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News |
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May 23 |
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Bonners Ferry comp plan
activities set for June 4: The City of Bonners Ferry
is updating the Comprehensive Plan and wants to ensure that the
community has an active part in deciding how the city looks,
functions, and serves the needs of its residents as the future
brings change. On Saturday, June 4, city consultants and community
volunteers will have a booth at the Farmers Market from 8 a.m. to
1 p.m. to provide information and activities for the community to
help shape the plan’s overall direction. |
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City surplus auction
underway: The City of Bonners Ferry is disposing of
several items by sealed bid due by May 25, 2022, by 3 p.m. The
vehicles and items will be displayed at the city utility yard at
6362 Washington Street from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 23-25. A copy of
the list of items can be obtained at City Hall during regular
business hours. All bids must be submitted to the city in a sealed
envelope by 3 p.m., May 25, 2022. |
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Boundary County First
Judicial District Court dispositions |
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May 22 |
 Lincoln
County shooting suspect captured: After an all-night
manhunt, a Flathead County, Montana, man suspected in a homicide
near the mouth of Lake Koocanusa was arrested near his home at
about 10 a.m. MDT today. Garry Douglas Seaman, 63, is in custody
on a warrant for murder. At about 2:47 p.m. Saturday, Lincoln
County Sheriff's dispatch received report of a shooting in the
Alexander Creek campground north of Libby. |
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May 21 |
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Montana woman missing
from Spokane: Ellen "Ellie" Rosemary Caye, 22, is
missing after being left at the Hope House for Women in Spokane.
She was last seen April 22. She is a member of the Confederated
Salish and Kootenai Tribe who lived on the Flathead Reservation in
Lake County, Montana. UPDATE: Ellie has made
contact with her family. |
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May 19 |
 Library's
woes not over yet: A tort claim on behalf of four
whistleblowers was delivered to the Boundary County Free Library
District Board at its May meeting this morning seeking the
immediate resignation of the entire board and the immediate
discharge of two library employees as a show of good faith so as
to enter federal mediation requested about six months ago to
resolve an array of issues and alleged crimes. |
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IDL burn permit
site to be down for maintenance: Idaho Department of
Land’s burn permit website,
burnpermits.idaho.gov, will be down for maintenance from 6
a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, May 22, and burn permits will not be
available during this time. Since the permits are valid 10 days
from the date of issue, those who have plans to burn this weekend
should apply for a permit now. Permits are free, applying only
takes a few minutes, and the permit is issued immediately. |
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May 18 |
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Commissioners to meet in special session: The
Boundary County Board of Commissioners will meet in special
session at 9 a.m. Thursday, May 19, 2021, in commission chambers,
room 28 of the courthouse, 6452 Kootenai Street, Bonners Ferry,
for the purpose of going into executive session pursuant to Idaho
Code 74-206(1)a, to consider hiring a public officer, staff member
or individual agent. Possible action item. This is not a meeting
that is open to the public. |
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Boundary
County Commission minutes May 9 |
 Herndon
issues release on Senate win: Scott Herndon shocked
the Idaho political establishment last night by defeating two-term
incumbent Senator Jim Woodward in Idaho’s First senate district.
Herndon won decisively by double digits: 56-percent to 44-percent.
Herndon’s campaign ran a data-driven operation, drawing a stark
contrast between his conservative political views and Woodward’s
voting record. Herndon’s political strategist Woodrow Johnston
said. |
 Wind
advisory in effect until 9 p.m.: The National Weather
Service, Spokane, has issued a wind advisory for North Idaho
calling for southwest winds of 10 to 20 miles per hour and gusts
to 45 miles per hour, in effect from noon until 9 p.m. today.
The Missoula office of the National Weather Service has also
issued the same advisory for the Kootenai/Cabinet Region, in
effect until midnight. |
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May 17 |
  Robertson,
Fioravanti to be new county commissioners: With a
turnout of 47.9 percent, Ben Robertson and Steve Fioravanti will
be Boundary County's new county commissioners in 2023, Robertson
having defeated incumbent Dan Dinning, 2,076 to 1,059 and Steve
Fioravanti defeated incumbent Tim Bertling, 1,603 to 1,524. Chad
Workman will take over as county coroner, winning that race 2,214
to 476. Caleb Davis retains his seat as Republican precinct
committeeman for Moyie Springs, defeating Elena Quinn 405 to 283,
and Lester Pinkerton will be the GOP precinct committeeman for
North Bonners Ferry, garnering 302 votes to Amy Roemelen's 151 and
Jeffrey Bogard's 48. Updated 7:50 a.m. May 18. |
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At 10:20 a.m. Tuesday, May 17, Johns Hopkins COVID
website reported that one million and four U.S. citizens
have died from novel coronavirus since the pandemic began
in 2020. |
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May 16 |
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Boundary County First
Judicial District Court dispositions |
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School District 101 special trustee negotiations meeting,
4:15 p.m. Monday, May 23, district office, 7188Oak Street, Bonners
Ferry.
