E. coli found in water supply
Rosalia residents were told Saturday to boil tap water until further notice because the town’s water supply is contaminated with E. coli bacteria.
The town started chlorinating its water on Friday and notified the state Department of Health when repeated tests showed bacteria in the water supply. The source of the contamination is not yet known.
“I haven’t found a cause yet,” Mayor Ken Jacobs said. “I have a bunch of old water lines, and we have some leaks we’ve been working on.”
He said some of the town’s water lines are 100 years old, and others are 50 years old.
Jacobs said the system would be tested this evening and Monday morning, and results should be back on Tuesday. Then it will be up to the state Department of Health to drop the boil order.
Until then, tap water should be boiled for three to five minutes, and then allowed to cool before using it for drinking, brushing teeth, preparing food, making ice or washing dishes. Schools will open Monday and Tuesday with sanitizer available for washing hands.
“Once we get over this, I think I’m going to go ahead and chlorinate all the time,” Jacobs said. “We haven’t been chlorinating.”
Coeur d’Alene
Intersection to get flashing light
Coeur d’Alene plans to install a flashing yellow signal at the intersection of Atlas Road and Kathleen Avenue.
The yellow signal is the same as a yield sign. It means that drivers can make a left turn but still must yield.
The left-turn flashing yellow signal will be used in conjunction with a green arrow. The green arrow means that a driver has permission to turn left. Then the signal will flash yellow, meaning drivers can still turn left, but they must now yield to oncoming traffic.
The city is using the yellow flashing signal as part of a nationwide testing phase.
So far, results show that it’s more effective than the green signal, according to a press release issued Friday by the city. The system also is used extensively in Oregon.
Tribe gets abuse prevention grant
Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo has announced a $150,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to the Coeur d’Alene Tribe’s domestic violence prevention and intervention program.
“This is welcome news for Native American women and children in Benewah and Kootenai County and the surrounding areas,” said Crapo. “Native American women experience significantly higher rates of violence than other population subgroups.”
“Monies like this grant are much-needed, and the return cannot be measured in dollars,” he said. “I’m pleased to support this successful program and congratulate the tribe on its efforts to obtain this grant.”
The grant is from the Department of Justice’s STOP Violence Against Indian Women Discretionary Grants Program.