In brief: Kootenai Electric to turn off power
About 3,400 customers of Kootenai Electric Cooperative will be without power from midnight to 6 a.m. Wednesday during a scheduled power outage to test substation equipment, the utility said in a news release.
The Hayden-based utility planned to notify customers who will be affected via postcard and phone, the release said. Kootenai Electric urged customers who need a steady power supply for medical issues or other critical situations to “make necessary plans for backup generation or other needs.”
The work is needed to comply with federal reliability standards, the release said. Customers with questions can call (208) 765-1200 or go to www.kec.com.
Luna sets start to 2010 campaign
BOISE – Tom Luna plans to run again to lead Idaho’s public schools and is kicking off his 2010 campaign next week with a taco night.
Luna, a Republican, beat Democrat Jana Jones in 2006 to become the state superintendent of public instruction.
He announced next Tuesday’s fundraiser in an e-mail from the Idaho Republican Party.
Milford Terrell, a State Board of Education member and Luna ally, will host the reception at his home in Eagle, Idaho.
No other candidates have filed paperwork to begin raising money to run for school superintendent.
Wolf hunt ends in Upper Snake
BOISE – Hunters reached the five-wolf limit in eastern Idaho’s Upper Snake wolf zone, prompting state wildlife managers to close the season there.
Two other zones were also approaching their limits Monday.
In the McCall-Weiser Zone, with a limit of 15 wolves, 14 wolves have been taken.
And in the Palouse-Hells Canyon Zone, with a limit of five, two have been taken.
Across Idaho, wildlife managers are allowing hunters to shoot a total of 220 wolves, but in 12 hunting zones.
So far, 86 wolves have been killed throughout Idaho.
Hunters haven’t been so successful in some regions where managers had hoped to see them reduce wolf numbers.
For instance, in the Lolo Zone, where gray wolves and poor habitat have been blamed for reducing elk numbers, the wolf limit is 27 animals, but hunters there have only killed five of the predators.