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News |
September 27 |
Clinton
is coming home today: On September 16, Boundary
Ambulance personnel shared an intense call with the community, a
call nobody wants to hear come over the radio. They were
dispatched for an unresponsive four-year-old boy. While en route,
the child stopped breathing, and shortly after suffered cardiac
arrest. A South Boundary Fire Protection District firefighter
arrived on scene approximately two to three minutes after the
child’s heart stopped beating, and without hesitating began
life-saving compressions. |
September 26 |
Surplus BFHS drafting tables being given away
The Boundary County School District #101 Board of Trustees has
approved giving surplus Bonners Ferry High School drafting tables
for free to community members. Anyone interested, should call the
high school at (208) 267-3149 between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Monday through Thursday to schedule a pick up. |
Staples resigns as
mayor: On Friday, September 22, Dick Staples
submitted his resignation as Mayor of Bonners Ferry, citing a
potential conflict of interest that involves the appointment of
his son as manager of Mirror Lake Golf Course at the end of the
year when current golf pro Ralph Lotspeich's contract expires and
he steps down. Staple's resignation took effect at 5 p.m. that
day. City council president Rick Alonzo is acting mayor and set to
be appointed Mayor at Tuesday's city council meeting. |
September 25 |
Red Cross in
critical need of blood donations: The American Red
Cross is facing a severe blood shortage as the national blood
supply is dwindling after a lack of donations this summer.
Hurricane Idalia and other events have strained the supply. Donors
of all blood types are urgently needed to ensure patients receive
critical medical care. The American Red Cross is also calling
specifically for platelet donors and type O blood donors. |
Branden Durst resigns:
After a tumultuous three months since the since the West Bonner
County School District appointed him superintendent, Branden
Durst, an analyst for the Idaho Freedom Foundation, today tendered
his resignation, his end date to be at the discretion of the
school board. |
Boundary County First
Judicial District Court Dispositions |
September 21 |
LAUNCH grants go live
October 3, sign up now for alerts: The application
window for the Idaho LAUNCH grants opens October 3, and Idahoans
can sign up now at
https://nextsteps.idaho.gov/launch to get notified when high
school seniors are able to apply. Idaho LAUNCH is an education and
training grant program that was expanded this year to provide
graduating high school seniors a one-time opportunity to have
80-percent of their tuition and fees paid for after high school,
up to $8,000. |
September 20 |
Reading on a rainy morning ... |
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Students picking and reading books during free
time on a rainy morning at Valley View Elementary. Is
there anything more beautiful? Give them credit ... trust
them. |
|
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Bonner County RCC censure attempts against
commissioners fail with national news cameras rolling
On Tuesday night at the Bonner County Republican
Central Committee meeting, two votes to censure county
commissioners failed; Luke Odmodt (left), by a vote of 7
yes, 22 no, and Steven Bradshaw (right), 11 yes to 18 no.
The petitions were originally submitted to chair Scott
Herndon for their alleged failures "to support the United
States and Idaho Constitutions and the Idaho Republican
Party Platform.” Read more at
https://bonnergop.org/news-2.
In addition, Spencer Hutchings was voted off the central
committee as treasurer. It was standing room only as well
over 100 people showed up. An NBC news crew was in
attendance as well, filming a segment on extremism in
politics. |
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|
No county general election
November 7 ... |
|
Moyie Springs Mayor Steve Economu tendered his
resignation at Tuesday's city council meeting due to
health issues, and council member Geoff Hollenbeck, left,
was sworn in as the city's new mayor. In turn, Hollenbeck
swore in Pat Stevens, right, who was in the running for a
council seat in the November 7 Boundary County general
election. City clerk Donna Wilson-Funkhouser looks on.
