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Obituaries
Jim Edward McCalmant, November 30, 1930 ~ April 18, 2017
Agnes (Steines) Theurer,  November 8, 1923 ~ April 18, 2017
Lorraine (Lori) Liverance, December 1, 1934 ~ April 15, 2017
Donald D. Barker, August 6, 1933 ~ March 15, 2017
Judy Ann Smith, June 24, 1944 ~ March 4, 2017
Harold George Vandenberg, August 17, 1946 ~ February 8, 2017
Albert E. Schenck, April 22, 1937 ~ April 4, 2017
Social
Nishek school district's April Teacher of the Month: Laura Nishek is Boundary County School District’s April Certified Employee of the Month. Anyone who has had the privilege of working with Mrs. Nishek can speak to the professionalism and dedication she brings to her students and classroom. By Principal Lisa Iverson
Rod Benders support Explorer trip: Bonners Ferry Border Patrol Explorer Post #190 sends out a big thank you to the Rod Benders Car Club for presenting Explorer Post 190 with a check for $500. The Rod Benders have been a strong supporter of the post for several years and the Explorers appreciate the car club's support yet again for the post's upcoming trip to D.C. to take part in the National Peace Officer's Memorial.
Martinez school district Employee of the Month: It is a pleasure to recognize para professional Maria Martinez, who works with migrant students at both the high school and middle school and teaches English as a second language, as April’s Boundary County School District Classified Employee of the Month!
VVES a great place to work and share life: Valley View Elementary School (VVES) is a busy place with so many great students and hard-working staff. At VVES we have students and staff that go out of their way to hold doors, pick up garbage on the campus, give an encouraging word when needed, and are just wonderful citizens to be around. By Principal Nathan Williams
Quite a lively winter at the Restorium: Life here in the Restorium is full of activity. We are blessed to have a staff who really cares about us and who do much to make our lives interesting. This winter has been so severe, but several inside activities kept our folks busy so no one got cabin fever too badly! Restorium Ramblings!
Mt. Hall names Citizens of the Month, honor rolls: Mt. Hall's March Citizens of the Month are Rowdy Hull, Colton Turner, Christi Pendergraft, Lillian Anderson, Jacob Savage, Tory Baisden, Shayla Ortiz, Mason Black, Brent Worley, Emile Sheppard, Gia Roemer, Colten Black and Brooklyn Hubbard. The Mt. Hall third quarter Honor Roll is now out, with six students in the fourth and fifth grades taking home perfect report cards.
Rotary, Explorers, track team tackle bleachers: On Tuesday, April 4, the Rotary Club of Bonners Ferry teamed up with Border Patrol Explorer Post 190 and the Bonners Ferry High School Track Team to take care of a long needed project for the Boundary County School District ... removal of the old bleachers from Valley View Elementary, which had been handed down from school to school until they came to rest there years ago.
Four earn state FFA degrees: The Bonners Ferry FFA Chapter had four members get their State Degree at the Idaho FFA State Leadership Conference this week in Twin Falls! The State Degree is the highest degree awarded at the state level. Congratulations Tucker Smith, Tori Smith, Mary Fioravanti and Jesse Sandelin!
Networking is key to the future, local scholar says: University of Idaho sophomore Collin Stone sees networking as the key ingredient to a successful future. Stone is majoring in agricultural education and agribusiness in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. He became familiar with the university at a young age through early networking.
Moyie Shrine presents Calam Divan $8,000: At a recent visit by the Calam Divan, Moyie Shrine Club President Richard Hollenbeck presented an $8,000 check to Calam Potentate Russ Graves for the Shriners’ Hospital in Spokane.
Sports
200th win for Turpin and third IML Championship!
Saturday was a great day for Badger baseball coach Tom Turpin (back row, center) , who chalked up his 200th career victory as a head coach and led the Badgers to their third straight Intermountain League championship in a double header at Timberlake.
Dunham strikes out six in shutout, senior day coming: Jesse Dunham didn’t allow a run as he struck out six and walked the lead off batter of the game and only allowed two hits to secure a five inning, 10-0 win over rival Timberlake Tigers. The win improves Dunham’s record to 4-0 in the season. By Coach Tom Turpin
Making tracks for BCH Run 17: Since when is a run fun? When it’s the Boundary Community Hospital Family Fun Run. On Saturday, May 13, lace up those running shoes and come out with neighbors, friends and family to get some exercise on the north side of Bonners Ferry. By Lauren Kuczka
Last chance to buy licenses before new fee takes effect: Hunters, anglers and trappers will see new prices starting May 1 with the addition of a $5 access/depredation fee for resident adults and $10 for nonresident adults when they buy their first annual license.
