Newt Gingrich and his wife, Callistra, arrive at the Bing Crosby Theater for a rally Spokane this afternoon.  Picture story here. (SR photo: Dan Pelle)

Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich stopped in Coeur d’Alene Thursday night for a town hall meeting. Before taking the time to meet with some of his supporters Gingrich sat down at a $1,000 per plate private function in North Idaho. Ahi-tuna, tiger prawn martini's, a full bar and an oyster dish were all on the menu. The function is serving nine different hors dourves, and no entres. Roughly thirty republicans will fill the lavish Coeur d’Alene home to meet Mr. Gingrich for about an hour and a half/Cole Heath, KREM. More here.

• 80 Post Falls Guard members heading to Cambodia/CdA Press
• Focus tightens in fatal Jan. 21 U.S. 95 crash/Keith Kinnaird, Bee
• UI's Akey picks ex-WSU QB Gesser to head offense/Josh Wright, SR
• Idaho Senate passes animal cruelty bill 31-1/Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise
• On 9-8 vote, House State Affairs introduces 3-foot-to-pass-bikes bill/Eye On Boise
• House backs Bilbao memorial on contraception coverage 53-15/Betsy Russell, EOB
• AG Little breaks tie, sending bill that ends May presidential primary to guv/Betsy Russell, EOB

Question: If you had an extra $1000 now and didn't intend to spend it on a ticket to talk to Newt Gingrich, what would you do with it?

COEUR d'ALENE - By a show of cards, the crowd didn't support the conceptual plan for McEuen Field.

Those cards, flashed by audience members as questions came up, also said the city shouldn't move the Third Street boat launch.

And there should be a public vote - open for all Kootenai County residents.

“I hope it goes to a public vote,” said Duane Severson, leaving the McEuen Field meeting at Woodland Middle School Thursday, the forum that gave the public an opportunity to address the design team about the park's redesign plan. “Over 50 percent of them are against it, from what I saw in there.”

If it was feedback the team wanted, it's what they got, both pro and con. Around 300 people filled the gym, and many took the time to speak.

It's too big and grand some said, while others thought it was a home run. More here. Tom Hasslinger, Cda Press

Anyone attend last night's meeting? What is the liklihood of public vote re: McEuen?

The public is invited to comment tonight on a proposal to remake McEuen Field in Coeur d’Alene.

The forum will be held at 6 p.m. at Woodland Middle School, 2101 St. Michelle Ave.

The plan includes a proposal to remove the Third Street Boat Launch and ball fields and move them elsewhere in the city. It also calls for adding a handicap-accessible trail on the north side of Tubbs Hill, putting parking below ground and replacing it with acres of green space that would house a public amphitheater, a fountain, walking trails and other features. The plan can be viewed at www.mceuenpark.com. For more information, contact city Parks Director Doug Eastwood at (208) 769-2252.

Will you be attending?

COEUR d'ALENE - The plan is in place.

With it come state-of-the art features such as a giant water fountain south of Fourth Street and Front Avenue, a meeting point that displays public art with walking paths through it.

Stepping southwest from the fountain is the Grand Plaza, a courtyard to host farmers markets, art shows and gatherings, its southern steps descending to Lake Coeur d'Alene.

To the east of the plaza is a promenade, with sun chairs and landscapes, which runs south to the city marina, with double the existing boat mooring slips. There a waterfall and garden features greet hikers around the Third Street entrance to Tubbs Hill. Tom Hasslinger/CDA Press

What do you think of the proposed plan?

A diver died near the Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Course’s Floating Green on Lake Coeur d’Alene on Tuesday afternoon.

Golf course employees saw Mike McCullough of Rexburg floating face down in the water around 3:55 p.m., said Maj. Ben Wolfinger of the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department. They hauled him out of the water and started CPR, but were unable to revive him. McCullough was taken to Kootenai Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. More.

