District on swine flu alert

Headlines about swine flu continue to dominate the nightly news and morning newspaper. As reports trickled in of probable cases in the Inland Northwest, the Coeur d’Alene School District said it was determined to keep families informed about the disease.

The district recently sent home letters with students from the Panhandle Health District, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, and the U.S. Departments of Education and Agriculture.

The swine flu has affected at least five states and has been declared a public health emergency. In preparation, Panhandle Health District is working with health care providers, schools and governments in the region to monitor the situation.

Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue, along with diarrhea and vomiting. Health care professionals should be consulted if symptoms arise after traveling to Mexico or coming in contact with someone who has recently traveled to Mexico.

The letters can be viewed on the district’s Web site, www.cdaschools.org.

Civic opportunities for teens

Local students, age 14 to 18, in the Coeur d’Alene area will have the opportunity to be a student representative for the Coeur d’Alene City Council.

Area high school students can learn about city government, special projects and community involvement. Possible committees include the Arts Commission; the Coeur d’Alene TV Committee; the Cemetery Board; the Child Care Commission; the Library Board; the Recreation and Parks Commission; the Parking Commission; the Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee and the Urban Forestry Committee. Students may serve as advisory members on the Planning Commission and the Sign Board.

Time commitments depend on the board, commission, or committee the student may serve on, but most often the city boards meet once a month, for no longer than two hours. The exception is the Planning Commission, which meets at least two times per month, for longer than one hour.

Students interested in serving as a representative or who would like more information can call Victoria Bruno at (208) 769-2204 or e-mail victoria@cdaid.org. For more information, visit www.cdaid.org.