Badgers trample Wildcats in two: The Bonners Ferry Badger baseball team began their Intermountain League title defense Saturday with convincing wins over the Kellogg Wildcats, 11-1 and 10-0. Both games were shortened due to the 10-run rule.
Spring chinook seasons open Saturday: The spring chinook salmon fishing season will open Saturday, April 22, with a four-day-a-week season in the Clearwater River drainage, and daily fishing on the Snake, lower Salmon and Little Salmon rivers.
Badger baseball improves to 7-2 in early season play: The Badger Baseball team improved it’s early season record to 7-2 last week over doubleheader sweeps of Chewelah and Riverside. By Coach Tom Turpin
Fur auction set for April 22 in Lewiston: This year’s auction of furs, hides, antlers, and other items is set for Saturday, April 22, at the Idaho Fish and Game office, 3316 16th Street, Lewiston.
Now's the time to grab a rod and fish your local pond: Warm, sunny days probably have you itching to go fishing, but that beautiful weather means melting snow that blows out rivers, and puts a chill on some lakes and reservoirs. The answer to your fishing dilemma may be in your neighborhood, at a local park, or a within a short drive (or bicycle ride) away.
Panhandle turkey hunts should be good: General turkey season opens Saturday, April 15, and you can see units that have general hunts in our turkey hunting rules , as well as details about the seasons. Hunters will find most general hunting opportunity in the Panhandle, Clearwater and Southwest Regions, and beyond that most areas are limited to controlled hunts.
Expect Kokanee fishing on Priest Lake similar to last year: Priest Lake anglers can expect Kokanee fishing to be similar to what they found last year. Idaho Fish and Game Kokanee monitoring efforts suggest Kokanee numbers remain low, but the fish that are caught should be good sized, likely 14- to 16-inches.
Think 'Safety First' when turkey hunting this spring: With Idaho’s youth turkey hunt beginning April 8 followed by the general spring turkey season opening April 15, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game is encouraging hunters to think "Safety First."
New trappers encouraged to complete education course: Beginning on July 1, 2018, every trapper who purchased their first trapping license after June 30, 2011 will be required to attend and pass a mandatory trapper education course before they can purchase an Idaho trapping license.
Letters
Rosanne Smith: The land within the city limits Moyie Springs is changing by leaps and bounds! New housing is replacing fields and pasture land. This rapid growth is placing severe demands on city services.
U.S. Congressman Raul Labrador: As you may know, Saturday is President Trump’s 100th day in office, and while the media has a habit of overhyping the 100-day mark in a new President’s term, it does provide a good opportunity to reflect on the pace of the President’s accomplishments and his commitment to keeping his promises.
Richard Cowell IV: On behalf of Explorer Post 190, I would like to wish everyone a very large thank you. From the beginning, we had people both within our organization and in the community believing we had truly signed up for an impossible task.
Rosanne Smith: Moyie City Council is holding a special meeting at 6 p.m. this Wednesday, April 19. They will decide whether an individual may develop his property by placing two homes (trailers) on one parcel without splitting it.
Idaho Representative Heather Scott: Just because the legislative session is over doesn’t mean the job of the legislator or the citizen is done. Now, through the end of the year, is the most important time to pay attention to proposed rules, regulations and fees which bureaucrats and lobbyists are drafting.
U.S. Senator Mike Crapo: Helen Keller wrote in 1930, “It is not possible for civilization to flow backward while there is youth in this world.” Meeting with Idaho delegates to the U.S. Senate Youth Program is a reminder of the great promise for the future of our state and nation found in Idaho’s young leaders.
U.S. Congressman Raul Labrador: On Friday, the U.S. Senate confirmed an outstanding jurist, Judge Neil Gorsuch, to the U.S. Supreme Court, ensuring his place as the 113th justice in U.S. history. I was pleased when President Trump nominated Judge Gorsuch back in January and I publicly supported his nomination.
