface material was expected to happen and does not pose any danger to traffic that might be passing by. By Michael Meier | |||
| Hearing set on Falck wrecking yard: The Boundary County Planning and Zoning Commission will hold public hearing at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, February 15, in the main courtroom of the Boundary County Courthouse, 6452 Kootenai Street, to accept public comment on Conditional Use Application 18-042 by Levi Falck, doing business as FALCKCO LLC. | |||
| City of Bonners Ferry to hold fee hike hearing: The City of Bonners Ferry will meet on February 6, 2018 at 7 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chamber, 7232 Main Street, Bonners Ferry, for the purpose of taking public testimony regarding new fees. | |||
| Avalanche danger high through midnight: 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. This warning does not apply to local ski areas within the forecast region. | |||
| Homelessness response system launches: Idaho Housing and Finance Association and local housing and homeless service providers have partnered to establish a new system to address the needs of persons experiencing a housing crisis and help them gain access to the supportive programs and services they need. | |||
| City of Bonners Ferry financial statement | |||
| January 24 | |||
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~ Valley View PTO has socks! ~ Valley View PTO has socks that need good homes! They were able to collect 181 pairs of socks during their recent sock drive, so if a child from infant up to adult size 7/8 is in need of socks, all they need to do is stop in at the Valley View Elementary office and let them know, or you can send a note to school with your child and staff will be sure to get them to those in need! |
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 Despicable
fundraiser Thursday at BCMS: The
Boundary County Middle School basketball program
is doing a fundraiser in the BCMS cafeteria at
4:30 p.m. Thursday, January 25. There'll be
pizza and the movie "Despicable Me 3." Admission
is $5 per person. Please spread the word! |
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 Forrest is missing in Paradise Valley:
Forrest is a small white woolly Siberian Husky
with blue eyes, weighing about 40-pounds. He is
wearing a red harness collar with a bone shape
name tag on it. He jumped the fence
sometime Tuesday night, January 23, in the
Paradise Valley area. UPDATE:
Home safe January 25! |
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 Sater's Auction working to reopen:
Auctioneer extraordinaire John Sater has had to
suspend his Thursday auctions for a good chunk
of this winter, the first time that's happened
in 44 years. A regular event for a great cast of
characters from across the region, John promises
that he's working to get going as soon as he
can, and that he'll get word out as far and wide
on when he'll reopen. |
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| Nominees sought for Esto Perpetua awards: The Idaho State Historical Society is seeking nominations for an award named in honor of Idaho's state motto, a Latin phrase meaning "Let it be Perpetual." The "Esto Perpetua" award acknowledges and thanks people and organizations who make a difference in preserving and promoting Idaho history. | |||
| Idaho 511 adds weather forecasts: Improvements to the 511 Traveler Services platform will allow drivers to more efficiently track driving conditions, and give them the weather forecast on highway routes. Drivers can now track the weather forecast on highway routes that experience changing weather conditions, especially during the winter months. | |||
| Classical Conversations classes offered: Home schoolers interested in the classical approach to education are invited to consider and learn more about Classical Conversations at an informational meeting to be held on Friday, February 2. | |||
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~ Badger girls game rescheduled ~ The Badgers will host the Kellogg Wildcats at 6 p.m. Friday, January 26, to make up for the game cancelled today. The C-Team girls will host Libby at 3 p.m. and the JV girls take on Kellogg at 4:30 p.m. Please get out and support the Lady Badgers! |
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| Boundary County Commission minutes, January 8 | |||
| Boundary County Commission minutes, January 15 | |||
| Court dispositions and sheriff's log | |||
| 4:45 a.m.: Boundary County public schools are closed today due to weather. | |||
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~ Road report ~ 3:02 a.m.: Temperatures are still above freezing in Bonners Ferry and highway conditions in Boundary County are listed as good in Boundary County on Idaho 511, with the exception of Five Mile Hill on Highway 95 16 miles north of Bonners Ferry towards Eastport, which is shown as snowy and slick. Roads show as good south to Sandpoint, where they are getting slick -- at around Sagle 511 is reporting difficult driving conditions and heavy snow. |
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| January 23 | |||
 Dante
enters Rule 11 plea: Eric Dante
entered a "Rule 11" plea agreement, refusing an
Alford plea in the May 1, 2017, murder of 38
year old Jesseka Musson, but pleading guilty to
second-degree murder in exchange for a five year
determinate prison sentence, with the
indeterminate portion of the sentence left open. |
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 Excited
to be back at Valley View Elementary:
At Valley View Elementary School, we are excited
to be back in school after a well-rested
Christmas break. Our teachers are doing a great
job at challenging students and making the
educational process fun. Our students are
enjoying art, library, computer lab, music, and
physical education throughout the week. |
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| Legion Post 55 offers scholarship: Bonners Ferry American Legion Post 55 is pleased to offer a $1,000 scholarship to a Bonners Ferry High School senior who is the child, grandchild or great grandchild of a U.S. military veteran who served during time of war or conflict. | |||
| Snow advisory issued for northwest Montana: The National Weather Service, Missoula, has issued a winter weather advisory for the Kootenai/Cabinet region of northwest Montana, in effect from 5 p.m. today through 5 p.m. Wednesday, calling for, of all things, snow! | |||
| Big, happy galoot found in Paradise Valley barn: A family found a large stray dog on their farm in the north end of Paradise Valley at around 7 o'clock this morning. "It appears that he may have spent the night in our barn," Brent said. "He is very sweet and friendly." | |||