Regular meeting, 6 p.m. |
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Troy City
Council meeting, 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 18, Troy City
Council room. |
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Governor
assures Idaho's election will be safe and secure: As
voters head to the polls Tuesday in counties big and small across
Idaho, Governor Brad Little is assuring Idahoans of our state's
history of safe and secure elections and highlighted new
investments to continue our track record of election integrity. |
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Fisherman drowns in
Lake Koocanusa: Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office
dispatch received a report of a vehicle driving into the water at
the Koocanusa Marina, north of Libby and about 4:52 p.m. Sunday.
Upon arrival, deputies located a Ford F-250 pickup in the water
near the end of the boat ramp. |
 Bonners
Ferry FFA shines at competitions: On May 12-13, the
Bonners Ferry FFA chapter went to four different contests. The
first was State Forestry Contest put on by the Idaho Department of
Lands at Farragut State Park. This is a series of eight different
contests in a single location to help prepare students on the
knowledge of work done for the forestry industry. |
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May 13 |
 Helping
families find infant formula: To address infant
formula shortages in the wake of Abbott Nutrition’s voluntary
recall of certain powdered infant formulas, the Biden-Harris
Administration is working to ensure that infant formula is safe
and available for families across the country. Yesterday,
President Biden spoke with retailers and manufacturers, including
Walmart, Target, Reckitt, and Gerber, to discuss ways to get more
formula quickly and safely onto store shelves. |
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May 12 |
 Randy
Weaver, 74, has died: Sara Weaver posted today on the
"Ruby Ridge to Freedom" Facebook page that her father, Randy
Weaver, 74, has died. She gave no details. Randy, who had served
with the U.S. Army Special Forces, was a suspected militant white
supremacist, wanted on a warrant for allegedly selling an illegal
sawed-off shotgun to a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms
informant, but exonerated. |
 Federal
flags to half-staff as tragic COVID milestone looms:
If statistics hold as expected, the United States will reach a
terrible milestone in the novel coronavirus pandemic. In
anticipation of the U.S. reaching one million COVID-19 deaths,
President Joe Biden today ordered flags at all federal buildings
to be flown at half-staff through Monday, May 16. |
 If
clouds clear, total lunar eclipse will shine Sunday night:
On the off chance of a break in the clouds Sunday evening (there's
a 50-percent chance of showers), here are some additional details
on the next total lunar eclipse, which will begin at 7:27 p.m.
Pacific May 15, go into totality at 8:29 p.m. and end at 10:55
p.m. The moon is in a near part of its orbit – close to Earth –
during the eclipse. It’s a supermoon. That means, during this
eclipse, the moon will appear relatively large in our sky. |
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May 10 |
 Translator
District auctioning Can Am UTV: The Boundary County
Translator District is selling surplus equipment by sealed bid
auction. The item will be shown by appointment only from Monday,
May 16, through Thursday, June 16. The sealed bids will be opened
at the Boundary County Translator District’s monthly meeting to be
held at 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 21. Bids must be submitted to the
office of Youngwirth, Davis & Associates located at 7193 Main
Street, Bonners Ferry ID 83805 by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, June 21,
2022. Sold “as is” with no warranty. |
 County
Commission notes ...Restorium tree comes down, community
shred day to return: The big tree in the courtyard at
the Restorium was safely taken down Monday due to safety concerns,
work is underway to widen the availability of high-speed broadband
access in the county and to bring back the once popular "Shred
Day." Commissioners are listening to the public as to planning and
zoning concerns and working to streamline the permit process as
much as possible. |
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Troy City
Council work meeting, 6:30 p.m. May 11, council
chambers. |
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May 9 |
 Man
who died on Yaak an experienced kayaker: The man who
died Sunday while kayaking on the Yaak had years of experience on
the water. Steven Koning, 50, Victor, Idaho, was the founder 25
years ago of Geyser Kayak Tours, Jackson, Wyoming, which operates
in Yellowstone National Park, and had before that owned Snake
River Kayak in Jackson, Idaho. |
 Mai
enters plea agreement on sex charge: Ryan Victor Mai,
46, Bonners Ferry, entered into a plea agreement Friday morning,
pleading guilty to one count of sexual battery of a minor child, a
16-year-old girl, with two additional counts dropped, with a
prosecution sentencing of one year in prison, determinate, and an
open period indeterminate. |
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McGeachin calls on
governor to strengthen abortion ban: In response to
news that the U.S. Supreme Court may restore to states their
constitutional authority to ban abortion, Idaho Lieutenant
Governor Janice McGeachin is formally calling on Governor Brad
Little to convene an extraordinary legislative session for the
purpose of passing a more comprehensive abortion ban in Idaho. |
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Boundary County First
Judicial District Court dispositions |
 Night
time lane closures planned for I-90 study: Nighttime
lane closures on I-90 over the next two months will collect data
for a study to widen Interstate 90 between the Washington state
line and Sherman Avenue in Coeur d’Alene. Crews will focus on the
section between Spokane Street and Northwest Boulevard, closing
either a shoulder or lane in one direction at a time. Work will be
done at night between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m., with the first closure
scheduled for tomorrow night. |
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Idaho man dies kayaking
on the Yaak River: At approximately 12:19 p.m.