Idaho Representative Heather Scott: The 2017 session proved to be what I believe is the beginning of real change in the Idaho legislature as debates and conversations are starting to shift in the right direction. More legislators are beginning to question the agendas and motives behind bills and policy in an attempt to expose top down centralized planning and crony capitalism at the expense of citizen.
U.S. Congressman Raul Labrador: All across Idaho, families and small business owners are struggling to keep up with skyrocketing health care costs caused by the Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare. If you’ve seen your health insurance premiums rise in the past few years, it’s almost certainly because of ACA regulations.
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Boundary County Archives ~ April 2017
News
April 29
Venus at its brightest this Sunday morning: Before sunrise tomorrow – April 30, 2017 – the planet Venus will display its greatest illuminated extent. That means the planet’s daytime side is now covering more square area of Earth’s sky than at any other time during its present morning apparition. So this weekend is a great time to look for Venus!
April 28
Major highway projects to begin in Kootenai County: The Idaho Department of Transportation will begin two major improvement projects on US 95 and Interstate 90 in Kootenai County in the days ahead.
Answering Specialists to hold hiring event May 3: Answering Specialists Inc., an established Bonners Ferry business, is an inbound call center acting as receptionists for several types of businesses throughout the U.S. and Canada. Due to rapid growth, the company is hiring remote operators to work from home as well as in-house supervisors.
Kootenai Tribe invites public's help in sturgeon release: On Friday, May 12, the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho invites the public to assist the Kootenai Tribe’s staff with releasing young sturgeon into the cool waters of the Kootenai River from 9 a.m. to noon at the Search and Rescue County Boat Ramp Boundary County Waterways Building one mile west of Highway 95 on Riverside Street.
Pearl seeking to raise $2,500 during Idaho Gives: The Pearl Theater is joining a statewide giving movement, Idaho Gives 2017, to support the missions of Idaho nonprofits and build a stronger Idaho!
Power outage set for Priest Lake area: There will be a Bonneville Power Administration planned outage in the Priest Lake area beginning at 11 p.m. Friday, May 12, and lasting until 7 a.m. Saturday, May 13.
Department of Education seeks comment: The State Department of Education is seeking public comment on the latest draft of Idaho’s plan for federal education funds to serve disadvantaged children. The department released the fourth draft of Idaho’s Consolidated Plan for public review on its website today.
April 27
Let's hear the siren!
Boundary County Sheriff Dave Kramer and Chief Deputy Rich Stephens had the pleasure today of giving the Bonners Ferry Head Start students a tour of the sheriff's office. The kids got to see the dispatch center, jail area and the patrol cars. Of course, the highlight for several were the sirens and lights!
Cushman ladies run an eggciting local ag business! The Boundary County Farm Bureau is proud to showcase three young business women this week. Katie, Peyton, and Avery Cushman make up Cushman Egg Company and Cushman Hatchery. “When we first thought of having our own business, we already had chickens that were easy to take care of, so we thought we would get more and sell the eggs,” the young ladies said in unison. By Kristi Kellogg
Extension now offers pH testing: The Boundary County Extension Office now offers pH testing to local gardeners who want to attain just the right balance in their soil for the plants they hope to grow.
National Poppy Day supports veterans, honors the fallen: The American Legion has called on Congress to designate May 26, 2017, as National Poppy Day to expand awareness and provide support everywhere for all who have served and sacrificed in the U.S. armed forces.
Hayden man admits to North Idaho hatchet job: Charles Ray Bartkowiak, 34, Hayden, plead guilty Tuesday to bank robbery, Acting U.S. Attorney Rafael M. Gonzalez, Jr. announced. Bartkowiak was indicted by a federal grand jury in Coeur d’Alene December 13, 2016. He admitted that on November 28, 2016, he entered the Bank CdA in Hayden and placed a hatchet on the counter of the teller window.
April 26
Getting ready for new wall art!
Bonners Ferry Builders was at the Boundary County Museum today, getting ready to install the new sign on the new wall in the back of the museum, facing Highway 95 and the city parking lot. Be sure to keep an eye out for it!
Rotary picnic to honor local emergency responders: The Community is invited to join for food and fun at the Bonners Ferry Rotary Club First Responders Appreciation Picnic to fete our local emergency first responders, with all first responders county-wide enjoying their meal on the Rotary Club!