With his appointment, there are no contested races to
decide in November, hence no county election. |
|
September 19 |
Only one county race to be decided November 5
No write-in candidates filed for the 2023 November 5 Boundary
County general election, so the sole county race on the ballot
will incumbents Terry Johnson and Deborah Rauth and challenger Pat
Stevens running for two seats on the Moyie Springs City Council. |
Bingham County GOP sues
Idaho Republican Party: The Bingham County Republican
Central Committee’s executive committee has filed a lawsuit
against the Idaho Republican Party to block Idaho GOP Chairwoman
Dorothy Moon from stepping in to fill county leadership
vacancies. The lawsuit appears to represent another example of the
divide within the Republican Party between Moon and her allies in
state leadership and the longtime establishment wing of the GOP. |
September 18 |
Boundary County First
Judicial District Court dispositions |
September 17 |
A clarion call from
13 presidential centers; save our democracy: In an
unprecedented cry of warning, 13 of the 14 U.S. Presidential
Centers earlier this month issued a joint statement calling on the
nation to reaffirm its embrace on the principals of our democratic
republic as enunciated in the founding documents that established
our nation's form of governance, that we return to civility and
honesty in our governmental discourse, and to restore trust in
public service. |
September 16 |
Quick
CPR saves county four-year old: At approximately 8:42
a.m. today, Boundary Ambulance was dispatched for an unresponsive
child a distance away from their nearest station. While en route,
a dispatcher updated EMS that the child was no longer breathing.
South Boundary Fire and Boundary County Sheriff’s deputies were
closer and on scene before EMS arrived, and able, with their
training and assistance from medics via radio, to initiate
high-quality CPR within minutes of the child’s reported arrest. |
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End of watch
At 3:09 p.m. today, a Boundary County Sheriff's
dispatcher officially sounded 10-42, end of watch, for
30-year South Boundary Fire District Firefighter Wes
Portrey, who died of cancer September 9 and whose funeral
was held this afternoon. Thank you for your service, sir,
your dedication to service and for your fine example. |
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|
Last
Second Harvest food distribution of season set:
Wednesday, October 4, the Boundary County Fairgrounds will be the
site for the final free mobile food distribution of the season.
Second Harvest and volunteers will distribute at the west end of
the fairgrounds from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. |
September 15 |
Free
car seat check events for Child Passenger Safety Week:
A car seat is the most important seat a child will ever sit in.
National Child Passenger Safety Week, September 17- 23, is right
around the corner and a great time to make sure your child’s car
seat fits. The Safe Start Car Seat Team will be in Boundary County
Saturday, October 7, at South Boundary Fire Station 1, 20
Stagecoach Road, Naples. Last year in Idaho there were 1,943
crashes involving a child passenger between birth and six years
old. |
Moyie
Springs City Council special meeting, 6 p.m. Tuesday, September
19, city hall. |
Get
ready for the respiratory virus season: Kids are back
at school. Weather is cooling down. And it’s respiratory virus
season. This fall and winter, we can expect flu, COVID, and RSV to
be circulating along with the usual colds and bugs. Each year, the
flu vaccine is updated to match the circulating flu viruses.
Typically flu vaccines protect against the three or four viruses
that research suggests will be most common for that flu season.
Since flu viruses are constantly changing, the vaccine is updated
to provide the best protection. |
Fire weather watch Sunday:
The National Weather Service, Spokane, has issued a fire weather
watch for North Idaho and parts of eastern Washington, in effect
Sunday afternoon and evening as a dry cold front pushes across the
region, bringing breezy conditions and low relative humidity
conducive to quick wildfire starts and spread. |
September 14 |
Boundary
County School District 101 board meeting, 5 p.m. Monday, September
18, district office. |
September 13 |
Creston
teacher facing multiple sex charges: A teacher from
Kootenay River Secondary School in Creston has been arrested for
allegations of sexual offences against two students. On September
8, Kianuko Wayne Louie was formally charged with sexual
exploitation, sexual assault, criminal harassment, extortion,
telecommunications to lure a child under 18, and possessing child
pornography under the Criminal Code of Canada. |
Former Idaho Gov. Butch
Otter endorses open primary ballot initiative: Former
Idaho Gov. Butch Otter endorsed the open primary ballot initiative
today, becoming the highest profile member of a group of more than
100 Republicans who support the initiative. During a press
conference this morning at the Idaho State Capitol in Boise,
leaders of a coalition called Idahoans for Open Primaries
announced that Otter and former Idaho First Lady Lori Otter were
among a list of 116 Republicans who have signed on to endorse the
open primary ballot initiative. |
September 12 |
IPNF
controlled burns to begin: Due to the recent shift in
temperatures and precipitation, 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 fall,
although the exact day of ignitions will depend upon conditions
aligning with safe implementation. Prescribed burning is part of
each Ranger District’s annual natural resource management program
to reduce hazardous fuels, prepare areas for tree planting, and
improve wildlife forage. |
September 11 |
Remembering September 11, 2001
... |
 |
Led by the Boundary County Chaplain's Corps and
with the dignity and gravity lent by our firefighter's
honor guard, a large contingent of Boundary County
firefighters and peace officers but few county residents
or dignitaries turned out this Patriot's Day, in
remembrance of this, the 22nd anniversary of 9/11/01.
