Click for the latest Bonners Ferry weather forecast.
Boundary County Archives ~ December, 2015
Home   News   Sports   Social   Obituaries   Events   Letters
News
December 23
Weather Spotter training course a success: Andy Brown from the Spokane office of the National Weather Service provided a Weather Spotter training course at South Boundary Fire Station in Naples on Tuesday of last week, December 15.
How are river projects holding up in recent storms? In recent weeks, we have had readers contact us here at NewsBF, wondering about the effects of the big November 17 windstorm that swept through the area, and the heavy rains and ongoing snow we have had since then.
Precipitation and snowpack continue to look good for now: As of today, December 23, Boundary County continues to do well in its precipitation profile for the water year, and in our area's accumulated mountain snowpack.
Dangerous highway conditions on Interstate 90 and State Highway 3: Idaho State Police is advising that travel is very dangerous on Interstate 90 and State Highway 3 in the 4th of July area.
Flooding results in temporary emergency road closures: Increased rain and warmer temperatures during the past week have resulted in flooding causing significant road damage on the Bonners Ferry and Sandpoint Ranger Districts.
Tis the season for bald eagles to flock to Lakes Pend Oreille and Coeur d'Alene: Each year around Christmas time, large groups of bald eagles congregate at sites on Lake Pend Oreille and Lake Coeur d'Alene in the Idaho panhandle, taking advantage of kokanee spawning season.
Trees damaged in November's windstorm can lead to threats to your remaining live trees: Severe wind storms in northern Idaho and the Spokane area on November 17 did more than cause widespread damage to structures and power lines. They also made forested areas more susceptible to infestations of certain bark beetles next spring.
Driver Safety Class scheduled for January: A driver safety class will be offered on Thursday, January 14, at the Senior Center at 6635 Lincoln on the South Hill.
It's "Payback" for school bus driver on "Lucky Thursday": All of School District Bus Driver Doug Reoch's "Lucky Thursdays" finally caught up with him. In a good way.
December 14
Panhandle Health District reports first flu death of the season: Panhandle Health District is reporting the state’s first influenza-related death for the 2015-2016 flu season. An adult woman from northern Idaho died due to complications from an influenza infection.
School Christmas concert on Tuesday: It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Soon the bells will start, and the thing that will make them ring is the carol that the “choirs” will sing!
BoCo Backpacks seeking help funding meals for kids: The BoCo Backpack weekend supplemental food program is approaching the half way point for the school year. Due to increased enrollment in Boundary County Schools, the program is now serving a total of 135 students at Naples, Mt. Hall, Valley View and Headstart.
December 10
Weather Spotter Training coming up: The National Weather Service in Spokane is seeking volunteers who would like to become official Weather Spotters. For those interested, a class is coming up soon in Boundary County.
Commissioners consider refugee resolution: Monday's meeting of the Boundary County Board of Commissioners dealt with noxious weeds, the Restorium, and even the big wind storm of November 17. But the crowd of 150 people who attended the meeting weren't really there to focus on those agenda items.
December 8
Heavy rains, potentially damaging winds possible today and tomorrow: The National Weather Service this morning issued warnings for severe weather beginning later today, with high, potentially damaging winds, heavy rain, and potential flooding affecting areas of eastern Washington and Northern Idaho, including Boundary County.
Boundary County mountain snowpack and precipitation so far this year: Last winter, instead of enjoying winter snows and a growing snowpack in the mountains, Boundary County and the region had warmer temperatures, frequent rains, and a lack of snow.
Night of Nativities and Carols: The Christmas season in Boundary County sparkled brightly at last week's second annual Night of Nativities and Carols.
Garbage pickup schedule for Christmas and New Year's Day: Frederickson's Bonners Ferry Garbage has notified customers of their pickup schedule for the holiday season.
Bald eagle migration now under way in northern Idaho: Bald eagles are now congregating at Wolf Lodge Bay and Beauty Bay on Coeur d'Alene Lake, and in the Bayview and Granite Creek areas of Lake Pend Oreille.
December 4
Mayor-elect David Sims resigns Director position of Development Council: Bonners Ferry mayor-elect David Sims, who was elected mayor a month ago and will assume the office in January, has resigned his position as Director of the Boundary Economic Development Council.
20 employers set for hiring event in Post Falls: Twenty employers will be participating in the December 9 hiring event sponsored by the Idaho Department of Labor at its Kootenai County office.
December 3
Idaho unemployment rate drops to 4%: The newest October 2015 Seasonally-adjusted rates released by the Idaho Department of Labor show the unemployment rate for the state at 4%, down from 4.2% the prior month and compared to 4.6% in October 2014, one year ago.
President orders flags to half-staff: "As a mark of respect for the victims of gun violence perpetrated on December 2, 2015, in San Bernardino, California," President Barack Obama has ordered flags be flown at half-staff through Monday, December 7.
