Motorcyclist airlifted to hospital after crash
A man was injured Sunday afternoon when the motorcycle he was riding crashed into a tree on a remote Forest Service road in North Idaho.
The unidentified man was airlifted to Kootenai Medical Center in Coeur d’Alene for treatment after the 1:03 p.m. accident, Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department officials said in a statement.
The man was riding in the Crooked Ridge area near Forest Service Road 258 when the accident occurred. U.S. Forest Service officials are investigating the crash.
– JoNel Aleccia
Democrats to hold candidates forum
The Kootenai County Democrats are hosting a free candidates forum Wednesday evening in Coeur d’Alene.
Legislative candidates for Districts 2, 4 and 5 will address tax reform, living wage jobs, education, growth and other issues. The forum is set for 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Harding Family Center, 411 N. 15th.
Democratic candidates participating in the forum from Districts 4 and 5 include Bonnie Douglas, Rep. George Sayler, Steven Foxx, David Larsen, Chuck Thomas and Lyndon Harriman. Candidates Steve Johnson and Richard Taniguchi from District 2 are expected to attend.
Free hot dogs and pop will be served beginning at 6 p.m.
– Taryn Brodwater
Building, planning office to close for day
The Kootenai County Building and Planning Department will close Oct. 13 for an in-service day.
The office at 451 Government Way will reopen the following Monday at 7 a.m.
The day will allow staff to organize the office, clean work areas and transport files to storage.
For more information, call County Commission Chairman Gus Johnson at 446-1080.
– Erica Curless
Kalispell, Mont.
Forest plan challenges rejected by judge
A federal judge has rejected claims that management plans for the Kootenai and Idaho Panhandle national forests fall short in protecting grizzly bears from the effects of motorized access to the forests.
It was clear from the outset that the plans were not intended to provide comprehensive protection for grizzlies, U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy, of Missoula, said last week.
He rejected all eight major claims in a lawsuit filed by the Alliance for the Wild Rockies and the Lands Council.
The groups challenged forest-plan amendments, adopted in 2004, as inadequate for protection of bears in the Cabinet-Yaak and Selkirk bear recovery areas. The Kootenai forest includes the Cabinet-Yaak area and the Idaho Panhandle forests include the Selkirk area.
– Associated Press