Museum gearing up for summer opening: Spring is springing all around Boundary County, and summer is soon to appear. The Boundary County Museum is preparing for its summer opening, when open days are expanded to include Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 pm.
Trio von Radowitz worth a trip north: The Trio von Radowitz, Sophie Pantzier, violin, Amanda Anderson, cello, and Florian von Radowitz, piano, based in Hanover, Germany, will tour British Columba in days ahead, with a 2 p.m. performance in Creston on Sunday, April 30. The program of chamber music will feature Beethoven's Piano Trio in C Minor, Op. 1, No. 3 and Dvořák,s Piano Trio in E Minor, No. 4, Op. 90, “Dumky.”
UI High School Journalism Workshop to be held in CdA: North Idaho high school journalism students can get hands-on experience in reporting or design during a workshop sponsored by the University of Idaho’s School of Journalism and Mass Media May 19 in Coeur d’Alene.
Brittany Spangler ends eventful year: Reigning Bonners Ferry Distinguished Young Woman Brittany Spangler will take the stage at the Becker Auditorium one final time on April 29 to welcome a new recipient of the title. The year past has brought many opportunities to represent Bonners Ferry and the Distinguished Young Women Program.
Alderson traffic light test ends: After flashing for the past few weeks, the light at the intersection of Highway 95 and Alderson Lane in Bonners Ferry has returned to its more familiar pattern of red, yellow, green ... for the time being, anyway.
Libby Dam meeting set for Bonners Ferry: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will hold their annual Libby Dam operations public information meeting in Bonners Ferry on Thursday, May 18. Representatives from the Corps, National Weather Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will be on hand to discuss water supply forecasts Libby Dam operations and sturgeon recovery.
Answers to questions about local EMS: As questions in the community come up about our county's ambulance service, as the chief, I like to take time and answer them. A question that I hear occasionally is this: Why does Boundary Ambulance employee so many paramedics? By Chief Jeff Lindsey
This is my fairground, this is my park: Many people are confused with the Fairgrounds and Parks and Rec. I have been trying for years to let people know the difference. By Anne Tompkins‎, Boundary County Parks & Rec
‘Era of Megafires’ coming to North Idaho: The public is invited to attend the compelling multimedia presentation, “Era of Megafires,” at locations in North Idaho in May. The number of large, severe wildfires has been increasing in the last decade.
VA now offers fertility treatments: The Mann-Grandstaff Veterans Affairs Medical Center and the Center for Reproductive Health in Spokane are announcing a new partnership to provide Veterans injured in combat with the opportunity for fertility treatments, including In Vitro Fertilization, for veterans enrolled in the VA health care system.
Boundary County Commission minutes, April 10
Boundary County Commission minutes, April 3
April 25
Farm Tour 2017 coming May 26: The Boundary Soil Conservation District and Farm Bureau would like to announce their upcoming free Community Annual Farm Tour! The date has been set for Friday, May 26, rain or shine! This year’s event will start at Bee Haven Flower Farm and then will head east to three other locations.
Crunch time: Students at BFHS are working hard to navigate the quick approach to the completion of the 2016-2017 school year. We are just beginning our state testing schedule, and we are looking forward to seeing the success our students show on those tests. By Principal Kevin Dinning
April 24
School board election May 16: Boundary County voters will be asked to go to the polls on Tuesday, May 16, to elect two trustees to the Boundary County school board, and at least one will be a new face as trustee Nichele Whittaker, has chosen to step down. She will have served the students of Boundary County for four years, the last year as chair, when she, in her  own words, returns to being a regular parent.
Four common ornamentals now listed as noxious weeds: As of the close of the 2017 Idaho Legislature session, four genera of plants are now included on the Idaho Noxious Weed List as “prohibited genera;” Cytisus, Chamaecytisus, Genista, and Spartium.
Lipstick on a stick: When I was a kid, back when everything seemed old, one thing that didn’t were women’s lips. You couldn’t see the old even if it was there because all of them were liberally painted with lipstick. Musings from Moyieboy by Ken Carpenter
78 set to graduate at UI Coeur d'Alene: Seventy-eight graduating students are eligible to receive a combined 78 degrees this spring at the University of Idaho Coeur d’Alene. Students from UI Coeur d’Alene applied for 48 bachelor’s degrees, 28 master’s degrees and two specialist degrees.
