|
March 2022 |
News |
March 31 |
Boundary
County GOP to host candidates forum: The Local and
Legislative District 1 Republican Candidate Forum will be held
from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, April 14, Bonners Ferry High School,
6485 Tamarack Lane, Bonners Ferry. The Boundary County Republican
Central Committee will host the forum for local and Legislature
District 1 Republican candidates. |
March 30 |
Meet
the final four 2022 DYW candidates: Eleven of Bonners
Ferry’s most outstanding junior girls will be given an opportunity
to win scholarship money in this year’s annual Bonners Ferry
Distinguished Young Women Scholarship Program (formerly Junior
Miss). Set for Saturday, April 30, in the Becker Auditorium at
Bonners Ferry High School, the theme of this year’s program is
“Mission: Possible.” We are proud to introduce the final four of
Bonners Ferry's 2022's most distinguished young women. |
March 29 |
April
is Distracted Driving Awareness Month: The Boundary
County Sheriff’s Office is joining other law enforcement agencies
across the state to keep our community safe by educating the
public about engaged driving. This is part of a statewide effort
highlight the dangers of driving distracted. From April 19-29,
more than 60 law enforcement agencies throughout Idaho will work
with the Idaho Transportation Department to dedicate patrols to
the enforcement of Idaho’s hands-free law. |
Alpha
+ 2130 heading to regional competition: Alpha + 2130
Robotics is leaving for Nampa tomorrow to compete at the Idaho
Regional Blue Alliance Robotics Competition March 30 to April 2,
with teams coming in from Idaho, California, Utah, Montana and
Alberta. |
Seventh
annual Bridging the Gap dinner slated: Panhandle
Health District is offering a free dinner for those who would like
to become more comfortable in speaking to their kids about the
birds and the bees at the seventh annual Bridging the Gap dinner
event, designed for parents, guardians, grandparents or anyone
else who is helping guide teens and/or pre-teens through life. |
Boundary County Commission minutes, week of March 14 |
Work
to begin next week on next phase of Highway 95 project:
A two-year project will begin Monday, April 4, to extend the
three-lane section on U.S. Highway 95 from Alderson Lane to
Labrosse Hill Street in Bonners Ferry. Drivers can generally
expect a lane to be open in each direction. Most work will take
place during the day, with some night work and detours possible as
intersections and driveways are improved. |
March 28 |
America's
Veterinarian leaving soon to help Ukrainian pets: Dr.
Marty Becker, Bonners Ferry, announced this afternoon that he will
be traveling to the Ukraine border next week to assist with the
Herculean effort to help the Ukrainian people get their pets to
safety as the nation continues to stand fast against Russian
President Vladimir Putin and his immoral war machine. |
Prescribed
burning to begin on IPNF: Favorable conditions are
forecasted in the coming weeks to provide prescribed burning
opportunities across the Idaho Panhandle National Forests.
