In brief: Planning board announces visits
The Kootenai County Planning Commission has booked three more stops next week for its road trip across the county.
The county wants to create eight growth plans for regions of the county that have unique characteristics, such as Mica Flats and Athol. It’s part of a yearlong rewrite of the comprehensive plan.
The commission will visit the Rathdrum Prairie area at 6 p.m. March 27 at the Cloverleaf Grange.
On March 28, the commission goes to the Palouse area, meeting at 6 p.m. at the Bellgrove Grange.
The commission will be in the Selkirk area March 29, meeting at 7 p.m. in the commons area of Lakeland High School in Rathdrum.
The county wants to know if the descriptions of the eight designated areas are correct and what characteristics make the regions unique.
For more information call (208) 446-1070 or go to www.kcgov.us/departments /planning.
Spokane
Firefighter’s trial delayed until fall
The involuntary manslaughter trial of a U.S. Forest Service firefighter has been delayed until Oct. 15 to allow his attorney time to prepare a defense.
Ellreese Daniels, a veteran crew boss from Wenatchee, is accused of causing the deaths of four firefighters during the July 2001 Thirtymile fire in Okanogan County. Along with four counts of involuntary manslaughter, Daniels also is charged with seven counts of providing false statements to investigators.
The federal trial was scheduled to begin Monday in Spokane, but defense attorney Christina Hunt petitioned for a delay.
On Monday, Hunt said many witnesses continue to work as firefighters, making it difficult to hold a trial until after the fire season.
Daniels continues to work for the Forest Service, but in the firefighting supply cache, not on the fireline, Hunt said.
Bonners Ferry
McFaddan named district ranger
Linda McFaddan, deputy ranger for the Coeur d’Alene River Ranger District office in Smelterville, has been appointed the new district ranger for Bonners Ferry.
McFaddan replaces Mike Herrin, who transferred earlier this year to the ranger’s post in neighboring Troy, Mont.
McFaddan has been employed by the agency since 1988, the last five years in Smelterville. She holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in geology from the University of Idaho.
Acting Ranger Don Gunter will continue to fill the position until McFaddan arrives sometime later this spring, said Gail West, spokeswoman for the Idaho Panhandle National Forests.
Post Falls
Crews will begin spring cleanup
The city of Post Falls is taking spring cleaning to the streets this week, with crews washing and sweeping in high-traffic areas.
The city’s annual Spring Cleanup was scheduled to begin at midnight Tuesday, and is expected to take about three weeks.
Night crews will wash down islands and sidewalks on all bridges and underpasses, Seltice Way and the business district, Spokane Street south of Mullan Street, along Idaho Street between Fourth and 12th avenues, and Mullan from Greensferry Road east to Cecil Road.
Day workers will wash the remaining arterial and collector road systems. Street sweepers will run day and night.
The summer sweeping program will begin the first week of April with all residential streets swept roughly every two weeks.
From staff reports