April 22
Online county scanner feed going off temporarily
The Broadcastify police scanner feed for Boundary County that people use online will be down for about a week starting at about noon Sunday. Allen Gemmrig, who provides the feed, will be making upgrades to improve reception and will let us know when it is back up.
Cruisin' ...
The Rod Benders and Libby Ignitors enjoyed a wonderful breakfast at Chic n' Chop Restaurant in Bonners Ferry this morning and are now out for a cruise through Bonners Ferry and Ponderay! This sunshine means cruisin' weather!
BFHS Robotics competes at Western Canada Regional: Bonners Ferry High School FIRST Robotics Team 2130 Alpha+ recently returned from Calgary, Alberta, after competing in the Western Canada Regional. This year teams competed from Turkey, Poland, China, Australia, Mexico, Canada, and the United States. The event was a celebration of diversity and the universal language of STEM was spoken by all participants.
Tech Connect Fair slated at NIC: The public is invited to meet with employers from the area and learn about career opportunities at the Tech Connect Career Fair and Open House Tuesday, April 25, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the North Idaho College Parker Technical Education Center in Rathdrum.
Idaho unemployment drops again: Idaho’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped to 3.5 percent in March, down one tenth of a percent from 3.6 percent in February. March marks the 78th straight month of over-the-year labor force gains.
April 21
In the face of stroke, think FAST: A drooping face, weakness or numbness on one side, slurred or garbled speech ... this might be a stroke! Like heart attacks, a stroke is a life-and-death emergency; time is critical and every second counts, so think F-A-S-T and dial 9-1-1 immediately. By Stu Willis, MD
Spring Hiring Event to be the year's biggest: The Spring Hiring Event organized by the Idaho Department of Labor will have more than 60 employers eager to fill more than 700 job openings from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 26, at Real Life Ministries, N1866 Cecil Road, Post Falls.
April 20
Translator channels down
 There have been multiple lightening strikes near the Boundary County translator tower and several channels and stations are off the air. Crews were able to restore power today and will head up back up in the morning to diagnose and hopefully fix other issues.
A few tips on driving blind: In every family's history there are a few tales that get told and retold so much, embellished with every telling, that they actually seem to breathe a life of their own. This is not one of them. Somehow the facts about the daring deeds I am about to unfold escaped me until a measly 20 years ago. Musings from Moyieboy by Ken Carpenter
Carl Rey and the Blues Gators blowing into town: Carl Rey, a 40-year veteran of the jazz and blues music scene, blends his classic “old style” to the contemporary edge of his band, The Blues Gators, this Saturday night for a swing dance and concert at The Pearl. Doors open at 6 p.m. and Carl Rey and the Blues Gators kick it up at 7.
GROW has low-cost garden plots available: Are you interested in growing your own fresh vegetables in a ready-made organic garden? They have inexpensive plots available in the GROW Community Garden located on Buchanan Street in Bonners Ferry behind Trinity Lutheran Church.
ITD seeks input on public transportation: In January, the Idaho Transportation Department held public meetings throughout Idaho to share information and learn more about public transportation in those areas. The agency is now launching district surveys to give individuals unable to attend those meetings an opportunity to provide input.
Sheriff opening a drug drop box Monday: In co-operation with the Idaho TRUTH 208 project, the Boundary County Sheriff’s Office has elected to participate in a Drug Drop Box program. The drug drop box, located in the lobby of the Sheriff’s Office, is designed to provide citizens of Boundary County with a safe and secure location for disposal of unused, expired or unneeded prescription drugs.
Local TV station KBCI 9 shut down: After discovering technical issues in the handling of a contract regarding the establishment of KBCI Channel 9 between the Boundary County Translator District Board and TechPartner, owned by former translator district board chair Michael Listman, the board held a special meeting April 4 and terminated the October 4, 2015, agreement, effectively taking the local television channel off the air.
Governor urges Idahoans to be flood aware: Idaho Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter urged Idahoans to exercise increased caution and keep a close eye on the increasing risk of flooding along many of the state’s waterways – from the Boise, Payette, Big Wood and Little Wood to the Bear and Upper Snake river basins.
