And now, live from City Hall
POST FALLS – If you’re concerned about important issues facing the city, school district or other government agencies but find it difficult to keep up with the latest happenings, your task just got a little easier.
Post Falls City Cable 13 – the first city-government cable TV channel in Kootenai County – offers a new venue: “Post Falls Today,” with host Mayor Clay Larkin.
“We have talked internally for quite a while (about) how we could do a better outreach for our citizens and businesses,” said Larkin, “to keep them up to date with recent happenings in the community. We also wanted to be able to bring in many other agencies and employees to tell us about their happenings as they come about.
“We landed on the ‘Post Falls Today’ concept, using our own Channel 13, to be taped and rebroadcast regularly throughout the week,” he said.
The inaugural show included a discussion about Post Falls’ growth and the May 22 special election, a ballot issue on whether the City Council would grow from four to six members.
Larkin promises to cover a kaleidoscope of community issues by inviting city departments as well as community members to discuss new topics each week.
“I will probably bring in the chief officers of Kootenai Fire Rescue in the next couple of weeks,” he said.
“Post Falls Today” follows in the footsteps of Coeur d’Alene’s half-hour show, “Coeur d’Alene Now,” with Mayor Sandy Bloem, which airs on CDA TV cable Channel 19.
Programming began in January 2005 with the broadcast of a live City Council meeting and has expanded to include other governmental meetings, upcoming events and a myriad of other local topics.
According to Susan Weathers, Coeur d’Alene municipal services director, “The focus of the show is to provide a more in-depth discussion on areas of interest to our community. … From the feedback we have received at the city, it appears that more and more citizens are watching Channel 19.”
Cable 13 broadcasts live from City Hall.
“The location is ideal for (Larkin),” said Kit Hoffer, public information specialist for Post Falls. “He can walk down the hall, record his program and walk back to his office – no travel time. And we are able to adjust the recording process to fit his busy schedule.”
The show also fits the schedules of residents as it is rebroadcast at various times. “Post Falls Today” is being aired daily at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. with additional showings at 6 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Cable 13 also offers other opportunities for residents to stay abreast of local issues.
Immediately following each airing of “Post Falls Today” is “Focus on Schools,” a show that brings district staff, teachers and students together to discuss programs and activities in Post Falls schools.
A look at the schedule also reveals such varied topics as an interview with the new vice president for finance and administration at Lewis-Clark State College and an overview of Post Falls’ summer activity programs.
In addition, Cable 13 programming includes live broadcasts of City Council, Planning and Zoning Commission and Parks and Recreation Commission meetings on Tuesdays at 6 p.m.
Those meetings are rebroadcast on Wednesdays at 1 p.m., Thursdays at 6 p.m. and Sundays at 1 p.m.
Another way for Kootenai County citizens to stay informed is the Cable 13 RiverCity CAT Readerboard, which broadcasts a wide range of announcements, including city government issues, employment opportunities, road closures and library events.
Readerboard announcements run 24 hours a day, seven days a week between programs.
Nonprofit and community organizations may submit public-service announcements by regular mail, e-mail or in person at City Hall at least two weeks before a scheduled event.