In brief: Forest Service plans prescribed burns
The Forest Service will be conducting prescribed burns this spring in the Sandpoint Ranger District.
The burns are used to improve forage for animals and decrease the threat of wildfire.
The Forest Service conducts the burns in the spring months when moisture levels are sufficient to keep the fires from growing out of control.
The public can learn when the burns will take place by looking at advisories on the Montana Idaho Airshed Group Web site at www.smokemu.org.
CASA training in May
People interested in helping children can take part in CASA training in Sandpoint in May.
Court appointed special advocates represent abused and neglected children’s interests in court.
Those wanting to learn more about the volunteer training can visit www.northidahocasa.com or call 667-9165.
COEUR D’ALENE
Kayak Club plans demo day
The Coeur d’Alene Canoe and Kayak Club will offer its annual Gear Review and Demo Day today from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Independence Point Beach in Coeur d’Alene. The event gives people interested in paddling sports an opportunity to learn about available equipment and safety gear.
Local vendors will display models and answer questions about popular kayak variations, including touring, whitewater, squirt, raft, sail and sit-on-tops.
“It’s kind of the equivalent of a car show, but for kayaks,” said Tracy Obermeyer, club media coordinator.
Other events will include safety gear demonstrations and a raffle for a whitewater river trip for two. For information, visit www.cdacanoekayakclub.org.
Chris Waltrip student of the month
Chris Waltrip was selected as North Idaho College’s March’s Coeur d’Alene Rotary Club Student of the Month.
Waltrip is a graduate of Lake City High School and currently a sophomore majoring in computer science and minoring in communications at NIC.
Cleaning day at the Playhouse
Today, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., a Spring Cleaning Day will be held at the Lake City Playhouse, 1320 E Garden. Ave.
The theater will be cleaned inside and out. For those who wish to paint, painting the Into the Woods set is also planned.
All volunteers are greatly appreciated.
NIC design students honored
North Idaho College graphic design students Karin Heady and Brandon Loken, both of Coeur d’Alene, recently earned honors from the Idaho Lottery for their scratch ticket designs.
Five colleges and universities from across the state participated in the Idaho Lottery Scratch Ticket Design Contest, submitting more than 60 entries to the Idaho Lottery.
Heady’s “Antarctic Journey” design was the winning entry from NIC, featuring her own illustrations of penguins. Loken’s “Make the Grade” ticket earned honorable mention at NIC, featuring a school theme.
Guitar concert at CDA library
The Coeur d’Alene Library, 702 E. Front Ave., will host a free classical guitar concert next Saturday at 7 p.m., featuring classical guitarist Peter Fletcher. The concert will be held in the Community room.
Fletcher’s latest recording, “Music of Four Centuries,” was released in September. More information is available about Fletcher at www.peterfletcher.com.
The event is sponsored by the Friends of the Coeur d’Alene Library. Donations in support of cultural activities at the library will be accepted.
“Computer workshops are also being held at the library. Next Saturday, Basics in Word-Word Processing will give participants a basic understanding of how to create, edit and format documents in a word-processing program. A basic knowledge of computers is necessary. On May 6, the Introduction to Computers workshop provides the basics of computer parts-hardware, the Windows Operating System-software, and the terminology associated with both. Each workshop begins at 10:30 a.m.
“Each Tuesday in May, Family Scrapbooking will be held in the Craft room of the Seagraves Children’s Library (Parkside level), from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Youth participants must be accompanied by an adult.
For more information on all events, call the library at 769-2315.
Chamber hosting candidate forum
The Coeur d’Alene Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Kootenai County Commissioners candidate forum May 5 at the Coeur d’Alene Library.
The forum, hosted jointly with Concerned Businesses of North Idaho, the Post Falls Chamber of Commerce and the Hayden Chamber of Commerce begins at 6 p.m.
It will be broadcast on CDA TV Channel 19.
Fundraiser to benefit deer
The Coeur d’Alene/Post Falls chapter of the Mule Deer Foundation will hold a fundraising banquet and auction today beginning at 5 p.m. at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds.
Proceeds will be used to benefit mule deer and blacktail deer and their habitat. Ticket prices range from $10 to $70, depending on age and membership status, and can be purchased at the door. For ticket information, call Tammy Dykstra at 773-0469.
The event includes a barbecue dinner and a variety of auctions featuring items of interest to outdoor enthusiasts that have been donated by various local businesses, artists and photographers.
Bob Bennett speaking at NIUUC
Bob Bennett of the Human Rights Institution will give a speech entitled “Peace, an Eternal Quest,” on Sunday, when North Idaho Unitarian Universalist Church will host a special event, “In the Service of Peace.”
