Hot Potatoes (A View of Local News) — 1/17/07

* 17-year-old girl rescue from ledge at Falls Park: Friend follows tracks after family argument /Taryn Brodwater, Spokesman Review — If you’re going to stomp off in the middle of the night in January in North Idaho, you should make sure you’re wearing Sorrels.

* Larkin foresees big population jump: Sees Post Falls population at 68,000 by 2028 /Becky Kramer, Spokesman-Review — Any guesses re: how much open space will be left on the Rathdrum Prairie?

* Construction worker dies in drilling accident: Victim’s identity not released /Keith Kinnaird, Hagadone News Network — Add to this story one from the Seattle accident re: a worker being killed in an industrial shredder , and you realize how dangerous construction/industrial work can be.

* Post Falls OKs new city hall: Higher costs force cutback in planned energy efficiency /Meghann Cuniff, Spokesman-Review — Post Falls’d better break ground before spiraling costs make the new City Hall too prohibitive to build.

* Idaho says no to Sanders dock: Ruling cites potential danger to swimmers /James Hagengruber, Spokesman-Review — Good call.