Joe Dunlap, president of Spokane Community College, will be the new president of North Idaho College. The NIC Board of Trustees announced today that it picked Dunlap to succeed Priscilla Bell, who will retire in June. Dunlap has been SCC president since 2008. Before that he was vice president of instruction at SCC (2004-08) and at Clover Park Technical College in Lakewood, Wash. (2002-04). He also spent four years as dean of science and industrial technology at Mt. Hood Community College in Oregon; served as founding director of the School of Aviation Sciences; and was a professor of military science at Western Michigan University/Spokesman-Review. More here.

Thoughts?

The North Idaho College Board of Trustees has just announced the five finalists to replace retiring President Priscilla Bell:

• Jack Becherer, who serves as president of Rock Valley College in Rockford, Ill.
• Joseph Dunlap, who serves as president of Spokane Community Colleges.
• Karin Hilgersom, who serves as vice president for instruction at Central Oregon Community College in Bend, Ore.
• Nathan “Clark Williams, current vice president of operations at Blue Mountain Community College in Pendleton, Ore.
• Denise Yochum, who serves as president of Pierce College/Fort Steilacoom in Lakewood, Wash.

The college will conduct open public forums for each candidate beginning the week of April 9. You can see the schedule for those forums and read more information about the candidates above here.

A decade has passed since North Idaho College swung the collegiate bats, but if baseball supporters can build a $3 million field of dreams, the Cardinals, too, could land a home. “We've always been in support of baseball in the community,” said Al Williams, NIC athletic director. But “it's kind of a moot point to try and have a baseball program without a field.” That could change if hardball advocates, backed by a professional fundraiser, can solicit enough support to construct a roughly 1,000-seat stadium near Cherry Hill Park for the American Legion baseball program. The field would also meet collegiate field requirements/Tom Hasslinger, Coeur d'Alene Press. More here. (Jesse Tinsley SR file photo: North Idaho College second baseman Al Bevacqua takes out a College of Southern Idaho runner in this April 10, 1998, photo)

Question: Would you like to see a field-of-dreams baseball diamond built on Cherry Hill that would take care of American Legion Baseball — and possibly resurrect the North Idaho College baseball team?

Taking a closer look at the impacts of the Corps of Engineers mandate to remove trees from the Rosenberry Drive dike, a local engineering firm was engaged by North Idaho College to review options for the City of Coeur d’Alene. In the review, the firm estimated that the costs of removing trees and roots, and then reconstructing the dike, would cost upwards of $1.6 million. The cost estimate was presented at a recent meeting of the ad hoc committee formed by the City of Coeur d’Alene regarding the dike road trees issue/Terry Harris, KEA, via Twitter. More here. (SR file photo of a mother rollerskating her then 3-year-old daughter on picturesque Dike Road on Lake Coeur d'Alene's north shore)

Reaction?

Zoning on a roughly 7-acre parcel of land inside the education corridor could be changed to commercial tonight to match adjacent property and allow North Idaho College to one day expand its campus. The 6.79 acres sit on an approximately 18-acre plot that formerly held a saw mill, near the city's wastewater treatment plant. It's currently zoned for light manufacturing and Commercial-17 Light. A change to C-17 zoning would allow more uses on the land, such as commercial, residential and civic facilities, which light manufacturing prohibits, according to John Mueller, landscape architect representing NIC. “It allows the college and university uses to happen,” he said. “C-17 really encompasses a lot of different uses, including university and higher education.” If the Coeur d'Alene City Council approves the request, it would conform zoning to adjacent parcels/Tom Hasslinger, Coeur d'Alene Press. More here. (SR file photo: Getting around near North Idaho College goteasier on Tuesday after completion of an education corridor infrastructure project)

Question: Do you support the zone change for the Education Corridor?

“The number of trees on the dike? Exactly 705. The good folks at North Idaho College walked it recently” — TerryatKEA via Twitter.

RE: Hammond to apply for NIC president job/Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise

McGruber: On the face of it, Hammond would be ideal in the role. He’s an educator who spent time in the classroom and as a principal. He’s a former city councilor, former mayor, former city administrator, has been elected three times to the Idaho Senate and served on the Idaho Board of Education. He’s intelligent, thoughtful and respected. Decades in the community will make him effective from Day 1. Yep, I can sure see why people would question his qualifications.

Question: Are you a Hammond fan?

Sen. Jim Hammond, R-Coeur d'Alene, says the main reason he won't seek a fourth term in the Senate is that he wants to stop spending so much time away from his wife, kids and grandkids. “I'm missing my grandkids' plays and baseball games,” he said. “Five years from now, nobody's going to remember what I did here, but my grandkids will remember that I was there.” Hammond said he plans to apply for the upcoming opening for president at North Idaho College, as well as looking at other options that will keep him closer to home and family. “I have not applied, but I intend to,” he said/Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise. More here. (Courtesy photo of current NIC president Priscilla Bell)

• DFO: I was a Hammond fan until he signed on w/Nonini & Goedde to ride the U.S.S. Luna education reforms. Also concerned that he might share anti-Education Corridor sentiment as other Post Falls area legislator, Nonini & Henderson. Seems as though he's been putting partisan politics ahead of education for awhile.

