In brief: Crews start work on Hayden Library

Crews broke ground Wednesday on a nearly 7,200-square-foot expansion of the Hayden Branch Library.

The expansion will increase the library’s size by 55 percent including tripling the children’s area and adding a larger meeting room, two study rooms and space for more than 40 public-access computers.

The library is at 8385 N. Government Way and is a branch of the Kootenai-Shoshone Area Library District. In total, the district’s population grew 79 percent between 1994 and 2004.

District voters passed a $3.4 million bond in August 2005 to pay for the Hayden expansion in addition to other branch expansions, remodels and the bookmobile.

Shawn Cole Construction of Spokane is the general contractor for the Hayden project, which crews expect to finish by November.

For more information, call the library at (208) 772-5612 or go to www.ksalibraries.org.

– Erica Curless

Hearing today on gun range plans

The Kootenai County Commission is having a public hearing today on a proposal by the Sheriff’s Department to operate a shooting range in a gravel pit north of Hayden Avenue.

The department is asking for a conditional-use permit for a firearms training range in the pit owned by the Post Falls Highway District, east of state Highway 41.

Various local law enforcement agencies plan to use the 2.2-acre range, which the county would build to National Rifle Association guidelines.

There hasn’t been much opposition except a few concerns by the cities of Rathdrum and Hayden.

Rathdrum is worried the training range might not fit in with the long-term compatibility of the fast-growing area. Hayden is worried lead-based ammunition may hurt the aquifer.

The 10 a.m. hearing is at the Kootenai County Administration Building, 451 Government Way. For more information, call (208) 446-1070.

– Erica Curless

Extra CdA patrols target bad drivers

Coeur d’Alene police are cracking down on aggressive drivers this week.

Patrols are planned through Saturday to target the top causes of injury crashes in Coeur d’Alene: drivers who go too fast, follow other cars too closely, don’t pay attention, speed in school zones and change lanes improperly.

Extra patrols are planned for the following areas:

“Kathleen Avenue, between U.S. Highway 95 and Ramsey Road;

“U.S. 95 from Ironwood Drive to Canfield Avenue;

“The intersection of Appleway Avenue and Government Way;

“Third and Fourth streets near Locust Avenue.

– Taryn Brodwater