Pastor Len Pine recounted, moment by moment, the tragic
events of that day, of the lives lost as three aircraft
were flown by hijackers to their doom; two into the towers
of the World Trade Center, one into the Pentagon and one,
the last, brought down short of the hijackers' objective
near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, by brave passengers who
fought back. He recounted those who rushed into the face
of danger that day; the police, the firefighters. Those
who gave their last full measure that others might live.
He recounted, with the repeating toll of a bell, the loss
of so many lives, so many heroes. |
|
BCSD 101 will interview sole applicant for vacant board
seat Boundary County School District 101 had only one
applicant for the vacant Zone 3 Trustee position, Mike Ferson. He
will be interviewed before the next scheduled board meeting on
Monday, September 18. |
Trump
first to file for Idaho GOP 2024 presidential caucus:
The Idaho Republican Party is pleased to announce the first filing
of a declaration of candidacy with the Idaho Republican Party for
the 2024 Presidential Caucus. Former President Donald J. Trump
officially submitted his declaration of candidacy to Idaho
Republican Party headquarters earlier today, expressing his
dedication to addressing the critical issues facing our country
and championing the values and principles that Republicans hold
dear. |
Paving planned between
Labrosse Hill and Eisenhower Street: Beginning
September 18, crews plan to begin a two-week daytime paving
operation on U.S. Highway 95 between Labrosse Road and Eisenhower
Street in Bonners Ferry. The most significant impacts are
anticipated to be between September 18-28 when the continuous
paving work will temporarily affect business and side road access
while the asphalt mat is laid and cured in front of driveways.
This process typically takes one to two hours and alternate access
routes will need to be used during these times. |
Radical
right's vision for the future outlined in 'The Conservative
Promise:' A 920-page manifesto, "Mandate for
Leadership 2025; The Conservative Promise," with the stated goal
of assembling "an army of aligned, vetted, trained and prepared
conservatives prepared to go to work on Day One to deconstruct the
Administrative State" offers a clear and troubling look at what
"Make America Great" means, and it isn't beholden to current GOP
front runner Donald Trump, but any "conservative" Republican
elected to the presidency in November, 2024. Comment added |
Boundary County First
Judicial District Court dispositions |
Bump
work set on Naples Bridge: Starting on Wednesday,
September 13, Idaho Transportation Department crews will begin a
one- to two-day repair project on the approaches to the Naples
Bridge located along U.S. Highway 95 near milepost 497 in Boundary
County. Work is scheduled to begin at 6:30 a.m. and end at 4 p.m.
