Power outage interrupts skiing

A power outage at the Mt. Spokane ski area Thursday evening temporarily halted operations there.

A blown breaker cut off one phase of power about 5:15 p.m., shutting down the ski lift. The ski area gave refunds to those unwilling to wait for the power to be restored, General Manager Brad McQuarrie said.

No one was on the lift at the time of the outage. The outage didn’t affect the lights on the mountain, and everyone was able to get down safely, McQuarrie said. He said he didn’t know what caused the outage.

Many people took the refund for their $19 night tickets – the mountain gave all-day ticket holders half-off – but more than 100 waited out the outage in the ski area’s restaurant and bar, which still had power.

McQuarrie said the mountain will be operating regularly today.

– Meghann M. Cuniff

Bonners Ferry

Boaters face limits near Libby Dam

Recreational boaters on Lake Koocanusa will be restricted from areas above and below Libby Dam for safety and security reasons.

The changes, announced Thursday by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, take effect Jan. 15.

The new restricted zone extends 500 feet upstream from the dam. Eventually a buoy line will run across Lake Koocanusa indicating the restricted areas, corps officials said. Until then, markings on the shoreline will designate which areas are off limits. Fishing from the shoreline will continue to be allowed.

Rangers and law enforcement officers will patrol the area. Citations may be issued to individuals who enter the restricted area, corps officials said.

– From staff reports

Portland

Spokane woman struck, killed on I-84

Oregon State Police have identified a woman killed Sunday on Interstate 84 just east of Portland as a 28-year-old from Spokane. The collision that killed Stephany Annette McAllister occurred about 9:30 p.m. as she was walking across the westbound lanes of the freeway.

Jessica Michelle Moore, of Hood River, was westbound on Interstate 84 near Corbett when she struck a pedestrian, later identified as McAllister. Moore, 22, was uninjured.

Police are still trying to determine why Moore didn’t see McAllister crossing the westbound lanes, which didn’t fully reopen until 1:30 a.m. Monday, according to a department press release.

Oregon troopers were assisted by the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, the Corbett Fire Department and the Multnomah County Medical Examiner.

– From staff reports

Boise

Pay-for-performance for teachers assailed

A plan in Idaho that would tie teacher pay to school performance is under attack by at least one state lawmaker who warns it would give the state a notorious reputation as bad for educators. But the state’s education chief, Tom Luna, counters it would help keep and attract quality teachers to Idaho.

The debate came as part of the Associated Press’ annual legislative preview forum in Boise. Luna’s plan ties teacher raises to schoolwide improvements in standardized achievement tests and new teacher contracts that would contain less job security. The plan makes the new contracts optional; those would place teachers under provisions similar to many school administrators.

The president of the Idaho Education Association, the state’s teachers union, and Rep. Shirley Ringo, D-Moscow, both said teachers need the job security provided by their current contracts. They said that under Luna’s plan, school boards could act irresponsibly in firing teachers. They also contended teacher evaluations can be an inconsistent indicator of competence.

– Idaho Press-Tribune