December 2
Valley View full of activities during Idaho Family Reading Week: Idaho Family Reading Week was November 16-19, and Valley View Elementary School had a full week of activities.
FFA sponsoring "Winter Movie Land": Come join the Bonners Ferry FFA Chapter as we spread our spirit by kicking off the season with some holiday Christmas movies.
Obituaries
Reid A. Greenwood, September 27, 1958 ~ December 25, 2015
Roger Orley Olmsted, January 23, 1928 ~ December 21, 2015
Patricia May Breazile, December 13, 1932 ~ December 6, 2015
Ethel June Heinemann, July 10, 1935 ~ November 26, 2015
Robert (Bob) M. Taft, June 4, 1940 ~ November 25, 2015
Merle Dean Thompson, September 1, 1938 ~ November 28, 2015
Social
20th Annual Bonners Ferry Community Christmas Choir Concert: Twenty years ago Vicki Blake Thompson took over conducting the Bonners Ferry Community Choir from Barb Nelson, who was moving to Pendleton, Oregon.
School District announces Employees of the Month: A huge congrats goes to Roy Hale, the Boundary County School District’s Classified Employee of the Month for November.
Sports
Opportunities coming up in North Idaho to have big game trophies officially measured: The major big game hunting seasons in northern Idaho are over with the exception of some late archery deer hunts.
FFA doing its part for Moose Madness: FFA members are ready to put the boot to Sandpoint. They are working in coalition with the Leadership Class, Staff, and the rest of the Student Body for Moose Madness.
Comments sought on upland, turkey, furbearer and falconry seasons: The Idaho Department of Fish and Game is seeking public comments on proposed changes to the 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 upland game, turkey, furbearer, and falconry seasons.
Why you should keep fishing in winter, Part 2: How does this sound? You and your buddies can go fishing and bring all the tackle, food and beverages you want.
Winter big game aerial surveys underway: As snow blankets much of Idaho, wildlife biologists with Idaho Fish and Game are in the sky conducting aerial surveys of big game across the state.
Intermountain League All-League Teams announced for fall sports: The Intermountain League, the school sports league in which Bonners Ferry High School participates, released its list of All-League recognition for fall sports whose seasons recently concluded.
Hunters asked to report hunting results: Most of the major big game hunting seasons are now over. Successful or not, hunters are already starting to think about next season.
Grizzly Bear management and recovery meeting in Missoula: The Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (IGBC), the multi-agency committee responsible for grizzly bear recovery in the contiguous United States and adjacent Canadian Provinces will be holding their annual winter meeting in Missoula.
Here's why you should keep fishing in winter (Part 1): People may see hearty anglers wading streams or staked out on banks during winter weather and wonder "what are they doing?" The short answer is "probably catching fish."
Letters
A Christmas miracle in Boundary County: On a snowy Christmas Eve day, I had a young man come to my door and very politely ask if I needed any snow shoveled.
Refugees cost taxpayers: Well, well, it is sure encouraging to see that some people in Boundary County finally took an interest in this matter.
Refugee resolution is not grandstanding: I understand and respect these opinions about refugee issues. One has to think about the overall picture. These people (refugees) are being let in with out proper vetting.
Grandstanding on refugee issue wastes taxpayer dollars: As no refugees were slated to be resettled in Boundary County, the efforts by our commissioners to refuse them services is nothing but political grandstanding.
Agrees with commissioners: I am a refugee. I grew up within the United States of America. I grew up in the middle of the United States of America, in Iowa.
Have Boundary County citizens forgotten? I thought the question at hand was supposed to be about adequate vs inadequate vetting?
Disappointed in Commissioner's Refugee Resolution: I was disappointed in the Commissioners adoption of the anti refugee statement.
A sad day for our community: It was a sad day for our community and our state when our Boundary County Commissioners caved in to an element of bigotry and prejudice in our community by passing a resolution that was directed toward the resettlement in Boundary County and Idaho of Syrian refugees and, more precisely, toward people of the Muslim culture and Islamic faith.
Questions for parents whose children are in weekend supplemental food program: Parents of these 135 kids...stop buying cigarettes. How much did your cell phone and the monthly data plan cost? Feed your kids first!
Should ITD have authority to destroy private property? Recently I was informed by the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) that the billboard advertising the Dodge Peak Lodge on Highway 95 across from the golf course was "illegal."
Concerned about proposed new union among city electrical workers: I recently found out that our city is considering bringing a union to our electrical department. This is not a good idea, at least not now.
Creating a socialist state: Saul Alinsky died approximately 43 years ago in 1972, but his writings influence those in political control of our nation today.
Back to archives
               
Back to Archives
News Bonners Ferry is dedicated to providing news and information of importance to the people of Boundary County, Idaho, when it happens, sometimes as it happens.

Our archives will stay on line as long as News Bonners Ferry does ... accessible to everyone and providing a look back at the news and information that was presented on these pages.