each day. |
September 10 |
Submariners
from USS Idaho to visit North Idaho: The USS Idaho
Commissioning Committee will again welcome a contingent of the
first U.S. Navy sailors assigned to the under-construction USS
Idaho to the Gem State. One sailor, Petty Officer Robert Boscan,
hails from Hayden. It is a core mission of the committee to
familiarize the sailors with our state and to establish a bond
between Idaho’s citizens and the sailors who will take the USS
Idaho to sea as a crucial part of our nation’s military strategy. |
September 9 |
Bonners
Ferry woman, daughter, killed in Minnesota murder/suicide:
Melanie Michele Jansen, 54, a 1987 graduate of Bonners Ferry
living in Maple Grove, Minnesota, and her daughter, Hannah Nicole
Parmenter, 29, Elk River, Minnesota, were both found dead, each
shot multiple times, at a Breezy Point, Minnesota, time share
resort at about 9 p.m. Tuesday, September 7. Michael Charles
Toner, 59, also of Maple Grove, who'd been in a relationship with
Jansen, was also in the room, dead of a single gunshot wound to
the head. |
September 8 |
Search
for Brackebusch suspended: On Friday, September 8,
2023, Boundary County Sheriff's Office and the Boundary Search &
Dive Rescue Team made the tough decision to suspend the search for
missing 73-year-old Mark Brackebusch, who was reported as missing
on August 31 and is believed to have been in the forest since
around August 25. On the final day of the search over 60 trained
people representing 20 organizations across five counties in three
states were organized into 10 teams to search for Brackebusch. |
One challenger for November 7 election
Incumbents Rick Alonzo and Val Thompson will run unopposed for
Bonners Ferry City Council and Dick Staples unopposed for Bonners
Ferry Mayor. The deadline for filing for the November 7 election
was 5 p.m. today. 9B News has heard but not verified that no
challengers filed for county races, including those for School
District 101 Board Zones 3 and 4. In Moyie Springs, there are
three candidates vying for two seats; incumbents Terry Johnson and
Deborah Rauth and challenger Pat Stevens. |
South end access to McArthur Lake Road closed until next
fall Due to construction on the McArthur Lake Highway
95 realignment project, access at the southern McArthur Lake Road
approach has been restricted. The temporary left turn lane shift
does not safely accommodate turning traffic in this area. Please
utilize the northern access for all McArthur Lake Road travel.
This access restriction will be in effect until the fall of 2024. |
September 7 |
Senior
companion volunteers sought: The Senior Companions
Program sponsored by Panhandle Health District is a volunteer
program that provides companionship and respite care to the
elderly and disabled. The program needs additional volunteers to
serve seniors in the five northern counties: Boundary, Bonner,
Benewah, Kootenai and Shoshone. |
State
rolling out payments to Idaho schools: Idahoans will
see a lower property tax bill this fall as the State of Idaho
picks up the tab for $300 million that would otherwise be covered
by your property taxes. More than $106 million in state General
Fund dollars started to roll out at the end of August to school
districts across Idaho, part of the broader property tax relief
plan championed by Governor Brad Little and the Idaho Legislature
this year. |
Kootenai
Valley Resource Initiative meeting, 6 p.m. Monday, September 18,
county annex |
Flags
to half staff on Patriot's Day: Monday, September 11,
marks the 22-year anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the
World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon and United
Airlines Flight 93, which crashed in suburban Pennsylvania.
Patriot Day serves as a remembrance of the lives lost on that
September morning. All U.S. flags should be lowered to half-staff
for the entire day on September 11. |
EQIP offers help with
management practices: The Boundary Soil and Water
Conservation District and the Natural Resources Conservation
Service (NRCS) would like to inform you of the Environmental
Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). We support the combination of
agriculture management and environmental quality as compatible
goals. Anyone can receive cost free natural resource consultation
and applicants to EQIP can potentially receive cost share for
completing management practices |
Woodward
announces senate bid: Jim Woodward, business owner,
retired Navy submariner, civic leader and lifelong Idahoan,
announced today he is entering the 2024 Republican primary
election for the Legislative District 1 senate seat. He is
entering the race because Scott Herndon, the first-term incumbent,
"reflects neither real Idaho values nor embraces principles held
dear by a majority of North Idahoans." |
September 6 |
Open Primary Initiative
petitions to be at farmers market: Reclaim Idaho
volunteers will be at the Bonners Ferry Farmers Market from 9:30
to 11:30 a.m. on the next two Saturdays, September 9 and 16,
providing information about the Open Primary Initiative and
gathering signatures to put the measure on the November, 2024,
general election ballot. Volunteers need to collect signatures of
over 65,000 registered voters from all over Idaho before May 2024
