School board picks Brooks as chairwoman

The Coeur d’Alene School Board picked Edie Brooks as its new chairwoman Monday. Brooks succeeds Vern Newby, chairman for the past year.

Newby, an Avista Utilities employee and 18-year board veteran, will serve as vice chairman for the coming school year. Brooks held that position this past year.

“I’m looking forward to this coming year,” Brooks said. “Vern and I have always worked well together.”

A real estate agent with Lakeshore Realty, Brooks was first elected to the board in 1996. She was elected to a second term but had to resign in 2004 when she moved out of Zone 4. She was elected in 2006 to represent Zone 1, which includes the area east of 15th Street.

Brooks, a mother of three, holds a bachelor’s degree in behavioral science from San Jose State University. She served as president of the Sorensen Elementary School parent-teacher association in the mid-1990s.

– Meghann M. Cuniff

Ironman ‘08 entry fills up after six days

The general entry for next year’s Ford Ironman Coeur d’Alene has closed, just six days after it opened.

Race officials said Monday that shows the popularity of the triathlon, scheduled for June 22, 2008.

A limited number of Ironman Coeur d’Alene Community Fund spots are available after Monday. For more information, e-mail admin@nasports.com or check the www.nasports.com Web site for updates.

Athletes competing in the 2008 event will vie for 80 qualifying spots for the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii.

Coeur d’Alene had its fifth Ironman June 24 with nearly 2,600 competitors for the 112-mile bike course, 2.4-mile swim and 26.2-mile run.

– Erica Curless

Fireworks cited in park fire; officials fear more

Officials believe illegal fireworks ignited an overnight fire that burned a quarter-acre of heavy brush on Tubbs Hill.

The hot and dry conditions forecast for the holiday have crews on high alert for additional fires, the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department said Monday.

The fire was reported just after midnight Monday on the north side of the hill near downtown Coeur d’Alene.

“There were people shooting fireworks all over the place,” Fire Chief Kenny Gabriel said. He reminded citizens that only “safe and sane fireworks are legal” and that no fireworks are allowed in city parks, including Tubbs Hill.

The department will have extra crews working in City Park, Tubbs Hill and Armstrong Park during the holiday, Gabriel said.

– Taryn Brodwater