| Fewer Idaho teens working summer jobs: In the summer of 2017, thousands of Idaho teens took jobs. But the percentage of teens participating in the labor force remains far below its level in earlier decades. In Idaho, just as nationwide, there’s been a long-term decline in teen participation. Does that decline matter? | |||
| Powerful quake hits Gulf of Alaska: The U.S. Geological Survey reported a very large earthquake this morning in the Gulf of Alaska. It was originally reported at 8.2 magnitude, then downgraded further to 7.0; even at the lowest number, it’s still a powerful quake. The earthquake struck on January 23, 2018, at 2:31 a.m. Pacific Time 174 miles southeast of Kodiak, Alaska. | |||
| January 22 | |||
| DYW orientation just around the corner: Orientation for the 2018-2019 Bonners Ferry Distinguished Young Women Scholarship Program will be held at 6:30 p.m. Monday, January 29, in the Boundary County Middle School Library. Any interested high school junior girls and their parents are encouraged to attend. | |||
| Disaster relief available to non-profits: Director Tanya N. Garfield of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Disaster Field Operations Center-West would like to reminded Idaho private nonprofit organizations of the February 20 deadline to apply for an SBA federal disaster loan for economic injury caused by severe storms that occurred March 6 through 28, 2017. | |||
| Winter storm warning Tuesday to Thursday: The National Weather Service has upgraded a winter storm watch to a winter storm warning for North Idaho and northeast Washington for heavy snow from 1 p.m. Tuesday to 4 p.m. Thursday. Total valley snow accumulations of four to eight inches are expected north of Sandpoint. | |||
| Black Mountain under watch for slide activity: On January 20, Boundary County Emergency Management received a call from the Sheriff’s Office dispatch regarding a possible slide on Black Mountain. The location of this slide is above the Cabinet Mountain Water pumping station and storage facility and the electrical power lines Northern Lights has feeding the Black Mountain Communications site off Diamond Road. | |||
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~ Business owner throws down gauntlet ~ A business owner went into Beck's Furniture this morning and gave Rich $100 for the Leather Sofa Raffle to benefit the Senior Center Food Program. The business owner, who wasn't identified, issued a challenge to other businesses in town to give in support of the Senior Center. If you'd like to rise to that challenge, stop in at Beck’s Furniture, 6443 McCall Street, Bonners Ferry, or call (208) 267-7267. To read more about the raffle, click here! |
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| Heavy snow expected Tuesday: A winter storm watch has been issued for North Idaho, northeast Washington and the Okanogan Highlands for heavy snow from Tuesday morning through Wednesday morning. The National Weather Service, Spokane, said travel conditions are expected to be difficult, especially for the Tuesday evening commute. | |||
 Boundary County shows up
for Women's March II: Several
Boundary County residents participated in the
second annual Women's March at Sandpoint Middle
School Saturday, where a diverse and varied
crowd enjoyed a variety of booths, including
Sandpoint Seniors, Paulette Jordan for Governor,
and Medicaid for Idaho sign up booths for North
Idaho counties including Boundary, Bonner and
Kootenai. |
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 Troy students can now check out an internet
connection:
"We have something pretty exciting going on that
you might be interested in," Dr. Jacob Francom,
Superintendent of Troy Public Schools, wrote
last week. "We now offer internet service on our
activity bus and we also have devices students
can check out through the library that will
provide internet at home. It's pretty cool
stuff!" |
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| January 21 | |||
 Julie Smith honored for ag education excellence:
Julie Smith, agricultural educator at Bonners
Ferry High School, is one of a select group of
agriculture teachers nationwide who received the
2017 Teachers Turn the Key professional
development scholarship from the National
Association of Agricultural Educators. |
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 One room school seeking students:
Rebecca Corey began her career as a teacher in
an urban school in Tacoma, Washington, but over
time, she found she had a natural affinity for
the little one-room school house, and over the
course of her career she always found students
who did better, and actually thrived, in such a
setting. |
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 Jordan inspires diverse Women's March II crowd:
Two term Idaho State Congressperson Paulette
Jordan, Plummer, is running for the Democratic
nomination for Idaho Governor in 2018 and she is
on fire! Jordan, who currently represents
District 5A, was the keynote speaker at the 2018
Women’s March II Saturday in Sandpoint. By
Angela Kucera-Baker |
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| Super Blue Moon total lunar eclipse coming January 31: The Blue Moon – second of two full moons in one calendar month – will pass through the Earth’s shadow on January 31 to give us a total lunar eclipse. It’s not just a lunar eclipse, or a Blue Moon, or a supermoon. It’s all three … a super Blue Moon eclipse! | |||
| Welcome to the booby hatch: Rare is the week, and quite often the day, when we don’t run into somebody who could be referred to as a boob. Many poor souls, usually depending on their occupation, can encounter a veritable herd of them every day. Musings from Moyieboy by Ken Carpenter | |||
| January 20 | |||
| City council stands fast in support of ITD project: Bonners Ferry City Council members on Tuesday heard one final plea that they withdraw their approval of the Idaho Transportation Department's $9.4-million Alderson Lane to Kootenai River Highway Improvement Project. | |||
 An evening with the Incredible Flying Dookie
Brothers: The Incredible Flying
Dookie Brothers will perform for the first time
ever at The Pearl Theater on Saturday. With a
rock ’n’ roll lineup with classic covers from
artists like The Who, Rush, Yes, The Police and
Jackson Browne, the band satisfies musical
yearnings of every classic rock fan. |
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| High Five! steering committee to be formed: The High Five! Steering Committee formation meeting will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, January 23, in council chambers at Bonners Ferry City Hall. Once formed, the steering committee will provide general oversight and recommendations to the city council on High 5! project selections. | |||
 Woodland
quilters donating to Festival of Hearts:
Woodland Mennonite Church crafters are creating
this beautiful quilt for the Fry Healthcare
Foundation Festival of Hearts auction at 6 p.m.
