Kevin Keating

The thought of moving the Festival at Sandpoint away from Memorial Field received a big thumbs down from fans in the Northwest who called in their views. "It would be a shame to move it. My family attends several of the events, and we stay in Sandpoint and eat at the restaurants," said Spokane resident Cliff Walter. "We love the community atmosphere and the festival where it is. If it moves to another location, it's doubtful we would attend."

Val Burgess imagines a sports complex "for the people" on this 50-acre field north of Sandpoint. Photo by Dan McComb/The Spokesman-Review

Traffic troubles. Coyotes are about the only thing unimpeded by construction on U.S. Highway 2 between Sandpoint and Priest River. Photo by Dan McComb/The Spokesman-Review

Neighbors tired of noise and traffic, as well as residents who want Memorial Field used only for sports events, have the Festival at Sandpoint hunting for a new home. "Because of the input from neighbors, we have reopened our search for new sites," said festival Executive Director Connie Berghan. "We would dearly love to stay here (in Sandpoint). That's our goal, but we are not ruling anything out."

When Jim Baillod's 12-year-old dog, Gunk, died recently, Baillod chose to have the pet cremated with the help of Sandpoint veterinarian Jerry Lewis. Gunk's ashes rest in an urn at his master's automotive shop. Photo by Dan McComb/The Spokesman-Review

Naples Elementary has only 120 students. Yet, this little Boundary County school has landed nearly a half-million dollars in grants for the latest technology, training and 47 computers. It has equipment other schools can envy but not afford.

Jack DeBaun, water treatment plant operator at Sandpoint's Sand Creek facility, inspects a screen. Photo by Dan McComb/The Spokesman-Review

Pat VanVolkinburg does an early check on the weather instruments. Photo by Jesse Tinsley/The Spokesman-Review

"I have to admit I was pretty scared," says Marc Ostman, 22, who says he saw three helicopters hovering over his car after he was stopped by men in camouflage last August at a roadblock near Bayview, Idaho. He says he was allowed to proceed after his identification was checked. Photo by Dan McComb/The Spokesman-Review

After years of bickering over whether to build or remodel, it appears Bonner County will finally get a new public library. Library board members have agreed to buy nearly two acres of land at Division and Cedar streets. A financial package also is in the works to build a 31,900 square foot library at the site, hopefully by next year.

Unexpected cash is trickling into the Boundary County commissioners' office to help pay for an investigation of the Randy Weaver incident. The catch is commissioners don't know yet if they can legally accept and spend the money, which is coming from residents across the United States. Until they find out, the handful of checks and letters are being stashed in a safe.

Sandpoint resident Bill Lewis was among 30 people discussing local highway projects with Idaho Transportation Department engineers and board members Thursday. Photo by Craig Buck/The Spokesman-Review

Some residents here want to sink the Festival at Sandpoint's plans for a permanent stage over the Pend Oreille River. The residents, who have hired an attorney, also want to convince the festival to move its summer concerts away from Memorial Field.

Neighbors armed with garden hoses couldn't beat back the flames of a burning guest house in Priest River, Idaho, where two children died during the weekend. "Someone said the kids were still in there. We had three garden hoses on it trying to do something until the firetrucks arrived," said Stephanie Bretthauer. "There was nothing to be done. It was going up real fast."

Five drug-sniffing dogs and seven police officers searched student lockers at Sandpoint High School Monday, but came up empty-handed. The dogs alerted on about 30 of the 1,100 lockers. The locks were cut and those lockers searched, but no drugs or drug paraphernalia were found.

The city of Sandpoint has never honored Martin Luther King Day, an official holiday for state and federal workers. City Clerk Helen Newton wants to change that. She and several other department heads want the City Council to declare Human Rights Day an official holiday for city workers.

Recipe for success Terry Stranahan creates his special garlic concoction. "Nothing needs to be hotter than these," he says. Photo by Dan McComb/The Spokesman-Review

An environmental group has attacked the Idaho Department of Transportation for a highway project here that has polluted Sand Creek and destroyed nearly four acres of wetlands. The Clark Fork-Pend Oreille Coalition and five residents filed a complaint with highway officials this week. It says the state has repeatedly violated water quality laws while building a new section of U.S. Highway 95 north of Sandpoint.

The whooping cough outbreak that hit Bonner County in November has left the school district with an ailing budget. The virus kept an average of 940 students out of school for two weeks. Since state funding for schools is based on average daily attendance, the district stands to lose about $150,000 in state money.

Reverend Mother Mary Katrina says that her skiing is a continuation of her missionary work because people feel comfortable to approach her. Photo by Craig Buck/The Spokesman-Review

Sandy Hoskins of Clark Fork says that her scanner gives her a connection to what is going on in the community. Photo by Craig Buck/The Spokesman-Review

To ward off the air quality police, the city has enacted a mandatory wood burning ban. The new law, passed by the City Council this week, replaces a voluntary program to keep wood smoke from polluting the air.

Some good-hearted residents may have unknowingly given their sweethearts a case of hepatitis for Valentine's Day. Health officials here fear about two dozen heart-shaped cookies sold by a community group may have been contaminated with the hepatitis A virus.

Chip Roos, Bonner County sheriff