The event, which begins at 10:30 a.m., is intended to honor American military and civilians killed in Iraq.
For more information, call 755-9590.
Girl Scouts donating hair to Locks of Love
Ten girls and two adults from Girl Scout Troop 2330 in Coeur d’Alene will donate their hair to Locks of Love today at 9 a.m. at Supercuts.
Troop leader Caryn Shepler thought about donating her hair in the fall and one of the Troop Brownies became interested, and later encouraged the rest of the Troop to become involved.
Locks of Love is a public nonprofit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children under age 18 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis.
For more information about Girl Scouting, visit www.gsewni.org or call (800) 827-9478.
NORTH IDAHO
Grant applications available
Nonprofit organizations and government agencies in North Idaho are eligible to apply for a share of $3,000 in grants for public health services. The Panhandle Public Health Foundation is accepting grant applications through May 30.
The nonprofit Health Foundation was started in 2004 to support public health programs in Idaho’s five northern counties. Money is raised through donations and fundraisers.
Grant applications are available online at www.pphf.net.
RATHDRUM
Rathdrum Mountain fundraiser a success
Friends of Rathdrum Mountain recently raised nearly $10,000 in donations, ticket sales and memberships at its first fundraiser at the Westwood Saloon.
The group continues to seek members. Individual family membership levels range from $25 to $500 and business membership levels range from $100 to $1,000.
Friends of Rathdrum Mountain is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the natural beauty on the mountain overlooking Rathdrum. For more information visit www.RathdrumMountain.org.
SPOKANE
Bowl for a good cause
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Inland Northwest Bowl for Kids’ Sake will be held at Lilac Lanes in North Spokane and Valley Bowl in Spokane Valley, May 7 through 10.
Funds raised will benefit one-on-one mentoring services for children and families in Spokane and Kootenai Counties.
For times and more information, call Keith at (509) 328-8310.
HAYDEN
Honeysuckle Beach cleanup planned
The Hayden Department of Public Works is sponsoring a clean-up of Honeysuckle Beach next Saturday. The cleanup will begin at 7:30 a.m. and continue until 2:30 p.m.
Volunteers will paint, sweep the beach and parking area and rake while divers clean the underwater swimming area.
For more information, call 209-0983.
Hayden Public Works recognized
The city of Hayden’s Department of Public Works was recently recognized by The Rocky Mountain Chapter of the American Public Works Association for their exceptional performance in the area of Emergency Management at the chapter’s annual conference in Missoula.
The chapter cited Hayden for its efforts to train Public Works personnel as first responders and integrate their emergency response efforts in support of local agencies in Kootenai County.
Hayden’s Department of Public Works continues to train both individually and as a unit with Northern Lakes Fire District, Panhandle Health, the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department and the Kootenai County Office of Emergency Management.
Post Falls
DEQ seeking comment
Idaho’s Department of Environmental Quality is accepting comments through May 22 on a water quality plan for Avista Corp.’s operation of the Post Falls dam.
As part of the dam’s federal relicensing process, DEQ weighs in on how the dam affects water quality in Lake Coeur d’Alene, the Spokane River and portions of the St. Joe, St. Maries and Coeur d’Alene rivers.
DEQ, Avista and the Department of Fish and Game have entered into a settlement agreement, outlining conditions for the dam’s operations. Avista agreed to:
“Keep Lake Coeur d’Alene at full-pool summer levels of 2,128 feet until the Tuesday after Labor Day.
“Spend $350,000 on annual monitoring related to native fish, water temperature, flows and erosion control.
“Improve wetlands and bull trout habitat.
Avista is also relicensing its four dams on the Spokane River in Washington. As part of that process, the utility agreed to run more water over Spokane Falls during the summer tourist season.
To see DEQ documents related to the Post Falls dam, visit www.deq. idaho.gov/public/comment.cfm.
SANDPOINT
Public hearing scheduled
The Sandpoint Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on May 6 in the council chambers at City Hall, 1123 Lake St., at 5:30 p.m.
The following topic will be considered: a new Comprehensive Plan document and future land use map in accordance with the provisions of Idaho Code. The chapters of the proposed Plan include: Introduction, Community Profile, Community Design, Land Use, Housing, Transportation, Recreation, Public Services, Facilities and Utilities, Economic Development, Natural Resources and Hazardous Areas, Special Areas or Sites, and Implementation.
The document has been forwarded to the Planning Commission by the City’s Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee.
Copies of the draft plan are available for review at the Sandpoint Planning Department or online at http://www.cityofsandpoint.com.
For more information, contact City Hall at 263-3370.
– From staff reports