Saturday, February 10. What a wonderful way to
support the Hospital with love and goodwill! |
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| Idaho’s December unemployment rate steady at 2.9 percent: Idaho’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held at 2.9 percent in December for the third consecutive month after reaching its record low of 2.8 percent in September. | |||
 Idaho PBS KIDS Channel set to launch:
On February 1, Idaho Public Television will
officially launch its fifth broadcast channel,
and this one will air educational programs for
children, all day and night. The channel is
already streaming live on the
IdahoPTV
website, and can be viewed through the PBS KIDS
Video app on tablets, smartphones, and streaming
devices such as Apple TV and Roku. |
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| A look at the year past in Washington, D.C.: With Congress back in session, I want to take a brief moment to update you on some of the legislative accomplishments from 2017 that you may have missed. First, and perhaps the most noteworthy, tax reform was passed by Congress and signed into law by the President. By U.S. Senator Mike Crapo | |||
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~ Pinewood Derby moved to 1 p.m. ~ The Cub Scout Pack 114 Pinewood Derby, originally scheduled for 11 a.m., has been moved up to 1 p.m. due to issues with the track. It' will be held downstairs at Trinity Lutheran Church, 6784 Cody Street, Bonners Ferry. |
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| Mentoring webinar offered for farmers: Helping experienced farmers become mentors to other farmers is the goal of an upcoming University of Idaho Extension webinar workshop series. The training is geared for established farmers in Idaho who have a desire to pass on their knowledge and skills to beginning farmers and ranchers. | |||
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~ Highways mostly fair in the region ~ 7:45 a.m.: Idaho 511 lists Boundary and Bonner County highways as fair, with icy patches and light snow, with the exception of Highway 57 from Priest River to Priest Lake, which is listed as "difficult" due to snow in the roadway. Most of Kootenai County shows as "good," but patches of I90 west of Pinehurst and east of Osburn are fair. In Montana, expect patches of ice and intermittent snow on Highway 2 from the Idaho line to Kalispell. |
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| Snow flying on Schweitzer: A little over two inches was on the snow stake this morning and the snow is flying around right now! There is a good chance we could see another inch or two before those lifts start to spin. It is going to be a great day to come and play! | |||
| January 19 | |||
| Snowy weather expected to return: The National Weather Service, Spokane, says that a very active weather regime is shaping up for the next week for portions of North Idaho, North Central Washington and Northeast Washington. Periods of light snow are possible each day Saturday through Thursday. | |||
| January 18 | |||
 Heart
Rock rocks at chamber meet & greet:
It was a full room at the Chamber of Commerce
Winter Meet & Greet tonight at Heart Rock Wines
and The CrossTime Saloon. Thank you to guest
speakers Deborah Youngwirth of Youngwirth, Davis
& Associates, Ginny Kirsch from The Pearl
Theater and Dennis Weed for the Boundary County
Economic Development Council. |
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| North Bench fire annual meeting coming up: The Board of the North Bench Volunteer Fire District cordially invites all residents of the district to attend its annual business meeting, scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday, January 27, at Station 1, 64464 Highway 2 at Three Mile. | |||
| Summer Food Service partners sought: The Child Nutrition Division of the Idaho State Department of Education is seeking partners for this year’s Summer Food Service Program, which provides free meals and snacks to children ages 1-18 who live in low-income areas during the summer months. | |||
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~ Roads getting icy ~ 6:50 p.m.: A deputy reports that highways in Boundary County are starting to ice up and get slick; ITD is being advised. If traveling, please slow down, increase the distance between your car and the car ahead and be alert to the possibility of black ice. |
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 Maddy refuses to give up on a brighter future:
Madyson "Maddy" Peck and her mom came to Bonners
Ferry last August to get a new, fresh start. The
move was a good one, though not perfect. And not
for both. Maddy, 17 and a senior at Bonners
Ferry High School, is on track and looking
forward to graduating with the BFHS Class of
2018. She's proud to be on the cusp of becoming
the first in her family to earn a high school
diploma, but needs work to fulfill that dream. |
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~ BCH needs night nurse ~ Boundary Community Hospital is looking for an LPN or RN to work with our award-winning Extended Care Facility team of caregivers. The position is nights, full time with benefits. Please share this opportunity with others so they can find the right person. http://www.boundarycommunityhospital.org/careers |
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 Ailport gives Rotary High Five update:
City of Bonners Ferry Planner Lisa Ailport
visited with members of the Bonners Rotary Club
at their Tuesday meeting at Mugsy's to
give an update on the High Five grant received
from the Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation. |
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 Cereal school set to give producers an edge:
The North Idaho Cereal School in Bonners Ferry
is where industry leaders and university
researchers will bring North Idaho growers
latest information on weed and disease control,
pest issues and variety trial results.
