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Boundary County Archives ~ December, 2011 |
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December 30 |
 Orientation
set for 'Distinguished Young Woman:' The Bonners Ferry Distinguished Young Women's
Scholarship program is currently accepting
applications from high school girls in Boundary
County who will graduate high school in 2013. |
Mayor looks back on the
year that was, ahead to the New Year: This is the time of year we look back at the
successes and challenges of the past year and
look forward to the challenges and opportunities
of the coming year, both personally and as a
city organization.
The City of Bonners Ferry has accomplished a
number of things this year.
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Risch names military
academy nominees: U.S. Senator James Risch recently announced his
nominations to the United States military
academies for the 2012 school year, including
Reid Boorman, Bonners Ferry, nominated to attend
the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, New York.
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'Strong Women'
helping local women since 2007: The Strong Women" program was introduced in
Boundary County in 2007, and its many
participants have been reaping the benefits ever
since. In January, the University of Idaho
Extension will introduce five new instructors
who recently completed Tufts Strong Women
Instructor Training.
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Idaho's population
growth slows to less than one percent: Idaho’s population grew by just nine-tenths
percent between mid-2010 and mid-2011, the first
year population has grown less than 1 percent
since 1990.
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County Commission
minutes, December 19-20
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County Commission
minutes, December 12-13
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County Commission
minutes, December 5-6 |
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December 29 |
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Updated: Truck in river
believed stolen: At 6:39 p.m., a northside resident called the
Sheriffs Office to report a red pickup floating
in the Kootenai River, headlights still shining.
At 6:53 p.m., a patron at the Panhandle
Restaurant called to report her red pickup
stolen. |
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December 28 |
 Ryan
and Maureen Mai conservation farmers of the year:
The Boundary Soil Conservation District is pleased to announce
the 2011 Conservation Farmer’s of the Year title to RYMO Cattle
Company, also known as
Ryan and Maureen Mai.
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Court record and
sheriffs log |
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December 23 |
Bonners Ferry Chamber
launching new web site: Beginning January 1, the premier website of
Boundary County, that belonging to the Bonners
Ferry Chamber of Commerce, will shift from being
a dot.com to become a dot.org as the transition
is made from its old site to the new,
www.bonnersferrychamber.org.
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Subdivision hearings put
on hold: Two public hearings originally scheduled to be
heard at the January meeting of he Boundary
County Planning and Zoning Commission have, at
the request of the applicant, been set aside
until as least March 15, 2012. |
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December 22 |
Trinity Lutheran
asks the impossible: Trinity Lutheran Church pastor
Bruce Barth asked me a stupid question today.
"Can you sing?"
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DNA shows Bell shot in
defense of friend: Forensic evidence has revealed that the bullet
fired by 20-year-old Ty Bell, formerly of
Bonners Ferry, killing his friend and hunting
companion, Steve Stevenson, 39, Winnemucca,
Nevada, was not a wild shot, but was one of many
fired by the young man in an effort to save his
friend from a wounded bear. |
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December 21 |
No recycle day at Safeway Wednesday: Due to the
breakdown of one of their trucks, the Boundary County Landfill
was forced to cancel recycling day at Safeway Wednesday.
Superintendent Claine Skeen assures that the truck will be
repaired in time for the next scheduled recycling day January 4.
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Court records and
sheriffs log: A suspicious activity call was made
at 520 Day Break Road. The caller reported someone on her roof,
12 or more men dressed in camouflage on her property, some in
trees with binoculars, and at least one in the house. The
camoflage must have been excellent, as deputies responding to
the home found no trace of anyone.
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 Gavin
Flower wins EAA scholarship: This year the local EAA
Chapter 757 is proud to announce Gavin Flower as
the newest Youth Aviation Scholarship winner.
Gavin is a well-rounded and ambitious young man
who has attained academic recognition with the
National Honors Society in high school, and has
also been involved in showing animals in the
4H/FAA. Gavin’s dream is earn a biology degree,
and become a fish and wildlife biologist.
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Nursery grower
training offered: The
University of Idaho Extension in Bonner County
and the Idaho Nursery and Landscape Association
are pleased to offer an eight-week course
designed to help green industry professionals
prepare for the Certified Nursery Professional
exam to be held on March 27, 2012.