April 19
KXLY's Kris Crocker to emcee DYW: Bonners Ferry Distinguished Young Women program is excited to announce that KXLY’s chief meteorologist Kris Crocker is returning to Bonners Ferry for a third time to emcee this year’s Distinguished Young Women Scholarship program, “A Night at the Oscars,” on Saturday, April 29.
April 18
Another Judge Harden to serve in North Idaho: Caldwell attorney Tera Harden, the daughter of longtime Boundary County Magistrate Court Judge Quentin Harden, will soon be working a bit closer to home, having been selected to fill a vacancy on the Bonner County Magistrate Court bench as Judge Debra Heise, who has been approved for senior status after more than 32 years of service, prepares for retirement.
Stripe rust off to an early start: Stripe rust is continuing to develop on winter wheat across the region, due to weather conditions that favor rust infection and spread.
Free seedlings being given for Arbor Day: Among the pioneers moving into the Nebraska Territory in 1854 was J. Sterling Morton from Detroit. He and his wife were lovers of nature, and the home they established in barren Nebraska was quickly planted with trees, shrubs and flowers. That love formed the foundation for what became Arbor Day.
April 17
From Boundary County Road and Bridge: Furrow Road is closed just east of junction at Flat House Road continuing east to the junction at Farm to Market Road for culvert work. Farm to Market Road and Flat House Road are both open. Barricades and Road closed signs are installed while this work is being done. To learn more, call Road and Bridge at (208) 267-3838.
Time to get no spray agreements in: Spring is here and the Boundary County Weed Department will soon be spraying roadsides for noxious weeds. If you do not want weeds sprayed in front of your property you must submit a “do not spray” agreement by May 1.
The morel of the story is it's pickin' time: As the snow finally recedes and the temperatures warm, it's time to start thinking about harvesting mushrooms. The Idaho Panhandle National Forests welcomes mushroom harvesting, and offers these tips and information.
April 13
Forest Service closes more roads: The Idaho Panhandle National Forests has issued additional road closures on multiple Forest Service roads in Boundary and Bonner County for public health and safety due to flooding damage and unsafe conditions.
Concern the MP 498 slide could go again: The slide area near mile 498 at Mountain Meadows Road on Highway 95 remains active, and with the possibility of additional rain and thunderstorms this afternoon, further slide activity could take place at any time, possibly resulting in a third highway shutdown.
Bob Graham honored for 43 years' service to county: Bob Graham’s service to Boundary County and to the citizens who live here was celebrated April 12 at the County Extension Office by those who had worked with him over the years. Graham served as Incident Commander in Boundary County for over 43 years. During that time he had responded to just about every type of incident possible.
Utt exonerated in Bonner County murder probe: The Bonner County Sheriff's Office on Wednesday issued a press release exonerating Nathan Utt as a suspect in a suspicious death reported in Hope, Idaho, April 5.
Flood watch extended through tonight, t-storms possible: The National Weather Service in Spokane has issued a flood watch for portions of North Idaho and Northeast Washington, including Boundary and Bonner Counties, in effect through late tonight.
April 12
Two cooling their heels at Second Chance: Two young male dogs, one a Rottweiler, the other a great Dane, went out cavorting today in separate areas and they now find themselves behind bars at Second Chance Animal Adoption, waiting for their people to pick them up and take them home.
ITD surveyor gets video of April 7 slide: ITD crews were on scene with cameras rolling as a hillside broke free and covered a section of U.S. 95 south of Bonners Ferry on Friday, April 7. In the video, now posted to YouTube, you can see tons of mud, rocks, and trees slide down, pushing two layers of concrete barriers off the road. Overall, 800 cubic yards of debris slid onto the road.
Plenty of cool cars on the summer horizon: There are many events in the area each year and the local car shows are an exciting way to get out of the house and check out some cool cars, while also providing an opportunity to bring your own special car to show off to others in the crowd.
Idahoans continue to head for the cities: The steady shift of Idaho’s population from smaller to larger counties continued between July 1, 2015, and July 1, 2016, according to estimates released recently by the U.S. Census Bureau. Overall, Idaho’s population grew 1.8 percent to 1,683,140.
April 11
Welcome to Bonners Ferry, Miss Idaho!
Thank you to Miss Idaho Kylee Solberg (back row, center), for talking to Boundary County Middle School students today about making good choices. Her platform focused on social media and she also gave some great leadership tips!