Presentations will include updates on blackleg
in canola, results of Boundary County wheat and
barley variety trials and more. |
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| Court dispositions and sheriff's log | |||
| January 17 | |||
| A little too much truck plows into Callie's Niche: "At this point, it appears that an elderly man tried to test drive a vehicle that was a little too powerful for his abilities and it got away from him," Bonners Ferry Police Chief Vic Watson told the Bonners Ferry City Council at Tuesday night's meeting. | |||
 BCMS mental athletes battle it out:
Winners of the Boundary County Middle School
spelling bee today were: Sixth grade, 1st place
Ana Chase, 2nd place Damon Madson; Seventh
grade, 1st place Morgan Moon, 2nd place Taylor
Cromwell; and eighth grade, 1st place Camille
Ussher, 2nd place Kyle Smith. |
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| Ice, snow advisory tonight in northwest Montana: The National Weather Service, Missoula, has issued a winter weather advisory for freezing rain and snow in the Kootenai/Cabinet region of northwest Montana, in effect from 11 p.m. today through 9 a.m. Thursday. | |||
 Spokane mom seeking return of her children:
A custody dispute between a daughter in Spokane and her mother in Boundary
County has grown heated,
as even though a court has ordered three
children returned to their biological parents,
their grandmother has allegedly refused to
comply. |
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| BCMS gearing up for second semester: I would first like to thank our citizens of the month. For November -- Citizenship -- BCMS selected: Kaelynn Baisden, sixth, Blake Rice, seventh, Leah Webster, eighth, and Jessica Hanna, staff. For December -- Generosity -- BCMS selected Markynn Pluid, sixth, Evelyn Chaney, seventh, Brena Gould, eighth, and Rita Vannoy, staff. These folks showed tremendous citizenship and generosity! By Principal David Miles II | |||
 Cowell moves up in Rod Benders
Car Club: Last Wednesday, Richard
Cowell was elected Vice President/Show Chairman
by the Rod Benders Car Club. For the last year
he's been in charge of their public relations,
handling their advertising and serving as
webmaster. Now he'll be in charge of overseeing
the car show as show chairman and running club
business a vice president. |
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| Time to diet; BCH Auxiliary pie sale coming February 15: The famous Boundary Community Hospital Auxiliary Pie Sale will be Thursday, February 15, this year, in the basement at Trinity Lutheran Church, 6784 Cody Street. Buy the whole pie or just a slice. The coffee pot will be on, ready to serve! | |||
| January 16 | |||
 Eli resting after another
big hurdle:
Eli Ashby, 6, is finally out of recovery, in a
room and resting at Seattle Children's Hospital.
His dad, Allen, is a trooper in Kootenai County
with the Idaho State Police, but when asked who
the real trooper in the family is, Allen, Eli's
mother, Jenn, and Eli's Boundary County
grandparents, Mike and Linda Ashby, Moyie
Springs, will all, and without a second's
thought, point immediately to Eli. |
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| Google offers online entry into IT field in a year or less: Google, the most ubiquitous search engine on the planet today, has long faced an issue that many other companies also contend with -- open IT support roles, and not enough qualified candidates to fill them. A few years ago Google personnel began working with a non-profit organization to build out trainings and pathways to roles in technical support at Google. | |||
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~ Tonight's city council meeting moved
back to city hall ~ Due to a scheduling conflict, tonight's Bonners Ferry City Council meeting, which had been scheduled for the visitor's center, will be held at Bonners Ferry City Hall, 7232 Main Street in downtown Bonners Ferry. |
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 Groeschl taking the reins at IDL:
The Idaho State Board of Land Commissioners
voted today to appoint State Forester David
Groeschl as acting director of the Idaho
Department of Lands. The appointment follows the
departure of former Director Tom Schultz. |
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 Rain, snow on the way:
Cloudy skies are in the forecast for the rest of
today and tonight, and while radar this morning
shows rain, rain/snow mix and snow at higher
elevations to the south of us, the forecast for
Bonners Ferry today and tonight says humid, but
with nothing falling.
That changes tomorrow. |
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 Boundary County Library touted in state capitol:
The best small library in America got a plug
today, both in the Idaho legislature and in
Besty Russell's "Eye on Boise" column in the
Spokesman Review.
Her column focused on a presentation by Idaho
State Librarian Ann Joslin to the Joint
Finance-Appropriations Committee. |
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| ITD seeks comment on Rathdrum project: The Idaho Transportation Department invites the public to a hearing about the expansion of Idaho Highway 41 from Prairie Avenue to Boekel Road in Kootenai County from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, January 25, at the Coeur d’Alene office at W600 Prairie Avenue. | |||
| A-1 Auto Transport offers scholarships: hen students are looking for a way to cover some of the costs associated with going to school, A-1 Auto Transport is there to provide the help that is needed. | |||
| January 15 | |||
| Bonners Ferry High School robotics season kicks off: Saturday, January 6, marked the annual FIRST Robotics season Kickoff. At 7:30 a.m., Bonners Ferry High School FIRST Team 2130 Alpha+ gathered at the robotics clubhouse and excitedly watched this year’s reveal for the game, FIRST POWER UP! By Rayan Naylor | |||
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~ Visible fire a controlled burn ~ 7:30 p.m.: Sheriff's dispatch confirms that a large fire visible in the Moyie Springs area is a controlled burn and not a structure or wildfire. |
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~ Restorium reported symptom-free ~ As of today, the Restorium is symptom free from a gastro-intestinal illness that swept through, and residents are now being encouraged to go back to the dining area for meals rather than eat in their rooms. Staff still asks that visitors who have been ill not visit unless you have been symptom free for at least 72 hours. |
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~ Car crashes into Callie's Niche ~ 10:52 a.m.: Emergency crews are responding to Callie's Niche in downtown Bonners Ferry, where a vehicle has reportedly crashed into the building. Unknown if injuries. If traveling in the area, please yield to emergency vehicles. 10:57 a.m.: First responders report no injuries. |
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~ Highway 2 extremely slick ~ Deputies report Highway 2 between the Moyie Store and old Evergreen School is extremely slick, with two slides offs just before 7 a.m. Both are now cleared and ITD has been notified, but extreme caution is advised if driving through the area. |
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| January 14 | |||
| News Bonners Ferry Election Guide 2018: It's still early, but we're working hard to give Boundary County voters as much quality information as possible so they can make an informed decision when they go to the polls in the May 15, 2018, primary election and the November 6, 2018 general election. | |||
 Pack 114 to welcome girl Cub Scouts in historic
roll-out:
Cub Scout Pack 114 will welcome female Cub
Scouts this month as they launch a new era of
Family Scouting in Bonners Ferry. Thanks to its
current den leader training and its longstanding
charter partnership with Trinity Lutheran
Church, Pack 114 is ready to begin before Boy
Scouts of America’s official roll-out in
September! |
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 Still working out what La Nina bodes for
northwest spring: December 2017 was
a month of transition. At times, the flow of the
jet stream bowed into a large ridge that brought
well-above-average temperatures and drier
conditions racing north along the coast.
