The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper The Spokesman-Review
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
Current Temperature
57°F
Current Conditions
Broken clouds
View complete weather report

Color Scheme

Subscribe now

OUT & ABOUT

Lake Coeur d'Alene attracts one of the largest concentrations of nesting osprey in North America. However, the birds leave the area in fall to winter in far-flung warmer destinations. (File / The Spokesman-Review)
The Spokesman-Review
Lake Coeur d'Alene attracts one of the largest concentrations of nesting osprey in North America. However, the birds leave the area in fall to winter in far-flung warmer destinations. (File / The Spokesman-Review)

OUTPICK

Huckleberries bagged by BerryMaster

Tiz the season for Weld-Rite, a small Spokane Valley company, to fill hundreds of orders for its computer-designed huckleberry picker, which is laser cut out of maintenance-free aircraft aluminum.

The BerryMaster debuted in 1994 for $24.95 and has sold like huckleberry pancakes, mostly by word of mouth, even though increasing costs will drive up the next batch to $34.95 each.

Weld-Rite owner Terry Fowler is keen to educate his customers on proper use of the tool.

“You don’t rake the bush to get the berries,” he said, noting that can damage the bush and leave you spending hours picking the leaves out of the collected berries. “You hold the bush with one hand and bump the berries with the BerryMaster to make them fall into the container.”

Contact: BerryMaster is sold by mail or appointment, 927-9353.

OUTFIELD

Sparks shouldn’t fly in the forest

If you’re heading for the woods for the 4th of July holiday, leave your fireworks home. Fireworks are not permitted on national forest, state forest, parks or BLM lands.

OUTBIRD

Osprey experts lead boat tour

What: Osprey Boat Cruise to watch experts capture and band 7-week-old osprey nestlings.

Where: Lake Coeur d’Alene, departing from Coeur d’Alene Resort.

When: 9 a.m.-11 a.m. on July 8.

Who: Wildlife biologists will be in a small boat doing the work while other wildlife experts will be on the nearby cruise boat to explain the operation.

Details: Cost is $15 for adults. Kids with parents go free. Reservations required by July 6. Call CdA Chamber of Commerce, (208) 415-0115.

OUTLOOK

Best fishing times

Lunar tables from the U.S. Naval Observatory list peak fishing times. Be fishing at least one hour before and one hour after given times. Applies to all time zones.

(* indicates best days.)

Through July 9

Today

6:35 p.m. 7:05 a.m.

* Monday

7:15 p.m. 7:45 a.m.

* Tuesday

7:55 p.m. 8:30 a.m.

Wednesday

8:40 p.m. 9:15 a.m.

Thursday

9:30 p.m. 10 a.m.

* Friday

10:20 p.m. 10:50 a.m.

* Saturday

11:20 p.m. 11:30 a.m.

Next Sunday

12:20 a.m. 12:10 p.m.