The attack of the flaming bacon bombs: I know people who would kill for bacon. Don’t laugh, it’s true. If they had been lost in the woods for a week and suddenly found their way to your campsite, and you denied them the pile of bacon on your plate, they would murder you and gobble the bacon. Musings from Moyieboy by Ken Carpenter
Boundary County Commission minutes, March 20
Boundary County Commission minutes, March 27
April 10
Kids at Naples/Mt. Hall set for strong finish: Fourth Quarter is here, and the next nine weeks are going to fly by. Spring Break couldn’t have come at a better time. Students and staff were ready for their much deserved break, and now we are refreshed and ready to finish the year strong. By Principal Lisa Iverson
Burbot recovery a collaborative effort: Burbot are a unique fish species native to the Kootenai Basin. The population there declined drastically beginning in the 1960s due to many factors, including overfishing, dam operations and land changes. Harvest fisheries were closed in the basin by the mid-1990s and remain closed today.
More heavy rains expected Wednesday: The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for Boundary, Bonner and Shoshone Counties in Idaho and Pend Oreille, Ferry and Stevens Counties in Washington, effective from Wednesday morning through late Thursday night.
Myrtle Creek Road closed after dynamite found: The public is urged to stay away from Forest Service Road #633 (Myrtle Creek Road) on the Bonners Ferry Ranger District, where two cases of dynamite were discovered April 9. The Spokane Bomb Squad successfully cleared the dynamite Monday afternoon. Myrtle Creek Road remains closed to the public at this time because of a soft and unstable roadbed.
Moyie Springs City Council minutes, March 8
Get ready for snow!
 A band of snow is moving up from the Spokane area and is, as of 8:45 a.m., entering Sandpoint. The system could drop up to three inches by this afternoon, when it warms and the snow level lifts to 3,500 feet, If traveling, be ready for slick roads.
April 8
Crews act fast to restore roadway after second major slide: Friday afternoon fell cloudy and gray, and by 2:09 p.m., rumbles of thunder could be heard throughout Boundary County, followed by often heavy rain. Idaho Transportation Department crews and TraffiCorps flaggers looked on with trepidation just moments later as the hill they've been fighting with since March 21came down in a rush once again at 2:17 p.m.
April 7
9:32 p.m.: ITD now has one lane reopened around the mile 498.6 mud slide.
8:14 p.m.: Just another reminder to all commercial truck traffic through Boundary County: Highway 95 is closed to all commercial truck traffic due to a mud slide at mile 498.6. All commercial truck traffic must divert to Highway 200 in Sandpoint to Bull Lake Road to Highway 2 in Moyie Springs and Three Mile Junction. There is a detour for regular traffic, but it is a very tough route, with narrow roads, steep drop offs and excessive mud. While there are no firm estimates when Highway 95 will reopen to single lane traffic, ITD officials are hoping to have it moving by 10 or 11 p.m., barring further slide activity.
3:08 p.m.: Here is the detour being used to get around the Highway 95 slide at Mountain Meadows.
2:46 p.m.: To get traffic moving, all traffic stopped now is currently being diverted on Deep Creek Loop via Lookout View.
2:35 p.m.: Commercial vehicles are advised to avoid traveling through Boundary County as another mudslide has shut down Highway 95 near mile 498.6. Truck traffic north of the slide can divert via Highway 2 at Three Mile; traffic south should divert via Highway 200 in Sandpoint.
2:34 p.m.: A new mudslide has completely shut down Highway 95 at Mountain Meadows near mile 498. Deputies are checking to determine if traffic can be diverted via Trail Creek to Mountain Meadows Road, but at present traffic is backed up more than a mile in either direction.
2:17 p.m.: Highway 95 is shut down at the Mountain Meadows slide as mud is again coming down. It is not known for how long the closure will be, or if detours will be necessary.
Flood advisory issued through this evening: The National Weather Service has issued an areal flood advisory for portions of North Idaho and northeastern Washington, including most of Boundary County, in effect until 7:30 p.m. today.
April 6
Melior fourth in Idaho State Geo Bee: Boundary County Middle School eighth grader Emmet Melior, the son of Larry Melior and Jessie Stewart, Bonners Ferry, was one of 73 students to make the trek to the Idaho State National Geographic Bee March 31 in Rexburg, made it into the final 10, and finished the event fourth place overall.