Question: Would Jim Hammond be a good North Idaho College president?

Priscilla Bell will retire as North Idaho College president this summer. Jay Lee, NIC's vice president for instruction and one of the most qualified candidates on hand to replace Bell, has accepted the top job elsewhere. In six weeks, Lee will take the helm at Northeastern Junior College in Colorado. We wish Lee well. His tenure in Coeur d'Alene might have been short, just under four years, but he bolstered NIC's instructional quality during one of the most challenging periods in the college's history, with expansive student growth met head-on by funding challenges. But this editorial is not an ode to a good man going elsewhere. It's an introduction of a good man who has been here all along, who just might be the best person to lead North Idaho College/Mike Patrick, Coeur d'Alene Press. More here.

Question: Would Jim Hammond be a good pick to replace Priscilla Bell as North Idaho College president?

His name is Jim Hammond. Yes, that Jim Hammond.

North Idaho College Vice President for Instruction Jay Lee announced Thursday his plans to resign from NIC after accepting the presidency at Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, Colo., a junior college with approximately 2,400 students. NJC is part of the Colorado Community College System, which includes 13 state community colleges that serve more than 162,000 students annually. Lee will begin as president at NJC March 12/Stacy Hudson, NIC Press Room. More here.

North Idaho College has seen its funding burden shift more and more to its students, college President Priscilla Bell told Idaho lawmakers today. “As with most higher education institutions, NIC has experienced significant growth in enrollment over the past four years,” she said, even as state funding has dropped. NIC's for-credit student population has increased by 45 percent in four years; professional-technical education enrollment has grown “by a whopping 68 percent,” Bell told the Legislature's joint budget committee. Now, both student tuition and fees and local property taxes exceed state funding as a portion of NIC's budget/Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise. More here.

Question: How important is it for Idaho to keep community colleges affordable?

I need to set the record straight on an issue that seems to be being misunderstood by many. Never once did I or any members of White Knights ask for media at our events. We do not need the liberal misguiding media to send our message. As a matter of fact I would like to thank the varios media outlets that chose to not cover stories about us. I find it better for community members that see us out at demonstrations to be able to come right up to us and get solid facts right from us rather than hearing it through the media that only seems to print what they want to about a particular issue. So I ask the media to please continue to not cover our demonstrations so we can continue to get facts out to the communtiy/Shaun Winkler, White Knights of Ku Klux Klan, Spirit Lake. More here. (2001 SR file photo of Shaun Winkler, background, leaving Kootenai County Courthouse with Richard Butler in Aryan Nations bankruptcy civil trial)

Question: Do you believe Winkler when he says he doesn't want media coverage?

North Idaho College offices will close at 4 p.m. today due to heavy snow accumulations and hazardous driving conditions. All classes that begin after 4 o'clock are canceled. This includes classes at all off-campus sites and outreach centers, including the NIC Bonners Ferry Center, Silver Valley Center, Ponderay Center, Adult Basic Education Center, and Workforce Training Center.  The January NIC Board of Trustees meeting scheduled for 6 tonight in the SUB has been canceled and Lewis-Clark State College-Coeur d’Alene has officially closed for the day.  A decision will be made regarding the campus’ open/closed status by 6 a.m. tomorrow morning.

Question: Any other cancellations going on out there?

Mic Armon: I also would like to commend all of the city council for their dilligent effort, but in particular to Mike, Woody, Deanna & Sandi for taking the right and proper course on this issue. I can attest as a current Trustee in a hottly discussed topic (NIC’s purchase of the Ed. Corridor) that you hear comments from both sides on an issue when it is being decided. I did hear from those that thought it was wrong for NIC to make the purchase, and they often had strong arguments to support their view. But now that the purchase has been completed and the infrastructure is in place(Thank you, LCDC). I have heard nothing but raves and compliments on the NIC Board’s proper decision. I can only hope that sometime in the near future Sandi and the city councilman can have the same success. Vision and change are sometimes difficult, but necessary.

Question: Have you changed your mind re: the Education Corridor after seeing the impressive infrastructure work off Northwest Boulevard?