Sunday, May 8, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office dispatch center
received an SOS message from a GPS device in the Yaak River area
west of Troy. Deputies with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s office
began responding to the area. Updated information indicated that
the 38-year-old man who sent the message was healthy and on a
kayaking trip with three other men. |
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May 7 |
 Falky
swept away in Mission Creek: Falky got swept down
stream yesterday in Mission Creek in the Mt. Hall area. Anyone who
knows the area or lives up that way are asked to keep an eye out
for him. He's got on a blue collar with his owner's number on it.
He's friendly. "Trying not to think the worst because the creek
was pretty rapid where he got swept in." |
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May 5 |
 Pearl
Theater bell tower needs work: The Pearl Theater in
Bonners Ferry is fundraising to make repairs to the bell tower so
that we can get the balcony reopened. The balcony has been closed
since February of this year due to a major roof leak at the base
of the bell tower, which caused major damage to the balcony. |
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May 4 |
 Total
lunar eclipse a certainty, meteor shower possible:
May offers an unusual sky watching bounty: the possibility of two
major celestial highlights occurring within the span of a single
month. The first, a total lunar eclipse, is a certainty, but the
second, a potentially strong meteor shower at month's end, is a
wild card. Here's what you need to know to prepare for both sky
watching opportunities. |
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May 3 |
 Boulder
Creek Academy to close: After 29 years in operation,
Boulder Creek Academy, nestled in the shadow of Clifty and having
helped students ages 13 to 18 from around the United States and
around the world, will be shutting its doors in early summer. |
 Toned
down "Beartaria" proposed in conditional use application:
After raising the concerns of neighbors last year with wide
ranging plans for a "Beartaria Sanctuary" on a 10-acre parcel
along the Moyie River on Earl Lane Road, Struggle Bear LLC and
Owen and Amy Smith, Sandpoint, have engaged a Sagle landscape
architect and filed application with county planning and zoning
for a conditional use permit to define the uses proposed and, if
approved, become the controlling document for uses on the
property. |
 McGeachin
claims her office budget is balanced: Idaho
Lieutenant Governor Janice McGeachin issued a press release Monday
in response to what she calls misinformation regarding her budget.
"The media continues to manufacture controversy where none
exists," she wrote. "The Lt. Governor's office budget is balanced.
