Hauser Lake to get milfoil rinse station

Hauser Lake is the first in Idaho to get a Eurasian milfoil rinse station for boats.

The wash station is part of a new statewide effort to stem the spread of milfoil, a pesky plant that can easily spread among lakes and rivers by clinging to boats. Priest Lake also is expected to receive a boat rinse station.

Both lakes are milfoil-free, and officials hope to keep them that way.

Milfoil eradication became controversial last summer after county governments, tribes and other entities used herbicides and other methods in an attempt to control the noxious weed.

The Kootenai County Commission and the Hauser Lake Watershed Coalition will lead a dedication of the station at 11 a.m. May 19 at Hauser Park.

For more information, call the Kootenai County Commission at (208) 446-1600.

– Erica Curless

Patrols focusing on uncovered loads

Law enforcement agencies are conducting special patrols for uncovered loads and debris falling from vehicles, especially near rural trash containers and the Kootenai County transfer station on Ramsey Road.

Sheriff’s Capt. Ben Wolfinger said highway districts have complained about garbage and debris along roads. In towns, the debris plugs up storm water systems.

“This is the time of year when everyone is doing cleanup and hauling loads to the dump,” Wolfinger said.

Drivers are required by local ordinances to cover and secure loads, and state law prohibits allowing any debris to be deposited on private or public property without permission of the property owner.

Penalties can be as much as $1,000 and six months in jail. Judge can order offenders to spend 40 hours picking up litter.

– Erica Curless

Abuse prevention topic of workshop

The Human Rights Center is hosting a training workshop today on how to prevent, recognize and react to child sexual abuse.

The “Stewards of Children” workshop, which runs from 1 to 4 p.m., is free. It’s presented by the ICARE Children and Family Advocacy Center and Partners with Families and Children.

To register, call (208) 676-1515.

The workshop is part of the Human Rights Education Institute’s three-month Rights of the Child Exhibit, which opened in April.

The exhibit includes 35 original pieces of art created by local youth, a traveling exhibit, a special teen multimedia exhibit and a children’s activity center. Posters of the original artwork are for sale.

The Human Rights Education Center is on the northeast corner of Coeur d’Alene City Park, across from Memorial Field.

For more information, call (208) 292-2359 or go to www.hrei.org.

– Erica Curless

Inland Northwest

Highs near 80 expected today

Much of the Inland Northwest is going to see 80-degree-plus temperatures today for the first time in more than half a year.

High temperatures are expected to reach 83 degrees in downtown Spokane and Spokane Valley, with a high of 79 forecast for Coeur d’Alene.

If the National Weather Service is right, it will be the first time the thermometer has hit such heights since Sept. 29, when the temperature reached 81 at Spokane International Airport. The record for May 8 was set in 1987, an 88-degree day.

Temperatures are expected to be 13 or 14 degrees cooler on Wednesday, said forecaster Jon Fox. But there is no mention of rain in the forecast during the coming week.

This year, Spokane has had 4.22 inches of precipitation, about 2 inches below normal.

Gardeners should note that May 4 is the average date of last frost at the airport.

– Mike Prager