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Car hits school bus
near Deary: The Idaho State Police has reported that a
head-on collision between a school bus and a
passenger car Tuesday that sent the driver of
the car to the hospital, but did not injure the
school bus driver or two students who were still
aboard.
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Don't let
yourself fall ill for the holidays: Holidays are the time to spread joy and not
illness to friends and family. Parties and
celebrations bring people together in close
quarters where food is open to many hands, so
take precautions to prevent yourself from
becoming sick or making others sick.
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ISP looking for troopers
statewide: The Idaho State Police is currently accepting
applications for the position of Trooper.
Previous law enforcement experience is not
required and the hope is to hire approximately
15 new Troopers statewide in 2012.
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Idahoans facing
end of unemployment benefits: Extended unemployment benefits will end for
1,500 jobless Idaho workers on Jan. 7 and nearly
12,000 more will see benefits terminated over
the next six months.
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Idaho delegation
seeks to extend payroll tax holiday: Idaho Congressmen Raúl
Labrador and Mike Simpson voted today to convene
a conference committee to negotiate differences
between the House and Senate versions of
legislation to extend the payroll tax holiday,
as well as unemployment insurance. |
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December 17 |
County P&Z gives
thumbs down to subdivision proposal: The Boundary County Planning and Zoning
Commission met Thursday evening to accept public
comment on a controversial 30-lot subdivision
proposal, and after more than two hours of
testimony and deliberation, voted unanimously to
forward to county commissioners a recommendation
that The Estates at Copeland Landing be denied.
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Principal
Pflueger Press: As we quickly move to the end of 2011, many
thoughts come to mind! First and foremost is my
appreciation to serve the citizens of Boundary County and their
children at Valley View Elementary School. I am impressed with
the supportive environment that has been established and the
care that is offered to the children.
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State
unemployment rate falls to two-year low: Idaho’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate
continued falling in November, dropping another
three-tenths of a percentage point to a two-year
low 8.5 percent – the largest one-month decline
in the rate since 1983. |
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December 12 |
 Boundary
County loses an icon: Lester Lee Howard, 92, a kid whose family fled
the midwest dust bowl and came to call Boundary
County and Bonners Ferry home in the 1930s,
died Friday at the Restorium, a place he and his
wife believed in and helped build.
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Search and Rescue needs
our support: For 35 years, the volunteers of Boundary County
Search and Dive Rescue have gone out in all
weather, in the most remote places, to come to
the aid of people reported lost or missing. The
organization hasn't asked us for much, but they need us to step
up to the plate.
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 Kidapping
charge added to Lethrud's woes: Boundary County's case against 23-year old
Preston Lethrud got a bit more serious at a
preliminary hearing Friday when deputy
prosecutor Tevis Hull filed an additional charge
of second-degree kidnapping to the charges of
felony aggravated assault, domestic battery and
unlawful entry originally filed after an
alleged all-night assault on his nine-month pregnant
girlfriend November 26.
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Court records and
sheriffs log |
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December 10 |
Comment pours in
on proposed Copeland subdivision: Written comment poured in at the deadline for a
proposed 30 lot subdivision abutting the
Copeland Bridge, The Estates at Copeland
Landing, nearly all opposed to the development,
which will be the subject at a public hearing
being held Thursday evening.
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PHD offering teens free
dental screenings: This holiday season the Panhandle Health
District (PHD) will give teens from low-income
families the gift of a free dental screening on
Thursday, Dec. 15, from 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
at the PHD office, 8500 N. Atlas Rd. in Hayden.
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Employers get expanded
incentives to hire vets: Employers have new tax incentives to hire
military veterans as the Idaho economy begins to
recover from the long recession.
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Moyie Springs
city council minutes, November 9 |
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December 7 |
Valley View
PTO sprucing up Christmas! In the back lot of Valley View Elementary,
between the building itself and the bus barn,
sit a number of stately Colorado blue spruce
trees just waiting to lend a sight and a scent
to make a holiday season special.
