In brief

Food will satisfy library fines

Fine-fearing patrons at several North Idaho libraries will find amnesty for fees for overdue books, magazines and videos during a weeklong project aimed at collecting food for the hungry.

Today through Saturday, users of Kootenai-Shoshone area libraries and the Silver Valley libraries can participate in the “Food for Fines” program, where donations of nonperishable food items will be accepted in exchange for overdue fines.

The project advances the coming Smithsonian Institution traveling exhibit, “Key Ingredients: America by Food,” which will be on display at the Hayden Library beginning May 26.

All food collected during the drive will remain in each community, said Karen Yother, the project’s organizer.

Participating libraries include those in Athol, Harrison, Hayden, Kellogg, Osburn, Pinehurst, Rathdrum, Spirit Lake and Wallace, as well as the Bookmobile.

For more information, visit www.ksa- libraries.org or call (208) 772-5612.

– JoNel Aleccia

Kootenai County

Voter guide on judges ready

The League of Women Voters of Kootenai County has a voter guide for the May 23 judicial election, when voters in Idaho’s five northern counties will elect five 1st District Court judges.

“The League recognized that most voters have very little connection to the court system,” said local league president Joyce Bergen in a press release.

The guide is available on the Idaho State League’s Web site at www.lwv-id.org/.

Running for re-election are Judges Charles Hosack, Fred Gibler, John Luster, Steve Verby and John Mitchell. Coeur d’Alene attorney Rami Amaro is challenging Mitchell in the nonpartisan race.

The league also published a Citizens Guide in cooperation with Kootenai County Clerk Dan English and Elections Supervisor Deedie Beard. The guide, which details voting information and all of Idaho’s elected offices from the U.S. Congress to the highway districts, is available at www.co.kootenai.id.us/elections/.

– Erica Curless

PLUMMER, Idaho

Tribe offers water lessons

Starting Monday, the Coeur d’Alene Tribe will host Water Awareness Week, its annual educational program for local students.

The program helps young people learn more about water quality, fish and wildlife habitat, plants, and tribal culture. Students participate in a hands-on workshop that includes educational stations guided by tribal biologists, botanists, water quality specialists and educators.

The weeklong program has been hosted by the Coeur d’Alene Tribe for more than a decade. This year the program will begin near the banks of Lake Creek on the Coeur d’Alene Reservation. About 250 students from elementary and middle schools are expected to attend.

– From staff reports