Multiple prescribed burning projects are planned this spring,
although the exact day of ignitions will depend upon conditions
aligning with safe implementation. |
The
Timber Rattlers coming to the Pearl: The historic
Pearl Theater, Bonners Ferry, will host the raucous, toe-tapping
Timber Rattlers at 7 p.m. Friday, April 8. This Missoula quartet
plays hard driving, traditional bluegrass with fresh, brisk
progressive modern elements. The Timber Rattlers blend a diverse
array of influence into exhilarating, one of a kind live music
playfulness. |
March 27 |
New
Moyie Springs Ward created today: The Sandpoint stake
of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints continues to
see exponential growth with a majority of that growth taking place
in Boundary County. Today the Bonners Ferry First and Second Wards
were realigned and Brother Adam Newhouse has been called to serve
as Bishop of the new Moyie Springs Ward. |
March 26 |
Knotty
Pine decision notice now available: The Knotty Pine
Final Decision Notice (DN) is available. The Knotty Pine Project
is located north and west of Troy, Montana and includes Pine
Creek, Curley Creek, Lime Creek, Rocky Creek, and Red Top Creek
watersheds. Line Point, Murphy and Red Top mountains form the
northern boundary of the project, the Idaho state line forms the
western edge, the Kootenai River the southern boundary, and the
Yaak River the eastern boundary. |
March 25 |
Hello, Mr. BFHS! |
 |
Photo courtesy Eika Willis |
Congratulations to Sky Reinhardt, right
for taking home the Mr. BFHS 2022 crown tonight! Great job
to all involved, and thanks as well to (l-r) Kyle Smith,
Jake Summerfield, Brady Hinthorn, Connor Alexander, Levi
Bonnell, Ryan Carelli and Jack Duffy for putting on a
thoroughly fun and entertaining show! |
|
Volunteers
already working on 2022 Independence Day festivities:
Those interested in sponsoring or donating to this year's Bonners
Ferry Independence Day Celebration have a range of options to make
it easy to give and make possible another old-fashioned, hometown
Fourth of July celebration. John Becker is promoting the
celebration for the second year, and working to raise $15,300 for
this year's fireworks as well as durable mortar racks and firing
modules that can be used year after year. |
March 24 |
Bonners
Ferry artist brightens 40th North Idaho Spring Dash:
A Bonners Ferry woman in her freshman year at North Idaho College
studying graphic design won a prestigious competition to create
the art that will reflect and define the United Way of North
Idaho's 40th annual Spring Dash ... and not only is she honored
that they accepted her design, she is grateful, too, that in doing
so she is giving back to her North Idaho community. On top of
that, she also joins a list of Bonners Ferry students to earn
accolades from her instructor! |
Second
Chance Thrift Store reopening on truncated schedule:
Second Chance Thrift Store will reopen tomorrow on a limited
schedule after six employees quit after two employees were
allegedly sexually harassed by a customer recently and the board
refused their request to ban the Montana man who allegedly did it.
The incident began at about 2:30 p.m. Thursday, March 10.
Comment added |
Meet
DYW participants 4 through 7: Eleven of Bonners
Ferry’s most outstanding junior girls will be given an opportunity
to win scholarship money in this year’s annual Bonners Ferry
Distinguished Young Women Scholarship Program (formerly Junior
Miss). Set for Saturday, April 30, in the Becker Auditorium at
Bonners Ferry High School, the theme of this year’s program is
“Mission: Possible.” We are proud to introduce four more of
Bonners Ferry's most distinguished young women. |
Wildland
firefighter hazard pay bill signed into law: Governor
Brad Little signed House Bill 588 today, authorizing wildland
firefighters to receive hazard pay while working in dangerous
conditions. This legislation underpins a movement to modernize the
Department of Lands’ (IDL) wildfire management program. The bill,
which enjoyed broad support among Idaho’s policy makers, enables
Idaho’s wildland firefighters to receive competitive compensation
on par with their federal peers. |
Spring
conditions affect National Forest roads and trails:
The U.S. Forest Service would like to remind visitors travelling
on the Idaho Panhandle National Forests’ extensive network of
roads and trails to be aware of changing conditions and the
hazards of driving on soft roadbeds as roads thaw. Excessive
snowmelt causes road shoulders to be “soft” and unstable. |
JBS hosting
Republican candidate forum: All are welcome to attend
the 2022 Boundary County State Candidate Forum for the Republican
primary election, hosted by the John Birch Society. The forum will
be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 31, at 6 p.m. at the Boundary
County Middle School, 6577 Main Street, Bonners Ferry. |
Big-money
Nevada consultants play part in Herndon Senate campaign:
As the calendar edges nearer to the May 17 primary elections in
Idaho, certain campaigns are only growing more contentious — among
them, the contest between incumbent Senator Jim Woodward, R-Sagle,
and challenger Scott Herndon, with Herndon waging a campaign so
negative it's raising eyebrows in Idaho's friendliest city. By
Zach Hagadone, Sandpoint Reader |
Engel
asks for packed courtroom Monday: Todd Engel, Priest
River, who is challenging incumbent Sage Dixon for State
Representative District 1, Position B, is not only seeking votes,
he's asking support in a court case in Boundary County set for
1:15 p.m. Monday, March 28. UPDATE: The hearing
has been postponed to 1:15 p.m. Monday, April 11. The article has
been updated with additional information. |
March 22 |
Lincoln
Day Dinner set for May 7: The Boundary County
Republican Central Committee will host its annual Lincoln Day
Dinner from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, May 7, at The Great Northwest
Territories Event Center, 998 Mountain Meadows Road, Naples, with
keynote speaker Luba Wold, a North Idaho woman with an inspiring
story to tell about her escape from communist Russia. |
Survey out on
county All Hazard Mitigation Plan: Residents of
Boundary County are invited to participate in the update process
of the All-Hazard Mitigation Plan by completing a brief survey.
