Ecology director appointed to panel
Gov. Christine Gregoire has appointed the director of the Washington State Department of Ecology to a regional commission overseeing cleanup of mine wastes in the Coeur d’Alene Basin.
Ecology director Jay Manning will replace Gonzaga University law professor Jim McCurdy on the seven-member commission. McCurdy was appointed in 2002 by then-Gov. Gary Locke.
The Coeur d’Alene Basin Commission was created in 2001 by the Idaho Legislature to oversee the 30-year Superfund cleanup of mine wastes from the Silver Valley. The mine pollution, which contains tons of lead, arsenic and lead, has traveled as far as Upriver Dam on the Spokane River.
“It is imperative that Washington has a meaningful say in decisions that directly affect the health of the Spokane River and the health of Washington residents,” Gregoire said in a statement.
Manning’s appointment signals her desire to “significantly increase” Washington’s input to Basin cleanup decisions, Gregoire said.
She credited McCurdy with improving relationships with Idaho county commissioners and using his consensus-building skills on the commission. She also noted that McCurdy, who volunteered his time, was the only commission member without a staff to support him. Washington’s seat on the commission comes without any veto authority, she noted.
“Even with these limitations, Jim worked tirelessly to represent the interests of the citizens of Washington,” Gregoire said.
Scouts out Saturday in annual food drive
On Saturday, scouts from the Inland Northwest Council of the Boy Scouts of America will be picking up bags of donated food products throughout Eastern Washington and North Idaho for the 23rd annual Scouting for Food Drive.
Last week the scouts delivered 300,000 bags to homes in the area.
Sponsored by Rosauers, the food drive is expected to collect more than 300,000 pounds of food for local food banks.
Donors also can drop off bags of food at the following locations on Saturday: the Rosauers in Lincoln Heights, 2610 E. 29th Ave.; the Rosauers in north Spokane at 9414 N. Division St.; and United Paint and Coatings, 19011 E. Cataldo. For more information about the Scouting for Food Drive and other drop-off sites, call (509) 325-4562.
GU takes second at mediation tournament
A Gonzaga team finished second at a national mediation tournament – a competition that charged them with settling heated mock disputes.
The Zag team finished second to Boston University in a field of 22 teams. The event, the American Mock Trial Association’s Intercollegiate Mediation Tournament was at the John Marshall Law School in Chicago last week.
Four members of the Gonzaga team were named All-American mediators: junior Cory Campbell, sophomore Gina Cervino, and seniors Dan McGivern and Jill Quinn; all were members of the team that won runner-up honors.
City Hall closed for mandatory meeting
Spokane City Hall is being closed to the public today by order of Mayor Jim West, who has called a mandatory meeting this morning of non-emergency employees at Shadle Park High School.
City officials said that because other government offices are closed, many people think City Hall is, too. So West decided to use Veterans Day as a kind of in-service training day, including this morning’s meeting at the Shadle auditorium from 8:30 to 11:45 a.m.
The program includes recognitions and reports on community progress, employee benefits, the city budget and plans for a turn-around study. City labor groups years ago agreed to work on Veterans Day in exchange for a floating day off.
Cars burglarized in Post Falls
A string of auto burglaries is under investigation in Post Falls.
Seven vehicles were broken into from Wednesday evening to Thursday morning, according to a police press release. The auto burglaries were reported in the 100 to 400 blocks of East Second and Third streets and in the 1800 block of Spokane Street.
Entry was gained to several of the vehicles by smashing a side window, the press release said, causing several hundred dollars in damages. Items were stolen from some vehicles, but other victims said nothing was taken.
Anyone with information on the crimes is asked to call Post Falls Police at (208) 773-3517 or access the Secret Tip Web site at www.postfallspolice.com.
Awareness week opens with vigil
Annual events to mark National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week in Coeur d’Alene begin Monday with a candlelight vigil at 5:30 p.m. Monday at the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store, 108 E. Walnut.
St. Vincent de Paul, which operates homeless shelters in Coeur d’Alene, is offering tours of its facilities from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, beginning at the store. Participants will receive a $5 gift certificate.
An open house is planned from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday at St. Vincent’s Transitional Housing Center at 1425 N. First St.
And through the end of the week, collection boxes around town are gathering peanut butter and soup to help feed the occupants of the shelters. Donations also can be made at the thrift store.
Meanwhile, Lakeland High School cheerleaders are collecting hats, gloves, socks and scarves and plan to pile them up in the high school gym on Thursday before donating them to St. Vincent de Paul.
Next Friday night, students at Coeur d’Alene High School are planning to continue their tradition of marking Homeless Awareness Week by sleeping overnight in cardboard boxes on the school football field.
For more information, call St. Vincent de Paul at (208) 664-3095.
Bonner County sets land-use hearing
Another public hearing on the Bonner County proposed land use map and land use section of the comprehensive plan is scheduled for 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15, in the Bonner County Courthouse.
The land use map and land use component of the comprehensive plan guide development in the county by designating appropriate uses for certain geographic areas, based on current growth patterns and existing uses and philosophies. In July, the Bonner County Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval of the comprehensive plan amendments.