In brief: NIC’s President Bell to retire next year

North Idaho College President Priscilla Bell announced Wednesday she will retire in June 2012 at the end of her current contract.

Bell was hired in February 2007 as an interim president after then-president Michael Burke stepped down, according to an NIC news release. Bell was selected in July 2007 to permanently fill the position.

Bell led the college during a time of unprecedented enrollment growth and declining state revenue support, the news release said. She also led the college during the purchase of the former DeArmond Mill site and land on the Rathdrum Prairie for professional-technical expansion.

The North Idaho College board of trustees plans to begin a national search later this year for her replacement and the college’s ninth president.

Chelsea Bannach

It’s still snow time at Silver Mountain

Many people spend Memorial Day weekend camping or grilling.

This year, skiing and snowboarding is also an option.

Silver Mountain Ski Resort is extending the ski season; it’s the last resort in the region to remain open for skiing, snowboarding and tubing, John Williams, director of sales and marketing at the resort, said in a news release.

All of the resort’s 1,600 acres will be open thanks to more than 400 inches of snowfall this season, Williams said.

Saturday lift tickets are $35 for adults and $25 for youths under 18. Children 6 and younger are free. Snow tubing is $19 per person and includes a ride on North America’s longest gondola. Tubing sessions are 10 a.m. to noon or noon to 2 p.m. Saturday.

More information can be found at www.silvermt.com or by calling (866) 345-2675.

Chelsea Bannach

North Cascades route reopens

WENATCHEE – The North Cascades Highway is open.

The Washington Transportation Department says it reopened at noon Wednesday.

This is the second-latest opening since travelers began using the highway 39 years ago. The latest was June 14, 1974.

Crews started clearing the section of Highway 20 on April 11 and found winter snow as deep as 75 feet.

Last year the North Cascades Highway opened on April 16. It was closed by snow on Dec. 1.

Associated Press