in order to get this initiative onto the ballot. |
CANCELLED --
Boundary County School District 101 special board meeting, 4:30
p.m. Monday, September 11, district office --
CANCELLED |
'Unity in the Community' festival coming Saturday
A festival celebrating “Unity in Our Community” will be held from
1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, September 9, on the lawn of Trinity Lutheran
Church, 6784 Cody Street, Bonners Ferry. Everyone in the Boundary
community is invited to the festival showcasing several service
groups affiliated with Trinity in some way. Organizations such as
the Bo Co Backpack program, GROW Community Garden, Pack 114
Scouts, TLC Children's Center, TLC Quilters and several more will
have booths providing information and fun activities for the whole
family. Free ice cream sundaes, lawn games and arts and crafts
will be part of the fun! |
September 5 |
Valley View's new dismissal process didn't work as planned
Today was the first day implementing a new dismissal process at
Valley View Elementary. Even with the best laid plans, it was
rough. For that, principal Michelle Halter extends her
wholehearted apologies for any distress it may have caused
sttudents and their family. "We met as a staff after school and
made some key changes which will result in a much smoother
dismissal tomorrow," she said. "Thank you all for your grace;
knowing we are determined to make this process efficient and
safe." |
Leads
exhausted, search for Brackebush continues: Search
teams continued looking today for Mark Brackebusch, 73, in the
area around the Shorty Peak trailhead in northwest Boundary
County. Crews from the Kootenai County Volunteer Search and Rescue
team joined Boundary County searchers again today to conduct a
search on foot. Today’s main objective was to cover previously
searched areas by deploying search teams into areas that were
identified by search dog activity yesterday as being higher
probability areas. |
Four
planes, one helicopter, 114 kids: Cali Iacolucci was
eight years old in 2012 when she flew for the first time in the
Experimental Aircraft Association Bonners Ferry Chapter 757 Young
Eagles flight program at the Boundary County Airport and decided
she wanted to become a pilot. On Saturday, now a pilot pursuing
both her instructors and commercial flight ratings, it was Cali in
the pilot's seat, helping take 114 Boundary kids to the sky on
their first flight! |
September 4 |
Search
for Mark Brackebush in fourth day: Search teams
continued their search efforts Sunday for Mark Brackebush, 73, who
was reported missing late Thursday night, and whose unoccupied
vehicle was later found at the Shorty Peak trailhead in northwest
Boundary County. Teams searched the nearby trail systems Sunday
and focused primarily on searching the nearby drainages on foot. |
9/11
memorial to be held: In honor of those whose lives
were lost or permanently impacted on September 11, 2001, the
Boundary County Chaplain Corps is proud to sponsor a local
commemoration at 5:30 p.m. Monday, September 11, the Boundary
County Fairgrounds Pavilion. Representatives of emergency services
agencies will be in attendance, and the public is urged to attend
as we remember and reflect upon one of the most momentous days in
our national history. |
Boundary County First
Judicial District Court dispositions |
September 2 |
Search
for Brackebush goes on: Boundary County Search and
Dive Rescue is still leading a search for a missing hiker around
Shorty Peak in north Boundary County. Mark Brackebush, 73, has
been missing for several days. The search has been centered around
the area where his vehicle was located, and the surrounding trails
and forest. This morning the search team was expanded to include
volunteers from at least four local Boundary County fire districts
as well as volunteers from Bonner County Sheriff’s Office
Volunteer Search and Rescue. |
September 1 |
Jared
Vernon seriously injured when tire explodes: Jared
Vernon, who grew up in Bonners Ferry and is now living in Boise,
was airing a tire he put on a rim July 19 when it exploded,
launching him about eight feet up in the air, and into the open
garage door overhead. After ricocheting off the garage door, he
landed about six feet away on a concrete pad. His family is asking
the community's help as he overcomes severe injuries. |
Search underway for
missing hiker: Boundary County Search and Rescue with
assistance from Hall Mountain Fire are currently on a search for
missing 73-year-old Mark Brackebush in the area of Shorty Peak. He
is an avid hiker and has been possibly missing for several days.
He was reported missing late last night after a friend checked his
residence after he had not been heard from for a few days. |
Despite rain, fire still
a concern: With hunting seasons opening across the
state and the Labor Day weekend on Idaho’s doorstep, officials
from the Idaho Department of Lands and the non-profit group Idaho
Sportsmen have an important message for outdoor enthusiasts. IDL
Director Dustin Miller and Idaho Sportsmen Executive Director Benn
Brocksome agree that fire season isn’t over yet, and caution is
needed because the fire risk for most of Idaho remains high or
very high. |