Driver dies in crash on Highway 95

A 52-year-old Pullman man died Thursday night after driving off U.S. Highway 95 north of Moscow and hitting a concrete barrier.

David Retan’s 1998 Camry landed upside down. Retan, who was wearing a seat belt, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The road was dry, according to Idaho State Police, and it’s not known why Retan veered off the northbound lanes. ISP is investigating the crash.

CdA splits engineering, building staffs’ status

Coeur d’Alene’s engineering and building staffs are becoming stand-alone departments, a move city officials say will help the city better manage growth.

By splitting the Growth Services Department, the city’s executive team will have more direct communication and input with the building department, officials say. The building department also will have more decision-making ability when it’s separate from the engineering department.

Former Growth Services Director Gordon Dobler will oversee the engineering department and maintain his status as city engineer. Building official Ed Wagner will become the interim building department director. The changes will be effective Tuesday.

Library’s supporters spill into coffee space

Perhaps the Post Falls library just isn’t meant to serve coffee.

Five coffee shop vendors have come and gone in the past five years. The most recent one left last month.

“We don’t have enough retail traffic for them,” library director Joe Reiss said.

So the library has decided to try something different with that space.

The Friends of the Library will move its used bookstore there, from its current location across the hall. The Friends group uses proceeds from the bookstore to pay for library endeavors, such as the Children’s Room art project.

The new space is three times larger and will allow the Friends to display books that are in storage for lack of room, said Roger Radermacher, a member of the group. It’s also more visible.

The vacated room will be turned into a meeting space, Reiss said.