The questions aim to get a sense of the public’s perceptions of,
and experiences with, the hazards and potential disasters that
affect local communities. |
New website to
keep Idahoans updated on state meetings: Idaho
Governor Brad Little and State Controller Brandon Woolf announced
the new Townhall Idaho web site today, an online one-stop-shop for
all public meeting information for state executive branch
agencies. On the site, users can search and find information
pertaining to public meetings for state agencies and
state-affiliated commissions. The goal is eventually to include
local government entities’ meeting notices on the site. |
Ukraine,
drought add more uncertainty as Idaho farmers start to plant:
Food costs have increased substantially over the past year and are
expected to continue to rise in 2022. At the same time, farm
production costs are also increasing, sometimes dramatically.
“Farmers are getting hit by higher costs every which way,” said
Hammett farmer Nick Blanksma, who estimates his overall farm
production costs are up at least 30 percent over the past year. |
Boundary County
First Judicial District Court dispositions |
March 20 |
Idaho
66th Legislative Session nearing an end: The second
session of the 66th Idaho Legislature is nearly complete. Every
year, the Idaho Legislature meets starting in January and normally
ends in March. Last year, the legislative session ran
exceptionally long. This year, it looks like we will finish in the
typical timeframe. The goal is to adjourn by March 25. By
Idaho Senator Jim Woodward |
March 19 |
Farm
Bureau looking for first spring baby: Tomorrow is the
first day of spring and the Boundary County Farm Bureau is looking
for the first Boundary County Baby of Spring! In observance of
agriculture, spring, and new beginnings, Boundary County Farm
Bureau Federation is looking for the first Boundary County baby
born on or after March 20, 2022! |
March 18 |
Fourth
graders discover the 'Lazy Susan' mine: A new mine
has been discovered in Bonners Ferry! A man who goes by the name
of Marty filed a claim on the "Lazy Susan Mine," and exploration
took place on Wednesday, March 2. In honor of "Idaho Day 2022,"
themed "Mining in Idaho," fourth graders from Boundary County
School District 101 arrived at the Museum to learn about mines and
mining in the county. The mine and this activity was constructed
expressly for this one-time event, and is not a permanent exhibit. |
Sauter
running for House Seat 1A: Mark Sauter, Dover, is
running for District 1A Representative because he has the
leadership skills and the solid conservative values that focus on
our citizens and our communities. "We need leaders who are
responsible, who listen to all their constituents and who will
collaborate with their conservative colleagues to find solutions,"
he said. “We live in challenging times. The last decade has
brought immense growth, changes in political attitudes and
stressful impacts to our communities." |
Woman
missing on I-90 found dead: Members of the Kootenai
County Volunteer Search and Rescue Unit responded to Fourth of
July Pass and focused their search efforts on the south side of
Interstate 90. During the search, Janelle M. Burchfield, 46, was
located deceased in heavy brush down a steep embankment. |
March 17 |
Boundary County School District 101 Board meeting, 6 p.m. Monday,
March 21, district office |
March 16 |
Meet
three of this year's Bonners Ferry's DYW participants:
Eleven of Bonners Ferry’s most outstanding junior girls are
