Erica Curless

A fire allegedly started by children Sunday afternoon destroyed a garage and severely damaged a Spokane house on Desmet Avenue. The cause of the fire was still under investigation, but Battalion Chief Bruce Moline of the Spokane Fire Department said several children may have been involved with the blaze, which started about 4:30 p.m. inside a small white house at 1701 E. Desmet and moved into the garage. Moline said investigators were preparing to interview one child at the scene.

Hope was abundant even though shoppers and vendors were scarce Sunday at the first-ever Community Farmers Market in the Shadle Park neighborhood. Organizers expect it to grow as people become aware of the gathering in the Humble Earth Natural Market parking lot at 4726 N. Oak St., just north of Wellesley Avenue.

The message was consistent Wednesday across North Idaho as residents gathered to talk to state lawmakers about property taxes: "Stop taxing us out of our homes." Members of the joint legislative committee looking into property tax relief listened to stories of property values increasing as much as 243 percent in one year, emotional pleas to stop burdening the poor and threats of initiatives as its road tour stopped in Sandpoint and Coeur d'Alene. The committee will have hearings in Moscow and Lewiston today.

A simple chapel, perhaps with stained glass, a brass band and weekly Sunday services, is a major element of Coeur d'Alene's quest for a $29 million community center. But the religious aspect is often overshadowed by local exuberance over Coeur d'Alene's prospect of getting swimming pools, gyms, and a performing arts center.

A registered sex offender is in jail for parole violations while police investigate allegations that he visited his wife's Coeur d'Alene day-care facility. Stephen Christopher Krous was not supposed to be at Happy Days Child Care at any time, according to the Panhandle Health District. But Deputy City Attorney Warren Wilson said it's now alleged that Stephen Krous visited Happy Days. A parent filed a complaint with the health district on July 12.

The federal government and groups working to clean up mine waste from Idaho's Silver Valley should use the newly released recommendations of a scientific panel to improve reclamation efforts and not let the group's report go to waste, the panel's chairman said Friday. "We fully expect this will be reviewed, taken seriously and used by all the constituents," David Tollerud, chairman of the National Academy of Sciences committee, told about 60 people gathered at North Idaho College Friday for an overview of the report.

A group representing waterfront owners along Lake Coeur d'Alene wants inclusion in a lawsuit to determine the legal high-water mark on popular Sanders Beach. The case could determine whether the beach is public or private.

Marvin Erickson made too many substantial changes in his plan to build homes on Canfield Mountain and should submit a new application to Kootenai County, a hearing examiner ruled this week. Erickson revised plans for the upscale Erickson Estates in March, scaling back the number of homes to nine and creating lots in areas not included in the original proposal. Hearing examiner Gary Young said these changes were significant and that Planning Director Rand Wichman was correct in asking Erickson to submit a new application.

More spectators, fewer injuries and perfect weather made Ironman Coeur d'Alene the best event in its three-year history, officials said Monday. "I think any minor kinks we ever had here were ironed out," said Shane Facteau, vice president of marketing and development for Ironman North America. "We were pretty excited about how the day went."

Catching a good look at an Ironman competition is sometimes nearly as tough as the triathlon that brought thousands of spectators and rooters to downtown Coeur d'Alene Sunday. Spectators climbed trees and elbowed their way through the throngs of people lined up along the shoreline of City Beach to see the swim start, where nearly 1,800 athletes try to dive into Lake Coeur d'Alene at once.

There's a need for campgrounds not contaminated with mine tailings and heavy metals along the Coeur d'Alene River between Rose Lake and Harrison. With an increase in recreational use of the nearby Chain Lakes and the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes bike trail, more people are pitching tents in areas where high water has covered the land with dangerous silt.