Sandpoint council to consider tunnel proposal

The Sandpoint City Council is having a special meeting tonight for a proposal to bore a tunnel underneath the town as an alternative to the Sand Creek Byway.

Steve Potter, who is in the process of moving to Sandpoint, wants two tunnels that would roughly follow Superior Avenue and dump traffic near the intersection of Pine Street and Euclid Avenue. From there, drivers could connect to existing Fifth Avenue or the Dover Highway.

Potter sees it as a way to preserve Sand Creek while finding a way to get truck traffic off First Avenue.

The Idaho Transportation Board has already said it’s too late for an alternative to the Sand Creek Byway, but the council agreed to hear a presentation. The 5:30 p.m. meeting is at the City Council Chambers, 1123 Lake Street. For more information, call (208) 263-3317.

The byway is stalled until the state can get a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Idaho Department of Lands to dredge and fill portions of Sand Creek.

The public has until Oct. 11 to comment on the proposed work. The corps also will have a public hearing Nov. 20 at Sandpoint High School.

For more information on the corps project and the comment period, go to www.nww.usace.army.mil /html/offices/op/rf/pn /pn.htm or call the Walla Walla District office at (509) 527-7020.

Climate change experts to speak

The prospects of earlier springs, increased flooding and more destructive wildfires will be discussed during a conference on how North Idaho may feel the effects of a changing global climate.

Hosted by the Idaho Conservation League, the Wild Idaho North! conference will be held Oct. 14 in Sandpoint and feature a variety of climate change experts, including an atmospheric scientist from the University of Washington and a research ecologist from the U.S. Forest Service. Other speakers will discuss how different communities are addressing the issue of climate change. The all-day event costs $25. For more information or to register, call (208) 265-9565.

Boise

West Nile, bird flu focus of call-in show

Idaho’s state epidemiologist will discuss the spread of West Nile virus in the state on a live call-in program on Idaho Public Television Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

Dr. Christine Hahn will be joined by state waterfowl manager Tom Hemker, who will discuss the potential for avian flu in Idaho. The two, with “Dialogue” host Joan Cartan-Hansen, will take calls from the public and explain what Idahoans can do to protect themselves from the two potentially deadly illnesses.

To call in during the program, call toll-free, (800) 973-9800. The show will be rebroadcast on Sunday at 4:30 p.m., but no calls will be taken during the rebroadcast.

Moscow, Idaho

Prof’s flavor makes Ben & Jerry’s finals

A University of Idaho professor of forest hydrology is one of five nationwide finalists in a contest to concoct the newest Ben & Jerry’s ice cream flavor.

Tim Link, of the school’s College of Natural Resources, suggested Mojito – a mix of lime sherbet, mint, brown sugar and rum. More than 40,000 people submitted flavor ideas to the Burlington, Vt.-based dessert maker.

The other final flavors: Italian Renaissance, featuring amaretto liqueur ice cream, cherries and almonds; the Wackie Chan, with sweet cream and ginger ice cream, chocolate-covered fortune cookies and fudge; Puttin’ on the Ritz, with vanilla ice cream, caramel and Ritz crackers; and ApricotAbra, which combines vanilla ice cream, tart apricot preserves, apricot chunks and dark chocolate. The finalists will travel next week to Vermont where judges will pick a winner.