In brief: Deputies step up seat belt patrols

Thu., Sept. 9, 2010

Kootenai County sheriff’s deputies will conduct seat belt emphasis patrols starting Friday and continuing through Sept. 20.

They will stop drivers for moving violations and ticket those who are not using seat belts. Patrols will be conducted across the county as a way to reduce the number of injury accidents in Kootenai County.

Sponsoring the patrol is the Idaho’s Office of Highway Operations and Safety.

Kootenai County’s 2009 compliance rate for seat belts was 82 percent, based on observational studies and post-accident reports, the Idaho Transportation Department reported on its website. The state average was 79 percent.

Incumbent Kootenai County Commissioner Rick Currie, who was defeated in the May primary, on Wednesday announced his decision to run as a write-in candidate for his seat.

Currie lost to Jai Nelson in a three-way race that also included Chris Fillios. Nelson received 4,684 votes to Currie’s 4,212 and Fillios’ 4,079.

Currie said considering the low voter turnout in the primary, he felt the need to offer voters another choice. The race was winner-take-all as no Democrats or third-party candidates entered the race.

Currie, 63, has served three terms as a commissioner.

Water group honors mayor

Post Falls Mayor Clay Larkin has received a 2010 Excellence Award from the Water Environment Federation for his work in water conservation and in protecting the Spokane Valley/Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer and Spokane River.

Larkin was one of two public officials honored with the award, which will be presented next month in New Orleans. He was nominated by Terry Werner, the city’s public services director.

Post Falls and the Hayden Area Regional Sewer Board recently sued to block new Spokane River water quality standards developed by the Washington Department of Ecology. The lawsuit asks a federal court to halt the new regulations while deciding whether to declare them invalid. Idaho dischargers say the new standards would threaten their communities’ ability to grow.

The nonprofit Water Environment Federation has more than 36,000 members worldwide.

Tour of tree farm set at Funks’ farm

Steve and Janet Funk’s Edgecreek Tree Farm on Wolf Lodge Creek near Coeur d’Alene will be featured Saturday during the annual Idaho Tree Farm tour.

The Funk family was honored as the 2010 “Idaho Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year” in March. The free tour starts at 9 a.m. To reach the property, take Interstate 90 to Idaho Exit 22 (Harrison/Wolf Lodge District) and turn right onto Wolf Lodge Frontage Road. Turn right onto the frontage road. Go about a mile then turn left onto Wolf Lodge Creek Road. At 1.8 miles, turn left at the junction. Shortly afterward, look for a sign at 4873 S. Wolf Lodge Creek Road.

The tour ends at 3 p.m. Families are invited to bring picnic lunches. Morning and afternoon snacks and nonalcoholic beverages, and a lunchtime bratwurst entrée, will be provided.