RE: Aryan Alert/HucksOnline

Harlem Renaissance (Rachel Dolezal) gives details of counter-demonstration to supremacist protest: Winkler and crew had KKK flags, signs that included “MLK was a (expletive deleted) terrorist” … amongst others. And Winkler was in military garb packing a gun on his belt. I (Rachel Dolezal) posted across the street with an African American Flag (red/green/black) and a sign that said, “Malcolm X is my hero.” Winkler hurled plenty of assaults at me directly, calling me out by name. I said nothing to them the entire time. I was there alone for maybe 20 minutes, and eventually around 25 people showed up, some with signs and flags some with voices. We were black, white, hispanic, gay, straight, male, female, young, and old. Some white male college students stood on the KKK side with signs reading: 'I’m NOT with Stupid' that had arrows pointing at the KKK individuals. Some students had GSA rainbow banners. One guy had a sign that said, 'Not everyone in Idaho is racist.' A veteran came by and said he’s ashamed to have fought for the racists across the street…” (Kathy Plonka 2008 SR file photo of Rachel Dolezal during her tenure as a Human Rights Education Institute educator)

• KKK group hit with counter-protest/Melissa Luck, KXLY

Getting around near North Idaho College goteasier on Tuesday after completion of an education corridor infrastructure project. The changes include a second entrance into the North Idaho College campus and Fort Grounds neighborhood. Alison Boggs' SR story here. (SR photo: Kathy Plonka)

The transformation of a former lumber mill site into landscaped roadways and a new intersection was celebrated Tuesday as the first step toward a long-envisioned education corridor in Coeur d’Alene. “In 10 to 20 years, I don’t think we’ll believe what this place will look like,” Mayor Sandi Bloem said. “It will be a legacy for the future.” Work crews broke ground on the $3.6 million project in June. They created a new intersection with traffic signals at Hubbard and Northwest boulevards, providing an additional entrance to North Idaho College and the Fort Grounds neighborhood. They also built three roundabouts to ease traffic flow and added sidewalks, curbs and landscaping/Alison Boggs, SR. More here.

Question: Can we agree that the Education Corridor is going to be a rousing success?

Mark Browning, the chief communications and legislative officer for the Idaho State Board of Education, has been named the new vice president for community relations and marketing at North Idaho College. He was selected after a nationwide search, to replace retiring Vice President John Martin. Browning has been with the state board since 2007; prior to that, he was news director for KBCI CBS 2 News Boise, where he supervised a staff of 40; he also worked at other news organizations in southern Idaho and is a former president of the Idaho Press Club/Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise. More here.

DFO: Eye on Boise bud Betsy Russell gave Mark Browning two thumbs in a brief chat with HucksOnline a few minutes ago. Sez she'll miss him in Boise. And his social media savvy. Big time.

Good and evil battle it out, as an internationally acclaimed cast bring Gunoud’s Faust to the stage at North Idaho College, for Opera Coeur d’Alene, at 7:30 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Faust’s love songs soar on Vale Rideout’s (right) majestic high C’s.  Shana Blake Hill (left) is the beautiful Marguerite. Jamie Offenbach (above) the chilling Méphistophélès. Jason Detwiler is Valentin. Michele Detwileris Siebel. The opera will be in French with English translations projected over the stage.  Visit operacda.com or call 769 7780 for tickets.

• Judge orders Hayden Lake man to pay taxes/Meghann Cuniff, Sirens & Gavels
• Coeur d'Alene Mine names Hanagarne as new CFO/Associated Press
• 2-fer: Dems name Beitelspacher, Martinez, Grange to new redistricting panel & History shows bipartisan compromise at Idaho's Redistricting Commission, Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise
• Zions Bank plan would fill hole in heart of downtown Boise/Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise
• Stunt plane crashes in Canyon County field, pilot safely ejects/KTVB
• Court tosses lawsuit vs. Boise Rescue Mission over religion/AP
• ITD installs signs on Perrine Bridge in try to prevent suicides/ITD news release
• Sandpoint streets go green with new construction/David Gunter, Bee
• Sandpoint Charter School prepares first senior class/David Gunter, Bee

North Idaho College paid more than $152,000 to successfully fight that lawsuit filed against the DeArmond Mill Site purchase by Larry Spencer, Tom Macy (picured), and Bill McCrory. Huckleberries Online has obtained the breakdown of the payments to the North Idaho College Foundation and the attorney firm of Ramsden & Lyons for their legal work in defense of the lawsuit. In their unsuccessful suit, Spencer, Macy, and McCrory alleged unsuccessfully that the original lease agreement for the eventual purchase of the mill site violated Idaho Constitution's restriction of the debt local taxing districts may take on. The men contend that public entities must first win two-thirds voter approval or authorization by a judge before they may legally incur long-term debt. In February, District Judge John Mitchell ruled that the plaintiffs lacked standing to bring the lawsuit. Legal expense breakdown here.

Question: It'd be interesting to tabulate how much money has been wasted by local governments in Kootenai County fighting lawsuits brought by so-called conservatives fighting their myriad causes?

“During this morning's (KVNI) show,” begins Kerri Thoreson, on her Facebook wall, “I was telling Joe about how many sailboats were out on the lake this weekend and that North Idaho College's Outdoor Pursuits sailboats had what looked like new crimson and white sails. So I mused that if Erna Rhinehart was listening, she could confirm by texting me.”