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County P&Z agenda set for
December: The Boundary County Planning and Zoning
Commisison will meet at 5:30 p.m. Thursday,
December 15, to approve past minutes and to take
under consideration the first platted
subdivision proposed in Boundary County since
2005, and the first under new zoning laws that
allow consideration of clustered development.
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East Fork Meadow
Creek sale approved: On December 2, Idaho Panhandle
National Forests Supervisor Mary Farnsworth signed the final
decision for the East Fork Meadow Creek Supplemental
Environmental Assessment.
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 Sater
takes to the sky: At 16 years old, Shane Sater, Bonners Ferry,
successfully completed his fist solo flight and
three landings and take offs before arriving
safely back at the airport.
Shane, the son of John Sater, was first inspired
to fly at the age of six by his grandfather, who
was building a Falco home-built airplane in the
basement.
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FEMA supports tribal
disaster declarations: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA),
under the direction of President Obama and
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet
Napolitano, announced today that it supports
amending federal law to allow federally
recognized tribal governments to make disaster
declaration requests directly to the president.
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County Commission
minutes, November 28-29
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County commission
minutes, November 21-22
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County Commission
minutes, November 14-15
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December 5 |
Copeland Bridge
subdivision an important test: For more than five
years, James Fox, whose family owns and manages a considerable
amount of land along the Kootenai River bottom, has been keeping
close tabs on the progress of this county's comprehensive plan
and zoning ordinance. He's the first to test this county's new
subdivision laws, beginning with a public hearing before the
county planning and zoning commission December 15, but his
proposal to develop 30 residential lots along the Kootenai River
at the Copeland Bridge.
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School lunch a hot potato issue: It's such a simple mandate: Prepare healthy,
nutritious meals for the schoolchildren so they
can go about the business of learning. |
Special school board
meeting set: A special meeting/workshop of the
board of trustees of the School District 101 is scheduled for 8
a.m. Friday, December 9,at 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. in the
Boundary County Middle School library. Topics include school
closure policies and a possible change in food service.
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Court records and
sheriffs log |
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December 3 |
 Thousands
of acres proposed for caribou habitat: The
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service this week
announced a proposal to designate critical
habitat for southern Selkirk Mountains caribou,
an endangered woodland mammal protected under
the Endangered Species Act.
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Lethrud facing prison
for assault: Preston Lethrud, 23, Bonners Ferry, is in the
Boundary County Jail in lieu of $150,000 bond
after a quiet night with his girlfriend November
26 turned violent and led her to fear not only for her own life,
but for the life of the baby she carries.
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 Over 200 kids turn
out for tree lighting: What a wonderful night it was, Friday, November
25, as the Christmas tree was lit at the Georgia
Mae Plaza and Christmas Carols flowed into the
beautiful evening!
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Ambulance chief
addresses Rotary: On November 29, several Rotary members
introduced Ken Baker as their program speaker
because he's well known in the community, having
grown up in Bonners Ferry, graduating from
Bonners Ferry High School. Ken recently assumed
the leadership position as EMS Chief of the
Boundary Volunteer Ambulance.
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Christmas comes to
everyone: It's a Bonners Ferry holiday tradition of
nearly fifty years! Christmas is ushered into our community on
the wings of song! On Friday, December 16 at 7:30 p.m. and on
Sunday, December 18 at 3 p.m., the two Bonners Ferry Community
choirs (adults and children) will present "Christmas Comes for
Everyone."
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Collecting for
Care n'Share at the courthouse: The Boundary County
courthouse Christmas tree is up and beautifully
decorated, and the pile of new toys beneath it
grows daily as courthouse staff and members of
the public generously donate to make Christmas a
little brighter for county kids through Project
Care n’Share. |
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December 1 |
Local car chase ends in
Montana crash: At about
10:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Bonners Ferry City Police and a
Boundary County Sheriff’s deputy initiated a
vehicle pursuit of a 1995 Ford Taurus reported
to have been stolen in
Washington
State.