Our office had some unanticipated legal expenses due to the Idaho
Press Club suing us because of our efforts to prevent conservative
Idahoans and their children from being doxed by the media." |
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May 2 |
 Hospital
CEO to bid Bonners Ferry farewell: With his family
having left the community a few months ago to be closer to home
and family to help one of their children facing medical issues,
Boundary Community Hospital CEO Preston Becker on April 25
submitted his resignation, saying he cannot be apart from them but
promising to stay on to help through the process of bringing a new
CEO on board. |
 Cascade
of crises leave family in need: With three happy
children at home, ages eight, six and two, Catherine Abrego should
be looking forward to Mothers Day. Instead, the Bonners Ferry
woman is facing the most harsh challenges of her life, having
given birth to premature twins, become a single-mom and lost her
ability to work all within a couple of days. She is needing the
support and prayers of her community. |
 Leah
Moellmer is Bonners Ferry's 2022 Distinguished Young Woman:
Weeks of hard but fun work culminated Saturday evening for 11
talented and intelligent Boundary County High School junior women,
with Majasa Allred, Maile Murdock, Nevaeh Elliston, Mia Blackmore,
Emma Lucas, Grace Worley, Hailey Kelsey, Maggie Weaver, Jaden
Byars, Evelynn Chaney and Leah Moellmer giving their all, but the
panel of judges had the unenviable task of choosing just one as
Bonners Ferry's 2022 Distinguished Young Woman, and she is Leah
Moellmer. |
 Gear
Up Idaho Youth Summit coming up soon: Gear Up Idaho
and the Idaho Department of Education are hosting this year's
Youth Summit on the Moscow campus of the University of Idaho from
June 13-17; five all-expenses paid days packed with lots of
learning, lots of fun and lots of great memories, and Bonners
Ferry freshmen and sophomores are invited to apply! |
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Education board names NIC
trustee finalists: The office of the Idaho State
Board of Education today released the names of eight finalists who
will be interviewed to fill three board of trustee positions at
North Idaho College (NIC). The finalists were picked by the State
Board’s executive officers, after reviewing 37 applications
submitted to fill three vacancies. The finalists will be
interviewed on the NIC campus on Thursday. |
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April 30 |
 Recognizing
our detention deputies: "We give thanks this week to
those who serve in detention facilities around the Country," said
Boundary County Sheriff Dave Kramer, "and especially to the
detention deputies who serve with the Boundary County Sheriff’s
Office." Sunday, May 1, through Saturday, May 7, is National
Correctional Officers and Employees Week, a recognition for the
hard work and contributions of law enforcement professionals who
are largely under-appreciated and unsung. |
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April 28 |
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ITD offering five-week
training program: Idaho Transportation Department is
offering an intensive five-week training program June 13 through
July 15 in Rathdrum. Applicants selected for the program will
receive free hands-on training in heavy equipment operation,
cement masonry, welding and ironwork, and more. Applicants can
also earn a free Commercial Driver’s License. Now in its fourth
year, 75-percent of the program’s graduates have obtained
employment with companies in the industry. |
 Dental
help offered to Idahoans over 60: Delta Dental of
Idaho, the leading dental benefits carrier in the state, is
increasing dental coverage amounts from $1,250 to $1,850 in their
"GrinWell for You" program. The program provides uninsured
limited-income Idahoans aged 60 and older with free dental
coverage to be used over 12 months. The coverage can be used for
exams and cleanings, fillings, X-rays, extractions, and dentures
and partials. Delta Dental of Idaho increased the amount awarded
to qualifying individuals to keep pace with rising costs. |
 Creston
will break ground on Market Park Project this spring:
To look at it now, you may not think much about the approximately
one hectare parcel of land that is adjacent to the railway tracks,
located between the Chamber of Commerce and Pealow’s Independent
Grocery store. Locals know this land as the space where the
outdoor Farmers’ Market takes place starting in April through
September. |
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April 27 |
 Meet
your Boundary Soil Conservation District’s board members:
A conservation district is a non-regulatory entity that protects
and cares for Idaho’s natural resources by assisting landowners to
implement voluntary conservation measures on privately held lands.
Meet the team that quietly works to do so much and learn what all
Boundary Soil Conservation District has to offer. |
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April 26 |
 Campaign
finances show divide in North Idaho GOP: The Idaho
Republican primary races of 2022 are shaping up to be one of the
most divisive in history as the self-proclaimed "conservative"
wing of the party has launched a full-out assault, not on other
political parties, but on those of their own party upon whom they
pin former president Donald Trump's disparaging acronym for party
members who don't buy the lies or march in rigid lockstep, the
RINO, Republican in Name Only. |
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April 25 |
 All
dogs go to heaven ... And I got a glimpse: This is a
long read, dating back from a speaking engagement to veterinarians
in Baltimore, Maryland, in the summer of 1992, to 30-years-later,
when I visited an animal shelter in Romania on April 6, 2022. If
you love animals and think of your own pets as family, the
15-minutes it will take to read this tome will be worth it. By
Dr. Marty Becker |
| To protect and
serve ... |
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| Parker Davis serves on active duty in the United
States Air Force in a position of highest trust to the
security of our nation. Shown here on the tarmac in
Seattle with the most recognizable aircraft in the world,
Air Force One, the 2014 graduate of Bonners Ferry High
School is an explosives ordinance technician, called upon
to protect both troops in the field and at the highest