Paul Schopfer pumps  gas at the Coeur d’Alene Casino station near Worley

COEUR d’ALENE - Gas prices moved upward in recent weeks in the Coeur d’Alene area and nationally, and prices are projected to creep higher during at least the next few weeks.

In this neck of the woods, consumers said they have noticed the increase, and would change their driving habits if the prices go much higher than $3 a gallon. Others said they would just have to endure the pain, and couldn’t reduce their driving.

In Coeur d’Alene Thursday, the average price for regular gas had reached $2.78 a gallon, compared with a month ago when it was $2.55. In Post Falls, the average price reached $2.88, up 20 cents from a month ago, said AAA Idaho spokesman Dave Carlson. Read more. David Cole, Cda Press

Where’s the best place to buy gas in your area?

It’s not just the after-hours scene. Apparently, getting your morning cup of joe can be dangerous in the Lake City, too.

A 17-year-old boy was arrested this morning following an attempted holdup of a coffee stand in Coeur d’Alene in which the barista pulled a gun on the would-be robber.

A plainclothes deputy sheriff for Kootenai County was in the area of the robbery serving civil papers when a radio broadcast went out alerting officers to the incident.

The robber had a gun in the attempt to take money from Sunshine Espresso at Ironwood Drive and Government Way, but left without getting any cash.

The barista, Michelle Cornelson, said the robber showed a handgun and demanded money, but when a vehicle pulled into the lot for an order, it caused the robber to lower his gun, according to Coeur d’Alene police.

She told police she used the distraction to grab her own weapon and point it at the robber, ordering him to leave. More here.

And the latest from KXLY here.

Boy howdy! Gun totin’ baristas. What next?

The Press reports on a local couple whose business is booming:

COEUR d’ALENE — Eric and Lisa Kelly love to blow things up, and their passion has landed them a spot on national television.

The owners of Advanced Explosions Demolition, based in Coeur d’Alene, will be featured in a six-part series, “The Imploders,” that premiers at 10 p.m. Wednesday on The Learning Channel.

“It follows the life of blasters,” Lisa said. “They follow us from job to job, country to country. Each episode ends with some kind of demolition.” Read More.

Is is just me or does this sound like a really fun job? Have you ever blown anything up accidentally or intentionally?

Idaho State Police are cautioning eagle watchers at Lake Coeur d’Alene not to stop in the middle of the roadway on state Highway 97, or they risk getting a ticket.

Some motorists have been stopping in the travel lanes along the two-lane highway that runs from Wolf Lodge Bay down the east side of the lake to Harrison. It creates a safety hazard for other motorists.

As a result, police have increased patrols in the area and are writing tickets for the violations. Highway 97 has a limited number of pull offs for stopping. Read More.

Really? People stop in the middle of the highway to watch eagles? Gosh, please use some common sense out there.

What would you stop in the middle of a highway to gawk at?

Color me freaked out. Watched two people get shot in what appeared to be a random drive by on Sherman Ave. tonight in front of Titos, half a block from where I was standing. No details, sorry.  Story here.

Meghann Cuniiff’s story here.

Hat tip MKS.

Fly fishermen work the waters of the Missouri River near Wolf Creek, Mont., a stretch popular for trout fishing.

COEUR d’ALENE — Joe Roope, owner of Castaway Fly Fishing Shop of Coeur d’Alene and a small group of Northwest investors have created a new company, Nordic Fly Fishers, USA, LLC, the United States distributorship of Loop Tackle Design AB of Sweden.

Loop Tackle, located in Akersberga, near Stockholm, was founded more than 30 years ago by current owner and CEO Christer Sjoberg. The company designs and manufactures fly fishing equipment, clothing and accessories. More here.

Any dedicated fly fishers out there excited about this news?

Colleague Alison Boggs is working the phones after we received and confirmed tips (from ThomG & S&S Herb) that the schools in the Coeur d’Alene and Lakeland school districts will close again Wednesday. We’re checking out a rumor that there may be a problem with the Lake City High gym.