Hearing will cover farmland rezoning
The Kootenai County commission will hold a public hearing Thursday on a request to change the zoning on 149 acres of farmland on the south side of state Highway 53 to allow for housing.
A Kootenai County hearing examiner recently recommended denial of the request by Copper Basin Construction because it goes against the county’s comprehensive plan, which is the foundation of all land use decisions. The county commission will make a final decision.
The property is between McGuire and Pleasant View roads and is part of a larger 458-acre parcel. The company has indicated it eventually plans to seek a zone change on the entire parcel.
The hearing examiner ruled that it’s detrimental to allow housing on property that’s surrounded on three sides by land designated for industrial use. Every industrial business adjacent to the property, including Idaho Asphalt and IMCO Aluminum Recycling, opposes the plan.
The 10 a.m. public hearing is at the Kootenai County Administration Building, 451 Government Way. For more information, call (208) 446-1070.
Photo released of robbery suspect
Coeur d’Alene police have released a new surveillance photo of a pregnant woman suspected of robbing a downtown bank Monday.
The woman came into the Bank of America at 401 Front Ave. and reportedly told tellers she “had four kids to take care of and a fifth on the way,” before demanding cash.
She said she had a gun but didn’t display one, Sgt. Christie Wood said.
The woman is described as in her mid-30s, 5 feet 9 inches tall, with “very blue eyes,” a fair complexion and dark hair pulled back in a bun. She was wearing a teal maternity top and white pants. Anyone with information is asked to call the tip line at (208) 769-2296.
Cheer squads fare well in Boise
North Idaho cheer squads made their mark at the state competition in Boise last weekend.
Post Falls High School was the overall winner for 4A schools in Idaho, and it also won first in the co-ed division.
Sandpoint High School won first in the all-girls division.
“It’s a big deal for us,” said Dawn Smith, assistant coach at Post Falls. The co-ed win is the fourth consecutive one for the school. Post Falls won in the overall category in 2003. Post Falls School District policy doesn’t allow the squad to attend the national competition because it’s organized by an association not limited to high school groups. “We would’ve been there in a heartbeat,” Smith said.
Sandpoint’s squad will go to the national competition in Hollywood this weekend.
Compiled from staff reports