levels of the U.S. government, up to and including the
President of the United States. Badger strong, Badger
smart, Badger proud. |
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 Area
waters dangerously cold: The Boundary County
Sheriff’s Office has continued to patrol the waterways of Boundary
County. The water is cold, sitting at 42 degrees on the Kootenai
River. The water level on the Kootenai River is low, but we
anticipate a late run-off from the winter thaw. The weather might
be warm, but the water could still be cold and unpredictable. |
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Boundary
County School Board workshop, 5:30 p.m. and special meeting, 6:30
p.m. Monday, May 2, district office. |
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Farm tour coming soon:
The Boundary Soil Conservation District and Farm Bureau are happy
to announce the upcoming annual community agricultural tour on
Friday, May 20. This year, only 50 seats are available. The tour
is free, but you must call to reserve your seat. The tour will
start at the Boundary County Fairgrounds, with registration
beginning at 7:30 a.m. The bus will leave at 8 a.m. and return by
about 4 p.m. |
 PHD
to hold Drug Take Back event in Hayden: Empty out
your medicine cabinet this Saturday, April 30, during National
Prescription Drug Take Back Day! Panhandle Health District is
hosting a free and easy drive-thru drop off from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
at their Hayden location, 8500 N. Atlas Road. Outdated ot unneeded
medications can also be dropped off anytime at the Boundary County
Sheriff's Office, 6438 Kootenai Street, Bonners Ferry. |
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Boundary County First
Judicial District Court dispositions |
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April 24 |
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Working hard on Earth Day! |
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| Mrs. Lavala's Valley View fifth grade class
donated their time and talents to clean up the grounds and
beautify the school in honor of Earth Day. Left to right,
Zoey Ferrell, Myles McCulla, Jayden Carey, Dalen Baisden
and Madalynn Beggerly. |
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April 22 |
 Three
budding journalists at Mt. Hall Elementary: Greetings
from Mt. Hall! April has been a busy month for us, and we’re about
to head into an even busier season in our building! There are so
many fun events coming up, so keep an eye out for reminders on our
social media. You can find us at Mt. Hall on Facebook. My portion
of this month’s article is short as three awesome fourth graders
debut their new newspaper! By Principal Kylee Guthrie |
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IDL seeking wildland fire
bosses: The Idaho Department of Lands area office in
Boise needs experienced wildland firefighters who can lead
wildland fire engine crews. The nationwide shortage of qualified
wildland fire engine bosses poses significant impacts for Idaho.
Each engine boss leads a single fire engine and attached personnel
and is responsible for the crew's safety on wildland and
prescribed fire incidents. Without sufficient engine bosses, IDL
cannot hire and deploy entry level firefighters. |
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April 21 |
 North
Idaho Republicans formed to stand against extremists:
In light of the obvious dysfunction in GOP politics of late, a
group of 100 North Idahoans, all long-time Republicans proclaiming
"we made Idaho the conservative place where newcomers now want to
live," have banded together to form the North Idaho Republicans to
stand against the right-wing extremism that now permeates the
party. |
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April 20 |
 Raise
your voices for embattled planet: Friday, April 22,
is Earth Day ... I am more than 4.5 billion years old. My history
is one of immense change. My surface has swung from mild climates
to periods with glaciers miles thick. I have seen multiple mass
extinctions during which more than 90-percent of my life forms
ceased to exist ... Until about 10,000 years ago, your species
lived lightly upon me, as nomadic hunters and gatherers and in
small communities. |
 Arbor
Day is 150 this year: This year marks the 150th
anniversary of the tree planter’s holiday, Arbor Day, which falls
on April 29. Did you know that 40-percent of Idaho is covered in
trees? Forests cover more than 21 million acres, that’s larger
than the states of Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts,
Connecticut and Rhode Island combined. One million acres of trees
are on Idaho Endowment Forestlands which is managed by Idaho
Department of Lands for the benefit of endowment beneficiaries,
primarily public schools. By Idaho State Forester Craig Foss |
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April 19 |
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SRS funds coming to Idaho
counties: Members of Idaho’s congressional delegation
and State Treasurer Julie Ellsworth announced Idaho counties will
receive a total of $23.4 million in payments for fiscal year 2021
under the Secure Rural Schools program. Under Idaho law, 30
percent of the SRS funding goes to counties to help with schools
and the remaining 70 percent is earmarked for roads, bridges and
other infrastructure projects. That means Idaho schools will
receive roughly $7 million, and Idaho roads and other county
projects will receive roughly $16.4 million for FY 2021. |
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April 18 |
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Troy City
Council public hearing/meeting, 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 20 |
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Tribe seeking proposals
for housing construction: The Kootenai Tribe of Idaho
is requesting proposals for Design/Build construction of one 2‐
bedroom/2 bath Duplex on Lot 6, of the Frontier Village Phase II,
Kootenai Indian Reservation, Naples, Idaho. This project shall be
a modified turnkey type, whereby the proposal will include
water/power/sewer (drain field) construction; and the contractor
will follow the attached design and construction of the duplex,
including connection to all utilities and construction of
driveways. |
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Boundary County First
Judicial District Court dispositions |