embarked on a transformative adventure as they participate in this
year's Bonners Ferry Distinguished Young Women Scholarship
Program, to culminate April 30 in the Becker Auditorium at Bonners
Ferry High School. Here are the first three on "Mission:
Possible;" Grace Frances Worley, Maile Kekela Murdock and Nevaeh
Ann Elliston. |
Respond to identity
verification letters to protect tax refunds: Last
year the Idaho State Tax Commission sent over 22,000 identity
verification letters and stopped more than $3.4 million in tax
refunds from going to fraudsters. This year, the Tax Commission
continues its fraud detection reviews that include sending letters
asking income tax filers to validate their identity or confirm
that they’ve filed their return. |
March 15 |
KCSO
seeks missing woman: The Kootenai County Sheriff's
Office is looking for Janelle M. Burchfield, 46, was last seen at
the top of Fourth of July Pass at about 7:30 a.m. Monday. Her cell
phone was powered off about 10 minutes later. |
Bonners
Ferry Eagles busy this weekend: Members of Bonners
Ferry Eagles Aerie 3522 are rolling into spring with a busy March
weekend; holding both their St. Patrick's Day Dance and another of
their famous benefit breakfasts to help those in our community who
need to travel for cancer treatments. |
March 14 |
Boundary
County Commission minutes, week of March 7 |
Boundary
County Commission minutes, week of February 28 |
Cowell
announces bid for coroner: My name is Richard Cowell,
and I am announcing my candidacy for the Office of Boundary County
Coroner. Currently, my wife and I live in Moyie Springs, but I
have called Boundary County my home for the last 15 years. In
2014, I joined the Bonner's Ferry Police Department’s Explorer
Post, getting to know and work with local law enforcement. In 2018
I was hired on with Boundary County Sheriff’s Office as a
Detention Deputy before going to work for Bonner County Juvenile
Detention. |
Free
seed at seed bank open house: County residents have a
valuable free resource at the Boundary County Extension Office,
and free seeds will be available at the Boundary County Seed Bank
Open House from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 16, preceded by a
seed starting class at 1 p.m., especially helpful to those new to
gardening in this area to both learn how to test the viability of
your seeds and to get your plants off to the best start possible. |
Boundary County First
Judicial District Court dispositions |
March 13 |
Honoring
a Bonners Ferry legend; Coach Dick Dawson: By now I
have come to believe that most of us, by the time we become
adults, which I would loosely define as someone who has attained
enough age to have developed the insight to look to the past for
inspiration for the future, have recalled someone who came along
just at the right time in their life to inspire them by making a
memorable positive difference in their life. A person who ended up
speaking to their soul. By Darrell Kerby |
March 12 |
The most
important mid-term primary of our time is at hand: In
66 days, Idahoans will go to the polls in what is assuredly the
most critical mid-term election of our age. Have no doubt; how we
vote this May will have lasting effect on our nation's future, and
the world's. For over 30 years, I've given my best effort to
provide fair, unbiased and honest coverage of our local elections.
This year, not only is the trust I've worked to earn over decades
in question; so too is the trust in our electoral process itself.
