Committee rejects Moscow park effort

Legislation to create a state park in an ancient grove of cedars at Moscow Mountain died in committee Thursday. Lawmakers also defeated a resolution to encourage the state to help preserve the area.

The proposal came the same day legislators were briefed on Gov. Dirk Kempthorne’s park initiative, which doesn’t include Moscow Mountain. A Nature Conservancy lease on the state land is expiring.

Rep. George Sayler, D-Coeur d’Alene, made a motion to approve the resolution, but the rest of the House Resources Committee outvoted him.

“I do agree that the bill to create the state park was ill-timed and it didn’t have the backing of the (Idaho) Parks Department, but the resolution I thought made sense,” Sayler said. “It recognized the value of that area and encouraged the (state) Department of Lands to work to preserve it,” said

– Staff and wire reports

Senator proposes state Tartan Day

A North Idaho senator is sponsoring a bill that would declare April 6 Idaho Tartan Day to honor the state’s Scottish heritage.

“Idahoans have always been and always will be proud, independent and hardworking – none more so than those whose ancestors are of Scottish descent,” Sen. Joyce Broadsword, R-Sagle, told the Senate State Affairs Committee this week.

Many other states recognize the day, and the U.S. House of Representatives adopted National Tartan Day last year.

Sen. Bart Davis, R-Idaho Falls, asked if the bill might start a trend.

“Why do I feel like I’m beginning the new license plate process?” he said, referring to what some lawmakers say is the excessive number of special license plates.

– Meghann M. Cuniff

Businesses joining annual health fair

Nearly a dozen local businesses will participate Sunday in the second annual health fair hosted by Silver Lake Mall in Coeur d’Alene.

Sponsored by Kootenai Medical Center’s Heart to Heart program and Fairwinds retirement community, the event is set for 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the mall, 200 W. Hanley Ave.

Participators will include Appleway Chiropractic, North Idaho Fitness, First Health Chiropractic, LaCrosse Health and Rehab, Body Tech Massage Therapy, Xango, Cardio Quick Health, Rejuvenating You, the Inland Northwest Blood Center and Relive/World’s Gym.

For information, call (208) 762-2113.

– JoNel Aleccia