Elk hunters find skull, clothing

A couple hunting for elk early Wednesday morning found what is likely a human skull and clothing in the Grouse Creek area north of Sandpoint.

Detectives with the Bonner County Sheriff’s Department didn’t return phone calls. Coroner Kathryn Rose said she hadn’t yet seen the skull but said her impression from talking with deputies is that it’s clean bone, meaning it’s likely old.

“We know that we have a skull,” she said. “That’s all I know. It’s way back up in there.”

She said she isn’t aware of any missing people in the area.

This is the second recent discovery of human bones in the Sandpoint area. About 10 days ago, an excavation crew working near the Cedar Street Bridge found portions of a skeleton.

Rose said that’s the location of a cemetery dating from the 1800s that at some point was relocated.

“It probably didn’t get moved,” said Rose, who added she is . trying to find out the identity of the skeleton.

– Erica Curless

Wallace

Shoshone County gets grant to fund planning

Shoshone County is one of a dozen rural governments that will share a $250,000 state grant to help with growth management planning.

Rapid construction of vacation condos and recreational properties has brought a surge of part-time residents to rural Shoshone County.

“We’ve had more subdivisions in the last year or 18 months than I’ve seen in the last 18 years,” said County Commissioner Sherry Krulitz.

As a result, “we’re getting development in areas where we’re not ready for it,” said Jeff Legg, the county planning administrator.

Many of the county’s ordinances related to growth date from the late 1970s. “They don’t fit the needs of the county today,” Legg said.

Shoshone County requested funding to update its comprehensive plan, which will guide future land-use planning in the county. Planning for affordable housing and infrastructure needs are other priorities.

County officials have not yet heard how much funding they will receive. Entities receiving the grants will contribute matching funds.

The state is applying for an additional $300,000 in federal funds, which could extend the planning assistance to an additional 21 communities, including Plummer, St. Maries, Bonners Ferry and Sandpoint.

– Becky Kramer