Occasional west winds did bring in enough
precipitation to keep most of Washington and
Idaho near average. |
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| 2018 looks good for nursery/greenhouse growers: Northwest Farm Credit Services’ 12-month profitability outlook remains strong for the nursery/greenhouse sector. Pricing is favorable; early bookings for 2018 are strong as buyers secure plants, although inventory shortages continue for certain plant varieties. Strong economic indicators will support continued growth for the industry. | |||
| January 13 | |||
 |
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| Cold, flu or stomach bug? How to tell: What are you sick with? Here is a quick reference guide posted by the Spokane Regional Health District for those of you not feeling well during this cold and flu season. Remember, the primary symptoms of the flu are sudden and severe muscle aches, tiredness and headache, often accompanied by a fever. | |||
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~ Saturday morning roundup ~ As of 6:30 a.m., Idaho 511 is showing North Idaho highways in good shape. It's 36 degrees in Bonners Ferry and Troy and 32 in Libby. Current radar shows no precipitation in the region, though it's raining toward Lewiston and snowing east of Helena. Northern Lights is showing 16 members without power on Bull Lake Road southeast of Troy, and a crew is working to get the lights back on. |
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 Sofa raffle to benefit senior meals:
Rich and Sherry Beck and the crew at Beck's
Furniture, 6443 McCall Street, Bonners Ferry,
recently looked over their awesome selection to
find just the perfect item to donate for a
raffle to help support the Senior Meals Program.
And they came up with a winner, a beautiful
light colored leather sofa with electric recliners on
both ends to go home with the winner on
Valentine's Day! |
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| MLK weekend looking great on Schweitzer: Can you roll into the MLK Holiday any better than this? With five inches overnight and a light snow still falling, this mountain is charged and ready to go! With a foot of fresh snow in the last 48 hours, whether you are blasting the South Bowl chutes or taking a Cedar Park cruise, the conditions are amazing! By the Schweitzer Snow Crew | |||
 Lincoln Day Dinner just around the corner:
Mark your calendars for Saturday, April 7, for
the 2018 Boundary County Republican Central
Committee's Lincoln Day dinner. It is expected
that most of the Idaho state, local and national
Republican candidates whose names will be on the
Boundary County ballots in May will be in
attendance. |
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| Boundary County Commission minutes, January 1 | |||
| January 12 | |||
 Fit & Fall Proof class starting:
The Senior Hospitality Center will begin the
winter session of the “Fit and Fall Proof Class”
beginning Monday, January 15, running at 10:45
a.m. every Monday, Wednesday and Friday through
March 30. |
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~ We dodged a storm ~ It appears we dodged a storm in Boundary County as the snow that remains in the region is well to the south, particularly in the central Panhandle mountains along I90, where the winter storm warning is still in effect. ITD's 511 is showing Panhandle highways as normal. On Schweitzer, four inches of fresh snow was recorded this morning. There have been no reports on hazardous road conditions on the scanner so far this morning, but with the Bonners Ferry temperature below freezing at 28-degrees as of 6 a.m., keep an eye out for icy patches as you make your way in this morning. |
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| January 11 | |||
| Stomach illness hits many at the Restorium: The Restorium in Boundary County reports an outbreak of gastro-intestinal illness within the facility. The cases have been reported to the Panhandle Health District. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Steps have been implemented to curtail the outbreak. | |||
| Driver safety class can save seniors on insurance: A driver safety class will be offered at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, January 25, at the Senior Center, 6635 Lincoln Street, on the South Hill in Bonners Ferry. The class is open to anyone, but emphasizes safety issues related to people 50 years and older. | |||
 Monson services to be broadcast on BYUtv: BYUtv will be broadcasting the
funeral services for President Thomas S.