Still, I present the Boundary County 2022 Voter's Guide. I will
not lose hope. |
March 11 |
Idaho
candidacy petitions are in: The deadline for
candidates seeking Idaho office to have their names on the May 17
primary ballot ended at 5 p.m. today. Three of six Boundary County
offices to be filled this year are contested, and two of the
uncontested offices will see new officers as the incumbents
retire. If you are running or representing an initiative that will
appear on Boundary County, Idaho, ballots in 2022, we'd love to
hear from you! |
March 10 |
Little
seeks to delist lower 48 grizzlies: Idaho Governor
Brad Little on Wednesday submitted a petition to the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service to remove grizzly bears in the “Lower 48” United
States from the Endangered Species Act and recognize states’
successful efforts to recover and manage grizzly populations. |
RDCK lifting mask
mandate: The British Columbia Regional District of
Central Kootenay will no longer require masks to be worn by
members of the public in any of its offices or facilities
effective Friday, March 11, after a decision by the provincial
health officer based on B.C.’s lowered hospitalization and
transmission rates. |
March 9 |
COVID
health emergency declaration to end April 15: After
weeks of thoughtful deliberation with numerous stakeholders,
Governor Brad Little announced today Idaho will end the public
health emergency on April 15. Little said he kept Idaho open,
never put in place mask or vaccine mandates, banned vaccine
passports and successfully challenged President Biden’s vaccine
mandates in court. Idaho now has the strongest economy in the
nation. Idaho still maintains a fund to respond to COVID-19 if
needs change. |
Mission: Possible! |
 |
Eleven Distinguished
Young Women set off on 'Mission: Possible:'
Eleven of Bonners Ferry’s most outstanding
junior girls will be given an opportunity to win
scholarship money in this year’s annual Bonners Ferry
Distinguished Young Women Scholarship Program (formerly
Junior Miss). Set for Saturday, April 30, in the Becker
Auditorium at Bonners Ferry High School, the theme of this
year’s program is “Mission: Possible” |
|
March 8 |
School
bond levy fails: The Boundary County School Bond Levy
got a majority of yes votes, but required a two-thirds super
majority and did not pass. 1,158 voted yes, 995 voted no. That's
53.8-percent in favor, 46.2-percent opposed. It required a
66.67-percent yes vote to pass. |
March 7 |
Boundary County First
Judicial District Court dispositions |
March 5 |
9B News slowed by health issues: My apologies for
the lack of coverage of late as I am working to resolve
potentially serious health issues. I will do my very best to post
any breaking news that arises as well as results of Tuesday's
election, but I ask your patience and good thoughts during this
difficult time, and promise to return to full coverage as soon as
possible. Thank you ~ Mike Weland, Publisher |
March 1 |
 Pair
of Labs missing in 20 Mile area: These two Labs are
missing in the 20-Mile area. Both are wearing collars with their
names, as well as shock collars. If you see them, call Kim at
(208) 290-1702. |
Candidates
are filing two days in: The window for filing
declarations of candidacy for the May 17 Idaho primary election
opened yesterday and the slate is off to a good start, with six in
Boundary County having filed as of noon today. |
Adam
Hiatt's Orediggers strike gold: Adam Hiatt, who
graduated from Bonners Ferry High School in 1997, took over as
head coach of the Montana Tech Orediggers men's basketball
program, Butte, for the 2016-17 season knowing it would take time
to build the program. On February 28, his hard work paid off.
Here's how Daniel Shepard, 406 MT Sports, wrote it up: "Smiles on
the faces of players and coaches as they ascended the ladder and
cut down nets told the story." |
Officers
save local man from possible overdose: Bonners Ferry
Police were called to a report of suspicious activity at AJ's
Lanes February 24 and quick action by officers Scott Davis and
Malorie Stippich is credited with saving a Moyie Springs man from
a fentanyl overdose. On arrival, police were told that Jacob A.
Wanner-Vanetten, 32, had been in the restroom for an extended
time. On making entrance, Davis smelled the reek of smoked
fentanyl pills and recognized that Wanner-Vanetten was lapsing
into an overdose. |
In
Ukraine, every lost soul is on Putin: Since Russian
military forces illegally invaded Ukraine last week, Ukrainian
civilians and soldiers, as well as Russian soldiers have been
killed in the conflict. Estimates are in the thousands. Every one
of those deaths is directly attributable to Russian president
Vladimir Putin, said Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby.
By C. Todd Lopez, DoD News |