Bradley Gilmore of the Army Reserve's 659th Engineer Company is greeted by longtime friend D.J. Nall (aka Frum Helen Back) at the Hauser Resort Wednesday for a welcome home party for the Hauser Lake resident returning from Iraq. "I watched him grow up and it was scary when he went to war." says Nall here. (Brian Plonka/The Spokesman-Review)

*School employee touched many lives: Lisa King killed after being hit by truck in parking lot/Brian Walker, Coeur d'Alene Press -- This is easily the saddest local story locally from Christmas 2005. That poor husband ... the kids ...

*Tax district would fund rec centers: Group hopes to build swimming pool, skating rink for no-cost, after-school use/Erica Curless, Spokesman-Review -- And the answer is -- slim and none. The question? What are the chances of selling a new taxing district in anti-property tax North Idaho.

*Santa hit by pellet at mall still smiling/Spokesman-Review -- HBO nominates the young delinquent in this case for a Christmas lump of coal. Shooting Santa? Sheesh.

*Praying for a miracle: Father prepares for what may be his last holiday with family/Christi Wilhelm, Coeur d'Alene Press -- Another sad Christmas story.

*Dry mountain snow sucking up rain/Spokesman-Review -- Dreamin' of a white Christmas? Fuhgeddaboutit.

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