Monson, the 16th president of The Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, at
11 a.m. Pacific Time Friday, January 12. View this live broadcast on
any of the free
BYUtv apps or online at
byutv.org. |
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~ Power outage ~ At 8:57 p.m., Northern Lights is showing an outage affecting 11 members on Noble Lane and Pywell Road in the Copeland area. Crews are on the way. 9:22 p.m.: Power has been restored and there are currently no other outages showing in the Northern Lights service area. |
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| Sloppy roads throughout region: As of 8:30 p.m., highway conditions throughout North Idaho, and much of the rest of the state, remain "difficult, according to Idaho 511, as little snow is still falling in Bonners Ferry, having shifted mostly to the southeast in Bonner and Kootenai Counties and into Montana. So far in Boundary County, motorists have been handling the road conditions well. | |||
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~ Roads are treacherous and getting
worse ~ 5:25 p.m.: Highways throughout the region are sloppy and getting worse, and if slowing down goes against the grain, it's one of those nights where you can jump into warp speed by hitting the high beams. State highways are listed on 511 as "difficult" and side roads are worse. In Kootenai County, I90 is closed between Exit 15, Sherman Avenue, and Exit 17, Mullan Road, due to a collision. If you don't have to drive, stay off the roads. |
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| Still openings in BCH CNA class: There are still openings for the Winter Semester of the Boundary Community Hospital Certified Nursing Assistant Program that starts on Tuesday, January 16. Want to register for class or need more info? Contact Tracey Maas. | |||
 ~ Roads are getting slick ~ 2:20 p.m.: Highways throughout North Idaho are getting slick, with slide-offs starting to be reported in Boundary County on Deep Creek Loop and Highway 2. State highways from Grangeville north are reported as "difficult." If you don't have to travel, stay off the roads. |
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| Kellogg schools closed due to illness: Schools in the Kellogg School District are closed due to widespread illness and accompanying low attendance numbers. As a result, Saturday's Wildcat basketball games at Bonners Ferry have been cancelled. | |||
 Jade missing from home off Camp Nine:
Mrs. Allred has been missing her female German
Shepherd, Jade, since Wednesday morning from her
home on Rigby Road off Camp Nine Road north of
Bonners Ferry.
Jade is wearing a blue collar with a Salt Lake
County, Utah, phone number on it, but no name. |
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| Get ready for more winter: With the temperature below freezing and snow on the way, highways in Boundary County are rated "fair" as of 6:10 a.m., but be on the lookout for slick spots. | |||
| January 10 | |||
| Break the Chain of Infection: Deep in the heart of winter, it is an excellent time to remind everyone that each of you play an important role in infection prevention. Despite the variety of viruses and bacteria, germs spread from person to person through a common series of events. By Connie Sue Clum, RN, MSN | |||
 Diesel pining for a forever home: Meet Diesel, a young loving boy and the
newest addition at Second Chance Animal
Adoption. He is ready to find adventures with a
new forever family.
Diesel knows his basic commands and is fully
house trained. If you think you'd like to give
him a home, you can meet him at Second Chance
Animal Adoption. |
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| Storm watch upgraded to warning in North Idaho: The National Weather Service, Spokane has upgraded a winter storm watch in North Idaho to a winter storm warning for snow, in effect from 4 a.m. Thursday to 4 p.m. Friday. New snow accumulations of six to 12 inches are expected in the valleys. | |||
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~ Roads reported to be icy ~ 6:09 a.m.: NewsBF has received reports of Highway 95 being slick in areas with black ice; weather in Bonners Ferry is currently 37 degrees in Bonners Ferry with widely scattered rain and rain/snow mix. ITD's 511 maps are showing no current problems, and there are as yet no calls coming in on the scanner regarding problem areas. |
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| Winter storm watch for Kootenai/Cabinet Region: A winter storm watch has been issued by the Missoula Weather Service for heavy snow above 2,500 feet in the Kootenai/Cabinet Region from late tonight through Friday morning. Snow accumulations of six to ten inches are likely, with some areas liable to over two feet of new snow. | |||
| Region producing more using less electricity: The Pacific Northwest’s economy is growing, overall employment levels are now exceeding levels from before the 2008 recession, and the region continues to produce more goods and services using less electricity. | |||
 Thou art a churlish, beef-witted
lewdster! Calm down, take some soothing breaths, and tell
yourself “The bugger isn’t really talking to me.
It might be better to collect more evidence
before I clout the droning varlot." Musings
from Moyieboy, by Ken Carpenter |
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| Three appointed to IDL FPAAC: Idaho Department of Lands Director Tom Schultz appointed Dr. Timothy Link, Moscow, Kelly Riggs, Glenns Ferry, and Paul Buckland, Coeur d’Alene, fill positions on the Idaho Forest Practices Act Advisory Committee. | |||
| January 9 | |||
| Troy mayor reminds residents to clear sidewalks: The City of Troy, due to the recent snow, is reminding everyone who has a sidewalk in front of their home to help keep it shoveled. "We really need to keep the sidewalks clear of snow for everyone who uses them especially the children who walk to and from the schools causing the children to walk in the roadway," said Mayor Dallas Carr. | |||
 Local
Zip Trip to get new corporate owners:
Par Petroleum LLC, a subsidiary of Par Pacific
Holdings Inc., has entered into an agreement to
acquire 33 Cenex Zip Trip convenience stores in
eastern Washington and northwestern Idaho from
CHS Inc. The Bonners Ferry Zip Trip is one of
them. |
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| LCSC flag raising to kick off 125th anniversary: Lewis-Clark State College, Lewiston, will kick off the celebration of its 125th anniversary on Saturday, January 27, with its Raise the Flag event at 2 p.m. at the LCSC Silverthorne Theatre. The college turns 125 on that day, which marks the anniversary of when Idaho Governor William J. McConnell authorized the establishment of Lewiston State Normal School in 1893. | |||
 Mars brighter in 2018 than any time since 2003:
Remember Mars in 2003? That was the year the red
planet came closer to Earth than it had been in
some 60,000 years. In 2018, Mars won’t be quite as
bright as it was in 2003.