Bonner County seeks murder suspect: The Bonner County Sheriff's Office is seeking the whereabouts of a known Sandpoint area transient in connection to a murder investigation that began at about 5 p.m. Wednesday, when an elderly Trestle Creek Road man reported his wife unresponsive. IN CUSTODY!
State Board of Education seeks input: The public is invited to provide feedback on changes in K-12 education rules for school buses, special education, academic standards and more during six public hearings scheduled to start next Tuesday.
Risch helps launch Working Forest Caucus: On Wednesday, U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-ID) and Angus King (I-ME), joined by a bipartisan group of senators, launched the new Senate Working Forests Caucus.
Special needs kids invited to climb at UI: Children with special needs will get the chance to challenge their limits and grow their abilities during a free rock climbing event at the University of Idaho Climbing Center in Moscow on Saturday, May 6.
Search on for escaped inmates: The hunt is on for two inmates who escaped from the Yakima County Correctional Center in Yakima on Tuesday morning and may have returned to North Idaho. Corrections officers believe the two inmates, Chad Tipton and Steven Roche, escaped through an unlocked door leading from an inside recreational yard to the outside.
Use your zip code to attract birds: If you're one of the many who take delight in seeing birds frolicking and flitting in your yard, the Audubon Society website, www.audubon.org, recently launched a new native plants data base that, just by typing in your zip code, will help you to identify native flora you can plant as well as the types of birds they'll attract, and why.
April 5
Meet the final five 2017 DYW participants: And these are the final five participants, the final look at a group of amazing, hard-working and dedicated young women now embarked on what they will look back on for the rest of their lives as one of the most formative experiences of their lives. While only one Bonners Ferry Distinguished can be selected, this is truly a program in which all who participate are winners.
Brace for more rain, mud and high water: Flooding problems may redevelop late this week and into the weekend as a series of moist Pacific storms bring potentially significant rainfall and mild temperatures to the region, according to National Weather Service forecasts.
Bonners Ferry Clean-Up Week is nigh: If you live in Bonners Ferry and you're wondering when the best time of year is to start getting your yard ready for spring, the answer is right now, as Cleanup Week in the City of Bonners Ferry runs from Monday, April 17 through Monday, April 24, when the City Street Department will pick up yard waste from the front curb side of residences and businesses.
Flags to half-staff for John Glenn: Final funeral rites for astronaut John Glenn, United States Marine Corps aviator, engineer, astronaut and United States Senator from Ohio who died December 8, 2016, in Columbus, Ohio, will take place Thursday, April 6, at Arlington National Cemetery, and by proclamation of president Donald Trump, fly the United States flag at half-staff on that day.
Young artists invited in aviation art contest: Young Idaho artists are invited to submit their creative artwork through May 15 in the Idaho Aviation Art Contest sponsored by the Idaho Transportation Department’s Division of Aeronautics.
April 4
Vet clinic seeking owner of brave young cat: The crew at Bonners Ferry Veterinary Clinic knows this is a long shot, but they are looking for the owner of this little black female cat with a white chest, who was brought into the clinic on Wednesday, March 29.
VA Choice legislation passes Senate: Legislation cosponsored by Idaho Senator Mike Crapo to continue providing Idaho veterans with options to access their earned care benefits unanimously passed the United States Senate on Monday evening.
Bashful is not all it’s cracked down to be: My Bonners Ferry High School graduating class voted me in as “Most Bashful” in 1969. I remember being mortified and thinking, “oh great, now I’m one of the Seven Dwarves!” Musings from Moyieboy by Ken Carpenter
April 3
Tribe seeks Aquaculture Tech I: The Kootenai Tribe of Idaho is seeking to hire an Aquaculture Technician I – Sturgeon or Burbot, who will be responsible for assisting in hatchery production of sturgeon or burbot at one of the Kootenai Tribe’s Sturgeon or Burbot Hatcheries.
April 2
Wonderful night of music Saturday at the Pearl: Americana artist Alex Ashley of Bellingham, Washington, will take the stage at the Pearl Theater for an evening of original roots music and storytelling at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 8. Northwest folk icon Bradford Loomis will join him in a show being opened by Bonners Ferry's own singer-songwriter Karly Leonardo.
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