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Alts to represent at
national Farm Bureau tour: John and Linda Alt, who live, farm and ranch in
Paradise Valley, will be representing the Farm
Bureau of Idaho's District 5 at the national
Farm Bureau Convention in Washington, D.C., in
March. |
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Obituaries |
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Donald
David Williams, September 9, 1919 ~
December 19, 2011 |
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Kelly
Lee Stippich: September 3, 1949 ~
December 15, 2011 |
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Lester
Lee Howard: October 18, 1919 ~
December 9, 2011 |
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Ulysses S. Redfearn: December 17, 1921 ~
December 2, 2011 |
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Bettie
Louise Preston, July 4, 1928 ~ December 4, 2011 |
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Virginia
Reid,
Virginia
Reid, September 19, 1914 ~
December 4, 2011 |
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Ruth
Ellen Woodbury, August 15, 1969 ~ December 3, 2011 |
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Ray L. Heath,
May 11, 1924 ~ December 3, 2011 |
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Alvin Edward
Maas, December 8, 1929 ~ December 2, 2011 |
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Zachary
Robert Henderson McGary, October 25, 1994 ~
November 29, 2011 |
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Mortimer
Phipps Bacon II, January 16, 1923 ~ November 26,
2011 |
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Joan
Glover Bartleson , October 13, 1945 ~ November 24,
2011 |
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Dale
Ardon Severson, June 17, 1951 ~ November 23, 2011 |
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Margaret Eleanor Swaine, September 17, 1915 ~
November 22, 2011 |
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Social |
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Hansons
welcome baby girl: Nichole and Ed Hanson, Bonners Ferry, welcomed a
new daughter, Emma Lorean Hanson, born at Bonner
General Hospital, Sandpoint, December 8. |
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Welcome, Sadie Marie! Gabrielle Nye and Eddie Funkhouser, Bonners
Ferry, are the proud parents of a daughter born
October 12 at Bonner General Hospital,
Sandpoint. |
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Lethrud-Scherr finishes Navy basic: Colton Lethrud-Scherr, the grandson of Bob and
Linda Case, Bonners Ferry, completed basic
training November 10 at the Great Lakes Naval
Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois. |
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Sports |
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Strong
sockeye returns predicted for 2012: Early forecasts by fishery officials predict
strong Columbia-Snake river salmon returns
almost across the board in 2012. And in the case
of sockeye and summer chinook, record runs are
predicted. |
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Winter
fishing looks pretty good: This report highlights a few of the best places
to fish, what anglers are using and what they
are catching. The information is compiled from
regional Fish and Game fishery managers, local
tackle shops and anglers. |
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Letters |
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Governor Butch
Otter: You likely have heard a lot in the news media
over the past several months about health
insurance exchanges. I’ve heard from few people
objectively opposed to the idea of a one-stop
clearinghouse for the best, most up-to-date and
concise information available about options for
insuring themselves and their families against
the potentially catastrophic costs of health
care. |
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Rosanne
Smith: I see the City of Bonners Ferry is
attempting to make recycling easier and more convenient for its
citizens. Since the landfill has gone to one stream recycling I
don't see why the City of Moyie Springs cannot find a spot for
its citizens and neighbors to participate. |
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City Councilman
Tom Mayo: After reading the latest issue of the
Flatlander, I feel I need to respond to the assertion that I
think our neighbors in the annexation area do not pay for
“services." |
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Representative Raul Labrador:
During my eight-hour-long jobs forum in Boise
last month, we asked job creators from more than
20 Idaho businesses what we could do to
encourage them to start hiring again. The
consensus was that a combination of tax reform
and regulatory reduction would stabilize our
economy and help them create jobs. We must ease
the burdens foisted by government onto America’s
job creators. |
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Kristin
James: I do not have all the information you may be
seeking, but I do have limited experience with
the V.A. and what they "offer."
I watched for years as my step-dad would have
incident after incident and appointment after
appointment to receive the care he needed to
feel better. |
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Patsy
Stockdale: Thank you for the wonderful
news
article you wrote and for the concern you
and the community had for me during my eventful
heart attack a week ago, Monday, November 28. |
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U.S.
Congressman Raul Labrador: The decision of the U.S. Supreme Court to hear
arguments on President Obama’s disastrous health
care legislation, known as the Patient
Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) is
another step in the right direction to finally
repeal this disastrous law once and for all. |
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Jenny Hoyle:
Just a quick 'thanks' for your nice article
regarding Patsy Stockdale you posted yesterday. |
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