But nearly! |
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| Court dispositions and sheriff's log | |||
| Up to a foot of valley snow expected Thursday: The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for heavy snow in North Idaho, effective all day Thursday. Heavy snow is possible with up to a foot of new snow in the valleys and up to two feet at higher elevations. | |||
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| Fresh snow on Schweitzer: Yesterday’s Run-Of-The-Day was Whiplash to Will's Runout, through Tower 19 Trees and out to Vagabond! Wow, that was fun! The snow was on the heavy side and changed consistency depending on elevation and sun or shade exposure. By Schweitzer Snow Reporters | |||
| Montana weather advisory for snow issued: A winter weather advisory has been issued until 10 a.m. for the Kootenai/Cabinet region and Flathead/Mission Valleys in Montana, where heavy, wet snow is falling with expected accumulations of one inch will make the morning commute difficult. | |||
| January 8 | |||
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~ Lost car keys ~ Alisa Moellmer lost a set of Toyota keys at Super 1 this afternoon at about 3:05 p.m. She was at checkout #7 when she last had them. They have a black Toyota key fob with a Toyota key and an old Pro-X card attached to the ring. There are a couple miscellaneous keys on the ring as well. If you picked them up on accident, or have seen them, please send her a private Facebook message. Those are the only set of keys to drive that car! |
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~ Man looking to shovel to sleep warm ~ A man staying at the Kootenai Valley Motel is looking to shovel snow for people so he can afford another night in a warm bed, and not out trying to find a dry place outdoors in the cold. He has enough for tonight, but needs to take care of tomorrow. Jason has his own shovel and he doesn't want handouts. If you have work in Bonners Ferry he can do, call him at (208) 217-2586. |
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| Dense fog advisory issued: The National Weather Service has issued a dense fog advisory for North Idaho and northeast Washington in effect until 10 p.m. today. Visibility is expected to drop to a quarter mile or less this afternoon. | |||
| Big changes bode well for BAS in 2018: Boundary Ambulance Service will begin 2018 with two new additions to its normal operations. Chief Jeff Lindsey says both are vitally important to the community we serve. “We have an opportunity to expand our Advanced Life Support services as well as provide preventative prehospital medicine to our community with our current staff without having to increase our budget," he said. | |||
| Funds available for curb ramp projects: Individual grants of up to $60,000 are available to Idaho organizations statewide through a competitive application process ending March 2 for the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Curb Ramp Program. In total, the Idaho Transportation Department will allocate $500,000 of state funds for this program. | |||
 Scientists find weakness in deadly fungus:
A team of scientists studying a fungus called
Pseudogymnoascus destructans, or P.
destructans, noticed something interesting:
it lacks a key DNA repair enzyme.
P. destructans
is the fungus that causes
white-nose syndrome, a disease that has
killed millions of hibernating bats in North
America. |
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| January 7 | |||
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~ Gas leak reported on Denver Street ~ 12:38 p.m.: City fire and ambulance personnel have been dispatched to a Denver Street residence for a reported gas leak. All occupants are safe and out of the home. Please stay away from the home, and if driving in the area, please yield to emergency vehicles. 12:59 p.m.: The gas is shut off and Avista is on scene. The fire department is returning to station. |
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~ Editor blocked on Facebook ~ NewsBF editor Mike Weland has been blocked on Facebook for seven days for an image he posted on his personal page that gave someone offense. He is unable, therefore, to post breaking NewsBF updates until next Sunday, January 14. He regrets the inconvenience. Those needing to contact him during this period can email mikeweland@gmail.com. |
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| January 6 | |||
 USFS has summer job openings:
It's a new year and time for new opportunities
with the U.S. Forest Service!
Click here
to learn about summer job opportunities with the
Forest Service. You can select what region you'd
like to work in, on what forest and more! |
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| Family in need of firewood: Jackie Pierce, Bonners Ferry, has a friend in a predicament, but too embarrassed to ask for help, even though, Jackie said, that predicament isn't of their own making. She hopes that members of the community will help her help them. | |||
| MHP troopers in five crashes last month: The Montana Highway Patrol says it's unfortunate that they have to report that, within the last month alone, five troopers have been involved in crashes through no fault of their own. In each of these cases, drivers were not driving appropriately for conditions. | |||
 Mars/Jupiter conjunction in Sunday morning sky:
All week, before dawn, bright Jupiter has been
moving up toward fainter Mars in the predawn
sky. Before dawn on Sunday – January 7, 2018 –
Mars and Jupiter are in conjunction, with the
red planet Mars appearing about 0.25-degrees
south of the giant planet Jupiter. |
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| January 5 | |||
| Seeking Boundary County Farmer of the Year: Boundary Soil Conservation board has been recognizing local farmers since 1991 for their outstanding conservation practices. This year, the board is asking for community input. The award is sponsored by the district to call attention to the many farmers within our county who are caring stewards of the land. | |||
| Keep an eye out for potential snow damage: Boundary County public information officer Michael Meier today issued data released by the Western Regional Climate Center showing that average snowfall for November and December in Bonners Ferry is 27 inches. The average snow depth for this time period is five inches. | |||
 Landers to speak at anniversary celebration:
Friends of Scotchman Peaks will celebrate their
13th anniversary on Saturday, January 13, with a
gathering at the Panida Theater, Sandpoint,
featuring eminent outdoor journalist Rich
Landers, who will talk about his 40-plus year
career at the Spokane Spokesman Review. |
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| Weather advisory issued for western Montana: The National Weather Service, Missoula, has issued a winter weather advisory for freezing rain, in effect from 5 p.m. today to 11 a.m. Saturday, for the Kootenai/Cabinet and Lower Clark Fork regions of Montana. | |||
 Blundell coming to CdA Ranger District:
Phillip Blundell has been selected as the new
Deputy District Ranger for the Coeur d’Alene
River Ranger District in Smelterville starting
on January 8. Blundell is coming to the Forest
Service from the Bureau of Land Management,
where he was the Landscape Planning Coordinator
for the Wyoming Landscape Conservation
Initiative. |
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| Moyie Springs City Council minutes, December 6 | |||
 CdA Police seek help to identify human remains:
The Coeur d'Alene Police Department is asking
for the public's help identifying human remains
that were discovered in September.
On September 3, Coeur d'Alene Police responded
to the rock quarry located on West Kathleen
Avenue for human remains that were located near
the bottom. The remains had been in the quarry
for approximately two to three years. |
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 Beware of moose crossing in Moose Valley:
Karen McCarty passes along that Deep Creek east
of Highway 95 along Shiloh Loop is frozen tight
and the moose are thirsty. "They come up from
Shiloh behind Living Stone Lane as it's an
easier slope with more space between trees," she
writes. "Then they angle toward either Stampede
or McArthur Lake. |
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| January 4 | |||
| Labrador unveils economic plan: Today, gubernatorial candidate Raúl Labrador unveiled his plan to Strengthen Idaho’s Economy, the first plank of his Conservative Vision for a Stronger Idaho. | |||
 It's beer o'clock and all is well:
It is likely that many people imbibed more beer
over the holidays than they usually would in a
two-month period. So, just to rub it in a little
bit, I decided to provide a little history to go
with the beerheads. Mankind has been heaping
praise upon beer for 9,000 years or longer. |
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| Court dispositions and sheriff's log | |||
| Glop, slop, snow and sleet back in the forecast: Yucky weather is on its way back to the region, with glop, slop, snow and sleet in the daily forecast for the next eight days. As of 2:10 p.m. Today, radar showed areas of frozen mix coming down in Boundary County, but more is coming. | |||
 Aiming High for Abigail: Spaghetti feed &
auction coming: A benefit spaghetti
feed and auction will be held at the Boundary
County Middle School for Abigail Blockhan, the
daughter of Don and Nikki Blockhan, Bonners
Ferry, at 6 p.m. Saturday, January 20. About two
years ago, Abigail fell ill with flu-like
symptoms. It progressed until she was bed ridden
most days. After several months, Abigail was
diagnosed with dysautonomia. |
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| Sturgeon responding to restoration efforts: Higher flows, a double pulse of spring water and a long-term habitat project in the Kootenai River resulted this year in a 20 percent increase in sturgeon moving upstream of Bonners Ferry to spawn, according to a review last month of 2017 operations to aid white sturgeon and bull trout downstream of Libby Dam. | |||
 Flu claims eight this season in North Idaho:
Officials from Spokane Regional Health District
(SRHD) and Panhandle Health District (PHD) are
seeing marked increases in flu hospitalizations
and deaths, prompting a reminder to residents in
both areas to get vaccinated and, if a person
does become ill, to consult with a healthcare
provider about diagnosis and possible treatment
with antiviral drugs. |
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| Snow Pit Chat slated at Alpine Shop: The Friends of the Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center will host a Snow Pit Chat at 6 p.m. Tuesday, January 9, at the Alpine Shop, 213 Church Street, Sandpoint. | |||
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~ Hospital Auxiliary January meeting
changed ~ The Hospital Auxiliary meeting for January has been changed from January 9 to January 16 at 11:30 a.m. at Chic-n-Chop. This is only for the January meeting, where they will be discussing the upcoming Pie Sale. |
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~ Chic-N-Chop is back! ~ The Chic-N-Chop Restaurant, 6421 Main Street, Bonners Ferry, is back to its regular hours, beginning today! 4:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, closed Monday. |
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| Open house today on Kootenai Forest salvage project: During the 2017 fire season, multiple wildfires burned over 80,000 acres on the Kootenai National Forest, affecting approximately 3.6 percent of the Forest's land base. An open house on the West Fork Fire Salvage and Restoration Project will be held today at the Kootenai National Forest Supervisor's Office in Libby from 6 to 8 p.m. and project team members will be on hand to provide information and answer questions regarding the proposed project. | |||
| Job fair January 10 in Post Falls: The Idaho Department of Labor is hosting their Monthly Hiring Event from 10 a.m. to noon at the Idaho Department of Labor Kootenai County Office, N600 Thornton Street, Post Falls. This event is an opportunity for job seekers to meet with multiple employers with immediate job openings. | |||
| January 3 | |||
 Mormon Church president passes:
Thomas S. Monson, president and prophet of The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,
died Tuesday night at the age of 90.
In a statement, church spokesman Eric Hawkins
wrote that Monson died at 10:01 p.m. in his home
in Salt Lake City, surrounded by family. |
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| Bonners Ferry Cereal School coming soon: This year's North Idaho Cereal School in Bonners Ferry features industry leaders and university researchers bringing you the latest information on weed and disease control, pest issues and variety trial results. The school takes place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, January 24. | |||
| January 2 | |||
 Big boy hops ride to Second Chance:
This very big boy was taken to Second Chance
Animal Adoption today after entering a vehicle
at the Jenny Lane apartments and refusing to
leave. He is wearing a blue and yellow leopard
print collar. UPDATE 9:58 p.m.:
His name is Shadow and his people will be
picking him up! |
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| City dog licenses half off in January: City of Bonners Ferry dog license tags for 2018 are available at City Hall, 7232 Main Street. The cost is $12 until January 31, and then the price will be $24. Please come in and license your dogs before January 31 in order to receive the discount! | |||
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